Mitchell River, Vic. – Acting Director of the University of Melbourne’s Contemporary Europe Research Centre (CERC), Professor Les Holmes, the University of Melbourne's first exchange student with the University of Vilnius, in Lithuania, Ms. Rachel Croucher, and the honorary Consul for Lithuania in Melbourne, Vic., Mr Andrew Zilinskas, at a presentation of books on Lithuania (see item).

Presentation from Lithuania
The University of Melbourne’s first exchange student with the University of Vilnius, in Lithuania, Ms. Rachel Croucher (second year arts), was a special guest at a presentation of books to Melbourne by the honorary Consul for Lithuania in Melbourne, Vic., Mr Andrew Zilinskas (see photograph).

The books, presented to help cement the partner relationship between the two universities, include recently-published volumes dealing with Lithuania’s history, architecture, politics, laws, foreign policy, culture, higher education and tourist attractions.

They were accepted on Melbourne’s behalf by the Acting Director of the University’s Contemporary Europe Research Centre (CERC), Professor Les Holmes.

Mr. Zilinskas also presented Rachel with a package of brochures and information about Vilnius and Lithuania.

Rachel plans to use her time in Lithuania to study Lithuanian and Russian and a range of politics subjects toward gaining her University of Melbourne arts degree.

Rachel believes the experiences gained as a Rotary Club of Mitchell River, Vic., Rotary Youth Exchange Program student to Germany in 1998 has given her the confidence and insight to the issues involved in the proposed exchange.

The Rotary Club of Mitchell River has given Rachel the names and contact details of the 24 Rotary clubs in Lithuania, including the Rotary Club of Vilnius. – John Butler.

Huntingdale happy to help
A gift of a $16,000 air-conditioning system has been made by the Rotary Club of Huntingdale, Vic., to the Ronald McDonald House at Monash Medical Centre. Club secretary Ces Hodges and Jilane Matinga, (the club’s representative on the Ronald McDonald House board) presented a cheque for $A16,200 to House chairman Bob May at a special dinner hosted at the house to thank the Rotary club for the generous gift.

“Air conditioning in summer will make an enormous difference to our house,’’ said manager Jenny Hill. “Families under stress will now have a cool environment to come back to after a long day spent at their child’s bedside.

We are all so grateful to the Rotary Club of Huntingdale for the magnificent donation.’’

Jilane Matinga said Huntingdale Rotarians were thrilled to be able to provide assistance in such a practical way. “This is just one of the benefits of being in Rotary’’ said Jilane who passed on President Doug Bowden’s comments of “the Rotary club is delighted at being able to continue its support of Ronald McDonald House in such a tangible way’’.

As ongoing supporters of this special home for families of seriously ill children, Huntingdale Rotary has funded various projects since the house opened eight years ago (see photograph).