Last meeting we welcomed our special guest, Past President and Past Burwood Rotarian, Peter Hamer. Peter is well known to many as he was a Burwood Rotarian for 28 years. Peter was a principal at a local school and became interested in Burwood Rotary after attending PRISCA. Just goes to show that our work with the local community can attract members!
Peter spoke to us about the project he and Walter Bock have been involved in in the Philippines. The project is referred to as SHEP, Sexual Health Education by Pictures. The Philippines and Southeast Asia has the highest number of unplanned pregnancies in the world and it is evident that education is the answer. This program, that was written by a Rotarian on the south coast of NSW, is very graphic, showing in great detail, the female and male bodies reproductive organs and how they work. Young girls of only 13 are getting pregnant because a lot of times they are unaware of the consequences of having unprotected sex. Quite often these young girls are forced by their parents to leave their homes and end up in prostitution, as the only way to survive. Earlier this year Walter and his team visited the Philippines to deliver SHEP, they visited 44 schools and sometimes conducted 22 classes in one day. The team trained five ladies to deliver the classes and after only two days, the ladies took over. It is hoped these ladies will teach more to continue the program throughout the country. Education is the key and knowledge is power! Well done Peter and Walter! Rotarians are definitely People of Action!
Last meeting we discussed the procedure for when our meetings fall on a public holiday. It was agreed that we would hold a social event on 7th October when this next occurs. Members have said they want more fellowship, so we will see how this goes?
Our stand in sergeant for the evening, PP Sana, proved to be even more vicious than PP Irene! She actually fined everyone and I still don’t know where we went wrong?? I think we will be welcoming PP Irene back this week with open arms!
We need help for our first Bunnings BBQ 31st August. Please let PP Keith Weeding know if you can do a shift? Maybe you could bring a friend or family member?
On Thursday 22nd August, I attended the District Presidents meeting at Bankstown Sports Club. It was our first meeting for the new Rotary year. Our current District Governor Warwick Richardson announced that Sue Hayward would take over as DG on 1st November for the following four months. The main emphasis of the evening was on Governance and what our obligations are at this time of year. I will discuss this further with the Board.
The Regionalisation Pilot is well underway and on Saturday 24th August, I will attend the first Rotary Community Group workshop for Zone 8, this is now known as Rotary Pacific. I will report on this at our meeting.
If you have not already done so, please pay your biannual membership fees.
Please remember to send your apologies to Past President Sergeant Irene if you are unable to attend a club meeting.
If you have any articles you would like to see in Spoke, please send them to me at
denniseh100@gmail.com Spoke is produced the week before each meeting and the deadline for the Monday issue is 5 pm the Thursday before.
Our next meeting Monday 26th August we will have a Board Meeting at 7.15 pm but all members are invited to stay on if they wish.
Looking forward to seeing you all on Monday night! Have a great weekend.
My favourite quote for the week…
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success”. - Henry Ford
President Dennise
