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Town & Country Weekly

Your e-Zine from District 9800

Volume 3  Issue 37 5 April 2007

 

DG Bernie's Weekly Message
OPERATION SOLOMON ISLANDS

Because of the disastrous earthquake just out of Gizo that caused tidal wave damage to the Solomon Islands, I have given this story preference this week.

The earthquake epicentre was near Gizo where Rotary District 9600 has a Rotary Club. DG Mike Gregory (D.9600) has written the following update:

"I am sure that you are all well aware of the earthquake and subsequent tidal wave that devastated the Western and Choisel Provinces of the Solomon Islands on 2nd April. Reports so far indicate that, fortunately, loss of life has been minimal but damage to villages and infrastructure is extensive and they will require a lot of help well into the future. D9600 has a Rotary Club in Gizo, capital of Western province, and we also have a Rotary Community Corps at Munda. As the airport at Gizo has been inundated, all relief work is being channelled through the airport at Munda. Many coastal villages have been swept away and some islands have had their sole supply of fresh water contaminated so urgent need is to provide shelter, water and food. ShelterBox has agreed to 200 boxes being repositioned ready to distribute when DGN Wayne Morris of the Rotary Club of Honiara has sorted out the logistics with the Government and RAMSI. So, support for ShelterBox is the best way we can help in the short term."

Rotary always operates best in times of crisis and when the need is felt by our neighbours. This one such case and I ask all Clubs and Rotarians to consider helping as much and as quickly as possible.

Club donations for ShelterBox  are payable to "ShelterBox Australia" and should be forwarded to Rotary Club of Kew, PO Box 101, Kew Vic. 3101. For taxation deductibility, make your cheques payable to "ShelterBox RAWCS". General donations should be made by cheque payable to "RAWCS Overseas Aid Fund" and be sent c/- Gary Gunnell, PO Box 807, Strathfieldsaye, 3551. Donations will be tax deductible.

In agreement with the Trustees, $6,000 will be allocated from the District 9800 Disaster Relief Fund for Operation Solomon Islands. This will be sufficient for 5 ShelterBoxes.

Lead The Way and assist the Solomons.

Bernie Walshe

District Governor

 

 

Calendar of Events:
Click here

                               
         SHELTERBOX AUSTRALIA
                  ROTARY CLUB of KEW 

                  SOLOMON ISLAND TSUNAMI

As further comment on from the information in DG Bernie's message this week, the news following the earthquake and tsunami in Solomon Islands is coming through slowly. PDG  Ray Stewart, ShelterBox Australia, has  spoken today with DG Michael Gregory of D9600 who advised that communications are down with radio contact only.  Airports have been wiped out and the main problem will be water - lack of and contamination after the waves washed away water wells. See details above in the message from DG Bernie.

Local teams have been sent from Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, to assess the damage from the Tsunami.

Tom Henderson  ShelterBox UK advises that "the need exists… the need persists".  Donations to purchase more ShelterBoxes will be greatly appreciated, especially at this time.

Click here if you prefer to use a credit card to make your payment

 

APRIL IS ROTARY MAGAZINE MONTH

 

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CLUBS

RC Albert Park    
The Club will not meeting on Wednesday April 25 due to the Anzac Day public holiday

RC Altona            NEW
The big 2007 Gala Auction Night and Dinner will be held on 13 April at 7 for 7.30pm at St. Paul's College
Cnr Chambers & Blackshaws Rd, Altona North.             Click here for full details

RC Bendigo-Strathdale       
RC Bendigo-Strathdale will be presenting a musical "On The Road Again" at the Capital Theatre, View Street, Bendigo; Friday 13th April, 2007 at 8pm.  Tickets $33.00 from the Capital Theatre 54346100. 
Presented in conjunction with Focal Point Australia.
"On The Road Again" celebrates the songs & music that have made Willie Nelson & Roy Orbison true legends.  In the last 12 months the show has been sold out at many National & International venues.
Click here for details

RC Brighton North          NEW
The regular Club meeting for Wednesday 11 April has been cancelled and instead will be substituted by the Club's Dinner Auction on Friday 13 April

RC Canterbury     NEW
An Evening with Bud Tingwell - Monday 16 April 2007 7:30pm
Please join us for a special evening of music and conversation when ace bomber pilot and actor Bud Tingwell joins us to talk about his long and fascinating life.
Supporting him will be outstanding young a capella group VOICEBOX who will sing a bracket of popular music before and after Bud's presentation. 
All funds raised go to Belmore School, a school for children with physical and multiple disabilities.
Phone: Brian 0405 124 958 or Lynn 0408 324 421
The Bass Centre, 2 Rochester Rd, Canterbury (Mel 46 D10)             Ticket price $25
Click here for Details and registration form

