2020-2021 Edition 41

 

District Governor's Message
The Next Generation of Rotarians

The Next Generation of Rotarians

Following on from last week’s special conference edition of Networker, I am delighted to see so many Rotarians have now booked for ‘Virtual Victoria’. It is important to book for both the Virtual Victoria Multi District Conference and District 9800’s Breakout Session/Showcase is on Saturday 1st May and I particularly encourage you to participate, especially by also inviting your sons, daughters, grandchildren, nephews and nieces to join you for the gourmet BBQ and Rotary project showcase. What a privilege to have them as part of this in-person event…to see what you do in Rotary and the wonderful projects in which you are involved.

I have been constantly amazed when I meet the sons and daughters of Rotarians who have been in awe of their parents’ involvement in the incredible array of Rotary projects that make such a difference to the lives of others. There is no doubt that they are waiting to be asked to join in. So, let’s bring them to the Rotary Conference Showcase and encourage them to think about becoming part of Rotary’s future.   

This month sees the online Rotary Peace Symposium with an incredibly impressive line-up of speakers. In celebration of its centenary in Australia, Rotary has invited leaders in peace and conflict resolution to provide perspectives on challenging global and domestic issues and how we can all contribute towards building a more peaceful world over the next 100 years. Don’t miss booking for this event to hear from such pre-eminent speakers as Nobel Peace Prize winner José Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor - 2007 to 2012; Associate Professor Tilman Ruff AO, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 for his work on nuclear disarmament; Emma Leslie AM, the Executive Director of the Peace & Conflict Studies Centre in Cambodia and who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 2005; and, Natascha Hryckow, Coordinator UN Panel of Experts on Somalia.

And, another event reminder is for Morning Tea with the DG on Saturday 17th April. You won’t be disappointed with the speakers we have for this event either.

Enjoy the week ahead – don’t forget to book for our amazing events!

Rotary District 9800 Governor Philip Archer

Paul Harris Quote of the Week

The spirit of tolerance which has made it possible for Rotary to form a worldwide fellowship of business and professional men will make all things possible.

My Road to Rotary 

Maternal and Infant Health

Rotary Macedon Ranges in action

In 2019, Rotary Macedon Ranges sent a scoping study team to Kathmandu, Nepal with the aim of establishing the feasibility of a comprehensive long-term Maternal and Infant Health (M.I.H) project. Initially focusing on delivering childbirth education, followed by emergency skills management in maternal and infant health across the education, health and community sectors, the overall objective was to save lives, empower women and children, and reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity through quality and effective education.

Most members of the scoping study team were from Rotary Macedon Ranges with specialist expertise coming from Rotary Timaru and Rotary Kathmandu, the host club, which played an important role in establishing ‘in-country’ partnerships.

Endorsement of this training was given by The Ministry of Health, who oversee the National Training Authority, and from Nursing and Midwifery peak bodies, including Dr Laxmi Tamang, President of the Midwifery Association, and Professor Tara Pokharel, President of the Nursing Association of Nepal at the time, both of whom attended training and helped present.

86 participants were trained through the childbirth education pilot program with attendees from over 32 different hospitals, health care facilities, training organisations and community centres, many of which were national organisations and facilities. Seven Women Inc., also supported by our district and championed by Stephanie Woollard, had two staff members attend training to become community childbirth educators.

The main maternity hospitals in Kathmandu were also visited, which proved highly productive with executives of the hospitals pledging support and offering free training venues for the program. Childbirth education training kits were delivered, as well as a projector donated by a local university, for on-going education.

It is hoped the study team will be able to revisit Kathmandu in the future to follow up the program and continue in-person groundwork. The aim is to have enough in-country trained, confident and empowered educators to embed an achievable and sustainable childbirth education training system across the country, through the education and health care sectors, as well as within the community.

As an adjunct to this project, the team used diverse educational skill sets to deliver training and certification at Seven Women on food safety handling and hygiene. Gifts were also taken to an orphanage, Srijansil Children’s Centre, and the team attended Spring Valley Academy, a community primary school monitored and supported by Rotary Kathmandu.

Western Emergency Relief Network (WERN)

From Past District Governor and Administration Manager, WERN, Ross Butterworth

I received a call from a Sunshine school looking for support for a family the school has recently accepted into their community. The family consists of a single mum and five children. They have come from a background of domestic violence stemming from when the father decided he wanted to take them for a ‘holiday for a family celebration’ to his birthplace in Burma around Easter last year.

