Wondering how you can help 2019-2020 Bushfire affected people during Covid restrictions?
Try the Bushfire recovery support initiative: “You Matter, I Care”
The recovery phase of the 2019-2020 bushfires is far from over, not only for those directly affected by the fires, but for any bushfire affected person – those personally impacted, volunteers and workers – everyone matters!A small but meaningful project has been developed by Rhonda Abotomey who lost three family members in the Black Saturday fires in the Latrobe Valley. In the wake of the 2019-2020 fires, Rhonda created and launched packs of 12 postcards to be posted to a chosen recipient once a month for 12 months.
The post card fronts carry an image and a positive message. The card back is blank for your own message if you wish. Each kit contains instructions for the sender and a message card to the recipient to accompany your first postcard.
The Rotary Club of Berwick members and friends can help by simply sending 12 “You Matter” cards – one card a month. Cost? 12 postage stamps! The kits are supplied for free.
How? Once you decide you would like to be involved, contact Jane: jane@cinet.com.au. She has three kits ready to go with access to as many packs as we need. Recipient contact details are with the East Gippsland Rotary Fire Aid Committee. A name and contact details will be forwarded to you with your support kit. This initiative was brought to Rotary by District Emergency Management Chair Janne Speirs during Adrian’s Governor year and was advertised through the District Newsletter. All credit to Janne and her team.
Posted by Sam McCurdy
It is "Shine On Recognition" time again, when the Rotary International “Shine On” Committee invites you to nominate a volunteer with a disability or chronic illness, so that their community spirit and efforts can be celebrated. The Event is comprised of two levels, Certificates of Commendation and Awards Trophies. In addition, there are awards for two age brackets, 15-25 years and over 25 years, and can be for any field of endeavour.
Anyone can nominate a person, who has either a permanent injury; a mental health disorder; an intellectual and/or physical disability, and yet contributes to their community by doing volunteer work.
- Places to start looking for your candidate are Local Disability Support Services, Advocacy Services or place a short advertisement in your local paper.
- A Rotarian must then assist the nominee to complete the Nomination Form and sign off on behalf of their club.
- The Nomination Form can be accessed through the District website, Facebook or by contacting Lara Barrett - See Lara's details below.
The three-member selection panel is composed of people from medical, paramedical, disability services or prominent persons with a disability. They are given the selection criteria and determine if a nominee stands out sufficiently to receive a trophy, as well as a citation to recognise their community work.
Nominees and their families are invited to the ceremony, where a Guest Speaker/s is invited as well as the local Mayor, state and federal MP’s, media and a professional photographer.
Citations are read and presentations are made by the District Governor. Each nominee receives a certificate and/or trophy and afternoon tea is provided.
Contact: Lara Barrett - (M): 0416262615 - (E): lara.barrett@secretary.net
Posted by PDG Tim Moore
As many of our members would remember, Zimo Zhu, was nominated by the Rotary Club of Berwick to attend the 2021 National Youth Science Forum in January. She was interviewed by our District 9820 panel last week and was successful. This is a sought after and well regarded training program for students with a strong interest in science. The 10 days of activities include mentoring with senior scientists and their peers. It is held in Canberra and Brisbane, usually in the January holiday break, prior to beginning their Year 12 studies. Zimo is a student at MLC and lives in Upper Beaconsfield. We sponsor our candidate for 50% of the cost of the program.
We wish her all the best, hopeful that the program will still run next year as our borders reopen, and we look forward to her presenting to us about her experience in the future. Well done Zimo!
'Rotarians Against Malaria' (RAM) is a volunteer-run organization working to eliminate malaria. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, illness and death from malaria can usually be prevented. COVID-19 is a coronavirus pandemic that has spread quickly to all corners of the globe, presenting an emerging threat to millions of families at risk of malaria, fragile health systems in malaria-affected countries and decades of progress against malaria.
In the 1900s, malaria was pandemic in the world. Fifteen years ago, malaria killed a child every 30 seconds!
However, considerable progress has been made in preventing, diagnosing and treating malaria. As a result, deaths have fallen by 60 percent. Now, the aim is to reduce malaria cases and deaths by a further 90 percent by 2030.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the fight against malaria. Key factors that could impact the delivery of malaria prevention interventions include:The shutdown of malaria prevention campaigns, reducing access to life-saving prevention tools, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets and hindering early diagnosis and treatment, leading to increased severe malaria cases, and more deaths;
- Lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect and enable frontline health workers fighting malaria to treat people safely at health clinics;
- Disruption to the supply chain of antimalaria interventions, such as long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS);
- Limited access to essential health services and community health workers prevented from conducting testing at the local level and providing antimalarials that lead to early diagnosis and treatment of malaria;
- Reluctance or inability of people with a fever to seek life-saving treatment, resulting in a higher number of malaria-related complications and even deaths
The global malaria community's coordinated response to COVID-19 must sustain malaria control efforts to prevent, detect and treat malaria and avoid unnecessary cases and deaths while preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The Rotary Club of Berwick is a group of men and women who take action locally and globally. Each week club members work together completing projects that have a lasting impact.
