DIK WORKING BEE - 27th OCTOBER

Saturday 27th October 2018 marked another opportunity for members, partners and friends of Rotary Central Melbourne to travel to 401 Somerville Road, West Footscray where one of Rotary’s best kept secrets is stored (Store 39). It is from where the Donations In Kind (DIK) venture operates, relying almost entirely on volunteers like us. DIK’s Laurie Fisher was in charge, allowing Bob Glindeman to have a well earned rest.

Four of us (Neville John, Roger Thornton, Rohan Williams and Frank O’Brien) were tasked with pairing crutches and assembling hundreds of “lower and upper chairs” (for that read “big and small”) and desks in readiness for “forklifting” into 40 foot containers and headed for Zimbabwe (neighbouring village schools in Sidinda and Lumbora), courtesy of funding from RC Alfredton (a Ballarat based Club within District 9780) and Kiribati, courtesy of funding from RC Melton which is in our District 9800.

Meanwhile the remaining twelve of us (Yanpu, Herb and Leonie Greenwood, Peter and Sue Duras, Pauline O’Brien, Daniel Lim (who introduced music to work by (Productivity was possibly enhanced by this innovation!!), our latest member and first timer Lady Pastidio, first timers and potential members of Docklands Rotary, Sean Car and Mawien Ariik, and other first timers, Pam Car (Sean’s mother) and Daniel’s friend, Esythu) were busily engaged in repackaging clothing and simultaneously separating summer clothes from winter clothes. These goods will then await demand from overseas and local needs.

Of general interest regarding the DIK store is its noticeable “upgrading” over the last 15 months. Firstly, the DIK operation is housed in a much more user friendly shed thanks to many including our Club which part funds the rent, to many of our members who assisted in the transfer of goods from Shed 40 to Shed 39 some 12 months ago and to Peter and Sue Duras who assisted with the painting of the refitted office and kitchen  at that time. Secondly, DIK has a new donated second van which is used for the increasing collections from such donors as hospitals and schools. Thirdly, DIK has a third forklift, a donated  electric Nichiyu (Japanese) vehicle ($35k), which Laurie said was so much more efficient and naturally quieter than the older two.

Thanks to the 16 volunteers who made a difference during the morning (8.45am to 12.30pm) and who inspired Laurie to produce a broad smile on occasions and be ever so thankful of yet another of RCM’s productive efforts at DIK.