Days for Girls (DfG) is an important international aid project that began in 2008 and is growing in strength from year to year. DfG Australia oversees several DfG Chapters and we were fortunate last week to have a visit from Margaret Cunningham, DfG Melbourne Chapter, who gave us a passionate and committed account of the work that she and other volunteers are doing in empowering girls and women worldwide with more dignity, health and safety, through access to quality sustainable menstrual health management and education. Today, DfG has reached more than one million women and girls in 124+ countries with DfG kits and menstrual health education. This translates into over 115 million days of dignity, health and opportunity! Margaret certainly inspired us and confirmed, yet again, how valuable volunteers are in helping to transform the lives of others, much less fortunate than ourselves.
Well done to Ian Toohill and his Interact team for running another very successful Wheelchairs for Kids (WFK) fundraising event at Willinda Park, Greensborough, last Friday. A project of the Rotary Club of Scarborough, Western Australia, WFK is yet another example of a project that brings mobility and dignity to kids who through no fault of their own, are victims of disease, birth defects and/or mines. Since 1998, WFK has sent 40,000 wheelchairs to over 75 countries. That’s 40,000 children who otherwise could have spent their lives on the ground, be unable to speak, stepped over, difficult to feed, or often be unable to even hold their heads up to breathe. In short, these kids would have been unable to access what we take for granted. The support from students at Monty SC was terrific, despite the weather, and so too the support from the newly created Diamond Valley College Interact Club, sponsored by RC Greensborough. RCE was represented by Victoria Clague, Irene Cant and myself, thanks ladies! And thanks also to DV Rotaractor Sam Wilson, who also helped out. And thankyou too, to RCE members who committed to a WFK donation last week and I’m sure there will be a further opportunity to do so this week, for those members not able to be present last week.
And, have you booked for our Footy night on Sept 13th? We’re limited to 80 guests so don’t be disappointed, if you haven’t already booked, then you had better do so today! http://www.trybooking.com/415734
President Jill
Lower Eltham Park BBQ 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
You are responsible for finding a replacement if you are unable to do your rostered duty and to notify Lyn Truran ljtruran@bigpond.com
Our speaker next week is Rhiannon Tracey who looks to help and inspire people with spinal cord injuries, Rhiannon is determined to see change, and options given to people with spinal cord injury. She is the Founder of The Next Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Centre, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing the best recovery options in Australia.
Recently work to update the RCE website allows members to use the website on mobiles. This addition is the final work, started over a year ago when members noted they couldn't use the website or Bulletin on their phones. Along with the regular posts composed on RCE Facebook page we are now including the sharing of local government, community organisations and news posts. This it is hoped will increase our reach into the community, on the FB platform. The end result being better relationships with local businesses, governments and Community organisations. Raising the profile of Rotary as a leader in the Community. Hopefully flowing through to increased membership.
Members are kindly reminded to use the current logo of RCE and Aquabox Australia, available on Clubrunner.
