Weekly Club Bulletin - Vol 84 Issue 26 21st February 2022
Pres John Mansour
Rotary Affirmation:
May Rotary friends and Rotary ways help us to serve our community
here and abroad in many ways.
Meeting at Coro88
Nelson on the Park
88 Burwood Road Burwood
6.00 for 6.15
Guest Speaker Athreya Kannan
The Secret of Scams
Pres John opened the meeting at 630 and welcomed all out Guests and partners.
Welcome Elizabeth Farrelly standing as an independent candidate in Strathfield election for the NSW Government. She will be trying to keep the bigger parties honest. She is an architect and well placed to contribute in planning projects and bulidings and green spaces in the area.
The Tree of joy was organised and run by Eurella Community Services. Pres John introduced Patricia Abraham CEO of Eurella and thanked her for doing such a good job at short notice.
Patricia reported to the meeting that this was the first time they had run the Tree of Joy. They didn't know what it entailed but they collected 300 gifts. They distributed them in various ways as well as organising a party for disadvantage children and the Christmas gifts were distributed. They were happy to have helped and the community involvement.
Pres John introduced Marilie Bomediano. She is a Journalist and broadcaster. The Philippines projects. PP Wlater organises containers and sent beds and medical goods to Mindanau. She is happy to write information articles. She can feature a project in print and in radio. She presented an award to the RC Burwood and pp Walter Bock for his ongoing work.
Pres John introduced three Rotarians to relate why they joined Rotary.
Irene Giardino joined after she met Sana. She went along and was impressed at the projects we were doing and wanted to help.
Theo Kapeleris means being a Rotarian means higher ethical standard and being involved in projects such as Polio Plus. Clean water projects and building schools. Raising money for insulin pumps and ROMAC. After he joined his children were involved in Youth Projects. He gained an extended family. .
Keith Weeding”s father was a member of RC Burwood. Went to Rotary not knowing what to contribute but learned to speak publicly. He met his current wife and their anniversary is today. Projects have made a difference locally and internationally. Rotary does not get the publicity it deserves. For instance for polio eradication.
Pres John had a similar story of personal development and lots of friendship.
Fred introduced Marilyn Smith to explain the Early Bird Cafe commitment to the poor five days a week. Member of Sydney cove. Early Bird Cafe running eight years and Rotary involved for six years. Related the story of Morrie who came most days for a chat with breakfast. One day he came in and explained he was going for an interview and as it turned out he is now a Lecturer at Notre Dame. He found someone to live and his life improved. She feels we will improve the lives of the local community. Although it's breakfast they give food for the rest of the day if required. Also provides clothes and other goods the less fortunate can use. Including frozen meals. Corporates and schools are involved as volunteers . Food bank and Oz Harvest also help. Great support from Woolworths with food and volunteers .Soft meals mainly cost about $1.25 each meal Good luck with the project. She answered many questions.
The raffle was drawn. Pres Jjohn closed the meeting at 8.00
It used to be that trains were part of the polio problem, as they gave the poliovirus the perfect way to rapidly spread far and wide. Then, in 2001, trains became part of the solution, with all children aboard Indian trains being immunised. Now, Pakistan has adopted the same strategy, helping to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated
Fellows here is the latest from Juvie in Gingoog, they returned from the Helping Hand mission, and are now preparing for the next. We have some donations coming in, thank you, and will send every dollar over for these missions. Those pictures give an idea of the destruction.
I received another email from Juvie and MinPRA in Gingoog. Somehow, miraculously they avoided much damage to themselves. On the compound it appears two fruit trees came down and the other crop was damaged. On the mountain property the damage was even less. They hate asking for help but they would like to help the island of Dinagat where Vera took a team on a SewAID Mission a couple of years ago.
Rotary Youth Exchange - making a difference - Reflections from a Reunion 30 years later.
The Year is 1991, two busses full of Rotary Exchange Students enter a parking lot in Sydney after 3 weeks around Australia on the “Capricorn Ramble Tour”. Saying goodbye was heart-breaking, knowing that we would soon be back home and maybe never see each other again.
Jumping to September 2021, downtown Frankfurt on a Friday afternoon in brilliant weather. Stepping out of the car to greet 3 people I have not seen for 30 year in front of their hotel.
The Rotary Club of Burwood has created the 50th Anniversary Charitable Trust with the overall charitable purpose of "relieving poverty and the advancement of education or any other matter beneficial to the community". Funds are awarded to persons who satisfy the Trustees that they are financially disadvantaged and are undertaking some form of further study/sporting endeavour beneficial to themselves and to the community in general.
