We are meeting next week on Wednesday 6 for 6.30pm at the Clarence Gardens Bowling Club, Winona Ave, Clarence Gardens for the annual battle with RC Mitcham..........all welcome.
Our Last Meeting
Venue: Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: TJ Anwar
Visiting Rotarians: John Holds (Whyalla), Di Barnes (St Ives)
Guests: Sonja Anwar, Aine Stirling, Margaret Payne, John Peacham, Clara Scheele
Attendance: 32 Members 8 Guests
Valerie's (aka President Heather in absentia) Announcements
Apologies Valerie.....we needed a new and better photo after last week's poor effort.
The welcome to visitors gets a tick.
Guest Speaker - TJ Anwar: Spending a year on Rotary exchange in France
Chairman Stephen Baker introduced TJ (Tajwar) who is aged 16 and a student at Mitcham Girls High School. She arrived back in Australia in January after spending 356 days on exchange to France.
TJ explained that the trip was very exciting and had left her unsettled. A display of places visited and friends followed. She arrived in France on 15 January 2017 and went to a city commonly referred to as Napoleon's city in Rotary District 1510. During her time away she had 3 host families, firstly in Bordeaux whose daughter was involved in a NZ exchange, secondly in Paris, and thirdly 400 kms outside Paris, which she really enjoyed.
On several occasions she attended get-to-togethers of exchange students from across Europe with the first in Lucon attended by 50 students. There were many highlights and Paris was just fabulous, visiting all the famous sites. An 11 day Euro bus tour with 35 colleagues, and taking in Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Prague and Mon Blanc was great for blending and sight seeing. Her favourite students were the Argentinians and Brazilians who were in fun mode for most of the trip. She saw snow for the first time in Germany. Losing her passport was not fun. There was some pressure because her school learnt French proved to be a tad inadequate (but that progressed during her stay), and her school streaming into economics did not tap into her science strengths.
TJ says the trip has strengthened her and made her more world-wise but its the friendships made with students from across the globe which was so special. TJ would like to participate in the next RYPEN program.
TJ was thanked by acclamation.
.
Spots......madness prevailed
Patsy Beckett mentioned that the Days for Girls sewing session is to commence at 10am tomorrow (Wednesday).......all with sewing experience welcome.
Stephen Baker gained Ken's help at the Thrift Shop next Saturday to make up for Sheila swanning around Calperum, and obtained final numbers for bowls next week.......perhaps we need to put lawn bowling practice as a prerequisite for joining the club.
Jerry Casburn really outdid himself.......the new items are in bold:
- a visit to RC Seaford on March 1 for Birthing Kits....and we all thought we were too old to need these
- 18 people are now booked for Calperum on 23-25 February including 2 exchange students
- members need to ensure they have responded to the meeting invitation by Friday to help with catering.................................and the best until last
- Jerry would be prepared to nominate for District Governor of the combined Districts in 2020-21 if he has the support of the club, on the understanding that the District Conference would be run by a District Committee rather than the DG's club.......tis just as well that he threw this little morsel on the table.
Greg McLeod canvassed the views of members while Jerry absented himself and this resulted in a ringing endorsement of his proposal (some wiser heads quietly suggested that psychiatry may help).
Trevor McGuirk circulated a sheet seeking members' committee preferences
Greg McLeod announced that Sheila Evans had accepted the invitation to become an honorary member.
Geoff Hill had been asked by Sandy Schirmer to pass on her best wishes to the club.
Ken Haines announced another good day at Bunnings with takings of $1264 and profit of $855.
Jason Booth explained that the volunteer team visit just completed to the region of Nepal abutting the Indian border had delivered 5500 consultations, 160 cataract operations and provision of 4000 glasses........WOW!
Di Barnes from St Ives (NSW) provided a quick summary of RC St Ives, small in numbers but big in impact, where Jerry had been a past president. The club's main fund raising effort is a food and wine festival which nets about $30,000 per annum. A joint Rotary venture in which they are involved which raises big bucks is the Bobbin Head Cycling Classic......a well kept secret. Wal Edwards is a founding member of the club and is still active at 101.....but does not compete in the cycling classic. She has fond memories of Jerry and Adelaide as we all do.
Sheila Evans OAM - Behind the Badge
Sheila was born in western Ireland in 1942, the oldest of 6 children. At the age of 18 she headed to London for a nursing career and met Jim the love of her life whom she married in 1963. Not wasting any time, a son was born 15 months later; she later commenced training as a kindi teacher. In 1973 the family migrated to Australia where her first job was with TAA. In 1974 she scored a much sought-after Commonwealth scholarship to study at University, and was bonded to the Department of Correctional Services (no doubt due to her kindergarten experience) where she rose to senior management rank. In the mid 1990s she took a package and started her own consulting firm which flourished. This enabled greater freedom to travel and help in areas of need. Sheila developed wide associations including with the Legion of Mary, Business and Professional Women (was national V-P), United Nations committee and organisations to tackle domestic violence. 10 years ago she was an instigator of the Adelaide White Ribbon Breakfast and was instrumental in establishing one of the first women's shelter in the northern districts. ONYA Sheila.The Finale
Pam Trimmer was a deserved winner of the atrocious squares. Jerry was pleased with his DG nomination endorsement. Pam Trimmer's grand-daughter is doing well in the pool. Lindsay is happy to be heading for India in search of the Taj/Raj; not to be outdone, Mavis is off to NZ next month in search of earth tremors and cyclones. Trevor has become intoxicated with the knitting of green wool jumpers in Peru. Valerie and Graham are relaying the Commonwealth Games baton with a promise not to drop it.......far too much happiness!
