Presidential ponderings from P2 (David Rowell)
P2 marvelled at the kaleidescope sunrise this morning and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Did you know that 1945 was a very good year because...
- UN charter was signed
- Nuremberg trials began
- Great Train Robbery ocurred (1963)
- Roger Federer was born today (1981), and
- The 888 Myanmar uprising began (1988)
Guest Speakers - Dennis Phillips and Denzel Walsh "Aid Projects in South Sudan and Beyond"
Father Sam was involved in constructing a 250-bed hospital named Mary Help Hospital, furnished with rejuvenated equipment from hospitals around Perth along with Sister Gracie who has been in South Sudan for 36 years.
Together they've also started a nursing home, technical college, elementary, primary, and senior schools, and feed approximately 1.2 million people a day. Currently they are gathering equipment, anything which can help get street kids in Fiji off the streets and into a trade.
The organization has expanded to other countries like Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Sri Lanka and Fiji, building schools and providing equipment. Sister Gracie teaches locals to grow crops and barter their surplus with other local communities. They have sent over 20 containers of supplies, costing $5,000 per container plus shipping, with Sister Gracie fundraising for the $15,000 transport cost from Mombasa to Wow.
Currently, they are preparing containers for Fiji (technical equipment) and Sudan (medical equipment). Sister Gracie gets some help from the UN and Father Sam's brother in Germany, who facilitates doctors visiting the hospital.
Another project being undertaken back in India, where they re trying to build 36 homes for the untouchables (as the Indian people or the Indian government would call them). They are destitute people, left to fend for themselves, but this project was stopped by the government, indicating that they didn't want foreigners to invest in their projects.
The local government tried to take over the hospital, but the Archbishop intervened. St. John's Ambulance has promised ambulances.
How can we help? If you hear of anyone,or any hospital who is wanting to dispose of any equipment - anything medical, just let Dennis know and give him contact details. He will sort out things from there, make contact with the people concerned and take it from there. They have two trucks, and can pickup.
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
- Veronica: Ride the Train to End Polio on 24 October. Wear your red T-shirt and ride the train or just wear it all day long! Join us at Yagan Square at 6pm for an aerial photograph and see the Council House lit up red! Please register (free) at https://www.trybooking.com/DDQKM and/or order your T-shirt $20. Help us to make this the BIGGEST Rotary gathering - EVER!
- Rotary Down Under (RDU) magazine out now - hard copies available or in your emails - yours truly is featured along with all of our other Zone DG's.
- Joy: Volunteers needed for SOS on Wednesdays. We'll add you to the What'sApp group to keep you informed of the Roster. Form coming round now so please help if you can.
- Tricia: This morning's visit to the Child Research Lab will be heading off straight after the meeting. Need to be there by 9am for the 45 minute tour. Coffee afterwards at nearby coffee shop.
- Wayne: Mill Point will be entering John Tidman's car in the Global Hand Charity event "Offtraq" which has taken off from the BulldustNBack. Support is needed to raise funds for our Charity account. Watch this space for further details.
- Kelly: Tree planting next Thursday 14th. Email and map sent to all members and is up on social media as well as under Events in this Bulletin. Please RSVP to Kelly asap.
The Fine(s) Art of Jenny!
- E-rideables in the news, any owner, or anyone who has had an encounter and lived to tell the tale
- All 'Tap-and-go' users - reported that the 6% surcharge is about to be dismantled but banks to explore strategies to recoup what they are about to loose!
- Dockers fans after loss to Sydney Swans at the weekend
- Sunshine devotees - after torrential rain the sun shined tempting gardeners out into the fresh air with secateurs, mowers, veggie planters and manure-ists!
- All AI show-offs who have 'dabbled' this week. Especially those of you who were phoned by "Paul" (re your sought after doctor's appointment) who turned out to be a little fresh - for a robot!
- Pet owners - eat your hearts out - $1 per Fur-Baby as you can look forward to luxury treatment in the proposed $10m vet facility at Murdoch!
Winner of Heads and Tails
Tosser of the week Kelly Gillen threw a
Attendance
31attendees in all, including guest speakers Dennis Phillips and Denzel Walsh, along with soon-to-be-members Carole and Shaun O'Brien.
