june 2011 issue 12 sharing the shining power of rotary · sharing the shining power of rotary as i...

www.rotary9465.org.au

SHARING THE SHINING POWER OF

ROTARY As I write this last editorial for the

2010-11 Rotary year, David and I have

just returned from the Rotary

International Convention in New

Orleans, along with several other

Rotarians from this district.

The RI Convention is an opportunity to

engage with top Rotary speakers and to

make and renew Rotary connections

from around the world. As you listen to

the messages given by the speakers,

you get to see whole picture of Rotary.

Once again, the power of Rotary shines

through.

At the convention, we were again

encouraged by RI President Ray

Klinginsmith to use “cowboy logic” –

that is, “keep it simple and do it straight

away”.

“If it’s a fence, mend it; if it’s a dollar

bill, spend it; if it’s a truck, load it; if it’s

a punch, duck it” (with

acknowledgement to songwriter

Michael Martin Murphy).

This is what District 9465 Rotarians

have been doing this year ... getting on

with what needs to be done in Rotary,

in order to make their clubs Bigger,

Better and Bolder and to “Build

Communities and Bridge Continents”.

Our trip home was via Louisiana and

Texas, to the hill country town of

Fredericksburg where David was the RI

President’s representative at the

District 5870 conference. As well as

David’s official role, we were able to

rekindle friendships including the

District Governor and the GSE team

who visited us in March.

Our own conference in March featured

wonderful speakers not only from

D9465 but across the state, nationally

and internationally – including Past RI

President Bill Boyd. Following many

requests from clubs for copies of the

speeches, we have organised for each

club to receive a DVD covering the

conference from the spectacular

opening flag ceremony to Bill Boyd’s

closing remarks.

Many clubs also requested copies of

the jingle “That’s Rotary Today”,

written and performed for Rotary by

Mike Brady, so a DVD copy has also

been sent to all clubs.

Please make use of both DVDs. It would

be wonderful to have “That’s Rotary

Today” played at each club meeting,

maybe at the start or finish.

As clubs hold their changeovers, I

encourage you to also look at your

club’s strategic plan so the process of

change (with its new and fresh ideas) is

embedded in your processes for at least

three years.

The strategic plan ensures continuity in

the club’s overall grades, while each

year’s program brings its own strengths

and diversity.

Over the last six months, the District

board members including the future

leaders (DGE, DGN and DGNN) have

also been working on strategic

planning. This will always be a work in

progress, of course, but we hope to

have the basis of the District strategic

plan by the end of the Rotary year.

I take this opportunity to thank all club

presidents and boards for their work

this year. I have really enjoyed working

with you all. Thank you for the warm

welcome David and I have received at

clubs, whether for the official visit or

other functions and events.

I have been thrilled by the dedication

and enthusiasm of the Rotarians I have

had the privilege to meet this year. A

special highlight has been the

opportunity to share in the fun and

fellowship at joint meetings and

activities by clubs that did not know

each other prior to the establishment

of D9465.

I look forward to seeing many of you at

club changeovers. For those clubs I am

unable to attend, I wish you all the

best.

I look forward also to seeing many

Rotarians at our District Changeover on

Saturday, 2 July at the South of Perth

Yacht Club, when I hand over the chain

of office to Jodie Sparks, the District

Governor for 2011-12.

Finally, I thank Jodie and the District

board members who, in this time of

change, have put in two years or more

of hard work to bring the district

restructure to fruition. The changeover

will allow us to recognise their work to

encourage us all to make our clubs

Bigger, Better and Bolder while building

communities and bridging continents.

District Governor Marilyn

INSIDE:

Rotary’s Fellowships 2

Good times roll at RI convention 4

Lisa’s off on the Peace road 7

JUNE 2011 | ISSUE 12

1



Hail fellow Rotarians... June is Rotary Fellowships Month, a

time to highlight how Rotarians, their

spouses and Rotaractors can tap into

international networks of people who

share similar interests in sports,

hobbies and so on.

