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Rotary District 9830 Tasmania
District Governor’s
Newsletter
March 2016
District Conference at Deloraine
8 - 10 April 2016
Register now at http://www.rotarytas2016.com.au/
2016 District Mission to Nepal So much being done; so much to do.
The District team to Nepal with the Australian
Ambassador, his wife and staff in Katmandu.
A team of 12, led by PP Dr Irene Gray, including Rotarians, Inner Wheelers and Friends of Rotary, arrived in Kathmandu on the 1st of February. After settling down for a day touring some of the sites including many damaged temples in Kathmandu Durbar Square, the team then visited the earthquake damaged city of Bhaktapur with the 18-month old R C Bhadgaon looking at orphanages and schools in the area. Later in the day we had afternoon tea with the Australian Ambassador to Nepal and his staff.
Homeless earthquake victims still living in tents.
The team visiting an orphanage in Bhaktapur with
team leader Irene Gray and RC Wynyard
President Kumar Satish in the foreground.
The team left Kathmandu and travelled to Hetauda on a 120km, 7-hour road trip which included a stop off at the severely damaged mountain village of Daman which is to be put forward as a potential recipient of the D9830 Nepal Earthquake Appeal funding.
Team transportation.
(Continued on page 2)
March 2016
District Conference at Deloraine
8 - 10 April 2016
Register now at http://www.rotarytas2016.com.au/
2
2016 District Mission to Nepal (cont.)
On the first day at Hetauda, the team split into two groups with some travelling to the village of Bhorleni near Phaparbari to observe an Eye Screening Camp whilst others toured Hetauda looking at RC Hetauda club projects including several micro-credit loan projects.
The Baljyoti Primary School at Manahari inaugurated
by PDG Michael Perkins.
Day 2 was most satisfying with the inauguration of the recently completed Baljyoti Primary School at Manahari by PDG Michael Perkins and the also recently completed Rotary Foundation Safe Water project at Handikhola by PDG Kevin Shadbolt. These have been District projects for several years. The team also visited the Eye Hospital and several members had the opportunity to remove the patches from cataract surgery patients. From the three Eye Camps, there were over 300 people screened and 74 cataract surgeries performed.
PDG Kevin Shadbolt turns on the clean drinking
water at Handikhola.
Rotarian Winston Quaile of RC Launceston West removes an eye patch from a patient.
Day 3 saw the team visit the Rastriya Rotary Secondary School at Manahari which had previously benefitted from a water project by RC Devonport and Senior Secondary Scholarships funded by a number of District 9830 Clubs. During this visit, Rotarian Dr Lois Beckwith from RC Deloraine assisted by, newly inducted RC Deloraine member, Christina Robertson, and two Nepali women, gave a ‘Days for Girls’ presentation and distributed hygiene kits to about 450 girls. Later the team travelled by local bus upriver (in the river bed!) to the village of Sarikhet where the team visited the earthquake damaged Shree Suryodaya Secondary School, a school of 844 students some of whom walk two hours each way per day to school. Reconstruction work to this school is also being put forward as a potential recipient of Earthquake funding. A third proposal is for seven medical posts in villages in the surrounding earthquake affected area.
The team receives a traditional welcome at
Rastriya Secondary School, Manahari
(Continued on page 4)
March 2016
District Conference at Deloraine
8 - 10 April 2016
Register now at http://www.rotarytas2016.com.au/
3
Despite evidence of some fatigue
From DG John
There is no doubt about it, the life of a District Governor is interesting. In February I was very concerned about bushfires and the impact they would have on families. The fires have impacted families mostly through the amazing Bush Fire Volunteers who have taken time off work and have spent their annual holidays fighting fires.
Through the efforts of the Fire Brigades, Bush Fire Volunteers and volunteers from interstate and New Zealand, there was very little impact on private property and no loss of human life. Well done and thank you. On February 20th Cyclone Winston blasted across Fiji and left a trail of destruction. The outer islands were hit very hard, as was the major island of Viti Levu. The hurricane moved very rapidly between the two big islands slamming the east and north coast of Viti Levu and the islands to the east, and the south coast of Vanua Levu- but curved along the north coast to whack Tavua, Rakiraki, Ba and Lautoka.
Pre-positioned ShelterBoxes arrive on Magoki Island with the help of Sea Mercy.
