May 2008 RDU online (pdf) - Rotary Down Under

Check us out: 

www.rotarydownunder.com.au 

FOR ROTARIANS, BY ROTARIANS 

Rotary 2020: 

The next Generation 

Our President heads 

down under 

PR resources 

Take them as ‘granted’ 

Australian Rotary 

Health Research 

Fund feature 

$A3.40 inc GST – $NZ3.50 – Post Approved PP242296/0065 65 – Issue No. 495 – May 2008

Become a Research Companion today. 

As a Research Companion, you can elect to support a 

PhD student over 3 or 10 years or even for perpetuity. 

Your generosity will ensure that Australia’s brightest 

medical researchers can undertake their lifesaving 

work. Your gift will leave a lasting legacy. 

Research Companion 

3 years – $100,000. 

Your donation will fund research 

into a named PhD scholarship. 

Distinguished 

Research Companion 

10 years – $500,000. 

Your donation will fund up to 

three PhD researchers over a ten 

year period. 

Perpetual Research Companion 

$1,000,000. Your donation will fund consecutive 

PhD scholarships in perpetuity. Your generous 

donation will be perpetually recognised by the 

Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. 

Australian Rotary Health Research Fund 

PO Box 3455 Parramatta, New South Wales 2124 

Email: tedatkinson@arhrf.org.au 

Help 

researchers 

like India 

find a cure 

Since 1981, Australian Rotary 

Health has funded research to 

the value of $18 million into a 

range of diseases which, despite 

the terrible suffering they cause, 

are often under-resourced by other 

funding bodies. 

Projects selected are evidence-based, 

exciting and innovative. Successful 

projects have been undertaken by post-graduate 

students during their PhD candidature or by early-career 

Fellowship researchers. 

India Bohanna is a PhD student dedicated to developing 

a treatment for Huntington’s Disease. Her research is 

bringing us that vital step closer to a lifesaving treatment. 

India’s continuing PhD, funded by Australian Rotary 

Health, is a beacon of hope for the many Australians 

afflicted with this crippling disease. 

Right now, many thousands of Australians are suffering 

from any one of a range of rare and little understood 

diseases. Their only hope lies in medical research. That’s 

why we ask you to consider becoming an Australian 

Rotary Health Research Companion. 

To find out how you can be a leader in the prevention, 

control and cure of some of the world’s most cruel 

diseases, call the Australian Rotary Health Research 

Fund today on 02 8837 1900.

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4–––Rotary Down Under, May 2008 

THE 

FOUR-WAY 

TEST 

1) Is it the truth? 

2) Is it fair to all concerned? 

3) Will it build goodwill and 

better friendships? 

4) Will it be beneficial to all 

concerned? 

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL WORLD HEADQUARTERS 

One Rotary Centre, 1560 Sherman Ave, Evanston, Illinois, 60201, US. 

Telephone: 847 866 3000. Fax: 847 328 8554. 

GENERAL OFFICERS OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL 2007-2008: 

President: Wilfrid J. Wilkinson, Trenton, Ont., Canada; President-elect: Dong Kurn Lee, Seoul Hangang, Korea; Vice President: Michael K. 

McGovern, South Portland-Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA; Treasurer: Ian H.S. Riseley, Sandringham, Australia; Directors: Kjell-åke åkesson, 

Hörby, Sweden; Monty J. Audenart, Red Deer East, Alta., Canada; örsçelik Balkan, Istanbul-Karaköy, Turkey; Thomas A. Branum Sr., 

Indianapolis Northeast, Ind., USA; Michael J. Johns, Hillcrest (Cleveland), Ohio, USA; Ashok M. Mahajan, Mulund, India; R. Gordon R. 

McInally, South Queensferry, Scotland; Donald L. Mebus, Arlington, Texas, USA; Paul A. Netzel, Los Angeles, Calif., USA; Kazuhiko Ozawa, 

Yokosuka, Japan; Raffaele Pallotta d’Acquapendente, Napoli (Naples), Italy; Themistocles A.C. Pinho, Niterói-Norte, Brazil; Barry Rassin, 

East Nassau, Bahamas; Bernard L. Rosen, Bruxelles, Belgium; Yoshimasa Watanabe, Kojima, Japan; General Secretary: Edwin H. Futa, East 

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA 

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEES: 

Chair: Robert Scott, Cobourg, Ontario, Canada; Chair-elect: Jonathan B. Majiyagbe, Kano, Nigeria; Peter Bundgaard, Ry, Denmark; Ron D. 

Burton, Norman, Okla., USA; Glenn E. Estess, Sr., Shades Valley, Ala., USA; Rudolf Hörndler, Nürnberg-Fürth, Germany; Carolyn E. Jones, 

Anchorage East, Alaska, USA; Mark Daniel Maloney, Decatur, Ala., USA; David D. Morgan, Porthcawl, Wales; Louis Piconi, Bethel-St. Clair, 

Pa., USA; K.R. Ravindran, Colombo, Sri Lanka; José Antonio Salazar Cruz, Bogotá Occidente, Colombia; Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar, Göteborg, 

Sweden; Sakuji Tanaka, Yashio, Japan; Bichai Rattakul, Dhonburi, Thailand; General Secretary Edwin H. Futa, East Honolulu, Hawaii, USA 

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL SOUTH PACIFIC AND PHILIPPINES OFFICE: 

McNamara Centre, Level 2, 100-108 George Street, Parramatta, NSW, 2150 or P.O. Box 1415, Parramatta, NSW 2124. Telephone: 61 2 9635 

3537. Fax 61 2 9689 3169. Office hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm (Closed public holidays). Regional Head: Frank Pezzimenti 

(Frank.Pezzimenti@rotary.org); Administration Coordinator/Literature Clerk: Michelle Fuller (Michelle.Fuller@rotary.org); Reception: 

Michelle Larnach ; Club and District support Supervisor: Joy Walker Joy.Walker@rotary.org; Coordinator: Dele Riley (Dele.Riley@rotary. 

org); Correspondent: Mary Jayne Desmond (MaryJayne.Desmond@rotary.org); Regional Financial Controller: Tarak Dey (Tarak.Dey@ 

rotary.org); Coordinator: John Jiang -- (Aust & NZ) (Xiang.Jiang@rotary.org); Coordinator: Desiree Bonifacio -- (Philippines) (Desiree. 

Bonifacio@rotary.org); Finance Clerk: Gaye Small (Gaye.Small@rotary.org); The Rotary Foundation Supervisor: Terry Davies (Terry. 

Davies@rotary.org); TRF Assistant: Krissy Aure-Canson (Kristenne.AureCason@rotary.org) 

ROTARY DOWN UNDER – THE COUNCIL: 

RI Director Ian Riseley, District Governors Eli Quartermaine (D9450), Ed McKinnon (D9460, Robyn Thorpe (D9470), Kerry Brandt-Wilson 

(D9500), Peter Ochota (D9520), Joanne Schilling (D9550), Greg Bailey (D9570), Steve Kruger (D9600), Errol Wildman (D9630), Brian 

Wheatley (D9640), Ian Dyball (D9650), Tony Mackenzie (D9670), Monica Saville (D9680), Jennifer Scott (D9690), John Egan (D9700), 

Bernie Rodgers (D9710), Patrick Roberts (D9750), Ric Robertson (D9780), Rob Lloyd (D9790), John Davis (D9800), Dick Garner (D9810), 

Janet McCahon (D9820), Kevin Shadbolt (D9830), Keith Rodgers (9910), Alan Davies (D9920), John Tarbutt (D9930), Pat Waite (D9940), 

Rex Morris (D9970), Kerry Dunlop (D9980). 

ROTARY DOWN UNDER – THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 

Past District Governor Vance Hilton, (chairman), Past District Governor Des Lawson (vice-chairman), RI Director Ian Riseley, Past District 

Governors Peter Williams, Terry Edwards, Stuart Heal and Colin Thorniley (treasurer), Bob Aitken (secretary). 

THE NEW ZEALAND ROTARY DOWN UNDER PROMOTION COMMITTEE: 

Past District Governor Fergus Cumming (chairman), Past District Governors Stuart Heal, Charles Wilson, Welly Choy, and Barbara Williams 

and Rtn Alan Airay. 

ROTARY AT A GLANCE 

Rotarians: 1,222,503 in 32,916clubs in 532 Districts in 207 countries. 

Rotaractors: 167,187 in 7269 clubs in 157 countries. 

Interactors: 251,965 in 10,955 clubs in 120 countries. 

Down Under there are 33,677 Rotarians in 1159 clubs in Australia and 9630 Rotarians in 243 clubs in New Zealand. Aust & NZ Districts 

include American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, 

Tonga and Vanuatu, where there are 777 Rotarians in 40 clubs.

CONTENTS 

FEATURES 

14 Cover Story 

Our Health Research Fund’s new companions 

17 Go Green, save money 

An environmental win-win solution out of Thornleigh 

19 Rotary 2020: The next Generation 

Two Presidential Membership Conferences down under 

20 ROMAC miracles 

Special two-page feature on this wonderful Rotary program 

27 LA Convention 

It’s not too late to get the best out of your trip 

28 Aust Rotary Health Research Fund 

Special four-page lift-out on a truly remarkable program 

33 Fiji’s new kidney dialysis centre 

Good news from the Rotary Club of Suva 

COVER PHOTO: The ARHRF’s 

new research Companions will 

enable individuals and families 

make Australian medical 

research history! 

24 

8 

REGULARS 

6 The Rotary Foundation 

7 President’s Message 

8 From where I sit 

9 News Bulletin 

12 Mailbox 

32 The Projects Page 

34 Holiday Accommodation 

35 This Rotary World 

38 Notices 

40 Directory 

41 Smiles 

14 

28 

Rotary Down Under, May 2008–––5

The Rotary Foundation 

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The generosity of 

Rotarians 

Bob Scott 

Chairman, 

The Rotary Foundation 

This is my last 

message as chair 

of The Rotary 

Foundation. 

Throughout this 

year, I rediscovered, 

as all of my predecessors have, the tremendous generosity of 

Rotarians and their efforts on behalf of our Foundation, in both its 

educational and humanitarian programs. 

Donations to all the funds have increased, and the Bill & 

Melinda Gates Foundation challenge grant is generating enormous 

excitement. I am confident that if this momentum continues, we 

will meet, and even exceed, all of our fundraising goals for this 

year. 

Our first goal for this Rotary year states: “Polio eradication is 

realistic.” Since Rotary launched its polio eradication initiative in 

1985, the infection rate has dropped by 99 per cent. Only four polioendemic 

countries remain. Who says we cannot eradicate polio? 

We Rotarians must continue to be the conscience of the Global 

Polio Eradication Initiative until no child is ever again paralysed for 

life by the polio virus. It is our promise to the children, and as we all 

know, Rotarians keep their promises. We will meet Rotary’s $US100 

Million Challenge. 

The Rotary Foundation has built a magnificent record over its 91 

years and is now recognised around the globe as one of the world’s 

most respected private foundations. It has been an honour to serve 

as its chair. Thank you for the good you have done, for the good you 

are doing, but most important, for the good you will do. ■

President’s Message 

President of the Rotary Club of Wellington South, NZ, Jim Greenhough left, and Past President Alastair Roger, right, recently welcomed Phil Hartley as a new member of their club. 

Our future in our hands 

Wilf Wilkinson 

President, Rotary 

International 

Soon after I was nominated to serve 

as president of Rotary International, I 

began planning a series of membership 

conferences in North America. Earlier 

this Rotary year, we held seven such 

conferences, each drawing between 200 

and 600 participants. I chose North 

America as the setting because of the 

region’s recent alarming decline in 

membership as well as its large pool of 

qualified prospective members, many of 

whom are just waiting for an invitation 

to join. 

Each conference generated a high level 

of energy and a shared understanding of 

why membership is such an urgent matter. 

We talked about the challenges Rotary 

faces in this arena as the need for its service 

continues to grow. And we determined 

that the organisation can’t grow, or even 

maintain its status quo, unless more 

Rotarians take on the responsibility of 

bringing in new members. 

‘ 

Right now, only about 18 per cent of 

Rotarians ever bring a new member into 

their club. The great majority of our 

membership growth reflects the work 

of just a few individuals who take their 

responsibility very seriously. 

But that responsibility belongs to all 

of us, not just to those few. This is the 

premise of the “member get member” 

initiative I’ve been promoting this year. 

“Member get member” is not a campaign 

or contest. It is, very simply, the way we 

need to approach the whole question of 

membership for Rotary to survive and 

grow – the understanding that it is the 

responsibility of each one of us to bring 

in at least one new member every year. 

Our North American conferences 

produced some encouraging results: In 

the first half of this Rotary year, every 

zone in the region showed a positive 

change in membership. Next year, 

President-elect Dong Kurn Lee plans to 

. . . only about 18 per cent of 

Rotarians ever bring a new 

member into their club. 

’ 

hold the events in 11 countries, building 

on the momentum we’ve developed and 

spreading the enthusiasm to other parts 

of the world. 

As this Rotary year draws to a close, 

consider the benefits of fulfilling your 

individual responsibility of bringing one 

new member into your club. Think about 

having one more pair of hands to do 

Rotary’s work and strengthen your club’s 

service. One more person to embrace 

Rotary’s core values and bring help and 

hope where they’re needed. One more 

person who will not only show the world 

that Rotary Shares but also allow Rotary 

to Make Dreams Real. 

Wilfrid J. (Wilf) Wilkinson 

President, Rotary International 


NEWS N BULLETIN 

World Water Day came and went with 

hardly a ripple on March 22 but that 

is certainly not the case with Rotary 

International’s focus on the provision 

of fresh water for all the people of 

our world. 

Successive Rotary International 

Presidents in the past five or six years have 

all highlighted the vital nature of Rotary’s 

water and sanitation programs. 

RI President Wilf Wilkinson set water as 

one of his service emphases for 2007/2008 

– along with membership, literacy and 

health. Water had a prominent presence 

in his citation program. In Community 

Service, he called on clubs to conduct a 

water program (of their choice) in their 

local community and, in International 

Service, he urged clubs to seek a Matching 

Grant from The Rotary Foundation or 

Health, Hunger and Humanity (3H) Grant 


The lack of access to safe water and sanitation claims more than two million lives each year, most of them children. 

Great response to 

Wilf ’s call for water projects 

From where I sit 

Bob Aitken 

for water, health or literacy projects. There 

has been a tremendous response worldwide 

and Ron Denham, General Coordinator 

of RI’s Water Resource Group, estimates 

Rotary clubs are now involved in at least 

6000 projects in scores of countries – all 

aimed at addressing the lack of access to 

safe water and sanitation that claims more 

than two million lives each year, a majority 

of them children. 

PDG Ron, a member of the Rotary 

Club of Toronto, Canada, says Rotary 

is committed to help achieve the UN 

Millennium Development Goal that calls 

for a 50 per cent reduction by 2015 in the 

number of people with insufficient access 

to safe water and sanitation. 

President Elect DK Lee has similar 

service emphases in his program for 

2008/2009, as he calls on the entire family 

of Rotary to focus on three projects that 

will make a difference in the lives of 

children – food and water, health care, 

and schooling. He points out that each of 

the three emphases is inextricably linked 

with the others, and that safe and available 

water immediately and drastically reduces 

‘ 

Rotary clubs are now 

involved in at least 

6000 projects in 

scores of countries 

’ 

a child’s risk of death from waterborne 

illness – the cause of 6000 deaths daily! 

Ron Denham also leads the semiautonomous 

Water and Sanitation 

Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG) and 

invites Rotarians planning to attend the RI 

Convention in Los Angeles in June to plan 

their travel and accommodation a couple 

of days early and get to the Los Angeles 

Convention Centre on June 12 (8am to 

4.30pm) for the first WASRAG Annual 

Water Summit. 

There will be a focus on sustainability 

and access to funding for large water 

projects. 

Most world leaders agree water 

will replace oil as the world’s most 

coveted commodity in the not too 

distant future. ■

Convention shirts are back 

They’re available again . . . the now 

famous Aussie Convention shirts! Those 

who attended last year’s spectacular RI 

Convention in Salt Lake City, USA, will 

remember the colourful gold Aussie 

Convention shirts – which made everyone 

so easy to recognise. 

The Australians learnt the lesson from 

our Kiwi neighbours who have been 

wearing the splendid black New Zealand 

shirts, emblazoned with a silver fern, for 

several years. 

The Aussie shirts this year will be the 

same design and colours, with the addition 

of the appropriate Rotary Shares theme to 

mark the 2007/2008 Rotary year. 

Rotarians interested in ordering the 

Aussie LA Convention shirts should 

contact the friendly staff at RDU 

Merchandise and Promotions before 

the end of May by phone on 61 2 9897 

3118, by fax on 61 2 9637 8052 or email 

supplies@rotarydownunder.com.au ■ 

Down Under in 

LA/Asia-Pacific Breakfast 

Still on the LA Convention, another 

successful Convention gathering for “down 

under” Rotarians is planned for Saturday 

afternoon, June 14, between 1pm and 4pm. 

