Friendship Exchange - Australia

Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) to Australian District 9640 – October 2024

A fabulous time was had by both visitors and hosts under the "Rotary the world over" principle as Scots from District 1010 visited Australians in New South Wales and Queensland (District 9640).

The hosts, many of whom had visited on the Rotary Friendship Exchange to Scotland in the summer of 2024, provided excellent hospitality and a great variety of events on their visit programme. The Scots attended a number of Rotary meetings in district 9640 delivering well received presentations on the activities and successes of District 1010.

The Wheelchair Project

One inspiring visit was to the Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise wheelchair project.

This project constructs all terrain wheelchairs and supplies them to the disadvantaged people around the world. Over 20 years 11000 plus wheelchairs have been distributed and changed lives for the better by giving mobility and some independence to those who need it.

With free labour from Rotarians and friends and donations of old bicycles and plastic chairs a fit for purpose wheelchair is assembled for about £60. Get all the detail and make a donation at rotarysurferssunrise.org. The Scots from 1010 all purchased a chair and appear in the 27/10 newsletter on their webpage.

Purple Friday Project

On Fridays Rotarians from Iluka Rotary wear their purple Say No to Domestic and Family Violence T-shirts. They have also persuaded local café and shop staff to don the purple t-shirts for the day. This awareness raising campaign is part of Rotary Pacific’s Say No to Domestic and Family Violence campaign.

Rotary is thought to be well placed to promote this campaign as they are based in local communities.

Responding to Disclosures

If approached by a member of the public who wants to disclose their current or past involvement in a Domestic and Family Violence situation Rotarians are encouraged to acknowledge that, although they are not trained professionals, they are there to listen and, if further assistance is needed, refer them to the relevant support group.

Working with youngsters

Iluka Rotarians have also identified members to work in schools with the aim of preventing gender-based violence by influencing a change of attitude and behaviour.

Recent activities

Birthing Kits for Oceania

When Banora Tweed Rotary were looking for an international project one of their members came across a Birthing Project that she thought would suit their club with its limited resources and volunteers. They thought it would be sustainable and provide the possibility of creating partnerships within the local community and with clubs around the District.

The club often receives donations of items such as soap, scalpels, gauze and plastic bags from health professionals and members of the local community support the project with sheets and towels.

What the Kits contain; -

• Cotton Sheet – 1m x1m
• Thin Towel – 30cm x 30cm
• Blades
• 2 lengths of string
• 2 Gauze pads 10cm x 10cm
• 2 sets of plastic gloves
• Black rubbish bags

All is fitted into a plastic bag.

Working Bees

Kits are put together in a Working Bee with volunteers concentrating on producing or sorting one part of the kit. This provides fun and fellowship.

With the help of Rotarians from other clubs, and friends, over 10.000 Birthing Kits have been produced since they started the project in 2016. Banora Tweed Rotarians usually produces 200 kits per Working Bee.

Destinations

The club made the decision to support countries within their Oceania area and so the kits go to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste. The club sends the kits through an organisation called Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment (RARE) that is located in Brisbane and regularly sends containers filled with school/medical equipment, and birthing kits, overseas. This saves on shipping costs for the club and provides confidence that the kits will get to where they are needed.

More information

For more information about any of the projects of the Rotary Friendship Exchange programme please contact John Owens J.Owens188@btinternet.com or Sheena MacGillivray sheenarotary@gmail.com