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LATITUDE 38N e w s l e t t e r

Rotary District 9820Issue 11 - May 2012

Australian Rotary Health Month

FROM THE GOVERNOR’S DESK.

May is the month in which we recognise the achievements of AUSTRALIAN ROTARY

HEALTH.

From its beginnings thirty years ago, it has achieved amazing results. It was the vision of Ian Scott from the Rotary Club of Mornington, and it has developed into one of Australia’s principal supporters of Medical research. It was initially established to provide grants for research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and now supports a wide range of research, and provides funds for often neglected areas of health. The support of Rotarians and Rotary Clubs around Australia has assisted ARH fund close to $29 million worth of medical research.

Over the final weekend of April, in Traralgon, we held our final President’s Elect Training Seminar, and our District Assembly. “PETS” is the final training occasion for our 2012 – 13 Club Presidents, and it was an inspiring event, providing them with a wonderful opportunity to develop their plans for their Clubs.

Table of Contents.

DG’s Message P1

National Youth Science Forum P2

Cambodia Diaries P3 - P4

GSE Welcome Home Dinner P5

Popua Village P6

Mental Health Awareness P7

Bowelscan P8

RAWCS P9

District Changeover P10

District Assembly Images P11 - 12

Follow up of Nepal Hearing

Project P13

Club Events List P14

The Assembly, at Lavalla College, was very well attended by enthusiastic Rotarians from across the District. A “First Time” feature was the inclusion of a “Rotary Market Place”, which provided a wonderful opportunity to display the various programs that are being conducted in the District, as well as providing an occasion for Clubs to “show off ” their range of projects. The weekend included several excellent guest presenters, as well as experienced District personnel, covering a range of topics of interest to all those present. I offer my congratulations to our District Trainer, PDG Brian Norris and his team, as well as many others for a most enjoyable and informative weekend. Make certain that you note the District Assembly in your diary for next year.The Bangkok International Convention is also being held this month. This proves to be a wonderful occasion in this exotic location. With over 40,000 members and partners registered to attend, it will be a memorable occasion. We have a good number of members from District 9820 attending, and we look forward to hearing of their experiences on their return.Kel. Hobby.

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Change of Meeting Day and Location.This is to advise that as from

  Thursday 7 June 2012

the Rotary Club of Sorrento Inc will be meeting at the Sorrento Golf Club

on Thursday nights,at our usual time 6.15 for 6.45pm, rather than Wednesday nights because of renovations to the Golf Club.

    This will continue to be the case until advised to the contrary.

Friendship ExchangeWith District 5950 Minnesota USA

Home hosted by Rotarians

For 7 – 10 days

From 25 September 2012

Join us and share US hospitality.

Contact Adrian Davis Rotary Club of Rosebud-Rye

Telephone 5986 7731

Email awdavis@bigpond.com

for more info Rotary Friendship Exchange

National Youth Science Forum

Applications are now being received on line from students wishing to attend the NYSF in January 2013. Applicants must nominate a sponsoring Rotary Club. The responsibility for making contact rests with the student. Applications cannot proceed to District Interview without Club endorsement.

Clubs are required to interview the applicants to ensure they will benefit from the experience of NYSF. It is vital that a copy of the application, the latest School Reports

and a copy of the student’s letter to the Club seeking support be sent to the District Chairman as early as possible in June. It is also helpful if a few lines giving the Clubs’ view of the student is included. This data is used by the Interview Team in their initial assessment. District Interviews will take place in early July.

It would be advantageous if Clubs made early contact with the Schools in their catchment area and promoted this excellent program to the teaching staff.

If assistance or clarification is required please contact the District Chairman, Adrian Davis telephone 5986 7731, email

awdavis@bigpond.com, or PO Box 581, Rosebud 3939.

LATITUDE 38

Please be advised that due to a severe computer problem, D9820 RAM email ISP has been changed tokoalabearweb@speedweb.com.au.

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The Cambodia DiariesThe smells of Asia hit me as soon as the plane landed on the tarmac. The Rotary Club of Frankston Long

Island was taking 15 year 12 graduates on a schoolies that would change their lives. We were going to Cambodia. With very little sleep, we arrived in Phnom Penh and it wasn’t long before we were walking through the busy

streets. Everywhere we looked there was something to see from the tangled mass of power lines above, to grand

temples behind detailed metal gates. Roads were chaotic with speeding motor bikes and tuk tuks. The pavement turned to rubble beneath our feet and all of our senses were constantly assaulted by the changing of smells from

food, sewerage, incense, rubbish and exhaust fumes. Our hotel was directly opposite the mighty Mekong River, full with the traffic of humble fishing boats and tourist ships. It wasn’t long before we were sharing food and swapping

stories, when we had all been strangers the day before.

