RDU magazine online

FROM WHERE I SIT
by Bob Aitken
Managing Editor
Rotary Down Under

There are times I’m not very proud of my profession.

It would be so refreshing to see our modern media write some positive articles about Rotary from time to time…
Rotary International and its programs are VERY responsible about child protection and sexual harassment issues.

Thankfully, the incidence of problems in these areas is very small within Rotary programs, and Rotary’s strict policy is to put the wellbeing of the victim first!
Program leaders are well trained on how to efficiently care for all situations.

Just once, I would like to see a proactive newspaper article or hear a radio program that detailed the great lengths to which our youth leaders go to train, counsel, brief and debrief those involved in youth exchange and other programs.

And of course we never see media coverage of the many success stories from our programs. The recently appointed Australian Ambassador to Iraq is former YEP student Neil Mules of South Australia!

Congratulations to R.I. Public Relations Department Manager Wen Huang who travelled to New Zealand and Australia recently to set up a model for PR seminars.

Wen and PR consultant Janet England from Brisbane provided invaluable guidance on how to deal with the above matters, along with effective media training and key messages for the centenary year.

NEWS BULLETIN

Servicing island outposts: From District 9920 World Community Service Chairman PDG Tony Fortune comes news of inspirational service in some of the far flung outposts of our Rotary ‘region’ ...

*A team from the Rotary Club of Papakura, N.Z., spent time on Vava’u Island (northern most in the Tongan group) establishing water supply to 20 homes from concrete tanks, installing low pressure toilets at Utungake School, and distributing books, desks, chairs and medical supplies.

* District 9920’s newest club, Savaii, Samoa, has initiated its first project – placing rubbish bins near the markets, wharf and hospital; coupled with an education initiative in the schools.
* A call to clubs to increase the stock of Cyclone Boxes. With the cyclone season approaching, there are only 80 on hand and the anticipated need is around 300!
* The NZ$500,000 NZAID Rotary Centenary Grant arranged by RNZWCS Ltd for use by six N.Z. Districts has been confirmed. Over 20 applications have been lodged with RNZWCS Ltd Administrator PDG Stuart Batty. An amount of $200,000 from the Grant has been allocated to Polio Eradication, at the request of the N.Z. Government.

Outside the square: Some 15 members of the Rotary Club of The Bay of Islands, Paihia, New Zealand, recently proved again that Rotarians will (and can) do almost anything to raise a dollar! The members joined forces to arrange and conduct the auction of The Edgewater Motel and, for their effort, raised $2,700 for local charities. The bonus was that the very public project created considerable community awareness which has in turn inspired several new memberships.
The scene at The Edgewater Motel
on the day of the auction.
Silverwater’s big breakfast bash: The Rotary Club of Silverwater, N.S.W. will be the first club on the east coast of Australia to celebrate Rotary’s Centenary on February 23, 2005!

As a breakfast club meeting on Wednesday morning, Silverwater is planning a major Centenary function at the Royal Agricultural Society’s Sydney Showground at Homebush Bay, at 7.15 for 7.30 am.

Breakfast will be served at tables and the morning will feature a special guest speaker. Cost is $77 per head and attendance is restricted to 250 Rotarians, partners and friends. Further details are available from President Ron Mewburn (0412 104 684) or Secretary Phillip McCarthy (0419 638 023).
Service above Self awards: Six “down under” Rotarians have been honoured with the R.I. Service Above Self Award during the 2003/04 Rotary year.

Fred Marsh of District 9450; William Lee, 9680; Henry Street, 9710; John Tarbutt, 9930; and Colin East and Brian Lee of 9970.

The Award is presented annually to Rotarians whose contributions to the organisation embody the spirit of the Rotary motto “Service Above Self”. It recognises outstanding efforts in the promotion of R.I. objectives in any Avenue of Service and is Rotary’s highest honour for a Rotarian. The R.I. Board of Directors confirmed 106 Awards for the 2003/04 Rotary year.