Rotary Club of Stawell Newsletter

Interational Pres: Garry Huang  –  District Pres: Geoff James

Club Pres: Vaughan Williams – Club Sec: PE Pauline Sherrifs

August 26 th 2014

Club Meeting

Sec Pauline reported

• on her night with the Laurel Club where she spoke about her Vietnam tour.
• That Rotary have received a “Thank You” from Stawell West Primary –  where Rtns Val and Pauline had performed Sausage Sizzle duties at the School’s Sports Day. Well done ladies!
• News that DG Geoff James brother had died. The Club expressed it condolences to Geoff and his family.

PP John L –

• developments in the Skene Street School Chair project where the Stawell Times News has publihed our article. Some sponsorships received including from The Rate Payer’s Association.
• RYLA candidate ? John has spoked to Mrs Sharon Hodgetts and suggested that her daughter Megan may be suitable candidate. Dr Norm supported this proposal. The cost for student is $550 with the Club paying at least 50%.

PP Val and Guest Rtn Bruce McClure discussed

• the current developments in the WW1 Project ruce noting the NGSC has ordered suitable trees;
• Val noted that the RSL were endeavouring to acquire suitable bricks and numbers. And that she had been researching the plaques – 150 names to be recorded.
• There is a proposal for a community community meeting to involve the community.

Bruce also that the Shire has timber for pensioners. Sgt Des to follow up for suitable place to store.

PP Kim reported on the conditions for RYE students in respect to travel when in our care. There ia a Student Travel Request form to be completed. She further noted that our student Racquel is now due on Sept 17. Rtn Kaye H has indicated that the John Harris Fund would support Racquel to participate in the Tour Australia Trip for RYE students in April 2015.

Pres Vaughan reported

• that the Rotary 60^th Birthday gift to Cato Park of the table and chairs were in place., cost of $9000
• he had received a call from Rob Charlesworth (Scouts) seeking Rotary support ib development of a “Cubs Club”.
• He then took members through the Club’s Financial situation with a Power Point Presentation . He stressed our need to more clearly identify our projects, their costs and their returns.

NEXT TUESDAY 2 September is Club Board Meeting.

POLIO’S RETREAT (from D9780 Club Runner)

As photojournalist Allison Kwesell walks through the narrow streets of an Indian village, familiarity sets in. She visited here four years ago, when she first met Samir and his family. He was two years old then and had recently contracted polio.

Kwesell approaches the front porch of a home when she hears an older woman yelling “Samir! Samir!” She runs toward the voice, wondering if she’ll recognize the boy. She sees six children playing chase on the dry earth, the dirt forming clouds around their feet. From afar she notices a young boy, not unlike the other barefoot children in the backyard overlooking patches of farmland, except for his slight limp. She moves closer and the children pause, half encircled around the boy. Kwesell recognizes him by his eyes. Samir is six now, and with the help of physical therapy, he can run and play with the rest of the children in his village on the outskirts of Moradabad.

Samir is one of the last children in India to contract polio. In March 2014, the World Health Organization announced that its Southeast Asia region is officially polio-free. The certification came on the heels of India’s successful fight against the disease: It celebrated three years without polio in January.

The nation’s achievement is the result of a grueling 36-year battle that sent millions of health workers down alleys, up mountains, and across deserts to reach every child in this sprawling country. Not long ago, India had more cases of polio than any other nation in the world. This milestone means that 80 percent of the population worldwide lives without fear of the paralyzing disease.

Samir’s mother, Fahmida, has seven children now. She worries about Samir, who will have to cross a busy road on his way to school when he starts later this year. He sometimes falls down when running too fast, but he always gets right back up. Samir’s doctor believes that his case was less severe than it could have been because earlier vaccinations against polio helped him build partial immunity. Fahmida is hopeful for his future; Samir wants to be a doctor when he grows up.

“For mothers, all of this hard work will mean fewer worries about crippling disease,” says Kwesell, a former Rotary Peace Fellow.

By Megan Ferringer

Adapted from a story in the August 2014 issue of The Rotarian

28-AUG-2014