Rotary Club of Caloundra
ABN 32 580 038 247
Club No 17793 ~ District 9600

Youth (New Generations) | Community | International | Vocational

INTERNATIONAL

Gizo project

How many Gizo kids can you get into a ShelterBox tent?

(as a result of the 2 April 07 Tsumani)

Q. Where is Gizo? A. Far western province of Solomon Islands.

February is World Understanding month and as Rotarians we have an opportunity to reach across borders and cultures through service and fellowship. So it is most appropriate that in February 2005 our club joined with the Rotary Club of Glass House Mountains to participate in renovating the Gizo hospital in Solomon Islands. This was our club’s very first goodwill visit to Gizo and was facilitated by the Rotary FAIM program.

The project was to renovate the outpatients area of Gizo Hospital which is desperately under-funded.  We demolished walls and rebuilt new partitions and benches with a glassed area for reception.  Our plan was to redesign the whole outpatients area so it works much better.

Our project required us to take tools (many of which were left at Gizo) but we are also took supplies of medicines and school resources. Each Rotarian in a FAIM team pays their own airfare, accommodation and meals as well as giving up their time. Both Rotary clubs contributed $3000 each for materials, so the total value of this project was in excess of $20k.

Participants:

Glass House Mountains: Mr Trevor Taylor (Team Leader), Mr Mark Harrison, Mr William Hyde

Caloundra: Mr Ian Belcher, Mr Mark Ward, Ms Juliana Neill, Ms Genevieve Neill, Mr Mervyn Paddison, Mr Lyn Roberts

PROJECT VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION

A team of Project Volunteers visited Gizo in February 2006. The team built a toilet block, upgraded classrooms and library and provided water collection points and storage tanks. Two teams (19 Rotarians and Partners) came from Caloundra, Glasshouse Mountains, Maleny, Kawana Waters and Woombye Sunrise. There’s a lot more to hear of this visit and by now they would have forgotten the rain and mud. It’s a good story and a great project.

Kits for Kids

Each year we provide a number of "kits for kids" which are sent to either PNG or the Solomon Islands. In 2004 we completed a joint project with Caloundra State school where 60 desks, many boxes of books, school uniforms and Kits for Kids were delivered to DIK. The school used this event as a major highlight during Education week and we presented the School Council with an appreciation certificate during a full school parade.

DIK

We regularly take part in working bees for DIK at the Wolston Park warehouse. This hands on experience provides a greater appreciation for DIK and had a very rewarding experience.

Youth (New Generations)

We have a strong tradition of providing bursaries to schools within our community as well as sponsoring scholarships at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Mark presents 2010 CSHS bursary to Megan Wyre ~ Dux Year 10

We are also involved with Rotary International’s Youth Exchange Program (YEP) which is probably the most recognised and well respected student exchange program in the world.

In 2003 our outgoing student was Nicholas Leonard who went to Denmark whilst our inbound student was Jordan Fontain from Trial in Canada. Our club did not participate in YEP in 2004.

From July 2005 our inbound student was Henni Hakkarainen from Pieksämäki, a small town in eastern Finland. From January 2006 our outbound student is Phillip Jorgenson who will be exchanging in Austria. Thanks to the following families who hosted Henni:

Date	Location	Rotarian
Jul-Sep 2005	Dicky Beach	Ward family
Sep-Dec 2005	Kawana	Dutton family
Dec05-Jan 2006	Kawana	Barnes family
Jan-Feb 2006	Golden Beach	Strong family
Mar-Apr 2006	Kawana	Reinstra family
May-Jun 2006	Buderim	Jorgenson family

Phillip & Henni

Philip meeting Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar, RI president in Solvenia, Apr06

We also support Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) where we sponsor a young person who has leadership development potential.

In 2005, with the help of Harry Kruze from Cadet, we sponsored Jonathan Purdy. Below is a picture of Jonathan at RYLA (2^nd from right) with trainers and Mo Barnes and Lesley Godwin from our club. RYLA was held at camp Tuchekoi near Gympie.

In 2006 we sponsored Ryan Hurst.

For further information on RYLA visit http://www.rotary9600.org/ryla.htm.

Community

In 2009 we joined a new district literacy project: Tales from the Dillybag. This project provides literacy resources for aboriginal children and our club sponsored Western Cape College at Weipa. The kits contained children's story books and supporting activities for classes to help enhance the story and engage students in reading. The two kits contained 70 picture story books, stationery, digital cameras, teacher’s guide, games, work books and craft materials.

In recent years we have provided the community with valuable support. Examples of recent donations are:

2010: Tranquillity Garden at Caloundra Hospital, new Palliative Care wing

2010: $5000 Sunshine Coast Hospice

2009: $5000 Sunshine Coast Hospice

2008:

2007: $35000 Mobility Courtyard Garden at Caloundra Hospital, Rehab – our biggest project ever for which our club was awarded a RI Significant Achievement Award

2006: $6000 contribution towards a Glidescope (total cost $11000) for emergency anaesthetics/intubation.

2005: $7000 for a Spirometer ($2500) to measure lung capacity + $4500 for an A-Scanner (half funded by club) to be used for the recently commenced Ophthalmology Eye Surgery unit for patients requiring Cataract removal

2004: $3520 for a bair huggaer in operating theatre

2003: $5000 for wish list of various items for new rehabilitation ward
2001: $5000 for a leitz chair (diathermy)
2000: $8200 for 3 electric beds
1999: $5500 for general clinical equipment

As part of the Centenary federation we ran a sausage sizzle to provide breakfast for over 400 "nippers" (juniors in the life saving movement). This was undertaken at the newly developed Celebration Park at Kings Beach.

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations and in conjunction with the Rotary International centennial in 2004/05, we have completed a project at Ben Bennett botanical park in Caloundra.  Our project has provided a BBQ shelter, “rotary pavers” and a sign which pays tribute to Ben Bennett at the entrance to Ben Bennett Park at Queen St, Caloundra. This project was completed in partnership with Caloundra City Council. See our history page for more information on Ben Bennett.

Early in 2005 our club helped with donations and packing of containers (in conjunction with Mercy Ships) for the Tsunami that effected Indonesia, Thailand, Sir Lanka and other parts of Asia.

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Vocational

Each year our club sponsors Pride of Workmanship program which Awards achievements in the workplace.

Pride of Workmanship is an approved Rotary project instigated in 1975 by the Rotary Club of Pennant Hills. The Pride of Workmanship program enables managers in our society to help employees achieve the goal of job satisfaction and publicly recognise them for their efforts.

Participating businesses nominate employees worthy of recognition, not only within the organization, but the wider community. Nominees of the Pride of Workmanship program are presented with a trophy in recognition of their achievements. 

Objectives of the Program

· To promote Vocational Service.

· To encourage Pride of Workmanship in all vocations.

· To provide employers with an opportunity to recognise employees who display the qualities worthy of an Award.

· To encourage favourable workplace relationships and a sense of community pride in individual achievement.

· To provide an opportunity for Rotary to be involved in the community, particularly the business community.

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