Not long after arriving in Burma, the borders to Australia were closed due to the pandemic and the family was stranded in a remote village. At this time, the father abandoned them with no income or way of returning home to Australia. Through Consular assistance, the family finally made it to Sydney in September, and were quarantined before being taken to a Melbourne women’s shelter.

After missing all of 2020, the children are now back at school. The family has also been provided with rental assistance through the school, but spent many weeks of sleeping on the floor and coping with no furniture in the house. The school then learnt about WERN and reached out. As the school is not a member of the WERN Network, a member Rotary club was needed to sponsor the family to gain access to the WERN warehouse. I am very proud to advise that it was the Rotary Club of Caroline Springs that stepped up and hosted the family. Through their support, the family has been provided with the furniture required to make the house a home and comfortable for mum and the children. There were tears all round when the school Principal and a colleague picked up the furniture and delivered it to the family.

The following is feedback received from the school:

“The family was totally overwhelmed by the generosity of your organisation. They could not believe that people who don’t even know them care. The items were put to good use straight away and the children were very excited to have furniture in their house. Please pass on our sincere thanks to the Caroline Springs Rotary Club for agreeing to sponsor the family.”

A letter sent by one of the children is included below. It is worth taking a moment to appreciate the sentiment from just one of the many families for what you as volunteers do every time you provide your time at WERN – you are changing Australian lives through the power of Rotary and the WERN program. Thank you for what you do towards this amazing program, and thank you to all the Rotary clubs that make WERN possible.

Please let me know if you have any time to give as a volunteer at WERN. Demand for our service has never been stronger and we are changing lives every day. WERN Representatives are always available to address your clubs whenever desired.

M: 0411 228 311 or E: administration@wern.org

Managing Change

By Rowan McClean, District 9800 Club Service Chair

In a world where change is a given, managing the process can still prove difficult, especially when dealing with those who resist change. For leaders in volunteer organisations such as Rotary, this can be challenging, but research shows that there are key actions that can be taken manage change effectively. The recommended steps are:

  1. Explain the change so that others understand and cooperate

    When change is announced, people immediately ask themselves “How does this affect me?” Addressing concerns openly and honestly can help reduce uncertainty and mistrust. People are more receptive to change when they understand the logical reasons and thinking behind it, which in turn can lead them to thinking about what they have to do to make the change successful

    The way you handle this key action will set the tone for the rest of your discussions. Communicate to people, from the outset, that you appreciate their feelings and value their right to understand what is happening.

    First, describe the change and its background and why it is needed. This helps people see the big picture. Then specifically describe how they will be involved in the change.

    It doesn't hurt to describe a change in its best light, as it is good sense to make sure everyone understands the benefits to be gained from the change. But don't paint a partial or too rosy a picture, as people don’t react well to being misled. It is far better to present both the negatives and positives of the situation to build trust.

  2. Handle objections to the change

    Ask for reactions to the change. Explaining a change and its impact should not be just a “show and tell” exercise. Because change temporarily disrupts and complicates things, people need access to the right information if they are to respond positively. They need an opportunity to ask questions and get answers, not just be “talked at”.

    By asking for reactions to a change you create an atmosphere of openness. By listening to what people say, you help them feel more involved in the change and you find out if they have any concerns or misunderstandings. You also communicate that airing concerns is okay. Even if nothing new surfaces, the fact that you really listen to people's thoughts and feelings goes a long way to reinforcing trust.

    Using open-ended questions stimulates discussion. If new information or an overlooked issue arises, give credit to it. Let people have their say and do not treat people who have objections harshly or unfairly, as this will only destroy the work you have done.

  3. Collaborate on how to make the change go smoothly

    It is important to get people thinking and talking about what they can do to make the change work. A bias for action will help avoid unproductive deliberation. Ask for implementation ideas directly and ask what could be incorporated into the plan. Listen and respond actively.

  4. Gain commitment to support the change

    The key is to ask for support and commitment, as it can maintain understanding in the group, even when some people are not 100% in agreement with the change. One approach might be to say, “It seems we are all clear on what needs to be done. I need your support on this or it won’t work. Can I count on your help?”

  5. Follow-up by monitoring the plan and reinforcing progress

    The job is not over because you have introduced a change and made some plans. You need to manage the implementation. The people involved in the change need your personal attention as well. Tensions and fears may increase as the change process moves towards completion. People also deserve, individually and collectively, your recognition and appreciation for progress made.

