With December focusing on Disease Prevention and Treatment, it is fitting to hear on the news we will have a COVID-19 vaccine in Australia in the first quarter of 2021. As difficult as it has been in Victoria, we are fortunate to finally see borders opening and an ability to emerge from lockdown. As Rotarians, this means we can begin to think about the hands-on projects and a return to face-to-face club meetings that we all enjoy so much. I urge everyone, however, to observe all the necessary safety measures that will keep this disease at bay.
Thursday, 10th December, is World Human Rights Day and aligned to this it is also Shelterbox Giving Day. All donations to Shelterbox by 10th December will be doubled through matching donations from their generous campaign ‘Matchers’. Shelterbox is calling on all Australians to stand united with ShelterBox to help them with their mission to deliver emergency shelter and disaster relief to people around the world. If you would like to donate, you can do so through this link.
This weekend is the International Model United Nations Assembly, a Centenary Project of Rotary District 9800. Participants will be using Zoom whilst viewers can watch via https://www.facebook.com/RotaryEClubofMelbourne. There are sixteen teams of students including thee international teams, one from New Zealand and two from India. The event, organised by the District MUNA Committee and hosted by Rotary North Melbourne, commences at 1.00 pm on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th, concluding each day at 5.15 pm.
Also this Saturday was the final Morning Tea with the DG for the year. There was a great line-up of presentations including information on the exciting National Australia Day Campaign, a review on the year to date and what’s ahead for next year, Donations in Kind, and a wonderful project in Cambodia. You will hear more about these topics in forthcoming editions of Networker.
Have a great week everyone—Rotary brings the people and resources together to changes lives.
Rotary International can be proud of what it has achieved in relation to polio. And it now has the potential to do the same in relation to viral hepatitis.
This disease affects almost half a million Australians with about six people in Victoria alone dying every week of hepatitis-related causes—more than the State’s road toll. Hepatitis B & C leads to liver cancer, which is the fastest growing form of cancer in Australia and causes over a thousand deaths a year.
Hepatitis Victoria is the peak not-for-profit community organisation working across the State to address hepatitis and its effects. In collaboration with the Rotary Melbourne Team, it has created a practical project centred on awareness that is being promoted to Victorian Rotary clubs. The goal of this awareness project is to end hepatitis in the community through reducing the stigma that is often associated with it, promoting vaccination for hepatitis B and seeking out the available curative treatments for hepatitis C.
In addition, Hepatitis Victoria and Rotary Melbourne have joined the national effort to achieve the World Health Organisation’s goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030. With cures available for both hepatitis B and C, this global goal is achievable if community awareness can be raised.
The awareness campaign encourages Rotarians to H-E-P up. That means to:
Promote awareness through family, friends and networks.
The presentations on this topic have already been well received by many Rotary Clubs.
Hepatitis Victoria educators and lived-experience public speakers are available to present to Rotary Clubs to raise awareness, address the problem of stigma and discrimination in the community and encourage people to seek testing and treatment.
Viral hepatitis is preventable, and Hepatitis Victoria and Rotary Melbourne are keen to gain the support of all Rotarians to address the challenge of reducing the burden of liver disease in our community. If you are interested in a speaker presenting to your club on this awareness project, please contact Penny Trumble at endhepatitisnow@rotarymelbourne.org.
In my Rotary club, we often hear that growing membership is everyone’s responsibility, which gave me cause to reflect on this potentially wonderful gift.
Recently I needed to source an IT person to sort out some computer issues. I did the usual thing by speaking to three different providers and requesting quotations. I then made a choice, but it was when I thought about why I made my choice that I realised something, as I certainly didn’t choose on price! Rather, I went with the person who had impressed me from the outset as someone with whom I felt most comfortable, could trust and with whom I knew I could work well—someone who had values similar to mine, and, in fact, similar to Rotary’s.
This experience made me reflect on the rest of my network. My doctor is someone I naturally trust and have known for over twenty years; my chartered accountant (chosen after interviewing three firms) is also someone with similar values, as is his whole team; the local newspaper editor; the librarian; the owners of a restaurant I visit regularly; the other business in the building in which I work; the many clients with whom I work, some who have even sponsored different Rotary initiatives; the lady who runs the local bakery; the people I transact with weekly and monthly, and all of whom share something in common. I have them in my network because I trust them, they are great people, and they have strong, ethical values.
All these people know I have a passion for Rotary because of the badge I wear and because I tell them about Rotary. My friends and relatives also know about my passion for Rotary. I tell them about what Rotary is doing, and what I’m doing in Rotary. They know I have fun, that I’ve built great friendships, and have grown as a person through my Rotary involvement.
