Welcome to Issue 42 (2023) of the weekly bulletin for the Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst. Find out about our upcoming events, who our guest speakers are, what we covered during the last weekly meeting and more!
2024 Barham Weekend - March 15 to 17. Phone 5453 2553 to book and say you are from Rotary
Week
17-May
24-May
31-May
7-Jun
Speaker
Club Forum
Andrew Plant
Bgo Winter Night schedule
Sonia Di Mezza
Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services
Jason Sleep
Double amputee, embracing life
Meeting Location
PepperGreen Farm
PepperGreen Farm
PepperGreen Farm
PepperGreen Farm
Chair
Neville Sharpe
Barb Mitchell
Doug Lougoon
Stan Hendy
Set-Up 6.45am
Stewart Annan
Ray Carrington
Ted Gretgrix
Philip Harris
Welcome
Linda Barrow
Liz Commadeur
Peter Elliott
John Harkin
Raffle
John Cannon
Toni Carrington
Julia Grace
Paul Henderson
President's report
Although we have slipped into the winter weather, the week has been very active again. It was wonderful to see Brian Hodge, a past member of our club, visit us today. He shared his wife, Jan and his story of their life and projects in Uganda working with very underprivileged people.
Last Thursday I attended a community meeting in Rochester, with some Cluster Presidents, service leaders, community people and RAWCS National Project supervisor Brad Quilliam and Lili Teichman Projects coordinator.
Three meetings were held over the day. The main aim was to get a better understanding of the people's needs and arrange a coordinated approach. Brad is still traveling around the affected areas and will have update at next meeting.
The main concerns are mental health and housing especially leading into the winter months.
A big thank you to Rob and the team who travelled to Kyneton in the blistering cold to join with some of the Kyneton Rotarians to supply a BBQ for the Reclink Footy team. Well done. Am sure it was much appreciated.
DG Amanda has requested our vote for a PDG to be on the committee to select a director for the RI Board 2025-27. This has been submitted.
An email was received from the Swap Meet Committee, informing us the Chair Robert Haughton has resigned. There is a chair roster for the five Bendigo Clubs to rotate, we are on the list to do 2024-2025 and a possibility we may be asked to complete this year. The committee is happy to receive any nominations. Think about it.
Thanks to Pat for another voucher to sample his fine wares as a raffle prize today.
Health wise some members are taking it slow.
-Keep Rob Guley in mind and give him a call if you have a chance. We wish him and Carol a smoother road now.
-Talk about bounce back, out of hospital straight back to Rotary, John Cannon that’s what you can achieve with such a great carer 24/7 well done Barb.
-We believe you are on the mend also Glenys. Rob tells us he is becoming a master chef! Don’t know if the 4 way test would stand up to that.!
-Commiserations go out to Phil and Alison Harris as they have the dreaded Covid and are flying out to Thailand on Tuesday! Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.
On Friday we are taking up a large Hooded BBQ /cabinet and outdoor heater to Rochester. We will be doing a blanket drive in the next few weeks so start collecting.
Have a good week everyone. Take care!
President Judy.
LEFT: Judy with Rochester President Heather, and a welcome delivery of a barbecue, heater and floor matting
These were kindly donated by a member of Inner Wheel to help the Rochester flood victims.
RIGHT: President Judy was invited to visit Bendigo's Cancer Wellness Centre and get involved in an art class.
Centre manager Jenna gave a great presentation to our club several weeks ago.
Guest speaker: Brian Hodge
Brian is a former member of the Club who continues to undertake very valuable humanitarian work in Uganda. The Club under Brian's direction supported the development of composting toilets during the period around 2012. Doug will provide more background information about this project at our Club Forum on Wednesday. Brian and his wife, Jan, have been based in the city of Jinga and surrounding area. During their time there has been a transition from Orphanages to schools. Brian was involved in the process to appoint a Principal and staff for a kindergarten.
Uganda is around the size of Victoria and has a population of 46 million. It is a very poor country with incomes in some of the small villages as low as $2 per month. Medical services are very limited. Brian outlined his own challenges with mango fly and made the observation that the environment doesn't lend itself to people recovering from infection. As in all developing countries the handing out of money can build a culture of dependence. Brian has decided that the next step in offering support is to register as an NGO. This would give him access to a lot more networks and resources.
Brian shared with members some very moving photographs which highlighted the extreme poverty and hardship facing the Ugandan people. He had some success stories to tell most notably a little girl who he and Jan were able to support medically and emotionally. It is very important to identify local leaders and nurture effective leadership. Brian mentioned one young man who would have the capacity to influence his community for the better if only he had a motorbike. There isn't the capacity at the moment to provide this.
A project to set up electric buses has the potential to generate employment. Brian highlighted how he has been able to use the symbolism of the blue kangaroo. We are proud that because of Brian and Jan, Australia is seen to care and act. The blue kangaroo in children's literature often gets lost. To his great relief he is always found but forever in the back of his mind is what would happen if he's left behind for good? It must be reassuring for these communities that Brian and Jan won't leave them behind. We admire their work and we thank Brian for dropping in to update us.
Melbourne International Convention - Club dinner
Maurice Woodburn has organised a Bendigo SANDHURST conference club dinner to be on Saturday 27th May
The venue is called “Olive Tree Restaurant at 19 Park Street, South Melbourne At 6pm.
If you intend to come along can you please let Maurice know so he can confirm numbers prior to the evening?