    Give high priority to the follow-up process and allocate sufficient time to hold meetings and keep closely in touch.

Ian Salek – Giving Back

By Rowan McClean

Family, work and then Rotary is a mantra with which Ian Salek strongly agrees. With a background in sales and general management in the plastics and electrical industries, he has a good understanding of people and leadership. But “giving back” is where he has achieved the real personal satisfaction.

Being deeply affected by the imagery of the ‘before and after’ surgery from Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC), Ian didn’t take much convincing by his tennis mate, Ian Dobson, that he should join Rotary Glenferrie. At that time, the club had two key projects that are still important today … the Sumba Eye Program, their International focus (pun intended) and the Boroondara Farmers Market. The Market is currently funding the Education CHANCES program for needy students. Geoff Wood, Terry Rolleston and John Hudson OAM introduced and managed the Market, but a committee now runs it with Ian and Rob Winspear as Co-Chairs. Current Club President, Dr. Mark Ellis AM, implements the Sumba Eye Program.

“Glenferrie has the balance right between domestic and international projects,” Ian said. “Rotarians who feel we should be spending all of our funds at home should remember that we are Rotary International, and our involvement in lesser developed countries is highly desirable.”

Ian has held roles of Club President (2010-11), Assistant Governor, Executive Assistant Governor and District Chair of International Service. He has been involved with Rotary Radio for five years at “94.1FM and 3WBC, the Voice of the Inner East”, where he interviews prominent Rotarians. As the editor, he removes from recorded interviews the inevitable “Ums, Ers, and Ahs” and other distractions such as dogs barking and telephones ringing.  Laughingly, we referred to this role as ‘the janitor of the airwaves’.

Since joining Rotary in 2004, Ian has been impressed with the leadership of each and every District Governor without exception. He sees their personalities demonstrating different strengths, but each has in common a love for Rotary and an unbridled commitment to do good in the world.

Ian believes that to expand Rotary’s membership we should be chasing a corporate cohort who have matured in their roles and want to give back. “But you must ask them!” he says.

His key message to Rotary is to never let process overshadow outcomes.

Imre Lele’s Incredible Life Journey

By Rowan McClean

Imre Lele has been actively involved in community service for 50 years through Lions, Scouts, Very Special Kids, Rotary Keilor and Rotary North Balwyn. In his words: “I have been blessed with an interesting and fortunate life and am pleased to give back to the community.”

An interesting and fortunate life indeed! Born in Hungary when the war was at its peak and the siege of Budapest resulted in 280,000 deaths, Imre was fortunate to have escaped. With all but one bridge across the Danube having been blown up by the retreating German army, and only women and children being allowed to cross the remaining bridge, Imre’s mother pushed him to safety in a pram, just before that bridge was also demolished.“

My mother and father had become separated and neither knew whether the other was alive,” advised Imre. “In an amazing coincidence, my father was travelling towards Germany on a packed troop and refugee train and met an acquaintance who had heard my mother was 800 kilometres away in Bavaria. My father jumped off the train and headed south. That evening 110,000 people, including most of those on the train, perished in Dresden when the Allies dropped 3300 tonnes of bombs.”

Imre’s father and mother were reunited, but tragically, his mother died several months later aged 26. 

Imre and his father found themselves in a displaced persons camp and were to migrate to Canada, but with the ship being overbooked, they were instead sent to the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre in Wodonga. Definitely our gain!

Imre schooled at Wodonga, then CBC North Melbourne.  He matriculated, won a Commonwealth Scholarship and went on to complete Commerce at the University of Melbourne.

In 1967, Imre married Trish. Two years later, he was appointed General Manager of a greenfield particle-board plant – soon to be known as Laminex Industries. In 1984, Imre became the head of Australian Paper Manufacturer’s forestry, pulp, paper and international operations with 5,000 employees in five countries.

Imre recalled a humorous event whilst at APM of a cabinet meeting chaired by Bob Hawke to discuss a new plant. “Every ten minutes a staffer would put a piece of paper in front of the PM who would give a very worried look whilst half-listening to the presentations. On leaving, several of the papers fell to the floor. I picked them up and noticed they were the progressive cricket scores against India!”

As a Rotarian, Imre has always enjoyed hands-on projects such as gardening, painting, BBQ‘s, flood clearing, rebuilding fences after bushfires and work at Camp Getaway.

