Seeing an elderly Tibetan woman weep with joy when cataract surgery restored her vision after 10 years is the kind of moment Dave Razo will never tire of.
For several summers Razo, a member of the Rotary Club of Warner Robins, Georgia, USA, traveled to rural northwest China with a team from Georgia-based nonprofit Gansu Inc., to provide free sight-restoring cataract surgery to some of the country's poorest residents. In 2012, after 22 years and 6,000 successful procedures, Gansu's founder, ophthalmologist William Conrad, retired and discontinued the organization's operations.
But Razo didn't...
After a year of shrinking polio cases worldwide, the crippling disease is now on the cusp of being eradicated, said top health officials at Rotary's second annual World Polio Day event on 24 October.
At a special Livestream program -- World Polio Day: Make History Today -- Rotary leaders joined global health experts and celebrity singers to hail the progress of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. After nearly 30 years, the GPEI, which includes Rotary, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is on...
Erin Mills had just finished teaching for the day in Montevideo, Uruguay, when her smartphone buzzed with a message.
An impromptu gathering to watch Uruguay's World Cup soccer match was being organized. Through the power of a mobile messaging app, a majority of the Rotary Club of Plaza Matriz had soon assembled at a member's home to munch on baked goods and chips while rooting for their national team.
That enthusiasm and ability to draw a crowd has made the club, which just received its charter in July, a success in the country's capital city. Made up almost entirely of young professionals,...
Rotary celebrates World Polio Day on 24 October with a Livestream event featuring expert speakers and celebrity performers. Hosted by Time magazine science and technology editor Jeffrey Kluger, the Chicago event also includes a global status update on the fight to end polio and the challenges that remain, as well as information about joining Rotary's historic campaign.
The program, being held before a live audience at 18:30 Chicago time (UTC-5), includes a performance from Tessanne Chin, 2013 winner of the TV show "The Voice," an introductory message and videotaped performance by reggae star...
When asked to describe his future, a refugee child from Iraq draws a picture of himself as a doctor. Another child uses colorful paints to depict happy memories of his former life in Iraq. Both children are among the 200,000 displaced Iraqis who now live in Jordan, a country that has become a safe haven for those fleeing oppression and war in neighboring Palestine, Syria, and Iraq.
Alexandra Dawley, a former volunteer with the Collateral Repair Project in Jordan, emphasizes how something as simple as an art project can help young refugees adjust to their new lives in a foreign country. With...
Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Service Above Self
We meet Tuesdays at 6:15 PM
Warrnambool Football Club
Cramer Street
Warrnambool,
Victoria 3280 Australia
The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation, that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.
The Beginning:
In 1917 RI President Arch C. Klumph proposed “that an endowment be set up for the purpose of doing good in the world”. In 1928, when the fund had grown to more than US $5,000, it was renamed The Rotary Foundation. Since the first donation in 1917, the Foundation has received contributions totalling more than $1 billion.
This year the Chairman of the Rotary Foundation, John Kenny, began his year with five goals:
Top priority is to eradicate polio
Continue to support Rotary’s own charity The Rotary Foundation through our own contributions. Every Rotarian, Every Year.
Ensure the progress of the new grants program, by participating in sustainable educational and humanitarian projects.
Foster goodwill and peace by promoting and publicising the Rotary Peace Centres program.
Emphasise that the responsibility for the future of our Foundation is in all our hands, so we can continue doing good in the world as we endeavour –Light up Rotary.
President Marie opened the meeting and welcomed Rotarians and guests: Veronica Cuzens, Kelly Rentsch, Rhonda Sutcliffe, Mike Toone from Rotary Buderim, Qld, Margaret Stuckey, Joan Austin, Margaret Ross, Vicki, Peter Percell and guest speaker, Patrick Purcell.
The Chair, Terry O'Neill introduced guest speaker Patrick Purcell. Patrick was one of five students to be interviewed by Gordon Curran and John Nisbet at Brauer College in June. All five students were deemed worthy to proceed to the next stage of interviews which took place in Ararat in August. At these interviews Patrick was selected to attend the National Youth Science Forum which is being held in Canberra 2015.
Patrick has since attended the National Youth Science Forum Orientation Program which was held at Federation University, Ballarat in mid-October.
