Rotary is Everywhere

Recently, Chris and I spent a terrific week’s holiday in Honolulu, I’ve probably told you little bits about it and it was reinforced to us that Rotary is EVERYWHERE!!

Our first journey around the island in a hire car – steering wheel on wrong side and car on wrong side of the road – took us to the Diamond Head crater, the head itself is as much a famed part of Honolulu as is Waikiki Beach. The walls of the extinct volcanic crater stand some 750 feet high and the lip is reached after a 40 plus minutes climb along and up a trail built by the US Army in 1910 to service military installations. The walk commences in the hot, humid centre of the crater and ends after climbing some 90 odd concrete stairs and a steel spiral staircase to emerge on the crater lip in cold, howling wind.

The name Diamond Head came into use around 1825 when a group of British sailors (some say they were slightly inebriated) found some rocks sparkling in the sun. Absolutely sure they had struck it rich, the sailors brought the "diamonds" back into Honolulu. Alas, the "diamonds" turned out to be calcite crystals. The sailors didn't become fabulously rich, but the name Diamond Head stuck.On reaching the lip of the crater, I paused for a rest and a photo opportunity and to my surprise there was Rotary International – complete with brass plate to announce that a concrete refuse container had been donated by RC Waikiki in 1992. I ceremoniously left some rubbish in the bin!! This is certainly the highest Rotary wheel I have come across!

The view from the point adjacent to the Rotary sign is magnificent; the views of the beautiful North Pacific, Honolulu, Waikiki and Pearl Harbour in the distance are well worth the climb - with rest breaks included.

Chris and Syd Gallagher

Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) 1st & 2nd May 2010

By Sheila Ward, New Generations Director

Eight enthusiastic RCMM representatives went into Parliament House on Saturday to witness the thrust and parry of seventy-four students from various schools within our District debating global resolutions.

They covered issues like small arms control; the death penalty; genetically modified food etc. - all very weighty international problems indeed.

The students followed parliamentary procedures extremely well and debated topics succinctly and earnestly on behalf of the countries they represented, and there was often a spot of humour thrown in now then to lighten the seriousness.

The costumes were very good and it was a wonderful experience for both the students and the spectators.

RCMM sponsored three teams and although they didn’t win any placings, they performed very well.

Our teams will be invited to attend one of our meetings to tell us all about their weekend in the international arena. The winning country was China, with Syria in second place.

The student’s choice was Sudan and the DG Award went to France.

During the lunch break we wandered down to Mrs Parma’s in Little Bourke Street and participated in a most enjoyable lunch with good food and good fellowship.

Visitors Inspired by Rotary

Last night we were privileged to have with us visitors from Bentleigh West Primary School. Parents and teachers associated with this primary school, known for its prize winning sustainable and ecological school programs for its students, saw a bit of what Rotary is about.

Rotarians hosted our visitors and presented the variety of local, national and international projects that were conveyed through reports on the 28th Annual District 9810 Rotary Conference. Through the presentation, visitors saw that Rotary extends far and wide than just local areas - that we are a world wide community service club that provides service above self.

The highlight of the night was Yvonne Beadle presenting to the Principal of the School, Jennifer Small, a brochure of the Operation Cleft program. As Bentleigh West Primary School was the first school to participate in the Spellathon (organised by Yvonne), a photo of her students now grace the front cover which will be seen across Australia.

A big thank you to all our parents and teachers for sharing our meeting with us; thank you to those who presented the report conference and a very big thank you to Gary Tishler for the organisation and administration of our accomodation and registration to this annual event.

Moorleigh Moorabbin's Shelterbox Promo

Here's an article that was in the Leader Newspaper on Rotary's Shelterbox on 10 March 2010...

Are you willing to sponsor a Shelterbox?

The Shelter Box program was originally devised by Rotariann Tom Henderson a retired navy diver from Cornwall in the UK who became concerned that wherever there was a disaster, people not only lost their homes they also lost their dignity.

Through his local Rotary Club he devised the idea and set up the Shelter Box project in 2000 which over 10 years has delivered 67800 SBs into tsunami, earthquake zones and other disaster areas. Shelter Box Australia is operated as a Trust by the Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills at Dandenong delivering over 7500 boxes to devastated zones since August 2008. 80 Boxes were sent to the bush fire ravaged areas in February 2009.

Worldwide SB centres have delivered just on 8500 boxes along with a further 5000 boxes each containing 2 tents but no equipment to Haiti. Richard Bramston donated a jumbo jet to fly the first consignment to Haiti, such is the support given to this venture. In the last 24 hours boxes for 4480 people have been dispatched to Chile. A city�housing 5000 inhabitants was set up in Labutta, Myanmar (Burma), in 2008. Shelter Box was the first aid agency granted visas to enter Myanmar following the disaster.

A Shelter Box comprises its plastic box in which there is a 10man high quality tent, 10 sleeping bags or thermal blankets, a cooking stove which can use any liquid fuel other than petrol, water purification tablets, water containers, cooking pans, utensils, bowls, mugs and even the wooden stirrer. A tool kit with shovel, axe and saw along with childrens colouring books and pencils is included. These items assist children to return to some form of routine and normality in their often deeply traumatized community lifestyle.

Boxes cost $1200 each and as it is numbered, purchaser are able to track its final destination.

The web site address is www.shelterbox.org where there are numerous photographs, articles and news updates.

Donate to Shelterbox today.

Bentleigh Secondary College Visit

The stimulus that our government recently provided to our primary and secondary schools has not gone unnoticed. All around Australia, schools are being renovated and refurbished. The money going into programs that will benefit the students and their future education.

Last night our Rotary Club held its meeting with parents and staff at the Bentleigh Secondary College which is very near our home. The school is well-known for its exceptional environmental sustainability program as they have created their own wetlands area where students can see first hand the impact of water collection, use and re-use. The wetlands collect water and the overflow is pumped into massive water tanks where the water is then used for various purposes around the school. There is also an underground watering system for their school ovals thus minimising the evaporation and loss of water above ground. The school also has the reputation of having a good musical program and last night, the performing arts group was practicing drama for an upcoming show.

Classrooms are now open plan and free flowing to encourage collaboration. Gone are the days where the teacher is behind his/her desk on a platform above the students and the students at their desk. All year groups have their own 'sections' of a massive building (eg Year 8 section) and they move from one space to another for their lessons. Teachers are on display and effectively, it is a more conducive environment to learning and less confrontational.

The website is on: http://www.bentleighsc.vic.edu.au/

The school staff and parents treated us to a dinner and then we presented what Rotary is about and how we are looking for opportunities to partner with schools in the local area.

28th Annual Rotary District Conference Geelong

On 26-29 February, over 700 Rotarians from our District attended the annual conference in Geelong.

Photos can be seen on our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rotary-Club-Moorleigh-Moorabbin/185159181051#!/pages/Rotary-Club-Moorleigh-Moorabbin/185159181051?v=wall