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This week’s meeting Wednesday 18th February 2009 http://www.rotaryboxhillcentral.org.au
President Greg’s Report for Week in Review, ending Feb 11th,
2009: What
a long time a week can be. This time last week, the fires that have
devastated so many Victorian communities were only just starting. The anguish
at the loss and suffering has led to a massive outpouring of community spirit
and assistance. With funds raised to assist those affected now over $100
million, Rotary has marshalled all of our Districts to ensure a coordinated
approach. The
funds raised and assistance being organised will go beyond the immediate
urgent relief required, to ensure that we can provide assistance in the
months and, indeed, years ahead as the rebuilding of lives and property takes
place. A multitude of relief agencies are providing the immediate assistance
and Rotary has contributed to this with an immediate donation of 50
Shelterboxes (for which a plea has been distributed for funding to cover the
cost). I
have been contacted by a friend in Kinglake who has asked that the message be
circulated that the greatest need and desire is for assistance to facilitate
families being able to stay on their properties in order that their community
can stay intact. As such the most useful physical assistance is the provision
of caravans and generators. The offers of accommodation elsewhere, whilst
appreciated, are not what these displaced families want. The fear is that in
trying to help, the various organisations and Government bodies will impose a
solution that will force the fragmentation of these tight little communities. Please
consider such issues in your circle of influence and in your actions and
prayers as the weeks ahead turn into months. A
reminder that practical and immediate assistance can be provided by donating
mattresses, blankets and pillows to Eastern Emergency Relief. .President
Greg From your Editor: None of us could have imagined
that a natural disaster of this magnitude (the biggest in our nation’s history)
could have happened so quickly and with such deadly force – and in our own
back yard. A number of images follow
(found on the internet); these will remind us and our many friends of the
Club who receive this Bulletin in other States and Overseas, of those many
families who have lost so much; loved ones, homes, pets, livelihoods and
irreplaceable memorabilia – gone for ever. Rotary has been quick to set up
some very helpful facilities to enable us to best channel our resources to
assist those who have suffered so much (see details below). The following editorial from
the Herald Sun sums up the week. They warned us it was going to
be bad. But no one was prepared for the apocalypse that
gripped us. The ferocity of the
bushfires indiscriminately claimed the young
and old, every-day Aussies, the infirm,
the famous, the rich and the poor. First there was the sheer
speed of the firestorm as it
ravaged everything in its path. Then came the daily torture of revised death tolls. The tragedy became a disaster. But while we grieved, Australians did what we have always done best:
we started rolling up our sleeves and helping each other. The fortitude of the survivors
helped lift the hearts of all of us.
If they could see a way forward, the rest
of us just had to do our bit as well. And so the healing process has
begun. As millions and millions of
dollars tumble in, so do offers of
food and clothing and volunteer, support. Later there will be more said
and done about what went wrong on that
terrible Saturday. But right now, let's remember
the victims and help the
survivors. We have been brought to our
knees, but we are not broken. If you wish to contribute as
part of the Rotary Family, donations can be made
to a District Bushfire Relief Fund via our District
Treasurer, David Mair. These funds will be set aside and in consultation with
the four other Victorian District Governors, we will
distribute these funds to the areas of the greatest
need. Cheques should be made payable to Rotary District 9810-Fire
Relief and mailed to David Mair at
Devastation from Kinglake West looking towards
Melbourne, Picture by David Geraghty Report from Last Week’s Meeting (Feb 11th) by Roving Reporter
Michael Kirk. The
Club had two speakers for the price of one last Wednesday. The first was
Caroline Ford, the club’s nominees for the Group Study Exchange team to Caroline
gave us a very different style of talk about herself to that which we
normally hear (and see) from GSE representatives. Instead of a power point
show made in preparation for showing overseas which identifies where the
representative comes from, and pictures family, friends, pets etc., Caroline
talked about herself. She spoke movingly about what she believes, as opposed
to what she does (specialising in personal injury compensation at Member Behind the
Badge. Kath
(full maiden name Kathryn Monica O’Loghlan, a broth of a girl indeed!) Ronan
was raised in Findon South In
1981 the family moved to Armed
with her degree, Kath commenced work at Outside
of work Kath has been involved in Care Ring as a telephone counsellor. She
enjoys travel (especially Kath
identified her mother as being the greatest influence in her life. She also
said that a doctor she worked had said to her “you can do anything you like
if you want to work for it.” This had proved to be the catalyst which caused
her to return to study and reframe her life. She also paid credit to Dr. Lee
Hamley (former CEO Box Hill Hospital who spoke to the Cluster Clubs at dinner
a couple of years ago regarding future plans for the hospital) who is the
Chief Medical Officer of the Alfred Hospital/Southern Healthcare. Kath’s
talk was clearly a very honest and open exposure of herself and was greatly
appreciated by all those present. We feel very fortunate that she has joined
our club.
Kath Ronan
impressed us with her dry wit and stories of endless energy and exceptional
achievement; it is a delight to have Kath as a member of our Club. Attendance Report for
Last Week’s Meeting (Feb 4th 2009) by Listed below are Apologies for and Make-ups advised for the
September 3rd meeting. Remember that to be counted towards attendance,
Make-ups may be made 14 days prior to, or following, a missed meeting date.
Notice of Apology prior to a meeting should be
made to Likewise if you are bringing a guest, similar notice would be
appreciated beforehand if at all possible.
Future Meetings:
Important Dates: 2009
Celebrations:
Desk Duties/Greeting
Roster 2009:
Roving Reporter Roster:
Eastern Emergency Relief
Roster:
Thought for the Week:
District 9810 website - for all the news in our Rotary district Rotary eClub one - Rotary eClub One For contributions
and improvement ideas please email the editor, bmcewen@optusnet.com.au |
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