(Source: ShelterBox Australia)
The eye probably passed about 20km north of Koroipita, then west to the Yasawas and out to sea with gusts of approx. 320kph - but it moved rapidly at 25kph. That meant the damaging winds lasted only eight hours. If it had lasted the usual 12- 24 hours, there would have had total devastation. As has been seen in the media, Koroipita survived unscathed. Many Tasmanians well remember “steel strapping” beams - what a job! We can now see it was all worthwhile.
Homes at Koroipita Model Town after Cyclone Winston passed through – virtually unscathed.
I have established a RAWCS National Disaster relief project No. 46 – 2015 – 16. I am pleased to say donations are rolling in from across Australia. Our strategy is to collect the cash, identify possible projects, scope them out and where needed, call for volunteers. This will take some time. Clubs and individuals who wish to donate can do so by going to www.rawcs.org.au
The Tag Along Team on their 41-day tour of Tasmania to raise funds for Australian Rotary Health are having fun exploring Tasmania and engaging with communities. Well done team. The end of Tour Muster will be held at Ghost Rock Winery on the 19th March. For bookings contact Leon Wootton at [email protected]
DG John
The Blues Bros, alias Dan Ackroyd and John
Belushi, are set to ignite the District Conference with their Saturday Night Live performance. Be
there for a blast or two!
March 2016
District Conference at Deloraine
8 - 10 April 2016
Register now at http://www.rotarytas2016.com.au/
4
2016 District Mission to Nepal (cont.)
Following our Hetauda visit, which included a pleasant joint meeting with RC Hetauda members and partners, some of the team returned to Kathmandu and home while the rest went on to Chitwan National Park and Pokhara providing an economic benefit to the country through tourism.
On returning to Kathmandu, the team were able to visit the earthquake damaged cities of Bhaktapur and Patan as well as attending a Saturday breakfast meeting with the RC Bhadgaon which we found to be a vibrant and energetic recent addition to the Rotary world. Also, touring the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology which incorporates the Fred Hollows Intraocular Lens Laboratory proved a highlight which could be included in future visits.
The team at the Tilganga Institute of
Ophthalmology in Katmandu.
The team was privileged to have an audience with the Executive Director of the Institute, Professor Dr Ruit, who founded the Hetauda Eye Hospital (third from right, below).
With feelings of enrichment from the experience and empathy for the people of Nepal, the team departed Kathmandu on the 15th of February. (Report and photos courtesy of Andrew Gray).
Parliamentary Secretary Guy Barnett, on behalf of the Premier, presents DG John and PDG Lew Pretorius with a donation of $5,000 for the Fiji
Cyclone Winston Appeal. ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
DG John and the sand sculptor, Peter Bignell, with his creation, the Rotary Wheel, sculptured in sand at RC Somerset’s Foreshore Fiesta on
Australia Day.
The helicopter prepares to lift off with the net
filled with teddy bears at RC Devonport’s Teddy Bear Fly-In and Kite Day. Once the helicopter was over the drop zone, the DG
triggered the release and hundreds of teddy bears parachuted to ground. Great sight to see
the parachutes for the teddy bears open and
the bears dropping to earth.
March 2016
District Conference at Deloraine
8 - 10 April 2016
Register now at http://www.rotarytas2016.com.au/
5
Truang Tran from Vietnam, flanked by Arnold Markham (left) and President Terry West at a
meeting of RC Glenorchy.
Truang Tran, aged 18 years, moved from Vietnam to Australia via refugee camps without his family. He is currently living in Glenorchy and attending Guildford Young College. The Glenorchy Catholic Parish is supporting him. At the meeting of RC Glenorchy that Truang attended, Arnold Markham presented Truang with a cheque to assist with his schooling costs at Guildford Young College. Truang is uncertain whether he can obtain a visa to remain in Australia on a permanent basis. While here he hopes to indulge one of his passions, soccer, and study how the game is organised in Tasmania.
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
RC Central Launceston President, Peter Milne (left),
presenting a cheque for $3,600 to Zach Taylor, Principal of Ravenswood Heights Primary School,
which the club has linked up with under the Adopt a School program.