These autonomous groups enable us to

make new friends around the world,

have fun and enhance our Rotary

experience.

More than that, through Rotary

Fellowships we can explore new

opportunities for service and further

our vocational development by getting

to know others with similar interests.

How many Rotary Fellowships are

there? Well, if you go to the RI website

(www.rotary.org/fellowships) you’ll find

more than 100 listed together with

contact email addresses.

Interested in antique cars? There’s the

antique automobiles group. Bird

watching? Curling? Fishing? License

plate collecting? Italian culture? Latin

culture? Marathon running? There are

Rotary Fellowships for all of them.

Vocationally, there are fellowships for

authors and writers, computer users,

editors and publishers, lawyers, literacy

providers, doctors, police and

magicians.

There are several catering for people

with specific Rotary interests: Rotary

Global History, Rotary on Stamps and

Rotary Heritage and History.

Among those active in Western

Australia are the International Yachting

Fellowship of Rotarians, Fellowship of

Canoeing Rotarians, International

Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians,

International Fellowship of Flying

Rotarians and International Fellowship

of Cricketing Rotarians, which held the

Australian Rotary Festival of Cricket in

Perth last October.

The International Fellowship of

Scouting Rotarians is also strong in

Perth, part of a global network of 1200

Rotarians who are also involved in

scouting.

It continues a working relationship

between Rotary and the scouting

movement that goes back to the early

days of both organisations.

Way back in 1910, Rotary founder Paul

Harris urged Rotarians to assist in the

expansion of the scouts. By 1930,

Rotarians had organised more than half

of the then 500 Boy Scout councils in

the United States.

The fellowship counts among its

members past RI presidents John

Kenny, Wilf Wilkinson, Bill Boyd and

Cliff Dochterman.

And in the unlikely event there isn’t an

existing fellowship that addresses your

interest, you can form your own. RI

notes that it takes a lot of work, but the

effort is worthwhile.

Before submitting a proposal, plan to

develop a strong network of

prospective members in at least three

countries.

There’s even a special page on the

fellowships website for listing

suggested fellowships.

Among those currently on the list are

the Fellowship of Mountain Gorilla

Tracking Rotarians, Hawaiian and

Polynesian Cultural Fellowship and

another for chartered accountants.

Rotary Fellowships operate

independently of RI, but they must

receive official recognition from RI’s

Board of Directors and operate in

accordance with Rotary policy.

2 July

District Changeover

South of Perth Yacht Club

Contact Joanna Kendall,

[email protected].

10 September

Narrogin Rotary Golf Day

Narrogin Golf Course

Contact Thomas Popp 9884 5240.

3 September

RC Mandurah 50th anniversary.

25 September

Swim for MS Relay Challenge (RC

Attadale)

Melville Aquatic Centre

Contact Jenny Saibu (MS Society of WA)

9365 4895 or

[email protected].

COMPASS

9 October

BHP Billiton Ramble (RC Mill Point)

Perth City

Register at www.rotaryramble.com or

call 9368 7575.

15 October

Storm the Stage WA State Final

Penrhos College, 7.30pm

Bookings www.stormthestage.com.au.

23 October

Chemmart Rotary Margaret River Fun

Run (10km run or 4km walk)

Margaret River

Register at www.mronline.com.au or

contact 9758 7467 or

[email protected].

23 October

GWN Balzano Barrow Race (RC

Hannans Kalgoorlie)

Kanowna to Kalgoorlie

Contact Geoff Horsley on 0408 935 622.

26 November

Jacaranda Festival (RC Applecross)

Applecross Shopping Village Precinct,

Ardross Street

Contact Malcolm Taylor on 0417 984

642.

2012 15-21 January

Handicamp

Contact Craig Alford on 0417 172 651

or Robyn on 0429 815 013, visit

www.handicamp.org.au

2



Rotary builds new respite unit

The Rotary Club of Albany East has begun construction of a

$300,000 two-bedroom unit alongside the existing

Friendship House to provide respite for people with

disabilities and their carers.

