A long-standing RC of Berwick Rotarian asked what Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) is, after PDG Adrian Froggatt announced that he was taking over the secretary role when the current secretary retires.
It goes to show that we have failed in our Rotary education when one of the most substantial cornerstones of Rotary in Australia is not common knowledge to all RC of Berwick members. So let's rectify this deficiency right now!
Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd. (RAWCS) was formed to enable Australian Rotarians, Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs to assist disadvantaged communities and individuals through humanitarian aid projects.
RAWCS has a financial infrastructure system that facilitates fundraising for projects that deliver humanitarian aid and charitable support in Australia and overseas. Projects are registered through Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund (RAOAF), Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS) incorporating Rotary Australia Compassionate Grants (RACG), Rotary Australia Relief Fund (RARF), Donations in Kind (DIK) and Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM).The Club has been working with RAWCS indirectly through our Balibo, Timor Leste projects https://directory.rawcs.com.au/22-2014-15, Donations in Kind (A project of RAWCS), and more recently our Solomon Island dental project lead by PP Gus Dominguez https://directory.rawcs.com.au/29-2018-19. RAWCS is behind D9820's East Gippsland Rotary Fire Aid https://directory.rawcs.com.au/69-2019-20.
RAWCS provided travel insurance for myself and other Rotarians when we visited our Balibo project in 2018. I have donated directly to our Balibo project and received a tax-deductible receipt for my $2000 donation.
RAWCS also administered the money donated by Dick Smith to help individuals in need. Our Club successfully applied for a Dick Smith grant which went to a person in need identified by the Casey North Community Support & Information Service (CNCISS) https://www.caseynorthciss.com.au/. Our own Rotary Berwick and District Benevolent Society works very closely with CNCISS. So as you can see, we are well entrenched with RAWCS.
Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) makes the wheels turn round for many Rotary projects in Australia and around the world. If members do not know how RAWCS works, it is time to learn! Opportunities pass us by, if our only focus is the next Bunnings BBQ.
Click on the picture below to search for projects. There are plenty of criteria to play with so have a go! You can donate, get involved, contact the organisers, volunteer as a team member, just about anything to be a part of a Rotary project. Well done PDG Adrian!
