Speaker Evening - Mr Douglas Robertson

The speaker at the Rotary Club of South Queensferry on Thursday 11th February was Douglas Robertson from the Rotary Club of Linlithgow Grange. His subject was Mary's Meals, a charity with which Douglas has worked closely for some time. Inspired by a Lochgilphead schoolgirl who criticised school meals and developed from Magnus MacFarlane Barrow's charity Scottish International Aid, Mary's Meals has grown into one of the major suppliers of food to deprived children in developing areas, particularly Africa, India and South America. Its success rests on the fact that its role is not famine relief, but establishing a permanent source of food for young people on a long term basis. This is achieved by only feeding children in schools (except in India). This practice encourages many more children to attend school - typically attendance rises by 25%. Educational output has been judged to have risen by as much as 40%, thus increasing self reliance and employability among children who would previously have had a bleak future. Another reason for its success is that by relying on a vast number of local volunteers (65,000 in Malawi alone) and keeping overheads to a minimum ( it operates from a shed in Dalmaley) Mary's Meals almost uniquely among charities, is able to guarantee that 93 pence in every pound will be spent on providing food. Douglas closed his presentation with a short video of the charismatic Magnus MacFarlane Barrow celebrating 1,000,000 children being served meals regularly in Malawi several years ago. Douglas also had the sombre message that in the time it had taken to deliver his talk, 250 children had died of hunger.

The meeting was chaired by Junior Vice President Neil McKinlay. The speaker was introduced by Alan McCloskey and Liz Mackenzie proposed the vote of thanks.

In other business, it was reported that Connor Flaherty of Queensferry High School had been Highly Commended in the District Finals of the Rotary Young Chef of the Year Competition.

In the Young Musician and Young Vocalist of theYear Competition, singer Lewis Moore, also from Queensferry High School, has succeeded in reaching the finals of the competition which will be held at Heriot Watt University on the 6th of March.

Congratulations to both Conor and Lewis.

 Rotary Club of South Queensferry

2016 GLOBAL SWIMARATHON

A sponsored swim to raise funds for

END POLIO NOW

the global initiative to eradicate polio.

Individual and group entries welcome.

Saturday 19th March 2016

Queensferry High School Leisure Swimming Pool

 Start: 2.00pm   Finish: 4.00pm

For further information visit

http://rotaryglobalswimarathon.org

http://www.facebook.com/rotaryglobalswimarathon

http://www.twitter.com/rotaryglobeswim

Rotary contact: Neil McKinlay on

07944 696132 or email mckinlayassociates@hotmail.co.uk