The new project will double the size of the Emu Point

facility, which has been providing low-cost holiday

opportunities for disadvantaged families and people with

disabilities since 1976.

Friendship House has been rarely vacant since it opened,

having provided over 1500 weeks of holiday accommodation

in idyllic surroundings.

While the existing Friendship House facility caters for people

with mild disabilities, the new unit is specifically designed for

those with more significant disabilities.

The construction of the new unit was launched last month

by Western Australian Community Services Minister Robyn

McSweeney.

The Rotary club has sourced additional funding for the

project from the State Government’s Royalties for Regions

scheme as well as Lotterywest and the Jack Family

Charitable Trust.

Project spokesperson Daphne Cotton says Friendship House

quietly provides time out for families and individuals.

“Providing a normal holiday in a normal setting by the sea is

an act of honour and respect for carers who are doing such a

valuable job looking after people with disabilities, and for

people who have experienced significant disadvantage in

their lives,” she says.

Great Southern Development Commission chief executive

officer Bruce Manning says the project will increase Rotary’s

ability to offer respite.

“Providing a new unit designed for people

with moderate to severe disabilities will help

Rotary to double its assistance to families

and individuals who are often in desperate

need of respite from intense caring

responsibilities,” he says.

Features of the new unit include wheelchair

access to all areas and shower and toilet

facilities suitable for people with severe

restrictions.

LEFT: Rotarians John Dent (left) and Ian

Howard watch Community Services Minister

Robyn McSweeney turn the earth to start the

Friendship House project.

(Photo courtesy of the Great Southern

Development Commission)

WELCOME ABOARD Welcome to the newest members to join Rotary clubs in D9465:

+ Jeanine Son, RC Como

+ Ogi Naidansurin, RC Fremantle Port

+ Sarah Roberts, RC Gosnells

+ Tim Donkin, RC Mandurah

+ Nicole Prendergast, RC Melville

+ James Lloyd, RC Mill Point

+ Tony Carter-Johnson, RC Mill Point

+ Alistair Johnston, RC Rockingham

+ Jarryd Benjamin, RC Rockingham

+ Wendy Mettam, RC Rossmoyne

+ Bill Innes, RC Southern Districts

+ Don King, Southern Districts

+ Ivan Spalding, Mandurah Districts

3



Rotary rolls on in New Orleans

Laissez les bon temps rouler ...

And the good times certainly did roll for the more than

18,500 members of the family of Rotary – representing 151

countries and geographical areas – who were inspired and

entertained at last month’s RI convention in New Orleans.

The Rotarians, including a small but enthusiastic D9465

cohort led by DG Marilyn and PDG David Barton, were

challenged to redouble their efforts to eradicate polio and

embrace humanity by thinking of new ways to take on

today’s challenges.

RI President Ray Klinginsmith said highlights of his term

included providing regional assistance for districts and clubs

through the new Rotary coordinators and Rotary public

image coordinators, developing a more productive

relationship with Rotarian Action Groups, moving toward a

more uniform size for Rotary districts, and improving the

process for selecting and training district governors.

"This year has been a good year for Rotary," he said. "There

has never been a more exciting time to be Rotarians, as we

approach the end of polio.

“Our community service projects around the world are

estimated to provide local investments of about US$1

billion every year, and our youth and young adult programs

are the best in the world. And our Rotary Foundation

continues to gain strength."

Microsoft founder and philanthropist-extraordinaire Bill

Gates told Rotarians that eradicating polio remains the top

priority of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Rotarians

must intensify their efforts to wipe the deadly disease off

the earth, he said.

RI President-elect Kalyan Banerjee explained the three

emphases – family, continuity and change – that should

guide Rotarians as they work to support the 2011-12 RI

theme, Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.

ABOVE: The Irvin Mayfield Septet was just one of the

outstanding combos providing diverse musical

entertainment at the convention.

(Courtesy RI News and Rotary Images)

At last, some help on mental health In a move that has mental health experts and supporters

around the country rejoicing, this years’ Federal Budget has

allocated a much needed $1.5 billion towards mental health.