The meeting closed early at 7.55pm which would have earned applause from David Middleton
Clean water for Fante Mayera, Ghana
By Albert Essien, Rotary Club of Tema Meridian, Ghana
Fante Mayera is a medium-size rural community of about 800 people in the greater Accra region of Ghana. In August, I visited the community with the manager of the
Rotary-USAID partnership in Ghana and other officials to meet with villagers and check on the progress of a borehole and latrine. I had been part of an initial visit with my Rotary club in 2016 to assess conditions there, and it was exciting to return and see the difference this important collaboration is making.
The main occupation of the people in Fante Mayera is farming. The community is connected to the National Electricity Grid so inhabitants have access to a power supply. The community had an existing hand-dug well, which was installed a decade ago. But over time, the quality of the water had become very bad. When we arrived at the well site, the apron was hanging off from erosion and the hand pump was not working. To fetch water, villagers had to use a bucket and rope. The color of the water resembled tea.
In spite of the poor quality, the community still used it. As we stood by the well interacting with residents, I saw children come around with buckets to fetch water. In the dry season, the well dries up, and when that happens, the community shifts their attention to a stream which is some distance away. From the hand-dug well site, residents led us on a 20-minute walk to the stream. See above a member of Essien's Rotary club discussing the well with villagers.
During my earlier visit in 2016, I remembered seeing a snake swimming in the water, an indication of the dangers the people are exposed to meeting their daily water needs. We impressed upon them the need to get a platform people could stand on to fetch water, so they wouldn’t have to walk into the stream. As part of the collaboration, Rotary and UAID are providing the community with a water supply system based on a mechanized borehole.
Next we visited the primary school to inspect construction of two 4-seater KVIP latrines. I was glad that the girl’s latrine had a changing room with a washing trough connected to a water source. This feature is a requirement of my club’s menstrual hygiene program, under which we distribute washable menstrual kits to school girls.
We were shown the existing latrine which was in a very bad shape. We were told that community members used to come to the school to use the existing latrine, but the heads of the PTA and School Management Committee gave us assurances this would not happen with the new facility. The community seemed very appreciative of the latrines being constructed, so we felt convinced they would not allow anybody to mess them up.
The community members are very appreciative of what Rotary is doing for them. It is my hope that in the not-too-distant future, I will return to witness the completed WASH facilities in use, as our club continues to work with Rotary’s partners to support, train and mentor the community in water and sanitation management and hygiene education.
Rotary Upcoming Events
Calperum visit 23-26 February
Annual Bowls Challenge against RC Mitcham Wednesday 28 February..........plenty of practice please!
Districts 9500 and 9520 Conference in the Barossa 23 - 25 March 2018
Our Upcoming Meetings
Wednesday 28 February 2018 6 for 6.30pm at Clarence Gardens Bowling Club, Winona Ave, Clarence Gardens
Annual Bowls (lawn of course) Match against RC Mitcham
All welcome including those who know how to be brilliantly biased.....cost $15pp
Attendance and collection: Dennis Liddle & Trevor McGuirk
Tuesday 6 March 2018 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Ross Curtis Royal Flying Doctor Service
Chair: Rhonda Hoare | Set-up, Welcome & Attendance: Dennis Liddle & Trevor McGuirk
Usual Meeting Venue: Damien on Fisher, 123 Fisher Street, Fullarton SA 5063. Ensure that a response is given to each meeting invitation.
Apologies to: Stephen Baker by e-mail sandbbaker@internode.on.net or 0403 687 015
Meeting Enquiries to: Secretary Greg McLeod on 0417 811 838 or email to unley.secretary@rotaryclub.org.au
Venue Set-up Enquiries to: Bulletin Editor Stephen Baker on 0403 687 015
Saturday Thrift Shop Roster
Early Shift: 10.00am to 1.00pm Late Shift: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Week 1: 3 March 2018
Early: David Middleton & Jerry Casburn | Late: Heather Klisby (Robyn Carnachan) & Rachel Harding
Week 2: 10 March 2018
Early: Greg McLeod & Chad Leader | Late: Wendy Andrews & Heather Kilsby
Week 3: 17 February 2018
Early: Nathan White & Vera Holt | Late: Pam Trimmer & Ken Haines
Week 4: 24 February 2018
Early: Stephen Baker (& Judi Corcoran) | Late: Ken Haines (Rhonda Hoare & Sheila Evans)
Week 5:
Early: Bob Mullins & David Pisoni | Late: Jerry Casburn, Reno Elms
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact:
Pam Trimmer (T) 8293 2612; (M) 0415 238 333; e-mail: pamela.trimmer@bigpond.com
Bunnings Mile End Barbeque
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Next Date: Monday 19 March
Morning shift: 8.00am – 12.30pm | Afternoon shift: 12.30 – 5pm
The next Mitre 10 BBQ will be on Saturday 10 March
The Tale End
Patsy is an avid Birdwatcher.
This time she captured the remarkable sight of an aging falcon nesting in a tree.....well spotted!
Time for another round of clever US advertising
(maybe we can also have a really smart Rotary quip.......the editor is willing to fess up 10 bucks for a goody)
