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From the Governor

During September, as well as continuing with club visits, I had the opportunity to attend the District Governor Symposium and Zone 8 conference in Christchurch New Zealand. As it was my first visit to the city since the major earthquake in 2011, I was shocked by the level of damage which occurred in the centre of the city (as evidenced by the vacant lots and the building work still continuing). However, spirits in the city are high and the inhabitants are just getting on with life. It is still a beautiful and very English city with lots of things to do. It was rewarding to spend time with our DG classmates, discuss common issues and share ideas.

The ruins of Christchurch Cathedral looking at where the spire was.

We were also fortunate to be joined at the symposium and a dinner with all the Australian and New Zealand DGs by RI President Mark Moloney and his wife Gay. It was a most enjoyable social gathering.

RI President Mark and wife Gay joining us for dinner in Christchurch

At the Zone level, (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands) Rotary International has approved of a regional pilot project to establish a regional structure to significantly increase the reach and impact of Rotary and Rotaract in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. A planning group has been formed to develop this project and they will be looking for input to a series of reference groups.

RI President's message

Mark Daniel Maloney

President 2019-20

October 2019

Rotary's long-term, sustained battle against polio has defined our organization for decades. We have a right to be proud of all that we have accomplished through the years.

Our progress is real and noteworthy. In 1988, polio was endemic in 125 countries, with more than 350,000 new cases a year worldwide. Since then, Rotary and our Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners have reduced the incidence of polio by more than 99.9 percent, vaccinated more than 2.5 billion children against the virus, and prevented 18 million cases of paralysis. Over the years, Rotary has helped country after country move into the polio-free column. This includes India, which some considered impossible not long ago. Of the three types of poliovirus, type 2 has been eradicated and type 3 could soon be certified as eradicated. Nigeria has not reported a case of wild poliovirus in nearly three years. If this trend holds, we will be down to just one type of wild poliovirus in only one section of the world, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

There are major challenges in that region. But it is crucial that we remain optimistic. Look at all that we have accomplished so far. This is no time to get discouraged or to think that the task is impossible. We will end polio forever, but only if we remain steadfast and vigilant. World Polio Day is a time for Rotarians from all over the globe to come together, recognize the progress we have made in our fight against polio, and plan the action we must take to end polio forever. The key word is action, because we still have important work to do.

This year, we want to see as many Rotary clubs as possible holding World Polio Day events around the world. Need some ideas? How about organizing a viewing party for friends and club members to watch Rotary's Online Global Update? You could also dedicate a club meeting to World Polio Day or create a fundraising event. Remember, every dollar raised is matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Once you have created an event, register it at endpolio.org/register-your-event. Then promote it using the World Polio Day toolkit, available at endpolio.org/world-polio-day.

Mark your calendar to tune in to Rotary's World Polio Day Online Global Update on 24 October. This year we will stream our program on Facebook in multiple time zones around the world. Visit the Rotary International Facebook page to RSVP to your region's program. And do not forget to follow the event on social media and share it with your network.

When we reach our goal, polio will become only the second human disease eradicated on the planet, and Rotary will receive international acclaim. But what matters most is the children who will never again have to face this terrible, disabling virus. Rotary must continue to connect the world in the effort toward polio eradication. It is up to us. Let us finish the job.

Another reason to go to the Convention

Now, while I would not want to encourage overindulgence in alcohol, I have just found this information about one of the Rotary Fellowships meeting in Honolulu for the RI Convention. it might be an incentive to attend?

Hawaiian Beer Party Benefits WASRAG (Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group)

The Rotarian Fellowship, Beers Rotarians Enjoy Worldwide (B.R.E.W.) has donated thousands of dollars to WASRAG over the past few years, by holding an event during the RI Convention. This year on June 7, 2020 they have rented the entire Honolulu Beerworks. Those attending the Hawaiian Beer Luau will enjoy a beer inspired meal and taste beers brewed fresh onsite.

Tickets are LIMITED to the first 140 participants. To purchase your ticket go to Hawaiian Beer Luau.

The plus in Polio Plus

When we talk about PolioPlus, we know we are eradicating polio, but do we realize how many added benefits the program brings? The “plus” is something else that is provided as a part of the polio eradication campaign. It might be a hand-operated tricycle or access to water. It might be additional medical treatment, bed nets, or soap. A 2010 study estimates that vitamin A drops given to children at the same time as the polio vaccine have prevented 1.25 million deaths by decreasing susceptibility to infectious diseases.