This fellowship function proved an 

outstanding success last year in Salt Lake 

City when staged to honour the RI President 

Bill and Lorna Boyd. It is expected that the 

Boyds – along with RI Director Ian and 

Juliet Riseley and RI Director Elect John 

Lawrence and Janet – will be present at 

this function in LA. The venue is not yet 

finalised and Rotarians are asked to leave 

their contact details with Judy Drake at 

Rotary Down Under when registering their 

interest. Details of the venue will be passed 

on directly when available. 

Judy’s phone number at RDU is 61 2 

9633 4888 and her email is judydrake@ 

rotarydownunder.com.au. She is also 

taking bookings for the annual Asia-Pacific 

Breakfast to be held in Los Angeles at 

7am on Monday, June 16, at the Sheraton 

Downtown Hotel, 711 South Hope Street, 

Los Angeles. This has been a popular 

function in recent years as it provides “down 

under” Rotarians with the chance to catch 

up with Rotarian friends from a wide circle 

NEWS BULLETIN 

Mike Harriden, of the Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains, NSW, and his son, Greg, 

on the road in support of the children of Cambodia. 

of neighbouring Asia countries. The cost of 

$35 each is to be paid at the door but names 

MUST be registered with Judy Drake. Only 

50 seats are available for Rotarians from the 

“down under” region. ■ 

Ride for Cambodian kids 

A father and son team from Glenbrook, 

NSW, Mike and Greg Harriden, made the 

most of the April school holidays to cycle 

1000 kilometres from Ballarat, Victoria, to 

Sydney, NSW, to raise funds to demine land 

in Cambodia. 

Mike, a schoolteacher member of the 

Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains, 

NSW, and Greg, a University student, 

have both carried out volunteer work in 

Cambodia and understand the plight of 

children travelling to and from school in 

areas riddled with land mines. They plan to 

donate all funds raised to support a school 

building project in the north western 

Cambodian town of Samroang. Donations 

to: www.nb.au.com/future4kids. ■ 

Touring India 

Our friends at Travel 41 tell us there are still 

vacancies for their popular “Footsteps of the 

Rajah” tour to India in September this year. 

Well priced at $5999 including taxes, 

the tour visits the legendary Rajasthan and 

includes many exciting historical places, 

fascinating old forts and some fabulous fivestar 

resorts. 

The tour will be led by well known 

District 9690 personalities PDG John 

and Susan Wakefield and departs on 

September 23, lasting 17 memorable 

days. Ring the special tour number 1300 

414151 for more information. 

Membership statistics 

Regional RI Membership Area Coordinator 

PDG Jenny Coburn advises that 

the latest Australian membership statistics 

show the total at 33,892 members in 1175 

clubs – an increase of 1.16 per cent. 

New Zealand membership stands 

at 10,175 within 269 clubs – a drop of 

14. Worldwide, Rotary membership is 

1,217,901 in 32,901 clubs – an increase of 

23,388 or 1.96 per cent. 

Jenny shares a membership success 

story from the Rotary Club of Manly 

Sunrise, NSW, in her latest Membership 

Snippets newsletter . . . 

Chartered with 22 members in 1995, 

the club now has 37 members thriving 

on the back of a format of informality 

and shaping programs to suit needs of 

members, ie: lighten up – don’t make 

Rotary so serious it becomes a cult; 

revamped grace and toast to Australia – 

not the Queen; and three guest speakers 

a month with the fourth meeting devoted 

to a club assembly and business. For the 

record, the club meets in a five-star venue 

with excellent food. ■ 


NEWS N BULLETIN 

Parkes Rotaractors pictured “workshopping” recent editions of Rotary Down Under. 

Left to right, they are Kelly Hendry, Fiona Nobes, Dane Hendry and Andrew Francis. 

RDU for Rotaract Club 

The Rotaract Club of Parkes, NSW, has 

taken advantage of the special offer by 

Rotary Down Under to make magazine 

subscriptions available for the discount 

price of $25 per annum to Rotaractors. 

The Rotaract Club’s publicity officer, 

Kelly Hendry, said that while the club has 

strong communication channels with the 

Parkes Rotary Club, members find that 

Rotary Down Under magazine provides 

news from the greater Rotary network 

and keeps members informed of the larger 

national and international projects in place 

within Rotary International. 

“The magazine keeps us up to date and 

provides an endless supply of project ideas,’’ 

she said. ■ 

D9600’s Donations in Kind 

District 9600 continues to do amazing 

things as the partnerships between various 

clubs in Queensland and Papua New Guinea 

continue to grow. 

Another PNG/Solomon Islands Forum 

was held in Port Moresby at the end of 

March and Queensland clubs are urged to 

make contact with their matching clubs in 

the islands to see how they can best assist – 

whether by funding or manpower? 

Donations in Kind support from the 

Queensland warehouse to the islands 

so far this year included a container to 


Honiara, Solomon Islands, in January 

which contained school desks, hospital 

beds, medical supplies, books, birthing kits, 

and school clothing; two containers to Port 

Moresby, PNG, in February – one with 

hospital beds and mattresses, and the other 

with desks, books, medical supplies and 

birthing kits; and two further containers to 

Lae and Port Moresby in March containing 

birthing kits, medical supplies, books, desks 

and beds. The volunteers know they’re on 

the right track when they receive a delightful 

note from a grateful Anne Gloyne, President 

of the Rotary Club of Rabaul, PNG, saying 

“Container arrived Friday – wonderful! 

Please pass on our thanks to all concerned 

and also the CWA and DIK ladies for the 

birthing kits.” ■ 

Christmas Island, Kiribati 

Governor Alan Davies, of District 9920, 

also brings good news from the wonderful 

island clubs scattered throughout his 

challenging District. 

The provisional Rotary Club of 

Christmas Island, Kiribati, is 9920s most 

recent addition and has been operating 

since March. 

The new club – just across the equator 

from Nauru – hopes to charter with 25 

members on Sunday, August 24. Sponsor 

clubs are the Rotary Clubs of Suva East, Fiji, 

and Commerce City, Colorado, USA. 

In his April District Newsletter, Alan 

praised the efforts of the Rotary Club of 

Suva, Fiji, and urged Rotarians to take time 

to visit a Rotary Club in French Polynesia. 

He said fellowship in all five Tahitian Rotary 

Clubs is tremendous, as is the spirit within 

the Tahiti Rotaract Club. ■ 

Kids with cerebral palsy 

A unique evening of entertainment 

organised by the Rotary Club of One 

Tree Hill, New Zealand, raised $10,000 

for children from the Carson School for 

Children with Cerebral Palsy in Auckland 

recently. 

Club President Alistair Grundy, an 

accomplished musician, put a band together 

for the special evening, and arranged for 

additional entertainment by a magician and 

belly dancers. 

Some 120 local residents and club 

members generously supported a charity 

auction to get the evening off to a strong 

start. 

The Carlson school principal, who also 

doubles as the Rotary Club’s Sergeant-atarms, 

was delighted with the success of 

the evening and indicated that the funds 

will be used to buy walking slings for the 

children. 

The slings are specially designed to 

enable children who are usually wheelchair 

bound to experience the sensation of 

being independently upright and to have 

their feet touch the ground. The slings are 

attached to a track on an overhead hoist in 

the classrooms. 

The children are able to move themselves 

forward and backward as never before. 

The benefits are many in terms of 

health and sheer joy of independent 

movement. ■ 

Two for one at Sydney 

The Rotary Club of Sydney, NSW, does not 

do things by half measures! 

Members and guests recently had a 

bonus with TWO outstanding guest 

speakers at the one meeting. 

PDG Ron Denham, of the Rotary 

Club of Ontario, Canada, in his capacity 

as General Coordinator of the RI Water 

Resource Group, told how two million lives 

were lost annually around the world due to 

lack of access to fresh water and sanitation.

He outlined Rotary’s commitment to 

achieving the United Nations Millennium 

Goal, calling for a 50 per cent reduction in 

such deaths by 2015. 

Young Australian of the Year 2007 Tania 

Major had a similarly compelling message 

for the club as a tireless spokesperson for 

Aboriginal people – particularly in the 

area of indigenous youth advocacy. 

Tania is a Kokoberra woman from 

Kowanyama, Cape York, in far north 

Queensland, and is an outstanding role 

model. She is a contemporary criminologist 

but also proudly represents 40,000 years of 

history and tradition. 

The Rotary Club of Sydney meets at the 

Castlereagh Hotel in Castlereagh Street, 

Sydney, at 12.30pm on Tuesdays and 

visitors are always welcome. ■ 

Rotarians at ‘Brigadoon’ 

Rotarian Harry Renfree, of the Rotary 

Club of Taradale, New Zealand, is pictured 

with Past President John MacPherson, of 

the Rotary Club of Berrima District, NSW, 

at the annual “Bundanoon is Brigadoon” 

Scottish Festival in April. 

Harry is the President of the Sticks and 

Drones Pipe Band which was one of 25 pipe 

bands taking part at Bundanoon – said to be 

Online bonus for RDU 

Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike now have 

their own gateway to the world through 

Rotary Down Under’s newly redeveloped 

website. 

After months of development work, 

Rotary Down Under has officially launched 

its own news website to run in tandem 

with the Rotarnet site that has become so 

familiar to Rotarians in Australia and New 

Zealand over the past decade. 

“It’s an exciting new development for 

Rotary Down Under giving Rotarians an 

easy gateway into the activities of clubs and 

Districts all over Australia, New Zealand 

and the South West Pacific under an easyto-remember 

address,” said RDU Associate 

Editor Mark Wallace. 

“We know that Rotarians like to know 

what’s going on at other clubs as they look 

for new ideas for projects and strategies for 

recruitment. 

“This is what our news site will do. 

Apart from a constantly changing supply of 

news from all over our region, you’ll find 

information on coming Rotary events, links 

to our advertisers, information on how to 

NEWS BULLETIN 

Rotarian Harry Renfree, of the Rotary Club of Taradale, New Zealand, with 

Past President John MacPherson, of the Rotary Club of Berrima District, NSW. 

contribute to Rotary Down Under, and even 

browse the pages of the magazine online. 

“We’ve been able to achieve this without 

relinquishing any of the service that 

Rotarnet has given Rotarians for such a 

the largest Scottish gathering in the Southern 

Hemisphere. The Sticks and Drones Pipe 

Band from Napier, NZ, is the first international 

pipe band to take part in the Bundanoon 

gathering, now in its 31st year. ■ 

A screen shot from RDU’s new news site at www.rotarydownunder.com.au 

long time now. Thousands of Rotarians got 

to Rotarnet each week, and they still can. 

“It’s just that now they get two sites for 

the price – which is free – of one.” 

Go to www.rotarydownunder.com.au ■ 


MAILBOX MAIL 

It’s fellowship, not a make-up 

I note Rotary Down Under (April, page 36) 

refers to make-ups by Rotarians on a cruise. 

I don’t have a copy of the 2008 Manual 

Of Procedure, nor can I find what I am 

looking for online but the 2004 Manual 

Of Procedure, Page 7, Absence from Clubs 

states, “there is no provision for crediting 

attendance 1) At informal gatherings of 

Rotarians held on ships (RCP 7.020.3) 

Some years ago as a District Club Service 

Adviser, I was called upon to adjudicate on 

make-ups claimed by cruising Rotarians 

and could only quote this clause even 

though I disagreed with it. 

It is a minor issue that irritates wellmeaning 

Rotarians and has nothing to do 

with achieving our aims. 

Whilst the article does not actually state 

that these informal meetings were valid 

‘‘make-ups’’ it doesn’t clearly explain the 

circumstances about informal gatherings. 

Of course they could have fired up the 

internet, gone online to the RI website and 

over lunch, discussed the issues mentioned 

in the article and I dare say it would be a 

valid make-up? 

Can you advise if this clause has been 

retracted and if not, why wouldn’t Rotary 

Down Under report the event with an 

editor’s note correctly explaining this 

anomalous situation, if in fact make-ups at 

sea contravene the Manual Of Procedure? 

Lindsay May 

Past President 

Rotary Club of Lane Cove, NSW ■ 

Editor’s Note: The clause quoted by Lindsay 

from the 2004 MOP is still in force, and 

appears on Page 10 of the 2007 MOP. 

PMCs will be critical 

The “Rotary 2020: The Next Generation” 

(RDU April) theme for July’s Presidential 

Membership Conference sets the scene for 

what will be a critical meeting of minds to 

consider a direction for Rotary to sustain 

itself in changing times. 

Perhaps consideration could be given to 

include an external stakeholder analysis in 

developing this 2020 vision. To consider 

branding and image we need not only 

our own views but also the views of the 


This informal gathering of Rotarians held on the Sun Princess last year did not, technically, 

qualify as an official make-up, according to the Rotary International Manual of Procedure. 

community outside Rotary — how do they 

see us and what do they think we should be 

doing and what do they need to consider 

joining the Rotary family. 

One of the issues I encourage PMC 

delegates to consider is the role of women 

in Rotary leadership positions. With no 

disrespect to the Rotary International Board 

featured in the same RDU issue, there was 

not one female in the 20 RI Directors. 

There are any number of major research 

papers pointing to increased performance, 

both financially and otherwise, on Boards 

when women are part of the mix. I would 

encourage Rotary International to set a 

target of 25 per cent women on the Board 

by 2015 and 50 per cent by 2020. We need 

to encourage more women into Rotary at 

the Club level and RI would be making a 

powerful statement with women on the RI 

Board. 

Stephen Kobelke 

Rotary Club of Perth, WA ■ 

Inspiring event for 

Melbourne 

I’d like to introduce myself as one of the 

convenors of an inspiring event to be held 

in Melbourne, Vic, in July. 

I’m a third year medical student studying 

at Monash University in Melbourne and 

currently participating in the Australian 

Rotary Health Research Fund Rural 

Medical Scholarship Program through my 

local Rotary Club in Warragul, Vic. 

I have found the experience most 

beneficial and among other things, it 

has given me great insight into Rotary 

International and the many exciting 

programs that they run. I very quickly 

became quite excited at the prospect of 

involving Rotary International in our 

national conference on Global Health. 

The Australian Medical Students’ 

Association Global Health Conference 

(GHC) aims to inform, educate and inspire 

the next generation of global health and 

development practitioners to achieve 

positive and sustainable progress in 

community partnerships throughout the 

Asia-Pacific region. 

As an annual conference, the GHC 

draws the most passionate and motivated 

group of the region’s future doctors and 

health policy-makers to partici pate in an 

innovative program designed to facilitate 

discussion and empower delegates to 

better ad dress global health issues in 

practical ways. 

The conference will be attended by 

more than 500 delegates from across our 

region including a sponsored delegation 

from developing communities throughout 

the Asia-Pacific. GHC2008 will attract 

Australia’s foremost leaders to address the 

multi-faceted matrix of social, political,

economic and environmental determinants 

of health within developing communities. 

This includes speakers of such calibre 

as Rev Tim Costello, Sir Gustav Nossal, 

Julian Burnside, QC, and Tom Calma. We 

are also in promising negotiations with the 

offices of Mohhammed Yunus, founder 

of the Gremean Bank, and Jeffery Sachs, 

widely touted as the world’s foremost 

developmental economist. 

In addition to this we are investigating the 

possibility of Stephen Smith, MP, officially 

opening the conference. 

The conference has been widely 

endorsed by both Monash and Melbourne 

universities and we are proudly partnered 

by many of the country’s leading NGOs 

and global health research institutes such as 

World Vision, the Red Cross, Caritas and 

The Burnet Institute. 

Our event would be most honoured to 

have Rotary International as a key partner. 

We would be most keen to promote 

Rotary International and its programs such 

as Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary World 

Peace Fellowships and Ambassadorial 

Scholarship programs, to our delegates. 

For further information please visit our 

website at www.amsa.org.au/ghc2008 and 

view our four-minute promotional DVD at 

www.expioproductions.com/GHCPromo- 

Download-WINv2.wmv 

Daniel Yore 

Co-Convenor 

Global Health Conference 2008 

Australian Medical Students’ Association ■ 

We’ll supply the plans 

The ROBIN nest box article in Rotary 

Down Under (Mailbox, March) should have 

given clubs and Districts food for thought 

regarding the value of promoting Rotary 

and conservation in their area. 

Rotary’s Native Bird Nestbox Project 

would be happy to supply nest box plans for 

specified birds and animals together with 

details of the equipment we use to televise 

and video within the boxes with minor 

disturbance to the inhabitants. 

A speaker, film and display is available for 

particular events or District Conferences. 

Over to you! 

DJ (Barry) Barratt 

Rotary Club of Glen Osmond, SA 

Rotary’s Native Bird Nestbox Project ■ 

Well done, Tara! 

It is always a pleasure to read Rotary Down 

Under, but I am pressed to reply, on this 

occasion, to the article entitled, Significance 

of the PHF pin (RDU, February), written by 

Ambassadorial Scholar Tara McKenzie. 

It was only recently that I was speaking to 

a Rotarian from my club who had just made 

another annual contribution to The Rotary 

Foundation which will automatically make 

him eligible for a Paul Harris Fellowship. 

In my discussion with him he was reticent 

to accept that he made the donation for 

that purpose. The timing of the article by 

Tara, which I must say, is one of the most 

poignant on this topic that I have read, could 

not have been better, and I will certainly be 

pointing it out to my member as essential 

reading for him. 