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
Food Plant Solutions in Vietnam
A successful pilot programme in 2012 with AOG World Relief Vietnam and Food Plant Solutions (FPS) at Truong Dinh Nam Primary School saw children taught the nutritional value of herbs and vegetables. Based on the FPS field guide “Potentially Important Food Plants of Vietnam”, the following significant progress has been achieved:
Gardens have been established at a number of schools in the Quang Nam Province with teachers educating the students on the nutritional value of various plants (using the FPS field guide) and showing them how to plant and look after them.
The students at the schools have enjoyed the benefits of the plants they have grown as they are provided with lunch.
Children are given seeds to take home and plant - families are now starting to grow more of their own plants and vegetables
Encouraging feedback has been received from the local authorities and rural development officials in the rural communities regarding the school gardens and the potential for not only improving the nutrition of families in their communities, but also increase their knowledge regarding better farming techniques.
AOG World Relief Vietnam aims to continue to establish FPS gardens in schools in the rural communities in Vietnam, and as a result, see healthier, happier and more prosperous families. For further information, please contact us at: [email protected]
March 2016
District Conference at Deloraine
8 - 10 April 2016
Register now at http://www.rotarytas2016.com.au/
6
Rotary Youth Exchange Snaps
Matilda Rowe, sponsored by RC Hobart,
experiencing snow in Switzerland.
Max Webster (centre, back row), sponsored by RC Salamanca, at his first orientation camp in France.
Emily Gyldenholm (left), jointly hosted by RC’s
Smithton and Burnie, settling into her new college
at Burnie for the second half of her exchange.
Welcome to New Rotary Club members
Member Club Jeff Sharman Devonport South East
Vanessa Sharman Devonport South East
John Cole Lindisfarne
Janice Hale Ulverstone
Vanessa Hearn Ulverstone
Toni Hibbs Launceston
Lara Alexander South Launceston
Sandy Astill Youngtown (transfer in from Cairns/Mulgrave)
Nepalese student, Pabina Devkota (second left),
who will travel to Tasmania under the Rotary Overseas Youth Outreach program. Pabina’s six months in Tasmania has been organised by RC Huon Valley. She will attend Huon Valley High
School for the second half of 2016. ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
“There is no doubt about it, the life of a District Governor is interesting” (DG John, March 2016, see page 2). “No sooner had I mopped up, then
the bushfires threatened Mole Creek.”
March 2016
District Conference at Deloraine
8 - 10 April 2016
Register now at http://www.rotarytas2016.com.au/
7
fter a year of immense change. TH,
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
2016 Western Tiers Cycle Challenge
Seems hard to believe, but the 11th Western Tiers Cycle
Challenge is almost due to happen. RC Youngtown are
very much looking forward to co-hosting another cracking
event, and hope to see as many friends who favour lycra
(as well as those who don’t!) as possible.
The Challenge offers six rides to choose from (24km,
52km, 76km, 100km, 120km and 170km), with the routes
winding from Launceston through the beautiful Meander
Valley.
The Examiner launched the Cycle Challenge with a story
on New Horizons Club members Steve Ockerby and his
son Joel, who’ll be participating by riding their tandem
cycle to Carrick. Together with New Horizons (who run
sports and recreation programs for local people with
disability), RC Youngtown will be fundraising on the day to
support work on the proposed Kings Meadows Men’s
Shed.
A few spaces have come up for new sponsors to get on
board. If you know anyone who’d like to take advantage
of associating with the highly engaged Launceston cycling
community, please let Chris Westlake at RC Youngtown
know, or Belinda Kitto at New Horizons Club (Tel. 0407
328 249). The aim is for every dollar of rider registration
fees to go towards the two great causes.
When: Sunday April 3rd,
Where: Prospect Park
Cost: $40 including lunch (with pre-registration).
More info: tascyclechallenge.org.au
March 2016
District Conference at Deloraine
8 - 10 April 2016
Register now at http://www.rotarytas2016.com.au/
8
RC Westbury’s Graham Dent cooking tomatoes for the Australia Day Breakfast at Westbury, flanked
by Sue Poulton (left) and Jane Dent.
The Rotary Friendship Exchange team from Taiwan
obviously enjoyed themselves during their tour of Tasmania.
(Photos courtesy of Lesley Dare, Roslyn Teirney and Ken Spalding).
A DG’s partner’s work is never done! Lesley Dare preparing morning tea for the District
Leadership team.
