Wow! What a great meeting it was last week. It was jam-packed with visitors, presentations and a riveting guest speaker.
Beate Holzwarth from the Rotary Club of Bad Durkheim is the Team Leader of the Group Study Exchange Team from District 1860 in Germany who introduced Ingrid, Tobias, Susanne, Oliver and Cora who by all reports have had a very rewarding and enjoyable visit to District 9800. The Group finished off our Meeting with a rendition of Waltzing Matilda in their native tongue. Couldn’t understand a word but it sounded great!
Father Junjun Amaya Parish Priest of St. Liborious Eaglehawk was presented with cheques from the Club for $2,500 and $1,000 from the Kew RSL (thanks to PP John Cannon and his connectivity!) for the Bendigo Filipino Foundation, the funds from which will be applied directly to the benefit of an island village in the Philippines which was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in November last year. Father Junjun informed us that the funds are enough to construct about 7 or 8 new family homes or perhaps repair many more. He is travelling to the Philippines soon and will visit the Club again upon his return to report what progress has been made with the help of our donation.
Noel Stedwell of the Laryngectomee Association of Victoria gave us a great overview of his work in trying to educate school students of the effects of smoking as contributor to cancer, particularly the type which Noel discovered some 10 years ago, required the removal of his larynx. Noel spoke of his diagnosis, treatment and recovery to being able to speak again with the assistance of his ‘digital voice box’. Given the trial of being afflicted with cancer, Noel has certainly turned that negative in to a huge positive with his work with the Laryngectomee Association.
HELP REQUIRED!!! The BBEA Committee under the Chairmanship of Gerard House needs the help of some ‘marketeers’ for the next two weeks. The Committee is well on the way to their goal of achieving $60,000 of sponsorship which will ensure the 21st birthday success of the BBEA but still need some more Category and other sponsors to bolster the ‘numbers’. Gerard and the Committee need to be able to get their foot in the door of local/national businesses which may be able to contribute to our biggest Vocational Service event of each year. Thinking caps on straightaway please!!! – and let Gerard know of some good contacts.
See you tomorrow.
Cheers,
Vice President Doug
