Venue: Castello's Cucina, Living Choice
Guest Speaker: Maddie Kelly
Guests: Rtn Bronwyn Kenny, John Kelly, Sue Baillie, Rachel Randall, Joylene Fleming & Christine Conole (Unley Probus) and 2 assistants with Rob Freak
Attendance: 23 members 9 guests
Opening
David Middleton promised 'a cracker' of an invocation/ greeting - and extolled the virtues of Rotary. He even brought the marvelous Matildas into his virtuous circle of skill, diversity and dedication.
President John announced that he had received an invitation from RC Edwardstown which is celebrating Legacy Week with a dinner on 25 August at the Grand Lodge Hotel? A wine list has been distributed but there are hard copies for those who have missed out. There appears to be some dispute as to the actual timing of the 50th anniversary of the Thrift Shop but there is an intention to celebrate it on 14 November 2023. ..the club historian Bob Mills is doing more intensive research. Chris Davis has reported that the SA Police Officer of the Year 2023 nomination is with the Police Commissioner.....watch this space for details of Royal Adelaide Show tickets.
Induction of Rachel Randall
President John conducted the induction of Rachel Randall. Virginia Cossid revealed that Rachel had spent 20 years in the Royal Australian Navy as a meteorologist and was one of the first women to serve on an Australian warship during the 1990s. Her tours of duty took her to the US, UK and SE Asia, and has lived in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Perth. She is currently employed forecasting rainfall at the BOM on North Terrace. Her volunteering activities have included serving with the Navy reserves and as a Scout Leader. Her 3 children's ages are 18-21. Partner Steve is an engineer working in Canberra and is expected home soon.
Rachel has the occupational designation of Meteorologist, has been allocated to the International Committee and will have Valerie as a mentor.
Rachel was warmly welcomed into the Club.
Guest Speaker: Maddie Kelly - Tanzania....A story of hope
Brendan Kenny introduced Madeleine who has a twin sister and a brother. She attended St Aloysius College in Adelaide where she first heard of the school of St Jude in 2010...and was moved. When she took up a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology at Adelaide Uni she also worked part time at St Aloysius. In 2016, after watching a St Judes' feature on TV she applied for a communication officer role there, which she won and moved to Tanzania in May 2017 on a 2-year contract. Not wanting to leave, another contract followed when school founder Gemma Sisia asked her to establish the school's alumni association while continuing in a communications role. Gemma asked her to write a book about St Judes which she completed after a year in 2022...entitled "The School That Hope Built". Maddie returned to Australia to reconnect with her loved ones and pursue further educational interests. Brendan, obviously proud of his niece Maddie, imparted that there is a strong social justice thread that runs through the Kelly family.
Maddie revealed that despite the stunning images of the wildlife which inhabit Tanzania the sad reality is that 80% of the population live at or below the poverty line of US$2 per day. Gemma Sisia from Armidale originally went to Uganda at the age of 22 in the 1990s to help educate the poorest of children. Money was raised through the Rotary Club of Armidale Central for scholarships but she discovered that most went into the principals' pockets. Fortunately her safari guide (who she later married) took her across the border into Tanzania where the chief of a village (guide's father) offered her 2 acres of land on which to build a school. And so it began!
A Rotary RAWCS team arrived to build the school but by January 2002 only 3 students had enrolled. With the help of Rotary and other charities, Gemma achieved enrolment of 500 students by 2010. Today there are 1900 students with boarding facilities, a primary campus, a girls' and boys' secondary school plus a combined school for years 11-12. Girls were given higher priority because of their greater disadvantage. There are now 350 staff and it is pleasing to note that the capacity building has enabled a reduction of 30 Australian staff to 5. The selection process for the scholarships is run professionally in order to select those with the innate ability to succeed, from the poorest of families. Exam results from the public schools are used, followed by a month-long process of academic tests, identification proof, family discussions and means tests. From humble beginnings the school now operates on an annual budget of US $8.2m. In 2015 there was a small graduation ceremony from the initial intake......this year there are 230 graduating.
Other impressive statistics include:
- Students on graduation are required to volunteer their services for a year as a thank you. It is estimated that 13,000 students in 41 government schools are receiving tuition through this scheme.
- There are over 350 ex St Judes students currently studying in the 49 universities and, from 2019, 300 have graduated. Some have achieved impressively at home and abroad.
- The school is STEM accredited.
Videos were shown of many happy kids. The alumni established by Maddie is helping poor families.
Maddie was applauded for her inspiring address. President John received a copy of her book 'The School that Hope Built'.
SPOTS
Joylene Fleming, President of Unley Probus, informed members that her fun-loving club of 100 members was 40 years young, met at 10am on the 1st Monday of each month at the Fullarton Parks Community Centre, and provided a wide range of interesting guest speakers plus many enjoyable events. Anyone interested in joining should visit their web page or email: unleyprobus@gmail.com
Patsy Beckett announced a 'special' (for the benefit of champions Stephen and Beverley) car trial on Sunday 29 October.
Valerie Bonython had 3 bites of the cherry:
- She and John Kikkert had interviewed 2 RYPEN candidates and they were of good quality
- $500 is being given to 'Talk Out Loud' an organisation dedicated to youth mental health and suicide prevention
- The next White Ribbon breakfast event will be held 16 November at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
Finale
Not content with 3 spots, Valerie won the filthy lucre and Virginia the chocolates. The Prez is looking into a Christmas dinner option held annually at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
The meeting closed neatly with 2 minutes to spare.