Much of this funding is going towards direct service

initiatives and it is great to see our country’s decision-

makers highlighting the importance of mental health and

the impact mental illness has on our society.

However, despite the boost in funding, mental health

remains a big problem. The World Health Organisation

states that, by 2020, depression will be the leading cause of

disability world-wide.

Bringing mental health issues into the spotlight is helping,

but more needs to be done to prevent and effectively

manage a wide range of mental disorders and illnesses.

Australian Rotary Health has long been an ambassador for

mental health. We’ve directed more than $26 million

towards health research since 1981 and

now we’re focusing on the mental health

of young people to help reduce the

burden of debilitating and costly mental

disorders.

You can make a difference by donating

today to help improve the mental health

of Australia’s young people.

It’s devastating to know that more than one in four people

aged between 12 and 25 will be affected by a mental

problem in any given year. In fact, it is estimated that

approximately 750,000 young people’s mental health needs

are not currently being met.

These young people are our future and deserve the support

that research can provide. To find out more about the

research or to donate to ARH, visit

www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au or call (02) 8837 1900.

4



Clubs pitch in for

the Senses Three Rotary clubs and a Rotaract club have combined to

make dreams come true for the residents of a special home

for deaf and blind residents in Perth’s southern suburbs.

Senses Foundation (formerly the Royal WA Institute for the

Blind) has warmly thanked the Rotary clubs of Victoria Park,

Bentley-Curtin and Attadale and the Gosnells Rotaract Club

for their assistance.

Karen Wickham, adult therapy coordinator at the Senses

Foundation, reports the first deafblind specific

accommodation facility opened in Success in May 2010.

The house was specifically designed to accommodate the

needs of the three young male residents, addressing their

unique environmental, visual, cognitive and mobility needs.

The outdoor area was undeveloped so the foundation

sought funding and assistance to build a sensory garden.

Through careful and imaginative design it is possible to

create landscapes that offer a wide range of sensory

experiences to people who are deafblind. In sensory

gardens, plants and other design elements are selected with

the intention to provide experiences for seeing, smelling,

hearing, touching, movement and tasting.

“Our vision was for an outdoor area that incorporated a

sensory garden, tactile and functional along with an

appropriate recreational area that would accommodate our

clients’ capabilities,” Karen said.

Because of the scale of the project, Senses Foundation

initially approached RC Victoria Park for support. Eventually

the three Rotary clubs and Rotaract club all contributed.

“With Peter Fry, an unstoppable force from the Curtin club,

at the helm, work started early April,” Karen said.

“We incorporated hardscape elements: paving, timber

decking, mulch, gravel and stones along with a trampoline to

provide exercise and stimulation, and a shaded area offering

shade and temperature contrast.

“Plant selection was based on a garden design encouraging

residents to interact with the plants. We used interesting

foliage, shape and form, texture, tastes, aromatic plants,

herbs, perennials, climbers and fauna-attracting plants.”

The use of colour also provides a visual stimulus and the

garden includes a water feature and wind chimes. Edible

fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices that can be tasted

provide sensory and teaching opportunities.

“The final finishing touches were completed early May and

the residents are already enjoying the fruits of all our –

wonderful helpers and donors’ labour,” Karen said.

She singled out Peter and Colleen Fry as well as Jenny Mott

of RC Bentley-Curtin, president Roger Meakes and members

of RC Victoria Park, Rob and Interact members from Victoria

Park, Laura Chettham and helpers from the Rotaract Club of

Gosnells, Betty Bright and Martin from RC Attadale.

“On behalf of the residents who currently live at Success and

those who will live there in the future, Senses Foundation

would like to sincerely thank the Rotary clubs and all the

helpers and donors for their generosity and support in

facilitating the building of this wonderful sensory garden.”

5



Further gains for big Cambodia

program Sustainable Cambodia Australia, one of Rotary’s

outstanding programs, has achieved another

milestone with further increase in the number of

children supported by its joint nutrition project in a

remote area of Cambodia.

