The world is still reeling from the horrific avalanche that took place in Nepal on 27 August. Thousands of people are still missing along with 35 Australians, and countless villages have been destroyed.
Rotary Club of Balwyn organised to send the proceeds from the collections of the Camberwell Market last Sunday to the rescue mission. They apparently took over three times the normal sum. This is wonderful and is a reflection of people’s care for those in disaster situations.
Our club will be donating a sum of money to the disaster relief. We have asked about providing sachets of food from FOEaMEAL, but the major problem is knowing that this is what is needed, but also actually getting the food on site.
Our speaker of the week, Murray Verso, spoke about another subject which needs resources, the eradication of polio. Poliomyelitis was a scourge in the middle 20th century, and I am old enough to remember seeing patients in iron lungs at Fairfield Hospital. Imagine spending your entire life in a large tube with breathing apparatus to keep you alive. The vaccinations changed the situation completely and if the communities in several small areas in Pakistan, and Afghanistan can be vaccinated, polio may be eradicated completely. This is Rotary’s aim but support is needed and our club will be making a donation this year but private donations are also welcome. We need to keep in mind that October 24 is World Polio Day and maybe our club should consider some activity on the day. I like the idea of a Paws for Polio walk , but I don’t have a dog so club members would be needed to make this a success!
Probably the most important news of this bulletin is the debate at Auburn Bowls Club next Monday 14th September. This will be an inspiring discussion between our younger students and experienced Rotarians . It will be a most thought inspiring debate and one not to be missed. Please attend!
We also have a barbecue at Keiser in Malvern on Saturday 12th September and all proceeds will go to our club. We did this earlier in the year and it was a very relaxed pleasant barbecue and a very nice way of communicating with the Keiser community and therefore possibly interesting their members in Rotary.
During this year we have been trying to support our other cluster club members, and we could do this by organising a table for the dinner for the 50th anniversary of the Camberwell Market at Greenacres on 22nd of September. Please refer to the flyer in this bulletin.
The other activity to remember is that we are having a ceremony at the peace poles in Victoria Park on 20 September. After the ceremony there will be a walk around Victoria Park in recognition of Rotary’s ongoing project to eliminate polio. This will then be followed by a lunch at the Harp Hotel. Please contact Elizabeth Shepherd if you wish to have lunch.
We have been very active over the last few months with multiple projects and you may be pleased to know that a group of us are heading to the Philippines in early October and life in the club will settle until we return.
The goal of this particular campaign in Rotary International is very clear, to eradicate polio from the world. There are three priorities for Rotary - fundraising, raising awareness and advocacy. Murray Verso asked the basic question: Why do we bother? He showed us all that polio is never far from the news.
There are many symptoms which show what polio does, especially in an epidemic. You can have the virus without any symptoms. You can experience paralysis, which is common to children. When ingested, it attacks the nervous system, and most commonly attacks the lower limbs. As old as Ancient Egypt, it emerged in the nineteenth century in the form of an epidemic. Sir MacFarlane Burnet nominated three types of polio virus (types two and three have been eradicated from the world). Some people have lived in an iron lung for sixty years. The same doctor who produced the Sabin vaccine (the spoonful of sugar) also assisted in developing the penicillin vaccine.
Together with the Gates Foundation, Rotary International and the US Government, the campaign to eradicate polio continues. In October, the End Polio Now Walk will take place around Albert Park Lake. Returning to the image of the Snakes and Ladders Board, Murray finalised his presentation by stating that even if it is, it is a game that we can win.
The question session following the presentation fielded some interesting aspects of the End Polio Now initiative. Whe referring to the declining rates of immunisation in Australia, Murray highlighted the presence of misinformation. He also mentioned the impact of the social cost of not supporting polio vacciniation programs. Murray gave us a particularly pointed perspective in dealing with polio as a disease in the young and the residual symptoms which elderly patients are compelled to live with. It is a profoundly significant program for Rotary International and for the world.
September 21st each year is the International Day of Peace, or World Peace Day.
Last year, on this day, the Rotary Clubs of Canterbury and Kew held a ceremony to unveil four Peace Poles in Victoria Park, Kew.
This year, and in future years, we plan to hold a ceremony at the Peace Poles on World Peace Day (our ceremony this year will necessarily be the day before, on Sunday September 20th) to rededicate our Peace Poles and continue to acknowledge the paramount importance of Peace in the world. We need to renew our efforts to do what we can to contribute to this in our own lives.
After the ceremony there will be a walk around Victoria Park in recognition of Rotary’s ongoing project to eliminate polio from the world. We ask those who choose to walk to give a donation to this cause.
Following the walk, at 12 noon, participants are encouraged to join us at the Harp Hotel, 636 High St. Kew for lunch. The Harp is an easy walk or a very short drive from Victoria Park.
The Rotary Clubs of Canterbury and Kew Invite you to join us on Sunday September 20th at 10.30 am at the Peace Poles at Victoria Park, Adeney St Kew.
By fostering peace in our own lives and in our community, we play our part in aiding world peace.
Regards,
Elizabeth Shepherd, Rotary Club of Canterbury
Pam Norton, Rotary Club of Kew
RSVP for lunch: Elizabeth (0419121059) or Pam (0409667552) by Sept. 18th.
Another packing event was held at St. Leonard’s College in Brighton East this Tuesday.
A small group of 34 students instead of the anticipated 50 students, managed to pack 13,000 meals in the 1.5 hours.
Thanks to our team of President Jill, David, Kyle, Rob, Marg and the RC Brighton members namely: Amelie, Seng, Glenys, Rob and Ulyana, a Monash University full time student and Ukrainian Refugee who joined the team for the first time, our tasks were well covered and completed readily.
Parking was an issue due to building construction works on site and with a few moves to avoid the parking inspectors all were managed.
Our next event is Thursday next week at Scotch College in Hawthorn.
The Canterbury Rotary Club lunch group usually meets bi-weekly at 12.30 for a meal and some fun.
David Zrna looks after the reservations for the lunch group. Please contact David at david.zrna@canterburyrotary.org or on 0467033092 to advise that you will be coming to a lunch.
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