But what I hadn’t done is be proactive about asking them to join with me in Rotary.
We probably all know people that have said they have heard great things about Rotary, but have never been invited to join. If these are people in our networks, it’s most likely for the reasons outlined above, and if we truly care about them, we should want to share with them the benefits of Rotary…the benefit of new friendships; the benefit of giving back to the community; and, the benefit of developing skills and expanding horizons. What an amazing gift, and one that keeps giving, as those from your network will be able to inspire their friends and networks, making the community even stronger.
Inviting our friends and networks to three or four meetings; encouraging them to get involved in something hands-on; to join the conversation at Rotary, and become people of action by experiencing first-hand what the best kind of volunteering is like will strengthen our clubs. It will also ignite enthusiasm through the ideas that new members bring.
Early discussions with potential members are not about fees or the time involved. If we do this, the real value of membership and its benefits don’t resonate with them. Once they get involved in Rotary volunteering, experience Rotary friendship and personal growth, cost becomes irrelevant, as it did with me when I selected my IT provider.
Please think about your networks and start inviting people to share the Rotary experience. After all, being a Rotarian is a gift that keeps on giving.
An annual membership could also be something you really do consider giving as a special occasion gift, knowing you will be giving something that will be treasured for a very long time.
As if Rotary was not enough, Paul has also been a long-serving Board member of Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre and a Friendly Society Pharmacy. After ‘retirement’ he was Executive Officer for a community legal centre, was involved with religious charity organisations, and even worked for a time for the Lost Dogs Home in North Melbourne!
He thinks his commitment to community involvement came from the example set by his grandmother, who worked tirelessly for Red Cross during the first influenza epidemic. He laughingly recalls the handouts at “old people’s homes”, which consisted of four packets of unfiltered Turf cigarettes and an orange.
Raised in Bendigo, Paul joined Rotary Sandhurst as a Charter member in 1988 along with young colleagues when invited by his Rotarian boss. Paul had been involved in hospitals and community service organisations, work that progressed into CEO roles.
The new Rotary Sandhurst Club members planted trees and commenced a weekly market in Bendigo. As rostering was difficult, they consolidated the weekly markets to three larger annual markets. Today, the Club runs public festivities for Council, including the 120-stall market at Lake Weeroona.
Paul was Club President in 1998/99, saying that he had been “shanghaied” by then District Governor the late Vance Hilton. He also chaired Camp Getaway from commencement for 13 years.
Overseas, Rotary Bendigo Sandhurst helped rebuild Sri Lanka housing after the tsunami and joined similar projects in Samoa and Timor-Leste. Paul recalled attending a club meeting in traditional Samoan lavalava clothing and a wag hid their clothing at the end of the meeting.
For image strengthening and member attraction, Paul believes we should use social media intensively to tell our good stories! However, he feels Zoom has restricted member recruitment, as many prospects prefer to wait for face-to-face meetings.
Some serious bike riding during lockdown has improved Paul’s fitness, and he says he’s looking good!
With experience in mental health, Paul gave the following advice: “The secret of life is how you focus: pursue a positive future!”
Dasun Premadasawas inducted to Rotary Melbourne on 19th August this year with the classification of IT - Business Analyst.
Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he completed his primary and secondary education, Dasun went on to join one of the country’s leading international software companies at the age of 18. He went on to work for several IT organisations in Sri Lanka, America and the UK before moving to Melbourne in 2007, where he has continued his IT career. Today, he works for Treasury Wine Estates as a Senior Global Business Analyst responsible for Sales and Marketing technologies.
Dasun’s Scottish wife, Denise, is a cancer research nurse. They have a 19-month-old daughter and when time permits, Dasun enjoys scuba diving, hiking, running, cricket and rugby (union).
Dasun’s introduction to Rotary came whilst he was still at school, joining the Interact Club in 1995. He held various director positions from Community Service to Finance until his graduation. Five years later, Dasun joined the Rotaract Club of Cinnamon Gardens in Colombo and became a highly active participant within the Rotary movement in Sri Lanka, leading various projects. During this period Dasun was particularly focused on carrying out community service projects to help the less fortunate within the community. He became the President of his Rotaract club in 2005/2006 and was a member of the Club President’s Advisory Committee until he left Sri Lanka in 2007.
