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Compliments of the season to all Rotary families at this happy time of year when the emphasis is really on family values and “coming together”. All Rotarians need to embrace the concept, and we need to remember that it includes the whole range of Rotary projects and partners – along with our traditional family. People like Australia’s movie world icon Mel Gibson underline the great value of a wider “Family of Rotary” circle . . . Late in October, the news was broken that Mel was working on a movie in Mexico when a large part of the country was devastated by a cyclone. He was so moved by the impact on so many families that he met with the President of Mexico and offered $US1 million to provide immediate food and water relief for such families. He gave the money on one condition . . . that it be channelled through Rotary. He said he knew Rotary would achieve maximum benefit and value from the donation! Mel Gibson’s recognition of the great value and skills of the Rotary Family comes from a high public image enjoyed by our organisation. Rotary Down Under has just had the opportunity to erect a large Rotary billboard on the rear wall of Rotary Down Under House in Hunter Street, Parramatta, N.S.W. This billboard carries an emotional message promoting Rotary’s work with children. The best part is that the billboard and message will be seen by many of the 120,000 people commuting to and from the Sydney CBD for work each day, not to mention the many travellers and tourists utilising the train service between Sydney and all points west, as far as Perth, Western Australia. |
Greetings from Carl-Wilhelm and Monica: R.I. President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar and his wife Monica have sensibly decided not to send holiday greeting cards to Rotary’s leadership team this year. In a special recent message, he acknowledged the tradition of sending such cards to the leadership team each year and explained that he and Monica had decided to make a contribution to The Rotary Foundation for humanitarian projects, rather than incurring the cost of printing and mailing cards. He said: ‘‘We are confident that each of you will understand and appreciate this approach to saying thank you to all of you for your friendship and support. In helping others through The Rotary Foundation programs, we are honouring all that you have done and continue to do for Rotary around the world. Please accept our very best wishes of a joyous holiday season and a very happy new year.’’ Sixty-three years of service: Past President Bob Taylor of the Rotary Club of Murrumburrah-Harden, N.S.W., celebrated his 88th birthday on the occasion of District 9700 Governor David Roberts’s official visit to the club. During the evening, members heard that PP Bob joined the Rotary Club of Wollongong in April, 1942, and had clocked 63 years of continuous service. PP Bob served as president of Wollongong, N.S.W., in 1951-52 and president of Murrumburrah-Harden in 1968-69. DG David was impressed with Bob’s Rotary knowledge and enthusiasm, and wants to know if any other Rotarian Down Under can top 63 years of continuous service? Hollows Foundation and Archerfield: A call to support the Fred Hollows Foundation’s South Asia Earthquake Appeal by Rahman (Ray) Deen, of the Rotary Club of Archerfield, Qld., raised more than $100,000 in just two weeks. Rahman’s cry for help received an overwhelming response from the Southern African Islamic communities in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. They joined Australians across the country who showed their concern for the victims of the disaster by making generous contributions to the appeal. The Fred Hollows Foundation launched the appeal to assist people of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan in rebuilding following recent earthquakes. Thanks to the quick response of people such as Ray Deen and his supporters, the operation was able to deliver tents, food, blankets, medicines, doctors and medical equipment to the Hazara and Kashmir regions, including villages cut off for four days following the earthquake.
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