President Paul welcomed the visitors and guests to Todays Meeting, testing the memory of John Gray by inviting him to lead the Rotary Grace, and calling for all to toast the appropriate authorities. 

There was a special mention for J Gray, and Paul anticipates that we will be regaled with tales from exotic places in due course.

The Luftwagga squadron are back from their Birdsville sortie, and speak only in general terms of the experience. Paul foreshadowed a program before Christmas to extract more!!!

 

We were invited to inspect the handmade jewellery that Delize Luc had brought along to the meeting, beaded by the girls being supported by Dr Luc's school.

 

Another top meeting! Thank you for your support. Have a great week.

 

 

 Doug Sutton introduced our Guest Speaker. He has been involved heavily in the project since being requested to drive it by Marilyn Roberts, partner of PDG Gary Roberts around two years ago.

This project was supported by all six of the Wagga Wagga Rotary Clubs, with a total commitment of US$4000. Further support was provided by District 9700, and the Rotary Foundation, with the final result of US$35000 being sent to The Mission in Health Care and Development.

 

Dr. Luc Mulimbalimba Masururu, thats his full name, is travelling with his wife Delize. He has five children back in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.

We heard from Luc about the colonial history of his country, and its neighbour, Republic of the Congo - room for confusion. Luc is a member of parliament, and tells of an attempted assassination, and not because he is a doctor.

 

Uvira is located on the Eastern border of the country, as far from Kinshasa as you can go. It is about a three hour flight, or if you choose to drive, should take about two months, as the roads tend to meander around lakes and rivers. Luc lives in Kinshasa, and has to travel to reach Bakavu and Uvira. The capital is urban, slick and western - the countryside by comparison is full of villages comprising groups of huts.

 

The DRC is rich in minerals, and this has caused a history of war in the country, most notably between 1994 and 2004, with over 5 million fatalities. This created much poverty, and set back development. There are no banks - livestock provide currency for trading, so a high priority for helping the villagers, especially the women into provide pigs, and instructions for animal husbandry.

We were told about fish farming, The Radio Station, Beading and Greeting Cards and Bicycles for women. There are so many avenues that are being exploited.

 

Luc spoke with conviction on the work that has been done, and what remains to be achieved.