To find out more about the "plus" click here.

Public Image

What does your roadside sign say about your club?

Is your Roadside sign looking worse for wear or displaying the wrong meeting information?

Then its time to replace it.

Making sure our roadside signs are in good condition and use the correct branding is an important, and easy, step we can take to help create the right impression about our Clubs, and our organi-sation.

The Rotary Club of Manly’s transformation to a new sign (below) is a great example of what can be done.

If you can only afford to do one thing to raise your Club’s public image this year, updating your roadside signs is the way to go!

End Trachoma - Progress so far

Posted by Michael Milston on Nov 06, 2019

Stamping out Trachoma - Update Sept 2019

Posted by Michael Milston on Sep 01, 2019

During the Griffith DisCon19 we were inundated with stamps from far and wide. There were collections and stamp albums, someone even included their love letters inside the envelopes! (No we didn't read them, and suggested they might like to keep the contents

). And since then people are continuing to collect their used stamps which can be sold to dealers, with all funds going to the End Trachoma program.

YOU CAN HELP PREPARE THE STAMPS YOU SAVE. We have included a special guide to help prepare the stamps for sale.

Graffiti Removal Day

Past District Governor Bob Aitken is chair of Graffiti Removal Australia and is encouraging Rotarians to become involved in Graffiti Removal Day on October 27th.

From the Governor

Posted by John McKenzie

Already we are into August and the time has flown. Fayah and I have been busy with club visits and have reached the halfway point. It has been most enjoyable and has reinforced the power of Rotary to connect and change lives as our Rotary International President Mark Moloney has said.

All clubs visited so far have been conscious of increasing our reach by exploring ideas to encourage more people to join us in our clubs and service activities. A useful resource can be found at Rotary.org/flexibility which gives a range of ideas and tools to consider in making a club more attractive to new members.

It was a pleasure to be invited by the Rotary Club of Cowra to plant a tree at Europa Park, a tradition for all recent District Governors. We put on plenty of mulch so hopefully it will survive through the drought.

This District Newsletter/bulletin is for all our members, so if you have something you would like to promote or have a good story to tell about club activities or a project please let me know.

Rotary Drought Initiative

from Mike Whitehouse, Treasurer RAWCS

Rotary was requested by the Commonwealth Government to assist in the distribution of the $30 million, announced in October 2018 by the Prime Minister, for financial assistance to farming families impacted by the severe drought impacting Australia from FNQ to Victoria. This request came in recognition by the Government of the extraordinary effort by the RAWCS eight drought relief projects in distributing $2.4M of the $10.1M raised in the Channel Nine/ RAWCS/NFF appeal.

RAWCS received $6.5M of the $30M from the Drought Communities Support Initiative [DCSI], the balance being received by the Salvos and Vinnies.

In the period January to May 2019, these same RAWCS eight drought relief projects distributed grants to 3,405 drought impacted families. The logistics of identifying each of these families, assessing they met the criteria and delivering gift cards has been the greatest act of service by Rotary in Australia. Literally hundreds of individual Rotarians and so many Rotary clubs throughout the drought impacted area have given their best in this Rotary service. The mantra of “Wellbeing not Welfare” resonated as Rotarians visited farming families; “we care, how can we assist, accept gift cards for everyday items such food, fuel, farm supplies and come and join us, with other farming families, for a barbeque”. It was about addressing the issues of mental health resulting from prolonged drought.

Cost versus Value

Article by RC PDG John Prendergast

We regularly seem to hear the complaint that Rotary is too expensive, and that this cost is a deterrent to attracting new members.

So, what does Rotary cost us each year? I reckon about $1,680.32.

My Club subscriptions are a very low $200 per year – consciously kept low because we have a number of members on fixed incomes. We are able to have a low sub because every year we deliver telephone books around our city, and the funds we earn from that project are used to offset some of the costs of running our Club.

So, $200 a year doesn’t seem like a deterrent to attracting new members.

Food Plant Solutions

Established in 2007, the Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group creates publications that help people understand the connection between plant selection and nutrition, and empowers them to grow a range of highly nutritious plants which have different seasonal requirements and maturities. The work is underpinned by a database of edible plants for all countries of the world.

NSW Police Awards