Notwithstanding the above digression, I 

simply wanted to congratulate Tara on the 

piece and the extremely deep thought that 

went behind it. Well done, Tara! 

Larry Jacka 

Rotary Club of West Pennant Hills and 

Cherrybrook, NSW 

Past Governor, District 9680 ■ 

Rotary’s Native Bird Nestbox Project will happily 

supply nest box plans for specified birds and animals 

together with details of the equipment used to televise 

and video within the boxes. 

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Cover Story 

ARHRF’s new companions 

The introduction of Research Companions 

to the list of Australian Rotary Health 

research funding opportunities will 

enable individuals and families to leave a 

permanent mark on Australian medical 

research history! 

Joy Gillett, Chief Executive Officer of the 

Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, 

made the announcement of this impressive 

new funding initiative recently. 

“Donations from Research Companions 

will totally finance research into any health 

program of their choice. They will have 

the opportunity of a lasting legacy by way 

of a research scholarship in their name,” 

she said. 

Donation levels for Research Companions 

commence at $100,000, rising to $500,000 

for a Distinguished Research Companion 

and $1,000,000 for a Perpetual Research 

Companion. 

Joy explained that medical researchers 

are continually “knocking on the 


ARHRF’s door” and that this new funding 

innovation provides the Research Fund 

with vitally needed additional funding 

streams, whilst allowing all existing 

programs to continue their good work. 

Dr Anthony Scarman, Research 

Manager of the Australian Rotary 

Health Research Fund, underlined the 

importance of securing a flow of Research 

Companions to open the way for a new 

range of ARHRF projects. 

He said there was now widespread 

acceptance of the importance of ongoing 

and specialist medical research in 

Australia, but added that such was not 

always the case. 

Dr Scarman pointed to a recent 

graduation address at the University 

of Sydney, by Professor Judith A 

Whitworth, in which she described 

research as “original, creative, intellectual 

activity leading to the generation of new 

knowledge.” 

AUSTRALIA 

She said spin-offs come as often as not 

from curiosity-driven research. 

Professor Whitworth said “Knowledge for 

diagnosis comes from research, knowledge for 

treatment comes from research, knowledge 

for cures comes from research. Medical 

research is the beginning, the starting point in 

hope, in efforts to diagnose, treat, or cure the 

diseases of mankind. Put more simply, today’s 

treatment is yesterday’s research. Today’s 

research is tomorrow’s treatment.” 

Given the efforts of the Australian Rotary 

Health Research Fund to bring funding for 

medical research in Australia to new levels, 

Dr Scarman said Professor Whitworth’s 

comments are very appropriate at 

this time. 

She continued “A recent article in the 

prestigious international journal, Science, 

reminded us that lithium treatment for 

manic depressive disorder has saved the 

United States alone, over 145 billion dollars in 

hospitalisation costs, and that the discovery 

ShelterBox Australia, a project of the Rotary 

Club of Endeavour Hills, is the Australian 

affiliate of the ShelterBox Trust UK. 

Following our recent incorporation and in 

line with outstanding growth, we are seeking 

to make appointments to two new positions 

in our Melbourne (Doveton) office. 

General Manager 

Responsible for the management and further development of 

ShelterBox Australia, this is a full-time position that will suit a person 

with enthusiasm, proven management skills and experience, and an 

understanding of the operation of a charity delivering worldwide 

disaster relief and humanitarian aid. Applicants should be used to 

dealing with government departments and agencies including 

preparation of submissions. This is an opportunity to grow with this 

project while taking it to its next level of development. 

Fundraising & Public Relations Officer 

This full-time position will suit an experienced self-starter with a 

proven track record in these fields who is keen to grow and widen 

the donations base of this project in Australia. 

Experience in dealing with government departments and agencies 

will be highly regarded. 

ShelterBox is now the largest Rotary Club project in the world. 

It has raised over $40 million worldwide and in Australia, in excess 

of $3.3 million since 2003. 

Applications including a comprehensive résumé to be sent by 

30 May to: PDG Ray Stewart 

Administrator 

ShelterBox Australia 

PO Box 790 Endeavour Hills Vic 3802 

or by email to shelterboxaust@westnet.com.au

The work of the 

Australian Rotary 

Health Research Fund 

is making life better 

for families. ies. 

of the role of 

the Helicobacter 

pylori in ulcer 

disease saves around $US600 to $800 million 

annually in treatment costs. What the article 

did not mention is that both were Australian 

discoveries. 

“We are often asked why Australia should 

do medical research rather than simply import 

it from overseas, as we do with so much else. 

The answer is simple. We undertake research 

to contribute to world knowledge. We have 

less than .05 per cent of the world’s population 

but do 2.5 per cent of the research. 

“Research is carried out to ensure a broad 

base of expertise in biological, behavioural 

and social science. In this way, we can deal 

with uniquely Australian problems. For 

example, research into Aboriginal Health 

will never be done overseas; it must be done 

here. Conditions like melanoma and asthma 

occur world-wide but are more common in 

Australia than anywhere else. We do research 

locally to provide us with local expertise. 

“To respond to new diseases, on site 

expertise is necessary – in terms of disease 

containment, the Australian response to 

AIDS has been outstanding. We have also 

responded to old diseases – we lead the 

way in reducing road traffic accidents, 

deaths in men, we have been successful 

in reducing heart attack and stroke, and 

we have cut smoking rates in men from 

70 per cent during World War II to under 

30 per cent today!” 

Professor Whitworth said the health and 

future of Australian research and Australian 

health care depends on recognition by all 

Australians of the importance of research to 

our culture and to our development. 

“Science and research needs advocates. 

Translation of research into practice may 

take decades. Research needs long term 

investment and long term commitment, and 

it needs the advocacy of everyone in this 

room,” she said. 

NOTE: A full page advertisement providing 

further information on the ARHRF’s new 

Research Companion program appears 

on page 3 of this issue of Rotary Down 

Under. Further, the ARHRF’s annual fourpage 

promotional feature is published 

from pages 28 to 31. This feature is 

testimony to the amazing range of ARHRF 

research programs and sponsorship by 

Rotary clubs, Districts, and individuals 

around Australia. ■ 

Cover Story 

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So when you’re planning your next 

holiday, pack AIG travel insurance 

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consider the PDS in light of your personal circumstances, prior to 

making any decision to acquire the product. RDU Merchandise and 

Promotions act as a referrer of AIG and may receive a referral fee if 

you decide to buy this product. 

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Photo: Mark Wallace 

The Green Office Project offers business and home users, Australian-made, remanufactured cartridges that will reduce 

printing costs by up to 40 per cent with no quality compromise. 

GO GREEN, save money and 

help the needy 

Just imagine if you could save money, 

reduce the environmental impact of your 

business and at the same time provide funds 

for worthy causes. Being green would be a 

very attractive proposition. 

The Rotary Club of Thornleigh, NSW, 

has come up with an innovative way of 

achieving all the above and they call it “The 

Green Office Project”. 

The Green Office Project has the potential 

to help protect the environment, reduce 

costs for businesses, maintain Australian 

employment, and provide a sustainable 

stream of funding for Rotary projects. 

The Rotary Club of Thornleigh has 

mapped out a plan to promote a range of 

products which will enable many office 

consumables often thrown away to be 

reused. Adopting the policy of Reuse 

before Recycling, the Green Office Project 

offers business and home users, Australianmade, 

remanufactured cartridges that will 

reduce printing costs by up to 40 per cent 

with no quality compromise. 

Environmental damage caused by 

landfill is a real concern. Each year in 

Australia more than18 million perfectly 

reusable printer cartridges are crushed for 

recycling or sent to landfill. Given that the 

manufacture of each cartridge uses up to 

three litres of oil and produces over 6kg of 

greenhouse gas emissions, it is easy to see 

how we can significantly reduce the damage 

we are doing to our environment. 

“It focuses on showing business and 

individuals that there are considerable 

benefits if the ‘single use and discard’ 

thinking is rejected and Reuse is adopted,” 

said project coordinator Frank Dunne. 

“The Green Office Project will achieve 

its aims with the support of Rotary 

clubs throughout Australia. Rotarians 

can contribute to the success of the 

project by using Green office products 

or recommending them to their business 

acquaintances and friends.” 

All profits from the sale of the Green 

Office products go directly to a special fund 

for supporting worthy causes. 

As Project Manager, the Rotary Club of 

Thornleigh provides support materials to 

help Clubs promote the program. Clubs 

are also invited to contact Thornleigh to 

arrange a guest speaker for one of The 

Green Office Project members to present 

details of this project to the club. 

For further information contact: 

greenofficeproject@rotarythornleigh.com 

Aiden Mullen 

Rotary Club of Thornleigh, NSW ■ 

Our Environment 


Rotary looks ahead 

Leadership development vital to 

Rotary’s future 

“Leadership development combined with 

Rotary knowledge isn’t just important, it’s 

vital to Rotary’s future,” said RI Treasurer Ian 

Riseley at the inaugural Rotary Leadership 

Institute (RLI) Faculty Orientation training 

in February. 

The introduction of RLI into our Rotary 

region represented a significant milestone 

for Rotary Districts and clubs. 

International Assembly Trainer PDG 

Rob Crabtree noted that RLI is already a 

recognised and valued training process 

throughout much of the Rotary world. How 

can you lead Rotary without knowledge of 

Rotary? 

Therefore, RLI bases its courses on 

increasing Rotary information coupled with 

developing leadership skills, to foster a pool 

of enthusiastic Rotarians capable of taking on 

future leadership roles in clubs and districts. 

This sentiment was endorsed by many 

Rotary leaders from the New Zealand-based 

Districts at recent RLI promotion meetings 

with International RLI Executive Director 

PDG Mike Rabasca in Auckland and Lake 

Hayes (near Queenstown). 

The initial RLI Discussion Leader training 

was organised by RLI International Regional 

Vice-Chair Australia, New Zealand and 

Oceania PDG Cathy Roth. It brought 

together experienced Rotary trainers 

and senior leaders from seven Australian 

Districts, hosted by District 9780 at the 

Lara Country Fire Authority facility near 

Geelong, Vic. RLI, New Zealand and Pacific 

Islands Division Chair PDG 

Beryl Robinson and Colin also 

attended. Using the knowledge 

and experience gained, they are 

establishing and implementing 

the RLI program there. 

The RLI train-the-trainers 

was conducted in the same 

way as all RLI courses, where 

everyone participates, and a 

Discussion Leader ensures that 

topic goals are achieved. The 

class was conducted by Mike 

Rabasca and International 

RLI Vice-Chair Training and 

Materials PDG Frank Wargo. 


At the end of the first day’s training, 

participants and hosts went to the Old 

Geelong Gaol for a memorable evening of 

fun and fellowship, hosted by local Rotarians. 

A certain amount of gallows humour was 

evident. 

On the second day, each attendee honed 

their Discussion Leader skills and techniques 

while being critiqued by the International 

RLI Trainers and fellow participants. All 

attendees successfully qualified as RLI 

Faculty members, ready to lead future RLI 

courses. 

“I was so pleased to be there, thrilled to be 

included and can’t wait to start working with 

RLI,” said PDG Andrew Suggett. 

The first RLI course for club Rotarians will 

be offered in Australia soon. New Zealandbased 

District Governors nominated senior 

Rotarians to be trained as RLI Discussion 

Leaders on June 6-7 and June 8-9 in the 

South and North Islands respectively, which 

will be followed by the first RLI course next 

Rotary year. 

To learn more about Rotary leadership 

Institute, visit www.rli.rotary.org.nz or 

contact Cathy Roth at cathy.roth@bigpond. 

com or on 0418 593 556 (for Australianbased 

districts) or Beryl Robinson at cs.bg. 

robinson@xtra.co.nz or on 021 652 802 (for 

New Zealand-based districts). 

David Linett 

RI Director 2004-6 

International Chair, 

The Rotary Leadership Institute ■ 

Rotary Leadership Institute, NZ and Pacific Islands Division Chair 

Beryl Robinson, International RLI Executive Director Mike Rabasca, 

RLI International Vice-Chair Australia, NZ and Oceania Cathy Roth and 

International RLI Vice-Chair Training and Materials Frank Wargo. 

Westport celebrates 

Founders Day 

President P id t H HHokitika kitik ki ik R RRotary t Cl Club b I IIan H HHustwick, t i k l lleft, ft f R RRotary 

t 

Youth Exchange Student Carlos Roche (Mexico), Westport 

Rotary President Gail Howard, RYE District Chairman Murray 

Butler, RYE student Annika Seibert (Germany), Greymouth 

Rotary Club President Elect Gary Hopkinson, District 

Governor Rex Morris and RYE student Ann Martins (Brazil). 

The Rotary Club of Westport, NZ, hosted 

a combined meeting with the Rotary Clubs 

of Greymouth and Hokitika, to celebrate 

international day of peace and the founding 

of Rotary International on February 23. 

The club hired the Wild Coast Café at 

Punakaiki, part way between Greymouth 

and Westport. 

Also present was the District Governor 

Rex Morris and his wife, Jo, Murray Butler 

the District chairman of Rotary Youth 

Exchange and three Rotary Youth exchange 

students – Annika, from Germany, Anna, 

from Brazil, and Carlos, from Mexico. 

Westport Rotarian Charlie Brunning also 

brought along a sommelier from Denmark 

whom he had met the night before. Gareth 

Tomas, also from Westport, brought 

along his brother Huw, who was visiting 

New Zealand and who is a member of 

the ShelterBox staff in England. It was an 

international occasion and ended with an 

auction of wrapped bottles (mostly wine 

it turned out) which, with the Sergeant’s 

session, raised more than $700 for The 

Rotary Foundation. 

Governor Rex’s theme of Sharing and of 

making acquaintance certainly came true 

at the event. Rex also noted that on the 

same date, February 23, 1954, the first mass 

immunisation of the Polio Salk vaccine was 

administered in Pittsburgh. 

Rex Morris 

Rotary Club of Nelson, NZ 

Past Governor, District 9970 ■

Canberra: 

Summits and think tanks are the flavour 

of the month right now. From the Federal 

Government’s “2020 Summit” to our own 

“Rotary 2020: The Next Generation” – the 

focus is the same. 

The challenge to pool our experiences, our 

corporate knowledge and our vision to fast 

forward to tomorrow’s potential Rotarians – 

“The Next Generation”. 

If not us – then who will plan to make 

sure our Rotary builds on past and present 

successes to create the momentum – “Going 

Forward with a New Model for Rotary”. 

RI President 2008-09, Dong Kurn Lee, 

from South Korea, has handed us a one-off 

opportunity at the start of the Rotary New 

Year. DK puts it on the line: “The Conference 

must be targeted, planned and communicated 

to local Rotary Clubs and Rotarians” to join 

with District officers in mapping out our 

future. DG’s, DGE’s, DGN’s and Membership 

Chairs have been invited. We have written to all 

Clubs through DG’s, inviting sponsorship of 

Club Membership Directors and members. 

Is the PMC a Membership Training 

seminar? NO! There will be pre- and postsessions 

for trainers. The PMC is an ideas 

Summit, supported by hard hitting insights 

Auckland: 

Past District Governor Andrew Meek has 

called upon New Zealand Rotarians to help 

shape the future of Rotary by contributing 

to the Presidential Membership Conference 

in Auckland on July 18 and 19. 

Using the theme, Share the Vision, NZ 

Rotarians will gather at the Waipuna Hotel 

and Conference Centre to tackle issues 

confronting them as they work towards 

membership growth in the 21st century. 

The conference will be hosted by the 

Rotary International President Dong-Kurn 

Lee which together with the Canberra 

conference will be some of the first events 

in his year in office. 

Attendees will also hear from Past 

Rotary International President Bill 

Boyd, Conference Convenor and RI 

Director 2008-09 John Lawrence and Ron 

Beaubien, Chairman of the RI Membership 

into “Australian Society: Where to now?” 

“World and local Trends”; “Volunteering in 

the 21st Century”; “Rotary’s Image; The Big 

Branding Challenge”. 

Will “The Next Generation” want to be 

Rotarians? How do they perceive us – how 

can we inspire their involvement? It won’t 

just happen by osmosis – we either want 

Rotary to prosper or accept the current 

forecast that Service Clubs per se will 

steadily decline! 

I don’t want all my Rotary efforts to 

become a mere dusty memorial. Do You? 

Nor can we let down vulnerable people 

who depend on Rotary for humanitarian 

services, or put at risk our iconic GSE or 

Scholarships educational programs! What 

Development and Retention Committee. 

The conference focus will be on four 

expert keynote speakers on topics vital 

to an understanding of issues affecting 

Rotary’s future: 

• The importance of vision – Al Morrison, 

Chief Executive and Director General of 

the Department of Conservation; 

• Our changing demographics – Geoff 

Bascand, Government Statistician and 

Chief Executive, Statistics New Zealand; 

• Volunteering: A changing landscape – Beth 

Harman, CEO, Ronald McDonald House, 

Auckland; 

• Brand equity, public relations and 

advertising – David Walden, CEO TBWA/ 

Whybin. 