Specially developed food supplements are served

each day to 221 students at pre-schools in six villages

in the isolated Pursat Province, a hilly area still

struggling to recover from the depredations of the

Pol Pot era.

The supplements help children stay healthy and

overcome the effects of many years of poor

nutrition, and give them the energy that will keep

them active, strong and able to concentrate.

In addition, the program provides a daily breakfast

for 59 infants aged from six months to two years.

The nutrition project was developed by the local

Rotary Club of Pursat and Western Australian Rotary

clubs, with the assistance of a grant from The Rotary

Foundation.

Its success means that, when the current grant ends

in November this year, the meals service will be

continued as a sustainable program managed and

run by the local community.

The Rotary clubs, meanwhile, are developing plans to

supply outreach and remote preschool annexes at

seven of the primary schools that have been built in

2010 and 2011.

Sustainable Cambodia is a Rotary-supported non

profit organisation working to provide a sustainable

quality of life by helping the villagers build wells,

irrigation systems and schools, training them in

agriculture and vocations.

To find out more about the organisation and its work,

go to www.SustainableCambodia.org.

TOP: Villagers work on construction of the primary

school at Anlong Mean, which when completed will

be dedicated to RC Scarborough in D9455.

MIDDLE: A student group at the secondary school in

Pursat Town.

BOTTOM: Teachers, educational staff and

international volunteers commemorate the new year

festival day at Sylvia Lasky Memorial School in Pursat

Town.

6



LISA OFF ON THE ROAD TO PEACE District 9465’s first Rotary World Peace Scholar, Lisa

Craig, has begun the studies in Thailand that will

equip her to take a role in international cooperation

and conflict resolution.

Lisa is one of just 70 scholars to be awarded

Rotary’s unique World Peace Fellowship for 2011.

She is studying for a masters degree in international

relations at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University,

home of one of the world’s six Rotary Centres for

International Studies.

Lisa, manager of the Peel Community Legal Services

in Mandurah, was nominated for the Peace

Fellowship by the Mandurah Districts Rotary Club.

She was selected for the unique program from

some 1500 applicants around the world after an

exhaustive selection process.

RI established the World Peace Fellowship program in

partnership with the universities in 1999 to make a long-

term contribution to world peace by developing scholars

with the knowledge and tools to combat the problems

arising from rampant war, famine, poverty and disease.

“Today, there are still far too few mediators who are

experienced practitioners in conflict resolution,” says Paul

Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of

Bradford in England.

“There is an urgent need to produce another generation of

people who can play a mediating role in the future. This

program is the most significant development in graduate

work in conflict resolution in decades.”

ABOVE: Lisa, in the centre wearing a blue top, joins her

fellow Peace Scholars for the start of their international

relations degree studies at Chulalongkorn University in

Bangkok.

Lisa, who has three adult children, aims to use the

opportunity of the Peace Fellowship to continue her

humanitarian works and develop a global understanding of

peace issues.

“I seek to broaden my understanding of conflict resolution

and create further opportunities to support community-

based mediation and education around human rights and

justice for all people,” she said.

Gosnells records a family first Rotary Club of Gosnells has made history with the recent induction of Daryll Vale as a member of the club. Not only has 42-

year-old Daryll became a Rotarian alongside his father, club stalwart Dr Brian Vale, but his induction came about the same

time as Daryll’s 18-year-old son Sam – also, of course,

Brian’s grandson – joined the City of Gosnells Rotaract

Club.

Daryll is the first son of a current or former member

to join in the 51-year history of the club. He was

inducted by Brian, the first induction performed by

the man who is the club’s senior member and its

longest-serving active member.

The historic events were another demonstration of

the Rotary club’s pride in its “Fun, family and

fellowship” theme.

LEFT: President Neil Hewer (right) congratulates Dr

Brian Vale following the induction of his son Daryll.