While walking through the market place I was confronted with my first experience of true poverty turning around to see a thin woman cradling a sleeping baby in one arm and begging for money with the other. The next

day, we visited Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a school transformed into a prison known as S21. I trembled with fear as we walked from room to room. I had never been so frightened in my entire life. There was blood on the

floor and rows of instruments used for torture. Photographs of the dead covered the walls and glass cabinets were filled with skulls and human bones. The killing fields, Cheong Ek held the same terror with mass graves, clothes of

the victims and more remains. This country had welcomed us with open arms and this experience left us with a

deeper understanding of what such friendly people had been through. We left Phnom Penh and made our way to Siem Reap, travelling across the country by bus. In Siem Reap we

visited the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor. Magical sites, where stone faces smiled down on us, trees strangled buildings and the sun rose over Angkor Wat to the sound of chimes and drums. Most importantly, we visited the

Primary School Krasang Roleung where we would spend the remainder of our trip.

LATITUDE 38

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LATITUDE 38The Cambodia Diaries ... continued ...We sorted books, laid bricks, paved, made Vegetable gardens, taught English and numeracy in the class rooms and

got to know the kids. When we arrived the scene looked more like a construction site than a school.

The children would drag us merrily through the mounds of rubble and shattered brick with a tight grip of our

hands. Looking down I was surrounded by smiling faces looking up at me, taking hold of my arms and marvelling

at my pale skin. They were so eager to learn and so carefree. The Green Gecko foundation was no different (an organization devoted to the rescue of orphans and street children, saving them from a life of begging and

prostitution). We played many games of soccer with enthusiasm and good sportsmanship and ended our day with a playful water fight. This is just one of the memories I will treasure forever. Each child was a bright light who shows

resilience that we greatly admired in each of them. They endure the worlds worst hardships with brave faces, not

losing their ability to enjoy life.

The days had passed like falling grains of rice and our trip was now drawing to a close. In recent weeks the

country had been devastated by floods which had destroyed many of their food supplies, leaving families with little or nothing to eat. Our final act would be a rice drop. Families of the children gathered patiently in the school to

collect bags of rice that we had donated. They waited patiently for their turn. Each of us had donated many things

to the children; books, toys, underwear and personal hygiene products. Many things that these children do not have the luxury to afford! This rice drop was our last gift to people who had already suffered so much. We each took a

hefty bag of rice from a large pile and handed it to each family that was called. Faces we recognised, faces we didn’t. This food was desperately needed, as it was obvious that some had not eaten for days. Again I was giving out

another bag of rice but to my surprise it was one of my little friends standing before me. It was then that I realised

the reason she was a lot smaller than the others in her class, it was from a lifetime of malnutrition. She extended her thin arms to receive the rice. As it passed from my hands to hers I looked into her big brown eyes and she beamed

up at me. I knew that this was the best moment of my life. Then the bag of rice was out of my hands. Every day after school we would leave as if we had just left a battleground, hot, sweaty, covered in dirt, usually bruised and

limping, exhausted from a day’s work and play under the hot Cambodian sun...but this was to be the last time. I felt

the urge to do more for these people and the country that I loved so much. I extracted $300 from my bank account, everything I had. With it I payed for 50 pairs of shoes for children who walked without shoes, new uniforms and 2

shiny bikes for large families with no form of transportation.We had seen the floating village, Pub Street, elephants, jungles, the palace, the silk island, the night market. But

it’s the faces of the children that I still can’t get out of my mind. It broke my heart to leave.

There is no word in our language or in any I believe that can describe to you what I have seen,

done and felt over these weeks. Cambodia has become my home and I miss it every day.

If my story has inspired you feel free to donate some much needed money

to the Rotary Club of Frankston Long Island, PO Box 140 Frankston Vic 3199.

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THE ROTARY CLUB OF ROSEBUD-RYE INVITES ALL DISTRICT 9820

CLUBS TO THE WELCOME DINNER FOR THE RETURNED

DISTRICT 9820 G.S.E TEAM Please join us at the Rosebud Country Club 207 Boneo Road, Rosebud WHEN 29th of May - 6.00 for 6.30 pm. RSVP By 8th of May COST - $35.00 per HEAD 2 course dinner CONTACT Sec Brian Allen. At sec.rosebudrye@bigpond.com or 0401 996 387 Please make 1 cheque out to the Rotary Club of Rosebud-Rye P.O. Box 167 Rosebud, 3939

 

LATITUDE 38.

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Popua Village Gardens, Matching Grant #70781. A very successful project with a lasting impact.