“All keynote addresses and collated notes 

from the break out sessions will be printed 

and made available after the conference 

and those attending will take home plenty 

Presidential Membership Conferences 

Going forward with a new model for Rotary 

Rotary the next generation 

about sponsoring Club recipient Alumni to 

the PMC – they are our future! 

RIPE “DK” Lee is picking up RIP Wilf 

Wilkinson’s baton in this Olympic year, but 

with a major difference for Australia. “DK” 

will sit down with us, hear us and talk with us 

at this, the first truly Australian Conference 

for all Rotarians. With him will be our own 

RIDE John Lawrence, starting his two-year 

Director’s term and PRID Ron Beaubien, 

Chair RI Membership and Retention 

Committee. Otherwise the keynote speakers 

will be mainly notable non-Rotary Aussies. 

I call on Clubs to sponsor your Membership 

Director and Districts their Membership 

Chair. They’ll get double value by also 

joining in the pre- and post- membership 

sessions, giving them tools to convert good 

ideas into action! 

Go to www.rotarydownunder.com.au 

and click on “Presidential Membership 

Conferences Canberra” for registrations, 

where to stay, including “home stay with a 

Rotarian” and local attractions. Check the 

Program and Speakers. 

Len Goodman 

Rotary Club of Canberra City 

Past Governor District 9710 

lgoodman@ozemail.com.au ■ 

Conference chairman Meek in call for support 

of ideas and strategies for attracting a new 

generation of volunteers and communityminded 

people to Rotary,” Conference 

chairman PDG Meek said. 

Planning is progressing on schedule with 

details available at www.rotary.org.nz. and 

clicking on the Presidential Membership 

Conference button on the left of the page. 

Email inquiries can be made at 

sharethevision@xtra.co.nz, and PDG Meek 

can be contacted in New Zealand on 03 471 

0698 or 021 357 322. 

“We have certainly been granted a golden 

opportunity by RIPE Lee, particularly as it 

will have been so soon into his year as RI 

President,” PDG Meek said. 

“It’s now up to us, not only to show our 

support for President “DK” Lee, but to 

show our determination to take Rotary to 

a new generation and to ensure the future 

of the organisation in this country.” ■ 


Before ROMAC 

After ROMAC 

ROMAC 

Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children 

(ROMAC) thinks so, and in fact since 1988 

ROMAC has been changing, and sometimes 

saving, the lives of over 300 underprivileged 

children from under-developed countries 

that have neither the medical facilities or 

the know how to treat these children. 

Children like Ria Chand, far right, who 

at aged one fell into a large pot of boiling 

soup and wasn’t referred to ROMAC until 

a year later! Ria had to endure a series of 

operations over a 12 month period with 

some of the worlds best doctors here in 

Australia. She is now happy living a normal 

life back home in Fiji. Her total medical bill 

was in excess of $60,000. Incidentally, Ria 

fell in love with our kangaroos . . . and we 

fell in love with her! 

What is a child’s 

life worth? 

Whilst you simply can’t put a price on a 

child’s life, over the years the average cost 

of each patient’s care is a bargain $15,000, 

less than the cost of a new family car. 

That’s because ROMAC is run by 

volunteers plus, importantly, the inspiring 

generosity of the many medical doctors 

who choose to help these children without 

charge - and whose gained expertise 


If a picture is worth a 1,000 words ... 

... surely changing a child’s life is worth $1,000? 

‘ 

100% of all donations 

received are used for 

the benefit of incoming 

children. This is done 

with the assurance 

that no Australian or 

New Zealand child 

will be disadvantaged. 

ROMAC is run by 

volunteers who freely 

give their time and 

expertise. 

’ 

benefits our children - and the generosity 

and understanding of compassionate 

hospitals who charge substantially lower 

costs. So every dollar you donate ‘increases’ 

in value and goes directly to treatment and 

care of the children. 

Changing a child’s life 

Children, aged up to 15 years, accepted 

for treatment come from very humble 

backgrounds. Their families have 

minimal income and often survive on 

subsistence living. 

Without ROMAC’s help these children 

might be hidden away, left to die or, in 

some instances, sent to the streets to beg. 

Some children have been afflicted for many 

years before their lives are significantly 

changed by ROMAC. They feel good about 

themselves once unsightly growths, clefts 

or tumours are removed, limbs are repaired 

and severe burns contractures are treated. 

Their dignity is restored and they are given 

a future that they and their families could 

never have even dreamed of. This past 

year ROMAC has been privileged to have 

changed the lives of almost 50 children. 

How does ROMAC 

achieve this? 

ROMAC organises immigration visas, travel 

and interpreters. Top medical and surgical 

expertise is organised, and hospital fees are 

negotiated. Time, effort and planning is 

also required to find caring, often ethnic 

host families who speak the same language 

and can cater to the patient’s and carer’s 

dietary requirements. Much needed funds 

are donated by Rotarians and Rotary Clubs 

who often generously also offer their time 

and assistance.

Working with other 

humanitarian organisations 

Sadly, there are children that ROMAC is 

unable to help, and whenever possible 

ROMAC endeavours to find other 

humanitarian organisations to perform 

overseas operations such as cleft and eye 

surgery. Likewise, these organisations have 

introduced children they are unable to help 

to ROMAC. 

Over the years ROMAC has built up a 

network of overseas individuals who advise 

us when they find suitable disadvantaged 

children. ROMAC has also sponsored 

visits by overseas doctors who accompany a 

child to witness or participate in the surgical 

procedure so that they can transfer these skills 

back to their countries. 

How are donations used? 

ROMAC guarantees that 100% of all 

donations received are used for the benefit 

of incoming children. This is done with the 

assurance that no Australian or New Zealand 

child will be disadvantaged. ROMAC is run 

by volunteers who freely give their time and 

expertise to the program. No monies are 

allocated to administrative or personnel costs 

from donated funds. 

Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. 

‘ 

The objective of 

ROMAC 

• To provide hope 

• when there is no 

hope 

• To restore dignity 

• to human life 

• To transform a 

child’s life 

• To provide the best 

medical and surgical 

expertise 

How can you or your 

Rotary Club help? 

• Donate a few dollars, $1,000 or more 

either as a one-off or annual payment 

• Introduce a potential host family 

• Contribute towards the cost of the Host 

Family Allowance for a week, a month 

or longer 

ROMAC 

• Donate some or all the money from your 

next fund raiser to ROMAC 

• If you’re involved with a child arrange 

publicity - press, radio or television - 

locally or nationally if possible 

• Rotarians, partners or caring friends can 

assist with driving children to and from 

medical appointments 

• Make a bequest to ROMAC in your will 

How can your 

company help? 

Yes, I would love to change a child’s life 

• Contribute a product or service at a low 

or no cost to a child or host family 

• Your clients or suppliers may also be 

willing to contribute if you ask them 

• Donations over $2 are tax deductible: 

donate to cover a part or all of a 

child’s stay 

• Ask about the potential public 

relations benefits if the sum involved is 

substantial 

ROMAC is honoured to have helped 

these deserving children, and is grateful 

for the assistance it has received from 

Rotarians. Please continue helping - 

the children and their families will be 

eternally grateful. ■ 

I enclose � $25 � $50 � $100 � $500 � $1,000 � $5,000 � Other $________________ 

Or debit my � Visa � MasterCard � Diners Club credit card for a one off payment 

of $________________ or a � monthly � annual payment of $________________ that I can cancel at any time. 

Card # �� Expiry date _______ /_______ 

Name of card _______________________________ Signature ______________________ Date _______ /_______/_____________ 

Name _____________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________ 

__________________________________________________________________________________________ Postcode ________________ 

Tel _______________________ Mobile _______________________ Email __________________________________________________ 

Cheques payable to ROMAC and sent to 

ROMAC, PO Box 779 Parramatta NSW 2124 or 

c/o Geoff Dainty, 21 Ciprian Place Henderson Auckland NZ 

www.romac.org.au 

To speak to someone regarding how you or your Rotary Club could help, in Australia initially contact 

ROMAC Chairman PDG Ian Wright on 0408 680 160 email idwright@bigpond.net.au. In New Zealand contact 

PDG Geoff Dainty 2147 5842 email jeof@xtra.co.nz. For more info visit www.romac.org.au. 

’ 


Public Relations 

Take it as 

`GRANTED’ 

By Wayne Hearn 

Minnesota Rotarian Jo Gluck Bailey says 

2007 was kind to the Rotary clubs of 

Mankato and North Mankato, with each 

club recruiting 15 new members. That’s no 

small feat in this day and age, but it didn’t 

happen by accident. 

From April through to July, Bailey 

coordinated a public relations campaign 

for the clubs, which together had received 

a $US5000 Public Relations Grant from 

Rotary International. Using public service 

advertising materials produced by Rotary 

and localised with new content, the clubs 

ran a series of radio and television spots 

that generated “well over $10,000 in 

exposure for Rotary in our shared market,” 

Bailey says. 

The ads directed viewers and listeners to 

a Web site that offered more information 

about both Mankato Rotary clubs. Bailey 

credits the campaign as a major factor in 

recruiting the 30 new club members. “We 

were the envy of the rest of the service 

clubs in town,” she says. 

The Mankato experience illustrates the 

sea change in Rotary’s approach to public 

relations and a shift from a tradition 

in which Rotarians tended to avoid the 

limelight, content to let their humanitarian 

work speak for itself. But now, Rotary 

clubs realise that for a volunteer service 

organisation to survive and thrive in the 

modern era, one marked by ever-increasing 

demands on free time, they cannot afford 

the luxury of modesty. “For much of 

Rotary’s first 100 years, our approach to 

public relations can be summed up by 

three words: effective but silent,” said 

Iowa newspaper publisher William F. 

Tubbs, North America coordinator for RI’s 

Public Image Resource Group (PIRG), the 

international panel charged with helping 

clubs and Districts reach out to the media 

and the general public. “Our slogan for 

the next 100 years needs to be ‘Effective as 


ever, but silent no more’.” 

The least expensive route 

to publicity, of course, is to 

give the media something g 

they can use: news about t 

humanitarian projects that t 

make a difference, such as s 

when local Rotarians build d 

a playground or travel to 

a developing country to 

immunise children against nst 

polio. But the reality of the 

highly competitive news business is that 

breaking stories – often of the negative 

or sensational variety – usually trump 

everything else, including the good news 

Rotary offers. The key, then, is to be 

proactive and generate a solid, focused plan 

for media outreach and public relations, 

which is what Rotary is doing. 

Empowered by the new RI Strategic 

Plan, which identifies the enhancement 

of Rotary’s public image as a top priority, 

Rotary leadership is encouraging clubs 

and Districts to implement public relations 

efforts more than ever. Just as important, 

Rotary is providing the tools to do it. Two 

key resources are Rotary’s Humanity in 

Motion public image campaign, a series 

of professionally produced public service 

announcements (PSAs) suitable for print, 

broadcast, and outdoor media, and RI 

Public Relations Grants, an RI Boardapproved 

pilot program that provides 

funds to help implement grassroots public 

relations projects, stressing use of the 

Humanity in Motion materials. 

“Considerable planning and resources 

have been devoted to Humanity in Motion, 

which provides splendid images and content 

to promote Rotary,” said PIRG General 

Coordinator Bob Aitken, Managing 

Editor of Rotary Down Under. “But no 

reasonable public relations campaign is 

possible without adequate funding,” he 

adds. “Hence, the RI PR grants, which are 

One of the Humanity in Motion IV 

posters available for use by Rotary 

clubs all over the world. 

intended to encourage clubs and Districts 

to allocate some of their own funds to 

public relations. Membership will grow if 

we follow a simple PR formula: budget, 

plan, and promote.” 

Tubbs concurs and poses this challenge 

to the businessmen and women of Rotary: 

“Name five successful businesses that don’t 

advertise.” 

Rotary clubs and Districts worldwide 

are embracing this message, combining 

their own resources with PR grants, while 

leveraging considerable in-kind donations 

from vendors and media. After a modest 

start in 2005-06, when about 300 clubs 

applied for PR grants, more than 3200 

clubs applied the next year. The total 

funding reached $2.1 million. These 

funds, when combined with the required 

club contributions and in-kind donations, 

yielded the equivalent of $6 million in PR 

outreach. 

This year, the grants were switched to 

Districts and half of them – 273 Districts 

spanning 78 countries – applied. The RI 

Board adopted the change to keep the 

immensely popular program manageable 

and to foster more collaboration and 

coordination between clubs and Districts 

on PR efforts. 

Though the data is anecdotal, many 

local Rotary leaders have reported 

increases in membership activities, from 

inquiries to new recruits, coinciding with 

the outreach. In District 5100, 20 clubs in

Oregon and Washington teamed up on a 

$3000 grant for a multimedia campaign 

that saw Humanity in Motion PSAs carried 

by the regional edition of Ladies Home 

Journal and local TV stations KPTV and 

KPDX and their respective Web sites from 

January to April 2007. The PR grant was 

matched by $12,000 from the District and 

participating clubs. 

Project coordinator Judy McMorine, 

also the District membership chair, 

says free placements and other in-kind 

donations from the media and the local 

ad agency that managed the campaign pro 

bono raised the total value to a whopping 

$60,500. “The project was a great success,” 

she said. “While the public image campaign 

was in full swing, hits to the District 

Web site tripled. The District reported a 

membership net gain of about 7 per cent, 

reversing a five-year loss trend. Over and 

over, we heard positive comments from 

Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike.” 

In New Zealand, six Districts received a 

$US3000 PR grant for a national billboard 

campaign using the Humanity in Motion 

messages on peace, polio eradication, and 

literacy. The Districts sweetened the pot by 

about $2500, and in the first half of 2007, 

six billboards were erected along hightraffic 

roads in the main cities, including 

Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. 

Free placements by the vendor added 

thousands of dollars to the value of the 

campaign, says project coordinator Daron 

Curtiss, PR chair for District 9920. 

“The rationale of the billboard program 

was not only to promote the three themes 

but to further our drive in New Zealand 

to raise awareness of the core Rotary 

International brand,” Curtiss says. “From 

the feedback we have had from both 

Rotarians and members of the public, we 

have certainly achieved that.” 

Rob Crabtree, chair of New Zealand’s 

multi-District PR task force, adds that 

calls to a toll-free number “surged 

dramatically” once billboards including 

the number went up. 

Here’s how other Rotary clubs 

successfully used PR grants: 

Humanity in Motion 

Early this year Rotary clubs 

worldwide received free copies of 

Humanity in Motion IV, the latest 

edition of RI’s series of professionally 

produced, multimedia public service 

announcements (PSAs) and other 

outreach tools. 

Humanity in Motion IV aims to 

promote membership growth by 

emphasising the rewards of Rotary 

participation and highlighting the 

attributes of a typical Rotarian. 

The PSAs included in the new fourdisc 

set are suitable for TV, radio, 

billboard, and print use. The set 

also includes a full-page newspaper 

supplement of Rotary articles and 

photos that you can place in your local 

newspaper, along with graphics for 

creating posters, postcards, and wallet 

cards. 

Clubs also can localise the PSAs by 

adding content, photos, and contact 

information. For details visit the 

Public Relations area of www.rotary. 

org, where you can also view the 

PSAs. ■ 

Rotary Club of Libertador Recoleta, 

Argentina: Billboards at the city’s busiest 

train and transit stations promoted 

Rotary’s effort to conserve water, another 

Humanity in Motion message. The vendor 

also donated space valued at $US31,000. 

Rotary Club of Mangalore, India: An 

estimated 20 million people saw a PSA on 

polio eradication, displayed on billboards 

at five entry points to the city for six 

months. The ads were localised with club 

contact information. 

Rotary Club of Kyoto-Fushimi, Japan: 

Signs promoting Rotary peace programs 

were displayed on the lower rear windows 

of 1000 taxicabs in Kyoto for two months. 

Rotary Club of Hallstahammar, Sweden: 

A three-month campaign promoted 

the club’s 50th anniversary. The project 

included an exhibit of the club’s history 

and its humanitarian work, displayed in 

Public Relations 

the local library; Rotary posters placed in 

banks, tourists bureaus, medical centres, 

and public office buildings; ads in the 

local newspaper; and the creation of an 

anniversary magazine. 

Rotary Club of Kabarole, Uganda: A 

newspaper and radio campaign about 

Rotary is credited with increasing 

membership from 13 to 22 members. 

These success stories, according to Bob 

Aitken, underscore a basic truth that all 

Rotarians must recognise: Public image 

and membership growth and retention 

are interconnected. “The prominence of 

the public relations component in our 

new strategic plan represents a significant 

shift in organisational thinking and 

should send a clear message to Rotary 

clubs and Districts,” he said. “Successful 

people want to be involved with successful 

organisations, and a focused public 

relations campaign will create such an 

image for Rotary.” ■ 

How to apply for a PR grant 

The RI Board of Directors has approved 

the continuation of Public Relations Grants 

for 2008-09. The 2008-09 grant application, 

along with instructions, deadlines, and 

notification dates, will be posted at 

www.rotary.org by July 1. 

Program highlights: 

Each Rotary District may apply for up to 

$US10,000 and must agree to match at least 

one-third of the amount awarded. 

Grants are awarded on a competitive 

basis, with preference given to proposals 

that use and localise Rotary’s Humanity 

in Motion public service announcement 

materials and also involve multiple clubs. 