RC Daylesford             
Easter Art Exhibition & Golf Day
Daylesford Town Hall - Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday (April 7th, 8th and 9th)
Free entrance to Exhibition. Cocktail Party on the Saturday evening 6.00 till 8.00pm - $12.00 per person.
Booking 53 48 1112 (essential for catering purposes).
Golf Day April 21st - Hepburn Spa Golf Course.
2 Person Ambrose Competition. Contact Paul Johnston on 5348 1122
Click here for details about both these events

RC Essendon            NEW
Essendon member Jorgen Bobenko has had a very serious bike accident, coming off his bike at around 70kmh. He is still in rehabilitation and will be unable to work for some time. Jorgen is a member of the group of Rotary bike riders that has done many thousands of kilometres with on his numerous rides to conference to raise funds for the Children's Hospital Neonatal Heart Clinic. The group is having a fund raiser event to assist his family.         Click here for details

RC Keilor      
On Sunday the 6th May the Keilor Monthly Market will include a CAR SHOW. Cars displayed 9.00am - 1.30pm
Adults admission is $5.00 (children under 16 free).
Display Car entrant fee $10.00          Contact Joe Raimondo Mob. 0418 349 465
Location: Historic Keilor Hotel, Old Calder Highway Keilor, Melways Map 14, Ref J6

RC Keilor East     
RC Keilor East is running a Gala Trivia Night on Friday 4th May at the Italian Club , Keilor Park Drive , Keilor East commencing at 6.30 pm for a 7.00 pm start.
Tables of 10 are available at $10 per head and the night will include a silent auction as well as the usual trivia night games. Proceeds will go towards our Western Autistic School's playground replacement project. Click here for details

RC Melton Valley      UPDATED
The Rotary Club of Melton Valley is conducting its annual Sing With the Stallions event on 15th April 2007. The Victorian Concert Orchestra will be playing at the Concert along with a number of Equine displays of national standard. For further information Click here

RC Prahran         NEW
Due to the Easter Monday holiday and instead of the Club's usual weekly meeting on Monday 9th April, the  Club will undertake a joint meeting with Melbourne South Club at Club Tivoli on Friday, 13th April at 1.00pm

RC Toorak       
DINNER with GEMMA SISIA - Monday 30 April 2007 6.30pm for 7.00pm
Founder of the School of St Jude in Tanzania to launch her book "St Jude's"                     
Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club      Williams Road North, Toorak
Ticket price $50                                 Click here for Details and registration form

RC Woodend    
Normie Rowe concert and Dinner to fund raise for an International Water project in PNG.
Dining Hall Braemar College Woodend - Friday 11 May 2007 7pm
3 course dinner and show $75 per person.      Drinks at bar
Bookings: 54271629 Tables of 8 available.

  1. DINNER WITH BILL & LORNA BOYD      UPDATED

    Dinner to be held on 2nd June at 6.30 for 7.00pm
    Moonlight Receptions, 622 Nicholson Street, North Fitzroy
    Pre-dinner drinks and canapes followed by two course dinner (includes beer, wine, champagne and soft drinks)
    Car parking has been arranged. All this for only $60
    All Clubs should be represented for this visit by our World President.
    This     dinner will cater for the five Districts in Victoria plus Tasmania and a total of 600 can be accommodated so book early to ensure a place.
    Booking details will be advised soon

  2. APPLICATIONS FOR AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARS, WORLD PEACE FELLOWSHIPS & UNIVERSITY TEACHERS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2008 / 2010 ROTARY YEAR
    Application process & eligibility: www.rotary.org/foundation/educational            
    Please contact District Foundation Chairman Chris Don     for additional information                      

                   

  3. APPLICATIONS FOR ROTARY WORLD PEACE SCHOLARS        
    Click here for details of how Rotary Clubs may nominate a suitable candidate to apply for a Rotary World Peace Scholarship

  4. FAREWELL DINNER FOR OUR GSE TEAM             UPDATED
    The     farewell dinner is being hosted by the RC of Chadstone/East Malvern for our District GSE team travelling to the Netherlands will be held at The Kooyong Tennis Club on April 24th at 7.00PM.  Cost $45.00 - Drinks at bar prices
    Click here for more details

  5. GSE TEAM UPDATE  
    The team now has a weblog which is fully up and running. Add http://d9800gse.blogspot.com/ to your Favourites so that you can keep track of what the team is doing now and when they start their exchange in District 1580 in The Netherlands. To date, it includes profiles of the team, events they have spoken at and attendance at the District Conference.     Also don't forget the team's Farewell Dinner on 24th April. Information is on the blog!

