GUEST SPEAKERS

 
Past President Judy Ross introduced Rotarians President Ian Watson and Past President Chris Preston from Rotary Club of Warrnambool Daybreak.
Ian and Chris participated in a Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) project in Sariri village, Papua New Guinea. This country was selected for a RAWCS project because it is Australia’s nearest neighbour, has a very high infant death rate, relatively few doctors and only one third of children attending school. The visit lasted from 24 May to 10 June 2013, and built on work previously done there.
Following persistent floods and cyclone Guba which destroyed the area in 2008, the village was relocated inland by two kilometres and the Rotarians are helping to build it.
Chris said the Rotary clubs in district 9780 devised a five-year plan to help develop Sariri, which was on the north coast of Papua New Guinea.
Nine villages were wiped out (in the region). Elijah (a Sariri resident) approached the nine chiefs and said why don't we come together and make a bigger village. Two of them said 'no not interested'. Seven of them said yes. Out of those seven (chiefs), three donated parcels of land, that we're building on, two ks away from the river and they're starting afresh. So you've got their old traditions, converging with modern technology.
 
Residents of Sariri and members from Rotary clubs Warrnambool Daybreak, Geelong and Geelong East have built wooden houses and this visit built a school, using locally milled timber  and other materials sent up from Australia, including a solar electricity system.
Warrnambool East Rotary member Andy Graham, who has shipped tanks to East Timor for a separate project provided tips about constructing them overseas. The galvanised steel tanks are shipped in sections, along with fittings, pumps and pipes, and were pieced together on arrival.
The tanks were made by McLaren Sheetmetal Fabrications' Ray Gurry, who is was one of the few remaining tank makers in Australia. The tanks hold about 3200 litres of water.
Warrnambool East Rotary Club donated money to have the tanks made, at a subsidised rate. Wells were dug and timber lined in readiness for the tanks' installation and would save the village's women walking two kilometres for water .
The solar panels on the roof of the two-room two-room school will be used to power the well pump, provide lighting, enable use of computers and sewing machines and recharge the  batteries.
 
Many district Rotary clubs contributed to the project and Chris and Ian thanked our Club for is support.
 
Past Presidents Judy Ross and Alan Bowes thanked our two guests for their inspiring presentation.