Payment is made as reimbursement after 

the approved PR project is implemented 

and documented. 

For more information, e-mail prgrants@ 

rotary.org or check the Official Directory for 

contact info for the Public Image Resource 

Group coordinator for your area or zone. 

Wayne Hearn is a leading media relations 

specialist for Rotary International and a 

former news reporter and editor. ■ 


Protecting the Environment 

Stewart Island, or Rakiura as it is known 

in Maori, is a one-hour ferry crossing of 

Foveaux Strait from Bluff, New Zealand’s 

most southern port. Bluff is 30km south of 

Invercargill, a city of 50,000 people. 

Oban, the only settlement on the island, 

has a permanent population of several 

hundred people. It also supports an equal 

number of holiday homes and it has a 

pub, school, and the Department of Conservation. 

The remainder of the island is 

essentially in its original state of podocarp 

bush. It supports many song birds such as 

bell birds and tuis. Deer hunters find it a 

wonderful stalking ground and, of high 

importance, Stewart Island is home to 

30,000 kiwis. 

The Department of Conservation is 

responsible for the management of the 

Rakiura National Park. It is an amazing 

place for trampers from all over the 

world, where you can plan up to 10 days’ 

walking, with a comfortable hut to sleep in 

each night. All is well, provided you carry 

your own food, have suitable clothes and 

footwear and that you are reasonably fit. 

Be aware that Stewart Island has a high 

rainfall and this can be a challenge, with 

muddy tracks and wet clothes. Nevertheless 


Department of Conservation staffer James Ware, left, with members 

of the Rotary Club of Winton, NZ, Vic Wilson, Hamish Leckie and Merv 

Frew, taking a breather after resurrecting a sign on Stewart Island. 

Winton’s island wonderland 

the Department of Conservation does a 

great job in maintaining the tracks and 

huts. Hut wardens provide good radio 

communications so trampers are relatively 

safe if problems arise. 

For each of the past five years, members of 

the Rotary Club of Winton, NZ, have had a 

week of fellowship and work at Stewart Island. 

Through Department employee Andrew 

King, a son of Rotarian Peter King, the club 

has assisted with track and hut maintenance. 

It has been satisfying work and in 

February this year the experience was no 

exception. A smooth crossing of Foveaux 

Strait was followed by a 15-minute 

helicopter ride from Oban across the island 

to the west coast huts of East Ruggedy and 

Big Hellfire. What a wonderful way to reach 

a destination on the north-west walk, which 

normally takes three seven- hour tramping 

days to reach. 

The west coast bush and beaches must 

look much the same today as they did to 

Captain Cook more than 200 years ago. 

Materials, gas cooker and food were also 

flown in, so meals that were the envy of the 

trampers when they arrived each afternoon 

at the hut, tired and unwashed, were 

provided. Steak, lamb, a range of vegetables 

and appropriate refreshments allowed the 

eight volunteer Rotarian workers to maintain 

a productive output when they were busy 

cleaning, painting and repairing the huts. 

We had time to take bush walks and 

Andrew shot a deer, which we ate. Many 

signs and sounds of kiwis and opossums, 

along with the amazing red rata flowers, 

made this six-day visit to Stewart Island in 

fine weather a memory to treasure. 

From this association with the 

Department our club has completed a 

contract to assemble 100m of boardwalk. 

This will be transported by ship to the 

Auckland Islands. So, with 22,000 nails 

used and $5000 in the club account, 

our relationship with the Department 

continues to thrive. We have been asked 

to go to Codfish Island next year, which 

is just off the north-west coast of Stewart 

Island. This is a quarantine island where 

the rare parrot-like kakapo bird has been 

successfully bred. 

Rotary is certainly providing some 

memorable and satisfying experiences for 

our club members. 

Kerry Dunlop 

Rotary Club of Winton, NZ 

Governor, District 9980 ■

It’s sad, but because many kids from our 

neighbouring countries are born in the 

wrong place, they get forgotten, especially 

when they develop cranial lumps or cardiac 

problems or suffer deformed limbs or badly 

burned flesh. 

There’s just so little help available to 

them and all most can do is bear their plight 

and pray for the generosity of their more 

prosperous neighbours in New Zealand 

and Australia. 

But the prayers of two young Tongan 

girls with cardiac problems were recently 

answered when they arrived in Auckland 

for open heart surgery. 

Nanuma, 14, and Hola, 10, are to have 

long awaited surgery at Starship Heart 

Clinic to repair heart valves, and it’s all 

thanks to Rotary. 

Their life-changing operations will 

happen thanks to ROMAC, Rotary’s 

Oceanic Medical Aid for Children program 

that has been active in Australia for more 

than 20 years and is now becoming firmly 

established in New Zealand. 

It’s Nanuma and Hola’s first time outside 

Tonga and they have both brought a close 

relative along for support. 

They are staying with family and are being 

helped by the local Drury and Northcote 

Rotary clubs, whose enthusiastic members 

help them acclimatise to Kiwi life and meet 

hospital appointments. 

While the girls’ heart conditions don’t 

affect their outward appearance, it does 

have a significant impact on the kind of 

activities they can take part in and on their 

life expectancy. They want to return home 

as normal girls, capable of putting more 

effort into everyday activities. 

ROMAC’s ROMAC s miracles 

New Zealand Rotarians are getting right behind the ROMAC program. Clockwise from top: Tongan girls Nanuma and Hola, who will undergo heart surgery; 

Hola and her father, Tele Kihi; Meryl and Terry Stretton with their granddaughter Elsie, plus ROMAC daughter Hola HAU from Tonga. 

Kiwis have a heart for Nanuma and Hola 

Funding for Nanuma and Hola’s 

operations is mostly drawn from Rotary 

members and the costs can be considerable. 

However, everyone involved is unanimous 

that it is worth all the fundraising in the 

world just to see these girls with mended 

hearts and smiles on their faces. 

Rotary Host and Past President of the 

Rotary Club of Northcote, Terry Stretton, 

said ROMAC was certainly one of Rotary’s 

most worthwhile programs. 

“It’s been so wonderful meeting Hola and 

her father, Tele Kihi, and their extended 

family, receiving a genuine smile from the 

heart and being named as Hola’s Kiwi Dad,” 

Terry said. 

Geoff Dainty 

Rotary Club of New Lynn, NZ 

Past Governor, District 9910 

ROMAC NZ Regional Director ■ 


Zones 7A & 8 Institute 

Christchurch institute is now online 

The website for the 2008 Zones 7A and 

8 Rotary Institute in Christchurch, New 

Zealand in November is now online. 

Those attending can view accommodation 

options, travel tours, information 

about Christchurch and, of course, the 

Institute itself. 

The site is informative and attractive and 

will inspire you to commit to coming to 

Christchurch in November. 

The pre- and post-Institute Focus Travel 

tours are all there for you to choose so you can 

make the most of your visit to Christchurch. 

If you haven’t already received it, a 

hard copy Institute brochure, including 

registration forms and tour information, will 

be in the mail to you soon. 

Visit www.rotaryinstitute.org.nz 


Institute Hotels are proving to be popular 

accommodation options so attendees are 

advised to book early. 

All the Hotels are within easy walking 

distance of the Convention Centre and 

Christchurch is flat, so the walking is easy. 

When you are making your booking at the 

Institute Hotels, mention that you are booking 

for the Rotary International 2008 Institute in 

order to take advantage of the special ‘Institute 

rate’ the organising committee has negotiated. 

Pre-Institute will be held at Rydges Hotel 

(from November 18). 

Again, make sure that you advise the Hotel 

of your DGE, DGN or DG status as a block 

booking has been kept aside for you. 

There are rooms available at Rydges for 

general bookings also. ■ 

Escorted motorhome tourin touring with Kiwi Travel Club is a 

unique, safe and enjoyable group travel experience. Our tours 

visit all those places other people talk about – The Great 

Ocean Road – Uluru (Ayers Rock) – Darwin – Broome – 

Daintree – Brisbane – Cairns – Tasmania- New Zealand and 

in 2009 USA & Canada. 

COMPREHENSIVE TOUR 

PACKAGE INCLUDES: 

motorhome hire, day tours & entry 

fees, group meals as specified, 

social activities & much more. 

Rydges Christchurch 

PO Box 1318, ChCh. 

Ph. 64 3 379 4700 Fax 64 3 379 5357 

Email: reservations_Christchurch@rydges.com 

Ibis Christchurch 


Ph 64 3 367 8666 Fax 64 3 367 8667 

Email: h5983-gm01@accor.com 

Quest Christchurch 


Ph 64 3 964 6200 Fax 64 3 964 6204 

Email: info@christchurchaccom.co.nz 

Crowne Plaza Hotel 


Ph 64 3 365 7799 Fax 64 3 365 0082 

Email: reservations@crowneplazachristchurch.co.nz 

Hotel SO 

165 Cashel Street, ChCh 

Ph 64 3 968 5050 

Email: justine.sheppard@hotelso.co.nz 

Escorted 

motorhome holidays 

2008 DEPARTURES 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 

EXPERIENCE TOUR 

31 May & 14 July (25 Days) 

Costs from AUD $3,500 per person twin share 

QUEENSLAND TOUR 

15 July (36 Days) 

Costs from AUD $6.750 per person twin share 

NEW ZEALAND TOUR 

1 October (42 days) 

NZD $8,500 per person twin share 

For further information contact the tour organisers Athol and Diane Greentree 

Web www.ktcrvtours.com 

Phone Toll Free NZ 0800 772 773 − AUS 1800 359 807

RI Convention 

Still time to discover the real LA 

Discover Los Angeles at this year’s 

Rotary International Convention in 

June by attending host events designed 

to showcase the best the city has to 

offer. Here’s what the host committee 

has planned: 

Host events 

Saturday, June 14: The California 

Experience includes wine tasting, a 

classic car show, art 

exhibition, and live 

dance groups and singers 

on the outdoor Plaza 

stage featuring Grammy 

Award nominated 

Roger Neumann and 

his 18-piece big band, 

with vocalist Madeline 

Vergari. Neumann has 

performed with such 

greats as Woody Herman, 

The Beach Boys, Ray 

Anthony and Les Brown, 

to name a few. 

Then you’ll spend an 

unforgettable evening 

with star vocalists Natalie 

Cole and Steve Tyrell at 

the new state-of-the art 

Nokia Theatre. Ms. Cole 

is a multiple-Grammy 

winner and an enduring 

star in the jazz, R&B, 

and pop firmament. 

Mr. Tyrell is a Grammywinning 

producer turned 

performer and rising 

star, selling out clubs 

around the world. With 

his sultry voice and swinging style, he is 

reinterpreting American Standards made 

famous by Frank Sinatra among others 

in Billboard chart-topping releases. 

Read more: 

www.stevetyrell.com/2007/the-life. 

php and http://www.nataliecole.com/ 

Monday, June 16: Enjoy Home/Host 

Hospitality, the event many Rotarians 

consider to be the heart of the convention 

experience! Sign up to spend an evening 

with local Rotarians. 

Tuesday, June 17: the Hollywood Bowl 

Concert under the Stars will feature the 

Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, performing 

classic movie scores and ending with a 

spectacular fireworks display. 

Here’s your chance to be a star! Make 

a bid to conduct the Star-Spangled 

Banner at the Hollywood Bowl Concert. 

All proceeds will benefit The Rotary 

Foundation! Bidding, which has already 

started at $2500, will end on May 15. 

This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to 

make your conducting debut! 

For details go to: www.rotary2008.com 

Books, books, books! 

Bring a book in any language suitable for 

children aged nine and under to make this 

the world’s largest book drive! Books for the 

Commemorative Convention Project – The 

Mountain of Books - will be collected in the 

LACC lobby. 

HOC tours 

Pre- and post-convention, multi-day 

tours to Las Vegas, 

Yosemite, Disneyland 

and more. 

Full and 1/2-day 

tours of Los Angeles 

including Catalina 

Island, The Getty Centre, 

Hollywood-Behind-the- 

Scenes Tour, LA City 

Highlights, Universal 

Studios, and more. 

Sign up at http:// 

www.rotary2008.com 

Register online for 

the convention through 

Member Access https:// 

riweb.rotaryintl.org/ 

to take advantage of 

this fabulous lineup 

of activities and 

entertainment. 

If you haven’t already 

registered for Member 

Access and received your 

password, you’ll need 

your membership, club, 

and district ID numbers. 

Click on the register now 

link. If you don’t know 

these numbers, the FAQ 

will suggest how to find them. 

For late-breaking convention news: 

www.rotary.org 

Convention registration or hotel queries, 

E-mail: RI.Registration@rotary.org 

Comments/suggestions? 

E-mail: impromo@rotary.org! ■ 


AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH RESEARCH FUND 

81 grants and scholarships 

Terry Lees 

Chairman’s 

report 

ARHRF is funding 30 new and 51 continuing 

research grants and scholarships so far in 

2008. A few of the new projects include: 

“Examination of the effectiveness of clinical 

case management for alcohol and drug 

clients”, research into “Ovarian Cancer: 

investigating a new treatment option” and 

“Making a difference: The impact of an 

innovative primary health service on a 

rural community”. More Funding Partner 

projects for 2008 will be announced shortly. ■ 

Research Companions 

An advertisement page 3 calls for 

expressions of interest from individuals 

or families who may be able to make a 

substantial contribution to health research 

in Australia. 

Research Companions have the opportunity 

to fund, in full, a PhD scholarship for 

research into the health area of their choice 

for the periods of three years, ten years or 

into perpetuity. 

See report on Research Companions on 

pages 14 and 15. ■ 

“Targeted” Mental Health 

Forums 

ARHRF has received funding from the 

Commonwealth Department of Health 

and Ageing for a new series of specialised 

Mental Health Forums that address either 

specific mental illnesses (e.g. bipolar 

disorder, anxiety, dementia, schizophrenia) 

or target specific groups (e.g. older people, 

teenagers, men). Part of the funding is also 

going towards a formal evaluation of the 

Forum program. 

Rotary clubs across Australia are 

enthusiastically getting behind the new 

forum format with over 20 forums being 

held since September 2007. 

At the 2007 ARHRF Christmas Dinner 

Professor Philip Mitchell, Head of the 

School of Psychiatry at the University of 

New South Wales, said he believed the over 


500 mental health forums (that have been 

attended by around 65,000 Australians) 

have had a huge impact in reducing the 

stigma around mental illness. 

Fay Jackson, who has spoken at countless 

forums from the consumer perspective, said 

she knew of hundreds of people whose lives 

had been saved through attending a forum. ■ 

ARHRF Researcher in Top 10 

ARHRF long-term Research Committee 

member Professor Anthony Jorm has been 

named by the 

international 2008 

Thomson Scientific 

Citation Awards 

as one of the top 

ten researchers in 

Australia. 

Australia ranks among the top 10 nations 

for the influence of its scientific papers, 

according to Thomson Scientific data 

released last month. 

A number of Professor Jorm’s influential 

research projects have been funded 

by Australian Rotary Health and in 

2007 he was awarded the prestigious 

ARHRF Medal. ■ 

Bike Ride 

Our Great Australian Bike Ride coordinator 

and committee have been working at a 

frenetic pace to pin down the route and 

logistics of the ARHRF around-Australia 

Bike Ride which will raise funds for research 

into the mental health and wellbeing of 

young people as well as getting hundreds of 

people on their bikes for the ride itself and 

associated community events. 

The Bike Ride will commence on the 21 st 

March, 2009, with the 15,500km journey 

set to finish on World Mental Health Day, 

10 October, 2009. Further information is 

available on our website www.arhrf.org.au 

or from the office (02) 8837 1900. ■ 

Ambassadors 

The Fund has appointed 17 Ambassadors 

to assist in the promotion of ARHRF to 

Rotarians, Rotary Districts and Clubs. A 

number of past Directors have accepted 

the role as our inaugural Ambassadors. 

In addition to promotion they will act as 

advocates, represent Directors and the CEO 

on occasions when they are not available 

and work with District ARHRF Chairs and 

committees to increase awareness. ■ 

Rural Nursing Scholarship 

Thanks to a generous bequest, for the first 

time the Fund has awarded Rural Nursing 

scholarships to four nursing students in 

Queensland and New South Wales. 

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, 

students must commit to doing their thirdyear 

major clinical placement in a rural 

area and to working in a rural or remote 

area for the year following completion of 

their degree. 

Feedback from the nurses has been very 

positive as has the feedback from both 

our Rural Medical and Indigenous Health 

scholarship recipients. The students seem 

to particularly enjoy, and benefit from, their 

involvement with local Rotary clubs. ■ 

Research Results 

A team of academics, clinicians, and mental 

health service consumers based at the 

University of Sydney and funded by ARHRF 

has created and tested a Model Training 

Program that outlines sound procedures for 

including consumers as bona fide members 

of research teams. They have presented 

these modules at numerous professional 

conferences and are now uploading them 

onto a website for use by research teams 

throughout Australia and internationally. 

This program is significant because studies 

have shown that mental health consumers 

are more likely to give honest feedback to a 

researcher who also has a mental illness. ■ 

Thank you 

In this feature we have profiled a few of the 

people involved in the some of the different 

programs of the ARHRF. I hope that 

reading their stories will continue to inspire 

the hard work that goes into the many fund 

raising efforts that support our work across 

the country. Without your help none of this 

would be possible. 