“The common denominator,” he advises, “is satisfaction from the combination of service and Rotary fellowship. I have enjoyed our projects in Vanuatu (an eye clinic for Port Villa hospital), The Solomons (installing fencing, sewing machines and water tanks), and Vietnam (medical and educational support).”

Yes, Imre has definitely had an interesting and fortunate life – an incredible journey that deserves to be made into a film.

Daylesford Rotary

By Henry Drury

Following the discovery of gold in 1851 at Wombat Flat in the heart of the heavily forested hills of central Victoria, the locality prospered greatly. To mark this prosperity (as was his prerogative) Governor Sir Charles Hotham curiously christened the thriving Wombat township ‘Daylesford’ after the village in Gloucestershire, England, home of the late GG Warren Hastings of East India Company fame.

Inevitably the gold fever faded, but Daylesford, having eighty percent of all the mineral springs in Victoria, became and remains the spa capital of Australia and the home of associated alternative therapies, fine foods, crafts and a must-visit tourist destination.

As a young boy in the 50s, your correspondent clearly remembers visiting Daylesford with family to try those aggressively mineral laden waters, which just had to be good for you!

Historically the boundaries of the now District 9800, being somewhat rubbery, meant that although Ballarat Rotary was the sponsor club, it was Essendon Rotary that actually chartered Daylesford Rotary on 5 December 1953 with 280 guests gathered in celebration of the actual presentation.

To paraphrase President David Stagg, “…one of the great pleasures of being president of our club is to know you have the ability to delegate to people…that are doers, not talkers.”

And, talking of doing, the club over the years has been involved in the formation and/or activities of the Public Library, the Guide hall, the Historical Society, Apex and Probus, as well as hands-on projects in the construction, renovation and painting of houses and various community facilities.

Fund raising has been through annual craft fairs, fun runs, art shows and farmers’ markets, enabling the club to contribute to the needs of the local hospital, CFA vehicles and Jaws of Life, the nursing home, student scholarships, kindergartens and recreational facilities to name just a few. Rotary projects such as Shelter Box, ROMAC, Interplast and Polio Plus are also well supported.

With COVID now hopefully on the retreat, the “doers” of Daylesford Rotary are out there more visibly doing and being very much a part of the daily life of their vigorous community.

Rotarian Singles Fellowship International

By Helena Wimpole

In 2007 a female member of the Rotary club of Oakland, California, felt the need for the establishment of a Singles Rotarian Fellowship. She had been widowed and due to her experience of living alone, she believed that single Rotarians worldwide would welcome such a fellowship that was not associated with partnered Rotarians, but would allow single Rotarians to attend Rotary International Conventions on their own and have the opportunity to network with other singles.

The Rotarian Singles Fellowship International was chartered in 2009 and since its inception it has had a booth at the House of Friendship at all Rotary International Conventions where members meet for meals and excursions.

The aim of the Fellowship is to provide a networking experience for single Rotarians, and the only requirement for membership is obviously that the person is a Rotarian and single. It however, is clearly not to be regarded or intended as a dating service. Networking with other single Rotarians is a good way to share ideas, make travel easier and more economical by sharing room expenses, provide support for Rotary service activities and make lasting friendships and practice the ideals of Rotary.

An important aspect of the Fellowship is that it is made up of Chapters, whereby groups of single Rotarians within specific areas or within Districts can meet for friendship and to work on Rotary projects together.

In all there are more than 300 members of the Fellowship from around the world in eight regions with approximately 42 in the Oceanic region.

For further information refer: https://rotariansingles.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rotarian-Singles-Fellowship-International-201843289840034/

Weekly Tip

In many developing countries pregnant women cannot access the medicinal supplements they need for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy and lactation.  Health clinics in communities you are assisting would welcome support to obtain adequate supplies.  Contact the local in-country Rotary Club or your District 9800 country Ambassador.

 
Rotary 9800 Showcase & Conference Breakout
Peace Leadership - Online Symposium

Morning Tea with the DG April 2021
Upcoming Events
 
For upcoming events for all clubs and District, please visit:
https://rotarydistrict9800.org.au/Events/Cards
 
or join our Facebook group
 
Rotary District 9800 Inc.
To view our privacy policy, click here.
 
Comments / Questions & Support in producing Networker and keeping our club and district websites
up-to-date are always welcome.  Contact us at networker@rotarydistrict9800.org.au.