Acting Presidents Report
 
We’re still in the grips of winter and with Rotarians scattered far and wide it was small but interested group who attended this weeks meeting. 
 
Our guest speaker this week Rachelle Fisher Head of Community Service at  Girton.

Girton students have supported our club for at Australia Day for many years and this year they extended that support from working in the

children's play area to also selling cold drinks at our various food sites.   The students are on summer school holidays when they receive

the request from the school to help out at Australia Day and they take time out of their break to assist in big numbers.  As a recognition of

their contribution we donated $1500 to the school to be used at the Father Ray Foundation in Pattaya, Thailand, where students spend their

alternative schoolies.
 
The alternate schoolies week gives year 12 students an alternative to the normal schoolies and gives them an opportunity to make a

different to lives of others and give them a truly memorable experience.
 
The first part of the trip is to Cambodia where at they visit a program called  the Daughters of Cambodia where a woman has helped

a lot of girls off the street and out out of the sex trade and helped them to start a small business of their own and sell their products.
 
They then move to the Father Ray Foundation  in Thailand.  Father Ray was an American Priest who one day after a church service

was handed a baby which the mother couldn't keep. That was 1970 and in 1974 he started the foundation which has grown significantly

and continues well after Father Ray’s death in 2003.
 
There are a number of  areas the students work in when they arrive in Pattaya. 
 
The School for people with a disabilities,  which offers a two year program

 

 where they are taught a trade, learn English and other skills. Students spend time helping with the English skills.
 
The Pattaya School for the blind.  The schools go through a similar curriculum as students in Australia and are also taught a lot of life

skills to help them to live outside the school with their blindness.  Last year the school donated 30 white canes which were so

gratefully received.
 
Children's Home is a home for children that have ether been abused or the family has broken down and the kids feel very worthless. 

It's a big eye openers for the students to visit and here about the kids and the experiences.
 
Out reach worker drop in centre is where the Thai children come when they are first rescued from  a family situation. It’s a huge

thing for the police to get involved in Thailand domestic situations it's usually a very serious  situation. It's the first place they

come to be assessed and then allocated to the best area within the centre.
 
The Village is beautiful place with lots of little houses and each house has a “mother” for day and one for night who looks

after 8 children. It's  just like they are living in a normal Thai home and the kids have as normal a life as possible.
 
The Day care facility similar to what we would have with some slight differences, it's very strict.  They must be dropped

off and picked up on time, they are placed in uniform when they arrive and are fed breakfast, morning tea and lunch. 

It enables parents to get work and have their children cared for.  The kids love to learn English and the Girton Students

love spending time in the centre.
 
The centre for children with special needs looks after the children who are born with a disability. In Thailand they are

normally alienated at home and this if often the only place they see and get the opportunity to interact with others and the

centre provides support for parent and students. 
 
While the year 12’ get the opportunity for the alternative schoolies the junior school also gets involved with fundraising

and collecting school supplies.  Last year they raised $1500 in a cake drive which then sponsored a meal for Thai children

which meant they got some meat and also an icy pole.  With the leftover form that they purchased Christmas gifts for all the

students who could to return home at Christmas  time.

 
 
So far it has been mainly girls who participate in the alternative schoolies with only 1 boy  at this stage, but they have 5 boys

interested for next year..  Rachelle is now working more closely with the year 11’s to build the interest 18 months out. 

The trip is self funded.  It's a terrific story and great opportunity for the students.
 
The Reclink Victory Football Club final home game (actually at Sunbury) is on this week the 10th.  I am looking for

2 or 3 volunteers to come down to Sunbury to assist with the sausages and drinks.  We will need to leave Bendigo

about 10.30 so please let me know via phone or text on 0428 177 314 if you can help out.
 
Wednesday Our meeting for the 17th we will have a visit by District Governor Neville John so please make sure you get along to that one.
 
This weeks meeting is at Vahlands Café for the coffee meeting, see you all then
 
Paul Henderson