Terry Lees 

ARHRF Chairman ■


A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ALLOCATE FUNDING Cost Number 2008 

Mental Health Grants 

The Australian Rotary Health Research Fund provides grants for research in the field 

of mental health for up to three years per project. 

Ian Scott Scholarships 

Named after the founder of ARHRF, Ian Scott scholarships provide financial support 

to PhD students conducting research into mental health. 

Post Doctoral Fellowships 

ARHRF offers three fellowships to early career researchers in the area of Mental 

Health. They are the Royce Abbey, Geoffrey Betts and Colin Dodds Postdoctoral 

fellowships. 

Mental Health Evaluation Grants 

These support research projects which are designed to evaluate and improve the 

quality of existing mental health services. 

Funding Partners PhD Scholarships 

Jointly funded by a Rotary club or District, ARHRF and a University, PhD 

Scholarships provide funds for research into any area of health or medicine. 

Funding Partners Research Grants 

Funding Partners Grants are partly funded by a Rotary Club or District and can be 

for research outside the Fund’s current focus of mental health. 

Rural Health Evaluation Grants 

Rural Health Evaluation Grants are designed to improve the quality of existing 

services or to evaluate new evidence-based services. 

Rural Medical Scholarships 

Rural Medical Scholarships give an incentive for students to complete at least one 

year in a rural area. 

Rural Nursing Scholarships 

Rural Nursing Scholarships provide an incentive for nursing students to complete 

their 3 rd year major clinical placement and graduating year in a rural/remote area. 

Indigenous Health Scholarships 

A partnership between a Rotary Club or District and the State or Commonwealth 

government to provide scholarships to Indigenous Australians who can then use 

their education to benefit other Indigenous people. 

Mental Health Forums 

Community meetings that spread awareness about mental health issues and bring 

service-providers, support groups, individuals and carers together. 

KidsMatter 

An Australia-wide primary schools mental health initiative. 

Up to 

$60,000 

pa 

$26,000 

pa 

$75,000 

pa 

Up to 

$60,000 

pa 

$25,000 

pa 

Up to 

$60,000 

pa 

Up to 

$40,000 

pa 

$5,000 

pa 

$12,500 

pa 

$5,000 

pa 

27 $1,206,841 

10 $260,000 

3 $225,000 

10 $500,000 

37 $578,000 

12 $324,000 

3 $120,000 

26 $130,000 

4 $50,000 

65 $325,000 

50 

forums 

101 

schools 

$250,000 

$250,000 

TOTAL $4,218,841 



ARHRF People 

Rural Nursing Scholar 

– Janet Paine 

“Cuts, dressing changes of wounds, 

fractured limbs, motor vehicle accidents 

and falls of elderly people.” 

These are a few of the presentations 

Janet Paine, recipient of an ARHRF Rural 

Nursing scholarship valued at $12,500, was 

exposed to during her third year major 

clinical placement at the end of 2007 in the 

busy Emergency Department of Broken 

Hill Hospital. 

“Numerous people were brought in by 

ambulance with chest pain, as well as by the 

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). 

“The outlying towns around Broken Hill 

rely heavily on the RFDS,” said Janet. 

Janet was thrilled to also gain a 

postgraduate nursing position in Broken 

Hill for 2008. She is thoroughly enjoying 

the social side of the town and putting her 

people skills to good use as a nurse there. 

Applicants for the scholarship were 

required to submit a 500-word essay, 

two references and undergo a four-panel 

telephone interview. ■ 

Rural Medical Scholar 

– Jacinta Spry 

Jacinta Spry was awarded a 2008 ARHRF 

Rural Medical scholarship, valued at $5000, 

to assist her in completing a year of clinical 

placements in Katherine and outlying areas 

in the Northern Territory. 

This is a poem Jacinta wrote in March 

“after seeing some really strong culture and 

strong country here in North East Arnhem 

(a people collectively known as Yolngu)” 

while on an eye health screening placement. 


I have memories in my heart of strong and 

wise women, living, smiling, teaching . . . 

right Yolngu way. 

I have pictures in my mind, of caring 

and courageous men, watching, listening, 

leading, hunting . . . right Yolngu way. 

I have photos on my computer of happy 

children, testing, playing, growing, loving 

. . . right Yolngu way. 

I don’t always understand - and still I have 

so much, because you shared, and showed it 

to me . . . right Yolngu way. ■ 

Funding Partners Research 

Grant Youth Ambassador 

– Brittany Slezak 

Brittany Slezak, 17, is in her final year 

of college and is one of 160 Youth 

Ambassadors across Tasmania who have 

been trained in sharing web-based mental 

health information with their peers 

as part of the University of Tasmania’s 

YShareIt project. 

Brittany said that her involvement 

in the program has enabled her to help 

friends who are facing mental illness. “It 

is a large problem, a lot of young people 

are constantly down and depressed, even 

suicidal,” Brittany said. 

“There are issues with relationships, 

family, body image, and stress with school. 

“Before getting involved in the program I 

wasn’t aware about all the help you can get. 

“Young people can find it really hard to 

talk about their issues but they often use 

the internet so discussing and promoting 

websites where people can get help is of 

great benefit,” Brittany said. 

The YShareIt project was funded by 

ARHRF and Sally’s Ride (Rotary Club of 

Central Launceston). ■ 

Mental Health Forum 

Advocate – Bob Erskine 

Bob Erskine has been in Rotary for 28 years 

and has a long history of volunteering for 

Australian Rotary Health. 

He was appointed Mental Health Forum 

Advocate for Sydney’s District 9680 last July 

and is one of 23 Forum Advocates across 

Australia. 

“My role is to sit in on the mental health 

forum committee meetings and liaise 

between Cheryl [Australian Rotary Health 

programs coordinator] and the committees,” 

said Bob. 

“Rotary Club of Chatswood Sunrise run 

two forums a year with anything between 

80 and 300 people attending. In April 

they had a forum focusing on drug and 

alcohol use with relation to mental health,” 

said Bob.

Bob was also responsible for fundraising 

$35,000 from the District 9680 conference 

this year for an ARHRF Funding Partners 

PhD scholarship for research into diabetes. 

$6,000 of this came from his own Rotary 

Club of Gladesville. ■ 

Ian Scott Scholar 

– Magenta Simmons 

“If you were to think of two groups that 

don’t get heard – it would be young people 

and those with mental health problems.” 

This is according to Magenta Simmons 

from the ORYGEN Research Centre and 

the University of Melbourne, who has been 

awarded an Ian Scott PhD scholarship 

($26,000 p.a for three years) to develop 

and evaluate a Shared Decision-Making 

(SDM) tool for doctors to use when 

prescribing treatments for young people 

with depression. 

“Shared Decision-Making is about 

engaging patients in treatment decisions, 

it is currently used with breast cancer and 

arthritis,” said Magenta. 

“There is a lot of controversy surrounding 

the use of antidepressant medication for 

adolescents. 

“It’s a murky area, and this is because there 

is not a clear understanding about what is 

the standard best care,” said Magenta. 

According to Professor Anthony Jorm, 

one of Magenta’s supervisors, a recent 

Cochrane review does not support the use 


of antidepressants as a first-line treatment 

in this age group; however GPs continue to 

prescribe them widely. 

“Some people think that if you tell 

patients about the risks and benefits you’ll 

scare them off treatment – but studies have 

found this not to be the case – people feel 

more positive if informed and more likely 

to adhere to treatment whether that be 

engage in therapy, take their meds, or both,” 

said Magenta. ■ 

Indigenous Scholar Update 

– David Copley 

David Copley was featured in the 2007 May 

issue of RDU. The 55-year-old father of two 

benefited from a $5000 ARHRF Indigenous 

Health Scholarship which helped him 

complete a Nursing degree at Flinders 

University last year. 

His final marks are a credit to his hard 

work and dedication with a high proportion 

of Distinctions and High Distinctions. 

David was only the third Indigenous man 

to graduate with a Bachelor of Nursing from 

any university in South Australia and he is 

now the first Indigenous male to undertake 

a post graduate qualification in Mental 

Health in SA. 

He has recently been appointed 

Aboriginal Mental Health Shared Care 

Clinician and is also doing some teaching at 

Flinders University in Aboriginal Health. 

“I’m very grateful to Rotary for the 

scholarships, and also to my employer, the 

Southern Division of General Practice as 

without their support my Post Grad Year 

and current work with Aboriginal clients 

would not be possible,” said David. ■ 

WA KidsMatter 

Coordinator 

– Cate Engelbrecht 

KidsMatter is designed to help schools 

better coordinate mental health promotion, 

prevention and early intervention. This 

is an area which teachers and schools 

find difficult and are often unsure if they 

are working in the most strategic and 

effective way. 

“Part of my role is facilitating links 

between schools and local agencies to help 

them access good services and information 

for their school community,” said Cate 

Engelbrecht, a former school psychologist 

who is the KidsMatter Project Officer 

for WA. 

One school in Esperance held a sports 

carnival recently where several agencies 

including WA Police, Foster Carers 

WA, Department for Communities & 

Centacare came along and set up stalls with 

give-aways. 

“Some parents took home DVDs on 

separation and divorce and some kids took 

brochures on ‘Anger management’ and 

‘Living with Parents’. 

“Building relationships between schools 

and agencies reduces the stigma associated 

with families getting help . . . it makes it a lot 

easier for parents to get advice on parenting 

and also gives support to teachers in their 

work with students and families,” said Cate 

For more information on KidsMatter 

check out http://www.apapdc.edu.au/ 

kidsmatter/ ■ 

Ambassador – Dick White 

Dick White is one of 17 Ambassadors who 

are charged with the mission of representing 

and promoting Australian Rotary Health. 

In April he was awarded District 9690’s 

“Service Above Self ” Award and he is both 

a Life Member and Companion of the Fund. 

He has served as a Director of the Board, 

Regional Coordinator and was committee 

Chairman of the extremely successful 

Rotary Health Safari which involved a 

Winnebago travelling around Australia 

promoting mental health awareness. 

Dick is currently heading up the Great 

Australian Bike Ride committee. ■ 


Rotary Club of Campbelltown NSW 

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY 

We would like as many of our past members and /or partners, 

friends and Beneficiaries to join us on Saturday, 23rd August 2008 

to help celebrate our 50th Birthday at a Gala Dinner at the 

Campbelltown Catholic Club. 

If you would like to come get in touch as soon as possible 

and we will send you details. If you wish to stay overnight 

we can arrange accommodation. 

Contacts: PP John Overton or PE David Symonds 

Phone: 02 46 250777 (ah) 

Email: overtonoptometrist@bigpond.com or 

dsy88865@bigpond.net.au 

or snail mail: P.O.Box 116, Campbelltown 2560 

Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains, NSW 

Rotary Adams Ale project (RAAP) 

The Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains is working with 

The Rotary Club of Savu Savu, Fiji, to sponsor the first of a 

new low cost water treatment system for small 

communities who have no access to safe potable water. Savu 

Savu club will provide support during the installation and 

continue to monitor the system. A low cost but highly 

beneficial project with the potential to be repeated in 

countless locations. 

Contact Frank Kelly 

lkelly@netspace.net.au 

FOR THE FUND-RAISING 

PROJECT EVER! 

BEST 

Check under ‘Community Chest’ on: 

www.rotarnet.com.au/Burwood 

What is the 

“ROTARY COMMUNITY CHEST”? 

A community raffle set up for ALL Rotary clubs and 

community groups to use for their own fund-raising. 

Simply a better raffle!!! 

You need to sell in excess of $320,000 worth of tickets 

in your own raffle to better this offer!!! 

Phone Walter Bock on 02 9630 7440 for details 

Wheelchairs for Kids inc. 

$100 (tax deductible) gives a child a new wheelchair . 

80 happy retiree volunteers build and despatch 300 wheelchairs 

per month to disabled children in over 50 third world countries. 

With funding we can do more. 100 Rotary Clubs are already with us. 

Fund raising through schools (150 already in WA), corporate and other groups, 

is surprisingly fruitful, requiring little effort. Try a Foundation matching grant, 

it will give your club friendly contact with an overseas partner. 

Wheelchairs for Kids was initiated by and is managed by the Rotary Club of 

Scarborough WA and others. The State Govt. pays our rent and Scarborough 

Club the bulk of the overheads. 

For more information see our website www.wheelchairsforkids.org or 

contact PP Gordon Hudson gordonhudson@optusnet.com.au 

ADVERTISING SALES STAFF WANTED 

FOR ROTARY DOWN UNDER 

Rotary Down Under Incorporated is currently seeking 

Commission Sales Staff to assist with advertising sales. 

Such people may work from the comfort of their own home or office and 

remuneration is based on 20% of the value of all advertising sold. 

Rotary clubs and/or Districts may also serve as commission sales agents 

for RDU, and commission can be paid into the club administration account. 

Enquires and/or requests for further information should be directed to 

Rotary Down Under Managing Editor, PDG Bob Aitken. 

Email: bobaitken@rotarydownunder.com.au 

or telephone 61 2 9633 4888. 

To advertise your club’s project, contact Sam or Gay on 02 9633 4888 

email advertising@rotarydownunder.com.au

Fiji’s new dialysis centre 

Amenatave Vio was given just 18 hours to live before he was 

expected to succumb to kidney failure. 

Had he died, the 30-year-old teacher would have become 

another statistic to add to the 300 people annually who die from 

this debilitating disease in Fiji. 

Silafaga Baledrokadroka is a 65-year-old grandmother who 

has lived in Chennai, India, for the past 11 months undergoing 

haemodialysis with her 40-year-old daughter-in-law and 

registered nurse Deborah looking after her. Deborah had to 

leave her husband and four children in Fiji in order to care for 

her mother-in-law in India. 

But on March 13 this year the Kidney Foundation of Fiji 

celebrated the end of an eight-year struggle, when Fiji’s first 

haemodialysis centre was officially opened by the Indian High 

Commissioner, Professor Prabhakar Jar. 

‘ 

The centre is completely community 

funded through the generous 

donations from the public, private 

and corporate sectors. 

’ 

The Government of India was one of the major donors to 

the dialysis centre. The dialysis centre has nine haemodialysis 

machines and two dialysis technicians from Chennai, training 

three local personnel for the next three years. 

Past President of the Rotary Club of Suva, Fiji, Dewan Maharaj 

and Club Services Director Resina Koroi have driven the 

successful opening of this long awaited centre with the support 

of fellow members. 

The centre is completely community funded through 

the generous donations from the public, private and 

corporate sectors. 

Amenatave Vio underwent emergency surgery by a visiting 

Nephrologist from New Zealand, Dr. Kushma Nand, using 

equipment procured by the dialysis centre. He is at present 

receiving haemodialysis until a suitable donor can be found for 

a kidney transplant. 

Silafaga and Deborah are now back in Fiji, reunited with 

their family. Silafaga undergoes dialysis three times a week 

at the centre and Deborah is one of the nurses employed at 

the centre. 

These are just two of the hundreds of kidney patients who will 

benefit from the Kidney Foundation of Fiji Dialysis Centre. 

All this because Rotarians displayed Service above Self and Led 

the Way to Share Rotary with others. 

In doing so, they have “Made Dreams Real” for many. 

Kalpesh Solanki 

Rotary Club of Suva, Fiji ■ 

Club projects 

Patient Amenatave Vio, right, on a dialysis machine is attended 

by a member of staff at the Dialysis Centre. 

CORPORATE LEADERS.... 

IMPROVE YOUR BOTTOM LINE 

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS & ADVERTISING 

– A PROVEN COMBINATION! 

RRotar y Down Under is proud to have nurtured 

many successful advertising campaigns. 

Our Rotarian Life section has been widely 

acclaimed and has opened the door for a whole 

new range of modern corporate concepts. 

The Rotary Down Under web site is also being 

developed as an exciting addition for business, 

social and promotional benefits to Rotarians in 

business. 

ROTARIANS IN BUSINESS ... 

Have you considered the advantages of 

stimulating your business through the 

pages of YOUR Rotary regional magazine, 

Rotary Down Under and Rotarian Life? 

DON’T DELAY A MOMENT LONGER! 

Contact RDU’s advertising coordinators 

Gay Kiddle & Sam Ausburn for full details 

and information – 

• New rate card and demographics 

• Latest reader survey information 

• Recent back copies of 

the magazine 

• Graphic artist advice on 

layout and design 

Contact Sam or Gay on 02 9633 4888 or 

email advertising@rotarydownunder.com.au 


NEW SOUTH WALES 

FORSTER/TUNCURRY 

Luxurious 3 bedroom apartment with ocean 

views and easy walking distance to Forster 

restaurants and shops Phone (02) 65 547988 or 

email consult@lswsurveyors.com.au. 

MALUA BAY 

A fantastic holiday destination. Absolute beachfront 

at Malua Bay just 4 hours from Sydney and 

2 hrs from Canberra. 2 bedroom FSC units (max 

4) OR 3 bedroom luxury townhouse (max 8). 