Contributing to various projects within Rotary International to support disadvantaged communities is something Dasun wanted to continue following his involvement with Interact and Rotaract. Joining Rotary in Australia was a natural progression. He would like to work on larger projects that support various parts of his community and to expand his social network.
Dasun believes the Rotary movement in Australia has more potential to grow as an organisation with youth. The challenge he believes, however, is for Rotary to generate more awareness with this group to attract membership.
By Ian Salek for the Rotary Radio Show on 94.1FM 3WBC
Extract from an interview with Professor Amanda Leach, Leader of the Ear Health Research Program of the Child Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research on campus at Royal Darwin Hospital.
Whilst indigenous Ear Health support has come a long way since Aboriginal grandmothers tested babies’ hearing using a dragonfly, there is still plenty of work needed in this field.
IS:
Amanda, welcome to the Rotary Radio Show. When did you commence your current role at the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin?
AL:
I began in late 1991. After working in London for a year, I returned to Darwin with my husband and children. A microbiologist had recently resigned from the Menzies School of Health Research, so I was given the task of working out what was causing very serious otitis media (middle ear infection) in remote Aboriginal children.
IS:
Amanda what does your work currently involve?
AL:
My work has shifted from laboratory to clinical trials research – from working out the microbiology to how to tackle that. When I began it was suspected that Chlamydia trachomatis (the cause of eye-lid scaring and blindness) may be involed in causing ear disease. But that was not the case. We were amazed that the onset of disease exactly coincided with the nasopharyngeal acquisition of several bacterial pathogens known to cause ear disease. The extraordinary finding was that this happened so early in life, and involved multiple sub-species (strains) simultanously. We continued to monitor these babies for two years. Many many strains of pathogens were acquired and ear disease and hearing loss persisted. That was not the pattern of ear disease seen in other populations, where the diveristy of germs is less, and ear problems are very transient.
IS:
What then is the status of children’s ear health in the Aboriginal community in the Northern Territorry? Are you able to give us some stats?
AL:
Yes. It is not a good picture where our research has focused on children on average up to 3 years of age. This is a most important age group, as it is the early years when auditory processing and language are still developing and that relies on hearing sounds and speech. We surveyed some 400 infants from birth to 3 years of age in four large communities.
At One month – 40% had some form of ear disease (“glue ear”, bulging ear drums (full of pus), acute or chronic perforations (“runny ears”).
At Two months – 50% had these problems.
At Four months to Six Months – 80% and that is when ear drums start to burst.
At Twelve months – 90% had a problem.
At 3 Years the survey found there had been some improvement –with 75% having the same problem, but more have “runny ears”.
IS:
Amanda what are the psychological effects of ear disease and hearing difficulties especially amongst indigenous children?
AL:
Ear disease is not life threatening but it is life changing. Children need to hear to develop speech, to learn about sounds of their cultural heritage – birds, animals, songs, to learn English, to get the jokes at school, to play sport. If we can’t hear we drop out of the conversation—switch off. This happens to children, but too often they will not know why and unlike adults, cannot express their needs. Children with hearing loss are more likely to miss school, have poor school performance, that leads to interaction with youth justice and sadly greater incidence of child maltreatment. They are misunderstood. The majority of incarcerated Aboriginal people (men) have hearing loss, often undetected.
IS:
How do you get out to the communities and can patients requiring surgery be brought back to Darwin?
AL:
To visit communities in the Top End, it’s a flight in a small aircraft, or 4WD in central areas. Sometimes the drive can take 8 to 9 hours. You have got to time it to accommodate river crossings in flood and of course the crocodiles. Accommodation is limited. For ear surgery such as grommets or eardrum repair, Royal Darwin Hospital has a patient transfer service, but that’s complicated for families and small children. Most forms of ear disease should be treated by the community clinic, to prevent the need for hearing aids and surgery.
IS:
Amanda what practical ways can Rotarians support your research or work in the field?
AL:
Well yes. Currently we are working with twenty remote communities to train about five local community members as Ear Health Facilitators to regularly check kids’ ears and hearing. They would then love a T-Shirt with ‘Ear Heath Facilitator’ on it with a Menzies Health Research badge and maybe, if Rotary is able to assist, a Rotary badge. Donations are also appreciated and can be made at: https://www.goodcompany.com.au/au/charity/menzies-school-of-health-research/closing-the-gap-indigenous-children-s-health#checkout
It was in the 1840’s when a shepherd of no-known name but with pugilistic skills was dubbed ‘Bendigo’ after the famous Nottingham bare-knuckled boxer William Abednego Thompson, popularly known as “Bendigo Thompson”.