Locally we support and work alongside community programs and a not for profit organisations in supporting those less fortunate. Our club is engaged in Rotary leadership and educational programs for young people.
Together as Rotarians …
- We see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Driven by a desire to create opportunities, strengthen communities, and find solutions to the tough challenges that affect people
- We bring together leaders who use their combined expertise to tackle some of the toughest challenges facing our communities. We find a place for your expertise and passion. Whether you want to lead a project or participate in one, the Rotary Club of Berwick welcomes your involvement.
- Many members are involved in hands on projects in our community or in international projects in creating opportunities through sustainable educational development, clean water or disease prevention in helping to break the cycle of poverty.
The Rotary Club of Berwick is part of a global network of 1.2 million men and women - neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who join together to make a difference in our communities. If you would like to give back to your community, get to know a new group of people and are interested in joining us, please contact us.
Disaster Aid Australia (DAA) was founded in 2003 as a project of the Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills.The Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills has merged with the Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong, so the organisation is now a project of the Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong & Endeavour Hills.
It has members/volunteers from across Australia and is a member of Disaster Aid International, a partnership of Rotary Based organisations dedicated to providing Humanitarian Aid.
DAA responds to disasters with the supply of humanitarian aid by providing 'Smart Aid' to the affected communities and/or individuals, until the needs are reasonably addressed. It also responds to the disaster of contaminated water with the ‘'Safe Water for every Child' project, which aims to provide clean drinking water using 'SkyHydrants' for schools and communities. View the benefits of 'SkyHydrants' in the next article
Smart Aid
Smart Aid involves sending a 'Disaster Response Assessment Team' (DART) to assess the needs of communities and individuals at the disaster sites. They can then distribute funds and/or resources to meet the needs. They are also instrumental in involving local partners and the community to ensure that the aid provided gives the community ownership of the outcomes. In this way the community becomes ‘A Resource Not Victims’
Safe Water for every child
Where contaminated water is a feature of the disaster DAA can provide SkyHydrantTM water filter units to communities, and displaced persons camps.
Each of the SkyHydrant GEM Rapid Response Packs can be set up in around 2 hours and immediately remove all bacteria from 5,000 litres of water a day.
DAA is working with the SkyJuice Foundation to bring safe, clean, drinking water to communities in many countries that need safe drinking water.
Disaster Preparedness Training
DAA also helps local communities to become more resilient by:
- Training volunteers in administering humanitarian relief and aid;
- Providing of education and training in aspects of disaster relief to individuals, community groups, businesses, schools and other organisations; and
- Working in partnership on humanitarian projects funded by other organisations, including Rotary clubs and Rotary districts.
The DAA's Office is at 92 Doveton Ave, Eumemmerring VIC 3177. You are welcome to arrange a visit by to see a SkyHydrantTM in operation, by ringing CEO Brian Ashworth on 0491 104 943.
If you want to help DAA in 2020-2021 with a Tax Deductible Donation you can do it instantly at: http://www.disasteraidaustralia.org.au/donate/
Posted by Sam McCurdy
The Rotary Foundation provides up to 130 fully funded Peace Fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world, to study at one of their peace centres. This includes awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and 80 for certificate studies at premier universities.
Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centre’s program develops the capacity of peace and development professionals or practitioners, to become experienced and effective catalysts for peace. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship and field-study expenses.
Since the program began in 2002, the Rotary Peace Centre’s have trained more than 1,300 fellows, who now work in more than 115 countries. Many serve as leaders in governments, NGOs, the military, education, law enforcement, and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.
A recent example of someone who has benefited from participation in the Rotary Foundation's Peace Fellowship program is Martin Allison.
Martin is a Detective Inspector at Victoria Police. He joined Victoria Police Force at a young age and has worked in the Crime Squads, the western and north western suburbs of Melbourne and assignment to the Western Australia Police Service. He has a broad and diverse experience in policing across various roles.In 2019, Martin was awarded a Rotary Peace Fellowship through the Rotary Club of Melbourne and studied at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok for 3 months, which he described as an immensely rewarding experience.
Following his study, he is currently working on a project to leverage the influence of sport to reduce the incidence of men’s violence towards women.