Phone Valerie 02 44711601 or 

excellinc@ozemail.com.au website is with 

stayz.com.au "Absolute Beachfront" and 

"Beachfront" at Malua Bay. 

MULWALA 

Wingala - New 3 bedroom holiday home in 

Mulwala NSW, sleeps 6. Swimming Pool, BBQ, 

great location. Contact Bruce on 0419174231 or 

bruce@gvcentre.com.au 

NELSON BAY 

2 Bedroom fully equipped unit in small complex, 

complete with tennis court, pool, Foxtel & BBQ 

facilities. Sleeps 5. Close to shops, clubs, restaurants, 

hotel, theatre, marina, golf, bowls, fishing 

& beaches. 10 minute drive to a selection of great 

surf beaches. Come & enjoy all that the beautiful 

Port Stephens region has to offer. 

For further details contact owner (02)47396436 

or 0410 498466. 

QUEENSLAND 

NORTHERN GOLD COAST 

Beautiful Main Beach. 3 storey walk-up apartments, 

1 block from patrolled surf beach, 400m 

from Tedder Ave, the restaurant heart of Gold 

Coast. 2 bedroom apartments, serviced weekly, 

fully furnished, 2 balconies, under cover security 

parking, on-site manager. Pool, barbecue area, 

some units air-conditioned. Visit web-site 

www.chidoricourt.com.au or phone resident 

managers Graham and Trish on 07 5591 6544 

during office hours Mon-Fri 8.30 am – 5.00 

pm, Sat & Sun 9.00 – 11.00 am. 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 

GOOLWA 

Modern 4 bedroom house, sleeps 10. Fully 

equipped but need own linen. River views, close to 

all facilities including golf course. Reasonable 

rates. Phone: 0416 299 070 

VICTOR HARBOR ★★★★ 

Scenic Encounter Bed & Breakfast. Experience the 

wildlife, wineries and beauty of Fleurieu Peninsula 

while staying in a modern, luxury, self-contained 

and fully equipped B&B with stunning uninterrupted 

views of Encounter Bay and beyond. Elegance, style, 

comfort and tranquillity are yours. 

Configuration: 3 bedroom (2xQueen, 2xsingles), 

3 wall mounted TV’s – DVD library, equipped 

kitchen/dining area, luxurious bathroom, large outdoor 

spa. Your Hosts: Brenda and Peter Manuel. 

Phone: 08 8552 2043 Mobile: 0414 373 678 

Email: petman@senet.com.au 

Web: scenicencounter.com.au 

VICTORIA 

BARWON HEADS 

2 bedrooms unit by the sea. Spotlessly clean with 

new inclusions. Accommodates 4 persons. $220.00 

per night 2 persons. Extra person $30.00 each per 

night. April and May offer: Stay 3 nights pay for 2. 

Bottle of wine on arrival.Contact Rotarian: Tony 

Maschio - tonycser@ozemail.com.au or 

phone 0418520724 

CLARE VALLEY - SEVENHILL 

Molly's Chase. 2 modern log cabins on over 50 

acres of bush. Log fire, spa, rc a/c, dvd player 

www.mollyschase.com.au Contact Rotarian owner 

on mollyschase@ozemail.com.au 

TIMBOON HOUSE & STABLES AT 

CAMPERDOWN B & B 

Heritage listed bluestone property [c1855] in 

the heart of Western District of Victoria. Both 

traditional B & B and self contained 

accommodation available in beautiful historical 

setting with over 400 roses and 2.5 hectares of 

farmland. Antique furnishings, guest 

loungeroom, private bathrooms and much more 

will make this a memorable stay. Ideal base for 

exploring the Great Ocean Road, the Otways, 

Warrnambool/Port Fairy, Lakes and Craters, 

fishing and walking, cheese factories, the 

Grampians. 

www.innhouse.com.au/timboonhouse.html 

email: jdking@bigpond.net.au Hosts: John & 

Denise KING Ph: 03 5593 1003 / 0417 519 905 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 

ROCKINGHAM BEACH 

1 Bedroom Apartment on Rockingham Beach. 

Overlooks Bowls Green and Tennis Courts. 

Minutes away from quality restaurants and 

coffee shops. Shared pool and Gym. $110 per 

night or $700 per full week. We also have a 4 

Bed house in Shoalwater, 15 min walk to the 

beach, $800 per week. Contact: 08 9528 7020 

or email sandjhack@hotmail.com 

NEW ZEALAND 

AUCKLAND CENTRAL 

Large comfortable fully furnished studio apartment 

adjacent to Bus Train and Ferry terminals. Ideal 

base for exploring Auckland. $500 per week, negotiable 

rates for stays in excess of 2 weeks. Contact 

boydsq@xtra.co.nz for further details including 

photos. 

BAY OF ISLANDS SEASIDE RETREAT 

In New Zealand’s picturesque eastern Bay of 

Islands, our quiet, extremely private 11 acres of 

native bush with its own sheltered private beach 

at Te Huruhi Bay awaits you. From this relaxing 

retreat, it is just 15 minutes drive to Russell and 

the many adventure activities that the Bay of 

Islands is renowned for, or 15 minutes in the 

other direction to the Cape Brett Peninsular 

walks and ocean beaches. The self contained, 

fully equipped house enjoys a view of the bay and 

sleeps six. A dinghy, kayaks and fishing gear are 

provided. Contact Rotarians Colin & Beryl 

Robinson via email cs.bg.robinson@xtra.co.nz 

or phone +64 21 652 801 for information. 

CENTRAL OTAGO, SOUTH ISLAND 

Cherrytree Homestay, Cromwell. 

Hosts: Stuart & Adrienne Heal. Perfect if you 

like wine, food, golf, the outdoors, Rotary. 

Double Room/Ensuite $150 per night. 

Email heals@xtra.co.nz Ph(0064)3 445 4094 

KERIKERI 

Ragdoll Cottage. Kerikeri N.Z Self contained. 

2brms. Quiet, clean & comfortable. 

Contact: ragdollcottage@ihug.co.nz 

www.happycatragdolls.co.nz 

MARTON, NORTH ISLAND 

Holly Farmstay Cottage, New, Fully Self- 

Contained, B & B. Large, working sheep & beef 

farm. Walks, native bush, spectacular views. 

2 hrs to Wellington and Taupo, 5 mins from 

State Highway 1. Email: hollyfarm@xtra.co.nz 

View Holly Farmstay Cottage - 

www.marton.co.nz or www.rangitikei.com 

QUEENSTOWN 

2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment, lounge, 

kitchen, amazing views over the lake in 

Queenstown. $260 per night unserviced. Rack 

rate for this apartment is $480 per night. This 

penthouse apartment is based at The Oaks the 

Shore on Frankton Road, Queenstown. 

Contact: deborah@turnbullwood.co.nz 

or Phone Deborah on 021 684 177 

SOUTH TARANAKI 

Willowbank Farmstay - Bed and Breakfast. 

Half an hour from Wanganui and Hawera. 

Our studio unit is fully self-contained as is the 

cottage which has three bedrooms. TV and 

laundry facilities. $85.00 per couple per night 

$75.00 single and children $15.00 per night. 

Shared room $45.00 per person nightly. 

Contact johnandmarie@infogen.net.nz or 

phone on 063465165 or mobile 0276618839. 

To advertise your holiday accommodation, contact Sam or Gay on 02 9633 4888 

email advertising@rotarydownunder.com.au

Hawthorn says thanks for 

Cambell 

Cambell Gowers is lucky to be alive. Four 

years ago, when he was only seven years old 

a CT scan at The Royal Children’s Hospital 

in Melbourne, Vic, revealed he had a giant 

basilar apex aneurysm which is very rare in 

children. 

Surgeons at the RCH told his parents, 

Belinda and Norman, that without surgery 

there was a 50 per cent chance Cambell 

would die, with surgery he had a 50 per 

cent chance of survival. 

Due to the risk involved in the surgery, 

it was performed at the Royal Melbourne 

Hospital where there was angiographic 

expertise; the team included Mr Kevin So, 

a skilled vascular neurosurgeon from the 

RMH, RCH neurosurgeon Ms Wirginia 

Maixner and the RCH anaesthetic team. 

Cambell suffered a stroke on the operating 

table and was stabilised, but surgeons told 

his parents they did not expect him to 

pull through. They were amazed when he 

woke up. 

However, 24 hours later he was rushed 

back to surgery at RCH where Ms Maixner 

removed bone from his head to relieve 

pressure due to complications from the 

stroke. He remained in a drug-induced 

coma for several weeks. 

When he woke he was unable to walk 

or feed himself and it was still unknown 

what the long term effects of the stroke 

would be. 

Surgeons left off part of the bone flap to 

allow the swelling of his brain to subside. 

He wore a specially made helmet to protect 

his head and was confined to a wheelchair. 

Then in another setback he began having 

breathing difficulties and spent five days 

on a ventilator in intensive care. He was 

discharged back to the ward in time to 

celebrate his eighth birthday. 

Still without the bone flap on his skull for 

several weeks, he was allowed to go home 

and even permitted to return to school for 

30 minutes a day, with his mother close by. 

Cambell’s recovery has amazed his 

doctors – he had his final rehabilitation 

visit to the eye clinic last week. He’s a sports 

nut and is now playing football, cricket and 

basketball again. 

Cambell’s grandfather, Past President 

John Gowers and his colleagues at the 

THIS ROTARY WORLD 

Professor Wirginia Maixner, neurosurgeon at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, with Cambell Gowers, his 

grandfather, PP John Gowers, of the Rotary Club of Hawthorn, Vic, and District Governor John Davis. 

Rotary Club of Hawthorn, Vic, were so 

proud of Cambell’s determination and so 

impressed with his care that they decided 

to help the hospital in a more tangible 

way. 

Cambell visited the RCH in October 

and, on behalf of Rotary, his grandfather 

pledged a donation of $200,000 to the 

RCH Children’s Neuroscience Centre 

where Cambell’s life was saved. 

Cambell and John will also attach a 

plaque in the ward in recognition of 

Rotary’s support. 

According to John, just on $152,000 

of the $200,000 pledge has been raised, 

thanks to support from District 9800, 

which has adopted it as a District project, 

along with support from corporate and 

individual donations. 

“Cambell now enjoys a normal healthy 

lifestyle – playing football, basketball, 

cricket, etc,” John said. 

“His only slight deficiency is a lack of left 

peripheral vision. However unless one was 

aware of it, it would be very hard to detect.” ■ 

Eaglehawk gets skates on 

The Rotary Club of Eaglehawk, Vic, has 

proudly opened the McKern Skate Park 

in Canterbury Park, Eaglehawk, a project 

that took six years to bring to fruition. 

It began as an idea in 2001, followed 

by consultation and discussions with the 

young people of the community and local 

secondary college about the need for a 

skate park, what type of park and where it 

should be built. 

The young people were keen on the 

idea and were adamant a park was needed, 

but not just any park; they wanted a top 

class park that was suitable for learners 

and less experienced skaters, but would 

also challenge the top class skaters. They 

also wanted a park that could cater for 

competitions. 

They chose a perfect site that would 

bring them into close contact with the 

community – some unused parkland 

wedged between the YMCA public pool 

and Gym, the Canterbury Gardens, the 

football/cricket ground, a bowls club and 

a lake. It was going to be a hard sell to the 

Council and Community. 

The City of Greater Bendigo Council 

was approached and after some lengthy 

and at times difficult negotiations, the 

Council finally agreed to the project at the 

preferred site. There were several public 

meetings and the general community 

attitude was supportive. 

The next step was to come up with a 

suitable design. The top skate park design 

company in Australia, Convic Design, was 

asked to come to Bendigo and consult 

with the young people on the design they 

wanted. 




The young people were magnificent. 

School children held sausage sizzles, a fete, 

raffles and doorknocks. Others conducted 

music nights, there were some quite 

ingenious fund raising efforts by the young. 

The Rotary Club of Eaglehawk had cash 

tins distributed around various businesses, 

we held a number of our usual fund raising 

activities, and we approached various 

individuals and businesses for donations. 

Applications for funding were lodged with 

the three levels of Government. About 

15 months later we had raised almost 

$450,000, with the Federal Government, 

the State Government and the local Council 

contributing equal amounts of $100,000. 

The McKern family donated $50,000. 

Finally a building permit was obtained, 

tenders called and construction began late 

last year. The park was completed at the 

end of December. Landscaping and shelter 

construction was then completed shortly 

before the official opening on February 23. 

Alf Thorpe 

Past President 

Rotary Club of Eaglehawk, Vic ■ 

BowelScan success story 

One of the big success stories in Rotary 

District 9650 in Northern NSW has been 

its annual BowelScan program. 

Another big cheque for $50,000 was 

presented at this year’s District conference, 

to be passed on to the Australian Rotary 

Health Research Fund. 

In 2003-04 the committee gave $45,000 

for research into bowel cancer. 

This was followed by $90,000 in 2004- 

05 for research into bowel cancer, prostate 

cancer and malaria. 

Then last year the committee gave 

$60,000 for research into bowel cancer and 

motor neurone disease. 

This year’s donation will be spent on 

more bowel cancer research. 

The committee is also providing $10,000 

a year for three years to Miss Linh Nguyen 

to study as the ARHRF/Rotary District 9650 

BowelScan scholar studying bowel cancer. 

The active committee chairman is Kevin 

Sharp and the treasurer is Noel Emerton, 

both from the Rotary Club of Taree, NSW. 

District clubs selling the $6 kits keep $1 

Some valuable hints from DIGITAL CAMERA WAREHOUSE 

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film cameras? 

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what the camera lens (situated 

below and to one side) actually 

caught. Hence, family photos 

with the heads of certain members 

cut off. 

These days digital cameras have 

two ways of viewing the subject – 

an LCD display on the back and/or 

an optical viewfinder. 

Most people love LCD displays. 

They can be used for composing 

and viewing pictures, plus viewing 

the camera’s menu to access its features. 

But these displays chew up 

battery power. 

An alternative to LCD displays is 

using an eye-level electronic 

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from each sale, giving each club about 

$1000 in income each year for work on 

community projects. 

The PR success from the project, however, 

has been in the saving of lives. Many people 

have written to the committee and to clubs 

saying their lives have been saved by early 

warning of a potential threat from bowel 

cancer, giving them time to obtain suitable 

medical attention. 

Each year people buy their kits saying 

they would not miss the opportunity to 

have this important medical check. 

Three days after the district conference, the 

ABC radio program, AM, reported that not 

enough was being done to make Australians 

aware of the threat of bowel cancer. 

That situation, surely, did not apply to 

Rotary District 9650. 

Laurie Barber 

Rotary Club of Port Macquarie, NSW 

Past Governor, District 9650 ■ 

Great result for Rotary 

In important sporting news, Rotary Down 

Under is relieved to report that the Rotary 

viewfinder (EVF) or 

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Club of Warkworth, NZ, has retained 

the much coveted “Duck Trophy” after 

overcoming the Warkworth Lions in their 

annual cricket match. 

Despite a dismal weather forecast for 

Kaipara Flats, the day dawned bright and a 

full day’s cricket was possible. 

Each player bats for four overs, and loses 

five runs each time he is out. Each player 

then bowls two overs. 

Rotary batted first on a dry, fast wicket, 

and runs came at a fairly fast pace, with 

few players losing their wicket. At the 

completion of their innings they had scored 

191 runs for only two wickets, giving a final 

score of 181, thanks to an impressive 61 

from David Springer. 

The Rotarians lived up to their reputation 

as grand hosts and duly set about plying the 

Lions with alcohol during the long lunch 

break before they took to the crease for the 

run chase. 

The Rotary bowlers soon got the upper 

hand, and the Lions Club batsmen found 

it difficult, making 135 runs for six wickets 

(minus 30 runs), finishing with a score of 

105. Top scorer for the Lions was Gareth 

Morris with 38 runs. 

Rotary Captain Brendon Hart named 

David Springer as “Man of the Match”. ■ 

Is Katheryn the oldest? 

Is Katheryn Kertesz Australia’s oldest new 

Rotarian? Members of the Rotary Club of 

Rose Bay, NSW, have proudly taken her 

under their collective wing after she joined 

the club last year at the ripe old age of 89. 

More than 70 members and their guests 

attended the special partners’ night at the 

Woollahra Golf Club in October at which 

former Chief of Staff to former Prime 

Minister John Howard, Arthur Sinodinos, 

was the guest speaker. 

But for many the real highlight of the 

evening was Katheryn’s induction by club 

President Doug McArthur. 

“We believe it may well be the case that 

she is the oldest new Rotarian in Australia 

– if not the world,” said club director John 

Lennox. 

“Although I am aware that District 

Rotary does not, in fact, record members’ 

ages, I nevertheless think it may be of 

interest to fellow Rotarians to consider the 

proposition.” 


Peter Carroll, left, of National Patios, with Steve Ujdur, of Cafe Dalmo, Laura Attuel and Dion Warnock, of Forde Community 

and Rowley Tompsett, President of the Rotary Club of Mitchell-Gungahlin, ACT. 

The challenge is now on to find an older 

new Rotarian! ■ 

20 to get cleft operations 

Three Canberra businesses have helped 

the Rotary Club of Mitchell-Gungahlin, 

ACT, change the lives of six young people 

in Bangladesh. 

