The "fabulous" four members toiled diligently every Thursday morning mainly at the Essendon store before retiring to the Cross Keys Hotel for lunch and deep discussions on sorting out the world's problems. They were joined by other volunteers on an "as required basis for specific loading or unloading chores at various times.
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| Packing Container Essendon |
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| Packing a container for the Kijabi Hospital, Kenya |
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| Fiji Church Choir in their new blouses donated by Medibank Private |
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| Dreketi Hospital Newly Donated Equipment |
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| "Unite for Sight" Medical Students Kylie Ngu and Lucy Dang |
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| Happy PNG Villagers |
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| Happy Fiji School Children |
SIGNIFICANT DONATIONS
Alan Garside (R.C. Myrtleford) organised a very generous donation of womens' clothing brought down to the Essendon Store by Ken Craig (R.C. Appin Park). These were taken to Geelong Store.
Alf Diggerson (R.C. Pascoe Vale) rang me with an offer of some blankets and bed linen from a large nursing home. I passed him on to Laurie Fisher at the Footscray Store.
PDG Clive Walker (R.C. Myrtleford) contacted us with an offer of redundant school tables. I put him in touch with Laurie Fisher (Footscray Store).
Barry Campbell (R.C. Mooroopna) contacted me with an offer of up to 10 hospital beds from the local hospital.
Ruth Konig (R.C. Yea) delivered 40 X-mas Shoe Boxes for distribution to deserving orphan children in Timor Leste.
Ken Craig (R.C. Appin Park) 20 boxes of carefully wrapped chemistry glassware and 8 microscopes.
Mike Egan (R.C. Albury) brought down 50 X-mas boxes, packed mainly by the ladies in the Albury Club.
John Stuckey (R.C. Shepparton South) deliverd 10 cartons of drinking glasses totalling about 600 units.
Ken Craig (R.C. Appin Park) brought down a trailer load of 10 wheeled walkers from (R.C. Rutherglen) courtesy of Mary-Helen Boag.
Dr Brian Chambers (R.C. Heidelberg) contacted me about Austin Health upgrading one of the diagnostic ultrasound machines (Philips ATL HDI5000 ultrasound machine). It was delivered to the Essendon Store.
Over the last 12 months, cartons of school books were received from:
Mercy College Coburg courtesy Kathy Penn, librarian assistant.
Wangaratta schools, Ken Craig (R.C. Appin Park)
Don Collins (R.C. Shepparton South)
Remember - One of the greatest gifts we can give a child is the gift of an education.
"Friends of Rotary"
We must aknowledge these special people who donate to DIK.
7 cartons on medical goods were delivered, courtesy of Daniel Zuzek from Boab Medical in Camberwell.
Over the last 12 months, 34 cartons of redundant uniforms were delivered from Medibank Private, courtesy of Lence Talevska.
5 cartons of medical goods, courtesy of Elaine Taylor from Surimax of Nunawading.
OUTWARDS ACTIVITIES
I supervised the loading of a container for Sri Lanka mainly with medical goods and 50 computers for some local village schools. This was organised by Dr Ananda Gunasekera and Pushpa Hetteriarchi and the Australia - Sri Lanka Council.
I was approached by Dr Peter Bird to help with medical equipment and medical sundries for his hospital in Kijabi, Kenya. On Saturday 20th November a large working bee of packers filled a 40 foot container with medical and surgical supplies, bound for the Kijabe Hospital. Once again, this was a great partnership between Rotary and Dr Peter Bird and his group.
"Unite for Sight" project to Ghana
Kylie Ngu and Lucy Dang, 4th year medical students from Melbourne University and Monash University respectively, approached me about collecting redundant spectacles and sunglasses for their project, Unite For Sight project in Accra, Ghana. I put out a broadcast email through the District 9790 web system and the results were very gratifying.
Kylie Ngu and Lucy Dang took away about 1500 redundant spectacles for their Unite for Sight project in Ghana. They worked as volunteers to help local eye specialists in poverty stricken villages.
Glasses for "Unite for Sight" project in Ghana
Donations from:
Garry Baker (R.C. Deniliquin)
John Hoffman (R.C. Moreland)
Angus Cunningham (R.C. Shepparton)
John Collins (R.C. Rosanna)
Kathy Carland (R.C. Mansfield)
Kate Hodge (R.C. Numurkah)
Rhonda Day (R.C. Kyabram)
R.C. Seymour and R.C. Alexandra one carton each
David Anderson (R.C. Yea)
Gary Cleveland (R.C. Cobram)
R.C. Shepparton Central 1 carton
R.C. Strathmore 1 carton
Colin Barnes (R.C. Benalla)
Unite for Sight Report click here
PRESENTATIONS on DIK
I attended the following clubs and gave a presentation on DIK:
R.C. Reservoir
A combined meeting of R.C. Corryong and Tallangatta.
R.C. Preston
A combined meeting of R.C. Myrtleford and Bright.
R.C. Shepparton
R.C. Shepparton Central
R.C. Shepparton South
R.C. Alexandra
R.C. Corowa
FINANCIAL DONATIONS
Thanks to the following Clubs:
R.C. Albury North,
R.C. Preston,
R.C. Yea,
R.C. Ivanhoe,
R.C. Benalla and
R.C. Sunbury
OTHER ACTIVITIES
On Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th October, I attended the RAWCS Southern Region AGM hosted by District 9830 at the Bellerive Yacht Club. It was a great success with many reports presented and a special presentation by RAWCS Nation Chairman, PDG Lou Johnson.
I attended the Inter-Regional Meeting of RAWCS Project Volunteers and Regional Co-ordinators of DIK in Tullamarine on 9th - 10th April. Once again, a great success with sessions led by DIK National Chairman John Paskin. A session on RAWCS National business was led by Chairman Lou Johnson on Sunday morning.
I was approached officially by DG Alan Anderson (D9790) to amalgamate D9790 Essendon Store with D9800 Footscray Store. We had preliminary discussions with Laurie Fisher (D9800 DIK Store Manager) about the feasability of the project.
Laurie Fisher, PDG Bob Glindemann, PP David Dippie and Rick Westcott from D9800 Footscray Store called into the Essendon Store to familiarise themselves with the facilities and their contents. Discussions are on going.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
I attended the D9790 Conference in Wangaratta from 18th to 20th March. The DIK stand in the House of Friendship attracted some enquiries and some offers of funds for DIK shipments.
I attended the District 9790 District Assembly at Euroa and gave a presentation on DIK.
| Conference Stand Wangaratta March 2011 |
CONCLUSION
I want to remind all Rotarians that in the financial year 2010-11 DIK Southern Region was a $6.2 million enterprise. By comparison, the Rotary Foundation was a $4.6 million enterprise, Australia wide. DIK is a hidden gem of Rotary. I want to inform all clubs of the availability of speakers on DIK. I am prepared to visit any Club in our District to talk about Donations in Kind.
As District 9790 and Southern Region Co-ordinator, I wish to continue and consolidate liaison between Districts for expertise, ideas and goods for distribution to third world countries.
I would like to continue to raise the profile of Donations in Kind as a worthwhile project of Rotary.
Rotary can make a difference!
| PP David Meller (Denise) Rotary Club of Strathmore Chair District Donations in Kind (DIK) (H) (03) 9379 3577 (M) 0409 165 553 Email: dik@rotary9790.org.au |