  6. Advertise in the District Directory 2007-08         TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
    An opportunity now exists for Rotarians to advertise in the next edition of the 9800 District Directory. A limited number of advertising spaces are being made available, strategically placed to get maximum exposure for you club projects or members' business. Full or half pages in colour or black & white are available starting just $400 for a Half Page B&W. This is a wonderful opportunity to expose your clubs activities or a local business, for over 12 months of the Rotary year 2007-08. Remember every member in the district receives a personal copy of the District Directory.
    If you or someone you know may be interested please call:
    PDG Vance Hilton on 0418564273  or District Secretary Elect Colin Muir on 0412430998

  7. CAFE INTERNATIONAL
    Cafe International 2007: The Golden Globe" promises to be an exciting night of fine dining and sparkling performances inspired by film and television classics over the last 50 years. 2007 also marks the 50th anniversary of International House. In celebration, the student residents have decided to donate 100% of profits from Cafe 2007 to Interplast Australia.             Keep 5th May 2007 free to attend this event.
    Click here for essential details about Cafe 2007 and please indelibly mark Saturday night 5 May 2007 in your diary for "Cafe 2007: The Golden Globe".
    If you have further questions about Cafe 2007, please contact Cafe07@gmail.com        
    District 9800 Rotary Clubs will receive a formal invitation for Cafe 2007 soon

  8. KEALBA INTEGRATION CENTRE                     NEW    
    On March 28th Computers4 Kids&Community Committee and RC Brimbank Central , represented by PP Dawn Watson, and PDG Jeffrey Bird, attended the formal launch of the purpose built Integration Centre at  Kealba Secondary College.   The  local Christian  Church "Enjoy"group's vision of  turning what used to be an under-utilised and unattractive  storage room  into a bright, carpeted, freshly painted and refurbished learning centre, bore fruit through the  generous donations of time, effort, materials and donations from a number of organisations  including ours.  
    The old storeroom room is now transformed into an educational Integration Centre for students with special needs Our role was in organising the donation of  the computers and allied I.T. equipment  for  practical computer-assisted learning and leisure activities  to enable  and broaden students' educational, social and personal development. 
    Click here for a photo

  9. COMPUTERS FOR KIDS PROJECT    UPDATED
    Computers for Kids Project is still seeking some steel shelving for the warehouse. Height say 1800mm and up to 30 bays would be very helpful.      Please speak with Jeffrey Bird or Dawn Watson

  10. RAGMSA     
    Rotarian Action Group of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Cocktail Party on Saturday 21 April to celebrate the 2007 Global Dinners for Multiple Sclerosis to raise awareness about MS.
    Venue: Junior Common Room, International House, 241 Royal Parade, Parkville. 7.30 pm 
    $25/pp for finger food, beer, wine, sparkling & soft drinks. 
    For information contact Teresa Hamilton  Telephone 9747 3445 or 0412 741 854,   Email     t.dhamil@bigpond.net.au
    Click here for more information

  11. Rotary Friendship Tour of South Africa   
    Frank Lean of RC Bendigo has brought to attention the "Friendship Tours of South Africa", a project of the RC Knysna since 1985. Designed to promote better understanding of South Africa & its different cultures, the tours have created goodwill & lasting friendships among more than 600 Rotarians from 17 countries who have joined the tours.
    The 21 day tour is a kaleidoscope of South Africa's top attractions, including Cape Town and the Winelands, Mpumalanga's scenic Panorama Route, a wildlife safari in the Kruger National Park, as well as 2 nights at a private game reserve, Kwazulu Natal and the Drakensberg, the beautiful Garden Route and the tiny kingdom of Swaziland. The pace of the tour is leisurely and 1 night stops are generally avoided. Hotels and lodges have been selected for comfort and charm and 2 nights will be home hosted with Rotary families in Knysna. There will be opportunities for make-up meetings, exchanging of banners and fellowship with Rotarians in South Africa and Swaziland.
    The 2007 tour will be held in November and the itinerary and costs are available from James & Louise Pannell of the Rotary Club of Knysna, South Africa. Email james@pannells.com  Website: www.pannells.com/friendship.htm

  12. CONGRATULATIONS RC WOODEND - 20 TOMORROW
    Sponsored by RC Kyneton the RC Woodend received its charter on 6 April 1987

     

    New Members -     A big Rotary welcome to:                              
    RC Daylesford -       Carol and Brian Hofmeyer
             
                      
    RI Exchange Rate
    The April Rotary exchange rate for the AUD has changed to 1.24
     


    Speakers Bank Update:  Click here
     


    District 9800's website:     http://www.rotaryd9800.org/
     


    You can always check the back issues of Weekly News if you missed something:
    2005-2006 Issue  01  02  03  04  05  06  07  08   09  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23 24       
    25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34  35  36  37   38   39  40  41  42  43  44  45  46  47  48  49  50
    2006-2007: 1  2 3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13 14 15  16  17  18  19 20  21  22  23  24 25  26  27  28  29  
    30   31  32  33  34  35  36