Subsequently, Bendigo’s hut was imaginatively called Bendigo’s Hut, and the creek next to which the hut was located became known as Bendigo Creek. Although the surrounding county was also called Bendigo, there was a short period when it became known as Sandhurst after an English military college. Following a plebiscite when all the residents voted, the city changed back to Bendigo on 28th April 1891.
When gold was discovered in the spring of 1851, the wealth was generated to allow architects free reign to design a “city of pomp and influence” that still impresses today.
In the early 1950’s, Bendigo famously became the birthplace of the iconic Chico Roll and Four-n-Twenty pie.
Bendigo South Rotary was chartered on 2nd December 1959. Today, this diverse Club with a strong female representation celebrates 60 years of service to the wider Bendigo community.
President Paul Gibbons proudly explains that as part of the Gold Fields Cluster, the Club has been active for decades in the planning and delivery of all the catering at the renowned Bendigo Annual Car Swap held every November. This catering expertise is also utilised at the four-day Bendigo Easter festival.
The Rotary East Gippsland Bushfire Aid effort is being enthusiastically supported by the Club through the propagation of tree seedlings for re-planting in 2021.
The Club is strong in Youth projects including Youth Exchange and successfully organising the Science and Engineering Challenge for secondary students for fifteen years.
Bendigo South also has an extensive annual scholarship program that supports deserving students from local secondary colleges, TAFE and the Latrobe University Bendigo campus.
Internationally, the Club has ongoing aid projects in Timor-Leste and Cambodia.
The COVID lockdown inspired members to organise and present a virtual classical music concert via Zoom, which has been enjoyed by the whole District.
Formal Club meetings are also held on Zoom, but only fortnightly until the pandemic passes and eagerly awaited regular weekly meetings and fellowship can resume.
The International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR) is recognised as the oldest, and possibly the largest of the Rotary Fellowships. It began in England in 1947 and quickly spread all over Great Britain, and then throughout the world. It now has well over 3,000 members in 44 countries, including Australia. The International Bridge (loosely meaning the location of the controls of the yacht–or in this context, the main Administrative Body) has a World Commodore as its leader, a Vice Commodore and a Rear Commodore. Members from all parts of the world hold these positions for two years and then each person moves up a position in succession.
There are approximately 126 ‘Fleets’ throughout the world designated to three geographic areas: Europe, the Middle East and Africa; The Americas; and, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Membership of this Fellowship is open to all Rotarians, Rotaractors and their spouses/partners. Only an active interest in boating, from kayaking to large yachts and motorboats, is needed to join. However, a fleet with boats does add considerably to fellowship outings and activities. The Fellowship is well organised and has a newsletter known as Rotafloat.
There are fleets in every State of Australia with Victoria having two, and currently covers the Port Philip and Westernport Bay regions, whilst the Gippsland Lakes Fleet includes members from Sale eastwards to the NSW border, as well as some members residing between Berwick and Sale.
The Fellowship, like many others, supports Rotary service activities. A very important project for the membership is Plastic Free Waters. Every day, through human negligence and our over reliance on plastic, many thousands of tons of plastic enter our oceans with dire consequences for the sea and its ecosystems. The Fellowship is dedicated to creating awareness of the problem and protecting the oceans from plastic pollution by advocating for its removal, promoting recycling of the recovered plastic and insisting on the proper disposal of plastic waste in general.
In 1997, the IYFR celebrated its Golden Anniversary of 50 years of great sailing and fellowship.
Having survived COVID, what has your Club learned and what will you do differently in 2021? Can you set aside a session in your Club meeting to solicit and discuss views?
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With December focusing on Disease Prevention and Treatment, it is fitting to hear on the news we will have a COVID-19 vaccine in Australia in the first quarter of 2021. As difficult as it has been in Victoria, we are fortunate to finally see borders opening and an ability to emerge from lockdown. As Rotarians, this means we can begin to think about the hands-on projects and a return to face-to-face club meetings that we all enjoy so much. I urge everyone, however, to observe all the necessary safety measures that will keep this disease at bay.
A simple home in which contentment dwells is infinitely preferable to a palace full of luxuries but without peace.
By Peter Clark
By Past President Tricia Reardon
By Rowan McClean, D9800 Chair Club Service
By Dorothy Gilmour
By Ian Salek for the Rotary Radio Show on 94.1FM 3WBC 
By Henry Drury
Having survived COVID, what has your Club learned and what will you do differently in 2021? Can you set aside a session in your Club meeting to solicit and discuss views?
