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THIS ROTARY WORLD

Darwin North, N.T. – The Heat is an aptly-named 2003 VY SS Commodore donated by Holden Ltd dressed in police livery and set up so young drivers can challenge their cars against a police car on the track. The initiative promotes friendly rivalry and breaks down barriers (see item).

Darwin North is getting in the fast lane
Beat The Heat is an initiative set up by Superintendent Mark Jeffs, of the Northern Territory Police, as a way of encouraging drivers of performance cars to use their vehicles safely and legally at organised ‘‘street meets’’ at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Drag Strip rather than engaging in illegal street racing.

The Heat is an aptly-named 2003 VY SS Commodore donated by Holden Ltd dressed in police livery and set up so young drivers can challenge their cars against a police car on the track (see photograph). The initiative promotes friendly rivalry and breaks down barriers. Superintendent Jeffs presented the initiative to the Rotary Club of Darwin North, N.T., in mid-2003 as a guest of Rotarian David Pearson. No government or police funding goes into the initiative which has attracted major sponsors.

The Heat team has now completed a season of four open meetings and six street meetings. It has been involved in 23 charity and community events. The Rotary Club of Darwin North is involved and in one event children from Camp Quality experienced the thrills of drag racing. The team has been involved in the NT Expo, Melbourne Cup Day fun and the Salvation Army Christmas Toy Run. When District 9550 Governor Trevor Williams visited Darwin The Heat was proudly displayed. One of the DG’s visions is for clubs to be more in touch with the young in communities. The Rotary Club of Darwin North is becoming more involved in the initiative and with the King Cobra Rod & Custom Club by providing greater logistical support.

Salon became ARHRF beacon
The Carnegie Street Festival in Melbourne, Vic., offers unique opportunities to develop greater awareness of the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF) and to raise funding for the fund. Joseph Orlando, of the Rotary Club of Camberwell, Vic., (see photograph) has a large and successful hair salon in Carnegie and with his staff he decided to promote the ARHRF during the festival. An area of the salon had a display of ARHRF projects and brochures were distributed among clients.

Staff operated a stall at the festival selling hair care products donated by companies which service the salon. A raffle had a prize of gifts donated by local traders. Many salon clients made contributions to the ARHRF after reading the brochures. The venture saw Joseph Orlando and his staff raising $A5,436 for the ARHRF, distributing numerous brochures and increasing awareness in the community of the ARHRF. Rotary and the ARHRF owe a great deal to people showing such initiative and then developing it into an outstanding effort. – District 9800 Past Governor and ARHRF Director Des Jones.

Noarlunga eases the pressure
Noarlunga, a smaller club in District 9520, has provided three Rotary Toy Boxes to two police stations and Noarlunga Hospital’s Emergency Department.

The boxes are great for keeping children occupied when parents or staff have to resolve delicate or life-threatening situations free of distractions. Rotarians donated the toys, a local cabinetmaker made the boxes and a life member of the club did the signwriting. More boxes are in the pipeline (see photograph, page 39). – David Cookson.

Camberwell, Vic. – Joseph Orlando, of the Rotary Club of Camberwell, Vic., saw that the Carnegie Street Festival in
Melbourne, Vic., offered the opportunity to develop greater awareness of the
Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF) and distributed information to customers of his Carnegie hair salon as well as setting up a fund raising stall (see item).