Thousands of young children in 

developing countries have untreated cleft 

palates and lips just because they were 

born poor. 

Operation Cleft is a Rotary project 

working in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Laos, 

India and Vietnam to provide operations 

to repair cleft lips and palates, enabling 

young children to be better accepted into 

their communities by improving their 

speech and hearing, and allowing them to 

have a better education and life prospects. 

The Rotary Club of Mitchell-Gungahlin 

has provided the funds for 20 operations 

this year. 

Forde Community, Café Dalmo and 

National Patios have provided the funding 

to enable another six children to have this 

life-changing procedure. 

“In Australia we simply do not realise the 

devastating effect a cleft lip or palate can 

have on children in a developing country,” 

club President Rowley Tompsett said in 

presenting certificates of recognition to 

Laura Attuel and Dion Warnock, from 

Forde Community, Steve Ujdur, from Café 

Dalmo, and Peter Carroll, from National 

Patios. 

“These children face rejection and 

ridicule, even as they develop into young 

adults; they have poor educational 

prospects and face an uncertain future . . . 

all this for the want of $150.” 

Under the Operation Cleft program, 

operations are performed by qualified 

surgeons in each country, keeping the 

costs low. 

“All of the administration costs are 

met by Rotary and a private foundation,” 

President Tompsett said. 

“This means that every dollar donated is 

used to provide the operations needed to 

give these children a second chance at life. 

“We are very grateful to Forde 

Community, Café Dalmo and National 

Patios for their magnificent support. Their 

contribution will give another six children 

the gift of a smile for life. Never could we 

get better value for our $150”. 

Donations can be made by contacting 

the Rotary Club on 0408 661 372. 

Rowley Tompsett 

President 

Rotary Club of Mitchell-Gungahlin, ACT ■ 


Notices 

Two great men of Rotary 

PDG Gwyn 

Adams 

The Rotary family was 

greatly saddened by the 

passing of Gwyn Adams 

on March 27 at the age 

of 91. 

He was a man of small stature but a big 

heart who was deeply loved and admired by 

those who knew him; a quiet and humble 

man who epitomised all that is good about 

Rotary. 

Born in West Croydon, Adelaide, on 

December 12, 1916 it was clear from an early 

age that he had many talents. As a youngster, 

he was a choirboy at St Peters Cathedral. He 

was offered a scholarship to attend St Peters 

College but was unable to do so because of 

limited finance in the family. Instead, he 

attended Adelaide Technical High School 

where his special skills developed, fitting him 

well for his future vocation. 

His first job was with Richards Motor Body 

Works, after which he became an apprentice 

at SA Scale Co. where he remained for 13 

years before joining a partner to buy an old 

engineering business in Thebarton which 

became Mercury Scale Co. He worked from 

dawn to night to build up the business until 

it was sold in the mid-1970s. 

Gwyn married Joan Roney in 1940. They 

had two children – son, Lynton and daughter, 

Sandra (died 2007). Joan died in 2001. 

Gwyn first became a Rotarian when he 

was inducted as a member of the Rotary Club 

of Thebarton on April 25, 1960; he served as 

President of that club in 1973/1974. 

Following the sale of the family business 

they moved to Victor Harbor, where Gwyn 

was inducted as a member of the Rotary 

Club of Victor Harbor on July 26, 1978. As 

one could have expected of Gwyn, he served 

the club with great dedication and distinction 

for some 10 years, for many of which he was 

proudly a 100 per cent attendee. He was a 

Committee member in the first stages of the 

now legendary Victor Harbor Art Show, and 

was elected District Governor of then District 

952 in 1980/1981. Gwyn and Joan proudly 

became Paul Harris Fellows. 

As a result of Gwyn and Joan moving 

from Victor Harbor to Flagstaff Hill, Gwyn 

resigned from the Victor Harbor Club and on 


June 3, 1988, was inducted as a member of the 

Rotary Club of Flagstaff Hill. Although in his 

latter years, Gwyn put his heart and soul into 

his new club. He was renowned for being first 

to arrive at any event and usually the last to 

leave; his regular participation at Roadwatch 

in all weathers (in his trademark, shorts and 

Rotary cap); his attendance throughout the 

Art Shows assembling a constant supply of 

tailor-made hooks for hanging and carrying 

all sorts of objects far larger than himself. 

Gwyn took a special interest in new members 

and endeared himself to them by sharing his 

Rotary experiences and stories from over 48 

years. The Club recognised him with a Paul 

Harris sapphire pin in 1997. 

Gwyn died peacefully after attending a 

Rotary meeting (followed by a Committee 

meeting!) on the evening preceding his 

passing. 

PDG Bruce Edwards 

PDG Bob 

Northcote 

When Bob Northcote 

joined Rotary in 1981 

at the invitation of 

the Rotary Club of 

Glen Osmond, SA, he 

brought with him a wide variety of talents 

that he had accumulated through the years. 

He was born with a powerful intellect. 

This had been the foundation for an amazing 

academic career. 

His active faith and his concern for others 

were formulated at an early age and he had 

a strong sense of community spirit, and an 

awareness of those less fortunate. 

He had been involved with organisations 

such as Scouts, sporting clubs, professional 

associations and youth groups, so it is not 

really surprising that when he was invited to 

join the Glen Osmond Club, he recognised 

the potential for local and international 

service and friendship that Rotary offers. 

He became an enthusiastic, tireless, and 

committed member, first at Glen Osmond, 

and later at the Campbelltown club. 

For more than 26 years, Bob served in 

many ways at Club and District levels, 

from Bulletin Editor to Tree Planter, from 

PolioPlus Coordinator to President of both 

his clubs. 

He was the Leader of two FAIM working 

parties — to the Solomon Islands and PNG. 

He organised a matching grant to develop a 

school in India, and was Chair of the Science 

Career Forum and the Australian Rotary 

Health Research Fund District Committees. 

He was selected to be District Governor of 

District 9520 in 2006/7. He was delighted that 

the World President of Rotary International 

that year was also a Kiwi, Bill Boyd, and Bob 

and Bill made quite a hit at a Rotary Institute 

Meeting when they performed an impromptu 

Haka together. 

His year as District Governor was 

incredibly busy, and he maintained a strong 

interest in all the activities of all the Clubs in 

his District. He campaigned strongly for the 

support of The Rotary Foundation and its 

programs, and the fund raising target that he 

set was exceeded by 45 per cent – such was 

his power of persuasion. 

The District Conference that he and his 

Committee organised in the Barossa Valley 

received much praise, and the RI Special 

Representative from America, Bob Stuart, 

said it was the best of the many he had 

attended over the years. 

The members of the Rotary Club of 

Campbelltown expressed their appreciation 

to a much valued and respected colleague by 

recognising Bob with a Paul Harris Fellowship 

in 2004, and then a Sapphire Pin in 2006. 

There is so much that could be said about 

his time in Rotary, but, if I was looking for 

a single word to describe Bob, it would be 

“Generosity”. 

Bob was generous with his praise for the 

efforts of others. After the Conference, all 

the Organising Committee gathered at the 

Northcote home for lunch. Bob became very 

emotional as he expressed his appreciation to 

his team, and I know that we all witnessed 

a side to Bob’s character that we hadn’t seen 

before. 

So now it is time for the Family of Rotary 

to say Farewell to a loyal, energetic and 

most competent Member, who served to the 

absolute best of his ability and always said, 

and did, what he thought was right. 

It is a sad occasion, but we will treasure his 

Memory and his Legacy. Rest in Peace, Past 

District Governor, Bob Northcote. 

PDG Peter Sandercock ■

Paul Harris Fellows 

Past President Alfred Bedggood, Past 

President Ajit Balasingham and Murray 

Hall, of the Rotary Club of Whangarei 

Sunrise, NZ, for outstanding service to 

Rotary and the community since the Club’s 

charter in July, 1990. 

Outgoing Mayor of Toowoomba, Qld, 

Dianne Thorley, received Paul Harris 

Fellow recognition with two Sapphire Pins 

presented by District 9630 Governor Errol 

Wildman on behalf of all seven Rotary 

clubs in Toowoomba, for her commitment 

to “helping people in need here and around 

the world”. 

Past President Keith Kimpton, of the 

Rotary Club of Frankston, Vic, for 26 years 

of outstanding service to Rotary and for 

his contribution to club fellowship and his 

involvement in many leadership roles within 

the Club. 

Rotarian Dr Morgan J Williams of the 

Rotary Club of Port Nicholson, NZ, for his 

10 years as the Parliamentary Commissioner 

for the Environment, promoting legislation 

and policies that have provided a positive 

impact on environment sustainability. 

Past President Colin Frauenfelder, Rtn 

Angela Forthun, Rtn Diane Alper, Past 

President Robert Renshaw, Jan Hills and 

Rtn Alan Newstead, of the Rotary Club of 

Glen Waverley, Vic, for services to Rotary 

and the community. 

Marjorie Jeffreys, Joy Morgan, Rtn 

Austin Sureda, Rtn Eric Wardell and Past 

President Creagh Bown, of the Rotary Club 

of Glen Waverley, Vic, Sapphire Pins, for 

services to Rotary and the community. 

Past President Peter Morgan and 

Called to higher service 

Past President Ross Thomas Paddon, Paul 

Harris Fellow, of the Rotary Club of The 

Entrance, NSW, and previously Past President 

of The Rotary Club of Port of Mackay, Qld. 

Ross has been active in all areas of Rotary 

Service at both clubs, and keenly supportive 

of District 9680 meetings and activities at 

Forresters Beach Resort where he was the 

proprietor. 

Rtn Dr David Roberts-Thomson, of the 

Rotary Club of Maitland, NSW, on January 

30. Paul Harris Fellow and a member for 18 

Past President Kevin Beaumont, of the 

Rotary Club of Glen Waverley, Vic, second 

Sapphire Pins, for services to Rotary and the 

community. 

Past District Governor Heinz Gerstl, of 

the Rotary Club of Randwick, NSW, fifth 

Sapphire Pin and Yvonne Gerstl (PHF) 

presented at the 42nd Zone 7A/8A Institute 

at Ballarat, Vic. 

Past President Malcolm Eberhard, of the 

Rotary Club of Mareeba, Qld, for service 

to Rotary and the community, particularly 

young people. 

Val Jennings, recognised by the Rotary 

Club of Mareeba, Qld, for supporting Rotary, 

Rotaryannes and her voluntary work in the 

community. 

Past President Rob Insull, of the Rotary 

Club of Milford, NZ, for service to District 

9910 and to his club for 37 years. 

Peter Marshman, OAM, of the Rotary 

Club of Hyde Park, SA, for outstanding 

contribution to Youth Development. 

Past President Ian Stewart, of the Rotary 

Club of Hyde Park, SA, Sapphire Pin for 

an outstanding contribution over 25 years 

in all aspects of service to Rotary and the 

community. 

Past President Rob Cesana, of the Rotary 

Club of Hyde Park, SA, for service to Rotary 

at Club, District and community level. 

Past President Alan Bartram, Charter 

Member of the Rotary Club of Hyde Park, 

SA, for service to Rotary and community. 

Catherine Little, of the Rotary Club of 

Wanaka, NZ, Sapphire Pin recognising her 

work in the community and her service as 

Club Secretary over a long period. 

years, David was active in counselling and 

hosting of 15 YEP students and involved in 

The Rotary Foundation and International 

Service. 

President Karl Passow, of the Rotary Club 

of Auckland City Sunrise, NZ, in early January, 

a Paul Harris Fellow. A loyal member for 

over 10 years, Karl was a humorous Sergeantat-Arms 

and an enthusiastic supporter of 

the club’s Town and Country Exchange and 

Group Study Exchange. 

Gunther Geyer, of the Rotary Club of 

Notices 

Rotarian David Swainsbury, of the 

Rotary Club of Morwell, Vic, for service to 

Rotary and the community for more than 

40 years. 

PDG Heather Yarker, of the Rotary Club 

of Ashmore, Qld, two Rubies for active 

service to Rotary and the community, in 

particular with the chartering of the new 

club of Coomera River Midday (Coomera). 

Four Avenues of Service 

Past President John Somerville, of the 

Rotary Club of Milford, NZ, who has served 

as a Board Director in the Fellowship, 

International Youth and Vocational areas, 

as an Assistant District Governor, and for 

10 years on the District World Community 

Services Committee. John has also been 

named previously as a District Rotarian of 

the Year. ■ 

Other Awards 

Gregory McIntyre, of the Rotary Club of 

Blacktown City, NSW, awarded the Medal of 

the Order of Australia for service to people 

with disabilities and to public education 

through the Technical and Further 

Education sector. 

Esther Roadnight, of the Rotary Club 

of Hannans-Kalgoorlie, WA, for services to 

the community of Kalgoorlie and region, 

particularly through a range of social, 

business, youth, tourism and cultural 

organisations, and to local government. 

President Bruce Graham, of the Rotary 

Club of Takapuna, NZ, was inducted into 

the Order of St John for services to Youth 

and to the St John Ambulance. ■ 

Blacktown City, NSW, a member for 35 years 

before resigning due to ill health in December, 

after which the Board awarded him honorary 

Membership. Gunther served as a Club 

Director on several occasions and was 

honoured with a Paul Harris Fellowship 

Recognition in 1993. 

Past President Stan Spencely, of the 

Rotary Club of Eaglehawk, Vic. Paul 

Harris Fellow (Sapphire Pin). A dedicated 

Rotarian for over 27 years. A generous man 

with both money and time. ■ 


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Email:dancis@bigpond.com 

POW IS JUST ONE OF OUR PRODUCTS

God helps those who . . . 

The 

Shaggy Dog 

A blonde finds herself in serious trouble. 

Her business has gone bust and she’s in 

dire financial straits. She’s so desperate that 

she decides to ask God for help. She begins 

to pray, “God, please help me. I’ve lost my 

business and if I don’t get some money, I’m 

going to lose my house as well. Please let me 

win the lotto.” 

Lotto night comes and somebody else 

wins. Once again she prays, “God, please let 

A case for the judiciary 

Playing a football match, a chicken scored 

two goals. 

“You’re playing very well,” said the referee, 

“Do you train hard?” 

“Yes,” said the chicken, “But it’s not easy. I’m 

a lawyer and I don’t have much free time.” 

On women and their bums 

There is a new study out about women and 

how they feel about their bums. 

Around 85 per cent think their bums are too 

fat, 10 per cent think their bums are too thin. 

But five per cent say they don’t care, they 

love him, he’s a good man and they would have 

married him anyway! 

Heard the one about . . . 

Then there was the story of the young lad 

who persisted in mimicking the parson, 

who then asked the boy’s parents if they had 

reprimanded him. 

“Yes we have,” was the reply. “We told 

him to stop acting like a fool.” 

Rotary Club of Brighton, Vic ■ 

Wits’ words 

Spike Milligan: “Contraceptives should be 

used on every conceivable occasion.” 

Stephen Fry: “I don’t watch television, I 

think it destroys the art of talking about 

oneself.” 

Sir Winston Churchill: “A politician 

me win the lotto. I’ve lost my business and 

house and I’m going to lose my car as well.” 

Lotto night comes and she still has no luck. 

Once again she prays, “My God, why have 

you forsaken me? I’ve lost my business, my 

house and my car. My children are starving. I 

don’t often ask you for help and I have always 

been a good servant to you. PLEASE let me 

win the lotto just this once so I can get my 

life back in order.” 

Suddenly there is a blinding flash of 

light as the heavens open. The blonde is 

overwhelmed by the voice of God himself: 

“Sweetheart, work with me on this . . . buy 

a ticket.” 

Rotary Club of Unley, SA ■ 

The referee pulled out a red card and 

ordered the chicken off. 

“Why did you do that?” asked the chicken’s 

teammates. 

“Professional fowl,” said the referee. 

Rotary Club of Keilor East, Vic ■ 

A little boy went up to his father and 

asked, “Dad, where did my intelligence come 

from?” 

The father replied, “Well, son, you must 

have got it from your mother, cos I’ve still 

got mine.” 

Rotary Club of Boonah, Qld ■ 

Or the Frenchman and the Irishman 

who both jumped off the Eiffel Tower. 

The Frenchman got killed – the Irishman 

got lost! 

Rotary Club of Blayney, NSW ■ 

needs the ability to foretell what is going 

to happen tomorrow, next week, next 

month and next year. And to have the 

ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t 

happen.” 

Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour City, NSW ■ 

Smiles 

OBJECT OF 

ROTARY 

The Object of Rotary is to 

encourage and foster the 

ideal of service as a basis of 

worthy enterprise and, in 

particular, to encourage 

and foster: 

1 The 

2 High 

3 The 

4 The 

development of 

acquaintance as an 

opportunity for service; 

ethical standards 

in business and 

professions; the 

recognition of the 

worthiness of all useful 

occupations; and the 

dignifying of each 

Rotarian’s occupation as 

an opportunity to serve 

society; 

application of the 

ideal of service in each 

Rotarian’s personal, 

business and community 

life; 

advancement 

of international 

understanding, goodwill 

and peace through 

a world fellowship 

of business and 

professional persons 

united in the ideal of 

service.

May 2008 RDU online (pdf) - Rotary Down Under

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