Frankston North Rotarian Bob Edgar and his wife Helen to travelled to Tonga during March 2012 to inspect and report on the progress of the Popua Village Gardens project that is funded through Matching Grant #70781. The project was

initiated by the Rotary Club of Frankston North and has been supported by the Rotary Clubs of Croydon, Phillip Island – San Remo and Nuku’alofa together with the Rotary Foundation.

The purpose of the project is to improve the food security of the Popua Village community through the development of vegetable gardens and improving poultry production in the

village.Popua village was established 30 years ago by the

government to settle people who had migrated to the main island in a fruitless search for work. Unfortunately the only

available land was low lying and subject to periodic inundation following tropical cyclones.

Project funds provided for crushed coral to raise the

gardens above flood level and then a layer of topsoil was added. The Tonga Community Development Trust (TCDT), a local NGO, managed the project. The TCDT was very successful in

involving the village community in planning and implementing the project and in the work of spreading rock and soil, compost making and planting of the seedlings.

The atmosphere was very positive when we met with the

community in the village hall. They were extremely grateful to Rotary for the support it had given to the development of the gardens. They estimated that cost savings of $TOP20 per week

accrued from each garden. Vegetables were shared through the community giving benefits to a wide number of people. One entrepreneur managed to sell $TOP500 worth of “organic”

onions to a tourist resort on an off shore island. Unfortunately the cyclone cut 3 to 4 weeks from the harvest season.

The TCDT has done an excellent job in managing the project and liaising with the host Club in Nuku’alofa. Training

was also provided in the production of compost from local materials by the staff from the Tongan Ministry of Agriculture.

Many gardens were being prepared for planting of the

winter crops but a number were still growing vegetables from the summer season including carrots, onions, beans, chilli peppers, pineapples, eggplant and peanuts.

We were impressed by the way the local people had protected the gardens from the free-range pigs using locally available waste materials (sheets of iron etc). This worked well and has cleaned up the village to some extent. It also avoided a

potentially large cost to the project budget.

LATITUDE 38

Plans are in place for the completion of the second part of the project. This will involve the locals building shelters to protect poultry from predatory cats and dogs. They are keen to keep the village poultry as they are good to eat but

improved genetics will be introduced to increase the amount of meat on each bird.

Given the great success of this project, a RAWCS project is being established to build on what has been achieved to

date. There is scope to include the village school in the new project.This project will provide an opportunity clubs and corporate sponsors to contribute and so extend the impact

of a project that has had a very beneficial impact on a needy community.Further information:

PP Bob EdgarRotary Club of Frankston North Phone: 97892480Email: redgar@netspace.net.au

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LATITUDE 38

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LATITUDE 38

All Rotary Clubs in Victoria are delaying their annual Bowelscan and Bowel Cancer Information programs this year. Because of a shortage of Bowelscan test kits that has been outside the control of the Rotary District Bowelscan Committees the program, that has been held each May for the last 24 years, has had to be postponed by one month. Kits will be available early to mid May for distribution to Pharmacies, for sale from 1st to 30th June 2012.

Bowel cancer is second only to lung cancer as the cause of death. If public participation could be increased to aid in early detection of bowel cancer or related conditions then successful treatment could be initiated that would allow the patient to lead a normal life.

The program is recommended for all adults on an annual basis from the age of 40 which is more beneficial than the Government funded scheme that only provides tests at the ages of 50, 55 and 65 years. Recent experience has shown that there have been a significant number of patients identified in the 40-50 age groups.

Kits are priced at $10-00 each which includes testing, notification of results and next year’s reminder letters.

Last year over 25,000 kits were tested, which was slightly over 80% of kits sold which is about double the reported testing rate for the Government sponsored kits.

We hope to increase the number of test kits again this year and urge everyone over the age of 40 to participate. Please don’t wait until it’s too late.

9820 District Information:

Bowelscan Distribution & Collection Manager: District 9820 Bowelscan CoordinatorMax Fry Trevor BewPhone: 5243 7608 Mob: 0419 530 738 Phone: 9775 6110 Mob: 0419 597 352email: lex_maxfry@bigpond.com email : tbew@hcwa.com.au

Information Officer: District 9820 Medical Advisor

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LATITUDE 38

MAKE YOUR CLUB’S EFFORTS COUNT THROUGH...

ROTARY AUSTRALIA WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE

As a Rotarian it is important for us to contribute to humanitarian causes. How many times has

your Club supported a request for an overseas project and sent off a cheque? Have you collected

surplus to requirement goods and sent them to an overseas Club for distribution? or Maybe your

club has sent a Rotarian offshore to build or grow something that will make an important

difference to a village, a school, a health centre? Do you know how to go about it?

It is not difficult and there are Rotarians and a website already in place to help you

So when the next request comes in, why don’t you support the project and register it with Rotary

Australia World Community Service (RAWCS). Sending the cheque through RAWCS is quick,

easy, and doesn’t cost any more. It also means that Rotary can count your project along with all

the others and do something about letting the public know about the tremendous work that

Rotary does.

