President James opened the meeting with sung Grace and then welcomed visitors to the Club. These included: Guest Speaker, Martin Brown Assistant Governor from Tumbarumba Rotary Club; Trent Whitehead and Chris Kelly guests of Neil Pinto; Neil Schirmer who was invited by Tim Hutchings; and Jacob Guthrie, guest of David Benn our most prolific recruiter.
James then announced that the Board had terminated the membership of Kerry Pascoe for non attendance at a meeting for four years. Kerry had always paid his dues and largely met his roster commitments but regrettably was unable to attend meetings he said due to work commitments.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE REPORT.
David Benn attended the District Conference last weekend in Bathurst. His appraisal was mixed although he pointed out the highlight of the event was a recitation of Bush Poetry by a certain member of our club.
The conference commenced with a get together at the Motor Museum, Bathurst being the home of the Mt Panorama motor racing circuit. There was a barbecue but the meet was disappointing, "the steaks would make good soles for shoes"! David felt that the talks were too city oriented and Canberra needs to be more mindful of the fact that most of our members are rural related including many farmers and ex farmers.
Speakers included Fiona Nash, John Skerritm who delivered an excellent Royce Abbey lecture talking mostly about COVID. Dr. Robert Booy, epidemiologist from Sydney Uni was the after dinner speaker. RI Director Dr. Jessie Harman, Dr. Justin Horowitz ANU, Admiral Chris Barrie AC (retired) former Defence Force Chief, Commissioner Georgina Whelan ACT emergency services.
David commented that there was little Rotary inspirational content apart from he three exchange students who spoke on the Sunday. Numbers attending were also disappointing although this could be because of Covid.
GEARS AND BEERS
Our indefatigable Phil McIntosh brought us up to speed on the latest planning for this year's Gears and Beers Festival in October. Phil's main points were:
- Need to meet in 1st week after Easter to start planning.
- A new Saturday ride around the Wiradjuri walking/cycling track, possibly to be called "the deadly forty" after consultation with our indigenous community.
- Rafa may engage better as well as MAP
- B.D. Bags have been approached for the musette bags
- Artwork on Romano's to be included on bags and themes for the rides. Place to be photographed for souvenir of ride.
- Destination NSW to be asked for funds. Up to $200,000 worth of grants are available and will be applied for to cover hire costs and to buy special tents.
- We have $20,000 in kitty.
- 2,126 entries have been received and paid for our of 3,000.
- COVID application has been made to receive approval for event and QR code.
- Sponsorships for the event are being sought and members are asked to try and obtain some.
CLUB POSITIONS FOR 21/22
President Elect Richard Baguley asked members to reply to his email to confirm or change their Club commitments for next Rotary year
REPORT FROM THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
John Ferguson encouraged us to read his sister Barbara's report on the work she initiated in the DRC with the help of our donations. He also told us that he has confiscated Barbara's passport so that she won't return to DRC which is war torn and very dangerous. Here is Barbara's report:
Pygmy Child Care
Stage 2: Youth Skills Training/Income Generation Projects.
NB: Pygmy Child Care is thankful to the members of Wollundry Rotary for the generous donation last March of $7,200 towards the building of a new venue which will allow for expansion of our programs.
After 11 years of aid programs for Pygmies in the village of Mubambiro, Pygmy Child Care (PCC) is responding to the challenge to go beyond our current suite of programs for young children which involve basic education, food and health care.
Before these targeted programs, 10% of the Pygmy children in this band died before they were 5 years old. The pandemic has seen local cemeteries fill up with people who have died of starvation as much as COVID infection. But because PCC has continued serving daily meals and teaching COVID safe behaviour, none of our children died.
In 2021, our goal is to invest in programs that will provide the children who have come through our programs with marketable skills. While the child care program will continue, the ultimate goal is for programs to be semi-self-supporting with the new generation of young parents able to contribute financially. To this end, PCC is investing in a number of youth skills training projects that will be phased in over the next 12 months.
A survey last year found 75 youth aged 12 – 18 years (35 male, 40 female) still living in the village – young people whose lives have been touched by PCC. 30 of these girls and boys were orphaned at a young age and are already fending for themselves. Traditionally, Pygmy youth were considered adults at 13 years, so most of our children have to leave school by the time they are 12 years of age to contribute to the family income by begging and scavenging. Young girls are forced into early marriage and motherhood and the teenaged boys are at risk of being recruited into one of the 100 plus bands of violent rebel militia in this region.
Focus group meetings with the youth identified their interest in training as tailors, bakers, beauticians, carpenters and motor mechanics. In the case of the sewing and automotive mechanics training we have teachers who are Pygmies from the village who have successfully mastered their trade and so provide the youth with inspiration and an example to follow.
The venue for the training is PCC’s St Mark’s Community Centre which also serves as the child care centre, so presently the new projects are scheduled in the late afternoon when the young children have gone home. This seriously limits the classes that can be offered because there is no power in the village to hold night classes. However, the new purpose-built child care centre on a site which is healthier and safer for the little children is scheduled for completion in August 2021 and then additional skills training for the youth can be offered throughout the day.
PCC is thankful for the generous donation in March 2020 of $7, 200 from Wollundry Rotary Wagga Wagga towards the building costs.
Of course, the COVID lockdown, the unavailability of building materials and then the inflated costs have delayed the building but we now have sufficient funds and the ground is being prepared as I write.
The building will have 2 rooms to allow the children under 3 years to be separated from the older children. The rooms are spacious to allow lots of dancing and games under cover during the torrential rains of the wet season.
Following are photos of the sewing project:
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13-year-old Madila and her classmates unwrapping their machine on the first day of the tailoring classes. Madila was left fatherless before she was 5 years old. Her mother remarried and although very clever and eager to learn, Madila often had to leave school to care for her younger half siblings. Like all of these young women who are considered adults at 13 years, she is at risk of being forced into early marriage and motherhood. But with a marketable skill she will have more choice about her future and a degree of independence.
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The sewing teacher, Grace, is herself a Pygmy woman from the village and serves as an inspiration and model for the young girls.
The first project is to make face masks for distribution in the village.
ROTARY INFORMATION ROMAC
Jonti Shuter told us that ROMAC (Rotary overseas medical aid for children), is a joint Australia New Zealand Rotary initiative that provides treatment in Australia or New Zealand for children who need life saving surgery. It commenced in 1988 with the first patient from Fiji. Over 500 children from across Oceania, have have received life changing surgery. Medical treatment is provided free of charge and Rotary volunteers provide support and accommodation for families and recuperating children. A fantastic project of Rotary.
ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGIES
Twenty Four members attended today's meeting and there were apologies from: Shane Carroll, Doug Conkey, Greg Conkey, David Hodge, Pat Ingram, John Ireland, John Mason, Tim McMullen, Paul Murray, Graeme Obst, Andrew Puckeridge, David Pyke, John Smith, Darren Wallace.
VISITORS
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| Trent Whitehead and Chris Kelly with PP Neil Pinto / Jacob Guthrie with PP David Benn |
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| Neil Schirmer with host Tim Hutchings / Rick Priest is not sure who he is. He is wearing two badges, one displays Kerry Pascoe. |
LUCKY PRIZE DRAW
After three attempts, our winner this week was Phil McIntosh.