7



Roll Call, May 2011 Club Meetings Members Mth % Mth Rank Prog % Prog Rank

M F Tot

Albany East 4 13 2 15 80.1% 16 80.5% 15

Albany Port 4 20 4 24 78.0% 21 81.8% 10 Applecross 5 34 6 40 79.3% 19 79.7% 17

Armadale 5 25 5 30 84.0% 13 80.6% 14 Armadale-Neerigen Brook - - - - - 52 27.2% 53

Ascot 5 20 13 33 61.9% 43 71.0% 33

Attadale 3 28 3 31 91.0% 5 82.7% 9 Bentley-Curtin - - - 12 - 52 42.4% 52

Booragoon 5 12 13 25 83.2% 14 82.8% 8

Boulder 4 21 0 21 67.0% 35 67.5% 45 Bridgetown 5 6 4 10 80.0% 17 73.7% 24

Bunbury 3 33 2 35 76.0% 23 70.4% 37

Bunbury Central 4 16 2 18 52.8% 49 64.6% 47 Bunbury Leschenault 4 22 5 27 64.8% 40 67.6% 43

Busselton Geographe Bay 4 31 3 34 55.0% 48 62.9% 48

Byford & Districts 4 6 4 10 65.0% 38 67.5% 44 Canning Bridge 2 10 8 18 67.0% 35 69.7% 41

Cannington 4 11 4 15 70.0% 33 53.0% 51

Cockburn 4 19 8 27 77.0% 22 85.1% 6 Collie 4 30 3 33 79.1% 20 73.5% 26

Como 5 38 11 49 60.7% 45 72.8% 28

Esperance 5 40 0 40 74.5% 26 73.4% 27 Esperance Bay 3 31 6 37 73.1% 28 70.9% 34

Fremantle 4 24 6 30 75.7% 25 72.3% 29

Fremantle Port 5 63 3 9 86.8% 7 90.7% 4 Gnowangerup 5 10 0 10 80.0% 17 76.9% 19

Gosnells 5 16 2 18 84.9% 11 78.5% 18

Hannans-Kalgoorlie 4 4 13 17 65.0% 38 71.9% 30 Harvey 5 18 2 20 82.9% 15 80.0% 16

Kalgoorlie 5 9 4 13 76.0% 23 69.9% 39 Katanning 5 21 6 27 71.2% 31 74.3% 23

Kenwick 4 18 4 22 73.8% 27 75.9% 20

Kojonup 4 32 0 32 96.0% 2 92.5% 1 Kwinana 4 22 2 24 94.1% 3 91.4% 2

Mandurah 5 32 3 35 57.6% 46 70.6% 35

Mandurah City 4 19 7 26 63.0% 42 71.2% 32 Mandurah Districts 4 18 5 23 52.0% 50 62.0% 49

Manjimup 5 29 10 39 67.0% 35 70.2% 38

Margaret River 5 30 5 35 61.7% 44 68.3% 42 Melville 5 28 9 37 70.5% 32 75.2% 21

Mill Point 4 59 19 78 56.4% 47 66.3% 46

Mt Barker 3 9 8 17 86.8% 7 91.2% 3 Narrogin 3 14 6 20 90.0% 6 74.6% 22

Palm Beach 3 35 1 36 84.8% 12 87.6% 5

Pinjarra 4 34 3 37 71.8% 30 71.8% 31 Rockingham 5 25 15 40 86.3% 9 85.1% 7

Rossmoyne 4 38 6 44 68.3% 34 69.8% 40

South Bunbury 4 60 5 65 73.0% 29 73.6% 25 South Perth-Burswood 4 4 6 10 85.0% 10 80.7% 13

Southern Districts 4 37 5 42 100.0% 1 81.6% 11

Victoria Park 5 18 3 21 45.0% 51 57.8% 50 Wagin 5 12 4 16 92.8% 4 81.5% 12

Willetton 5 34 4 38 64.5% 41 70.5% 36

8

june 2011 issue 12 sharing the shining power of rotary · sharing the shining power of rotary as i...

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