Australian Rotarians do a fantastic amount of humanitarian work overseas so

please don’t let it go unacknowledged. There are additional advantages in working through

RAWCS - we have lists of projects on our website that are ready for you to support., The project

is clearly identified, as is the support requested. Your Club will be updated on the project’s

progress and importantly, Rotary’s efforts will be able to be acknowledge. RAWCS is

working to attract sponsors/donors who may elect to join your cause.

The new Chairman of RAWCS, PDG John McLaren says it couldn’t be easier. Over the last

three years RAWCS has done a wonderful job in refocusing and ensuring full accountability for

all its projects. John said that the work of retiring Chair, PDG Lou Johnson has provided a great

platform for Rotarians and Clubs to actively get involved in Rotary Australia’s humanitarian

work

Have a look at the website It’s that easy! www.rawcs.com.au

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SAILING

District Changeover

Please be note that the District Changeover will take place on Sunday 24 June 2012 at Lardner Park

Exhibition Centre in Warragul. It will be a luncheon commencing at 12.00 for 12.30 and conclude close to 3.00pm. The luncheon will include DG Kel Hobby's report on his year as Governor of District 9820 and the installation of Tony Spring as District Governor for the year 2012-13. Lardner Park has been selected as it is very close to the middle of our District and it enables Rotarians from the whole District to attend without disadvantaging one end of the District. You are all encouraged to attend this significant District occasion. Formal invitations will be issued nearer to the day and there will be full directions given at that time. Please pencil this in to your diary today.

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LATITUDE 38

Images from District Assembly

Miona Nicolic-Patterson from the Peninsula Rotaract Club sharing ideas on Social Media at District Assembly

LUNCH

Secretaries and IT training.

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LATITUDE 38

Images from District Assembly

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LATITUDE 38

Hi Ally, thank you for the pic, have

had a very busy day in the clinic, and am quite exhausted, especially as you

communicate via an interpreter, just

taking a break to check emails.  Rosanne and I went on a 4 day trek

to Poon Hill, it was absolutely magic, Poon Hill is 3,210 metres high and

we set off to climb to the top at 5

a.m, we had all our clothes on that we took with us, 2 short sleeved tops,

2 long sleeved tops, Long pants, head warmer, and weather coat and it was

freezing and it had snowed the night

before.  The Himalayan mountains are breathtaking, and it was well

worth the pain of our now achingthighs and calves, but had a great massage last night which helped.  Love

to you all, Connie.

Follow from an Article in the March Edition of Latitude 38

The Nepal Hearing Project  is part

of the Wind of Change Nepal Project

which is a Global Development Group

(NGO) project No. J338, its major

sponsor is Spinifex Motel Mt Isa, Hine

Family Trust.  

 

The three Rotary Clubs of

Bairnsdale have contributed funds in

partnership with the Rotary Club of

Pokhora, and have submitted an

application for a Matching Grant, if

approved we will have funding for

much needed equipment and hearing

aids.  I am looking forward to my 2nd

trip to Nepal, when I will depart on 4th

April for 3 weeks and hope to visit

remote areas out of Pokhora.

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DATE EVENT WHERE CLUB DATE EVENT WHERE CLUB DATE EVENT WHERE CLUB DATE EVENT WHERE CLUB

13th May GSE Team Arrives Home from Wisconsin

Melbourne Airport District 9820

20th May Rotary Southern Districts Shine On Awards

Monash University Campus Berwick

All ClubsContact K Kneebone, PO Box

3382, Morwell, 3841

26th May Trivia Night St Jude’s HallWarrandyte Rd

Langwarrin

Langwarrin

29th May GSE Welcome Home Dinner Rosebud Country Club207 Boneo Road

Rosebud

Rosebud - RyeBrian Allen

0401 996 387

1 - 3rd June RYPEN Camp Forest Edge CampNeerim South

Mt Eliza5874 3143

15 - 17 June MUNA Forest Edge CampNeerim South

Traralgon - Contact John Caruana MUNA Chair

0407 288 273

24th June District Changeover Lardner Park, Burnt Store Rd, Lardner

District 9820

17th August Silent Movie Night(Fundraiser For the Cancer

Council Relay forLife)

TBA Frankston Long Island

CLUB EVENTS CALENDAR

DEADLINES- THE DEADLINE FOR LATITUDE 38 IS THE LAST FRIDAY

BEFORE THE LAST FULL WEEKEND OF THE MONTH. THEREFORE THE

DEADLINE FOR JUNE’S ISSUE IS MAY 25TH. LATE ARTICLES MAY BE

HELD OVER FOR LATER EDITIONS.