Patrick is the middle child of five, to parents Peter and Maryann. He is 17 years old and studying year 11 at Brauer College. His subjects include advanced general mathematics, chemistry, physics, English and outdoor education.
Patrick also has a keen interest in music, playing both drums and guitar in not one, but two bands. Patrick also holds a CASA approved student pilots license and describes himself as having an inquisitive nature and a passion for science and maths.
Patrick described the process towards his selection to attend the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra next year and thanked Rotary for providing him with this amazing opportunity which he is really looking forward to.
Patrick was then asked a number of questions by those present including the orientation program and what will happen in Canberra 2015. He explained that it involved a 12 day tour of different universities with different groups, i.e. engineering, physics, chemistry and biology. At this stage he is not sure which group he will be in and where they will be staying.
Patrick explained that he finds science exciting and how he enjoys working out how things work in daily life.
When he finishes school Patrick is still unsure about what he will do, but he is interested in going to university, possibly to study engineering or IT.
His band "Tap Water" plays in Warrnambool regularly. They have an album titled "Electric Plugs" coming out in November. When someone asked Patrick whether the album would be a 45 or a 78 they received no response....... naturally.
When asked how Patrick was raising funds for the trip, he explained that he has a part time job and works hard at saving as much as possible. The same applies to flying which he funds from his part time job. Patrick explained that the Warrnambool Airport has an aircraft school and they provide the aircraft to conduct lessons.
Terry thanked Patrick for speaking and it was generally agreed that he would made an ideal candidate, and was wished well for his trip in 2015.
Please let Anne Adams know if you plan to attend this event so we can get the catering right.
Bring a portable collapsable chair.
Rotary Club of Warrnambool in conjunction with Camp Quality invite Rotarians and their partners to the official opening of the Warrnambool Camp Quality Cabin on Sunday 9th November at Warrnambool Surfside 1, Pertobe Road, Warrnambool.
FOUNDATION Chair, Mary Fitzgerald provided information regarding Foundation (see feature above). Mary advised that she was uncertain about Centurions if anyone knew about where the information was kept, to see her. She encouraged every member to become a Centurion and advised that she will be "pestering" us every meeting this month.
Hat Night. John Harris reported that a total of $727 ($677 on the night and a further donation of $50 on the 4th Nov) was raised at a very successful Hat Night evening last week. This sum will be topped up to $1,000 by the Club to go towards Mental Health Research. A big thank you to Keith, Astrid, Rachel and Svet (for the sweets).
Port Fairy Open Garden: Rotarians our next informal non-Rotary activity will be based around the Port Fairy Open Garden Day on 16 November. This will be a “do what you want when you want” activity but we will organise some common times where we can meet for coffee or a chat or whatever. Please consider putting the day in your diaries. (Tony Austin)
RYLA applications are now open and the closing date is 19 December. For any information, please contact Jane Auchettl on email: janef.311@gmail.com.
or see Rachel or Terry. Information documents can also be found in the "Download Files" on the left hand side of this Bulletin.
Rotary District Conference 20-22 March 2015
Members are encouraged to attend and it is recommended to start thinking about seeking accommodation in Maryborough if you plan to attend the conference. If you need help registering, contact Rachel. The 2015 Conference Website is now up and running, There is a program, details of speakers, accommodation details and a site for booking. The site is: http://www.rotary9780conference.com.au/
If you used this site last year, you may need to refresh your screens for the new information to show.
This year's Inner Wheel Club of Warrnambool Garden Party will be held on Sunday 9 November at 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at 20 Mountain Ash Drive, Warrnambool.
Come along and wander through the lovely 2 acre garden. Enjoy a BBQ for lunch while listening to live entertainment.
Try delicious Strawberries with Cream or a Devonshire Tea.
Stalls include cakes and fresh produce, Christmas and craft, cord blood merchandise and plants.
The Inner Wheel Club Warrnambool thank you for your support. Proceeds go to local charities.
Terry O'Neill and Astrid Sorensen conducted a highly competitive Melbourne Cup Sweep and first past the line was Michael Boyd, second, Judy Ross, third Anne Adams and lucky last Keith McLeod. Some won big dollars, others won chocolates, wine and golf balls.
Trevor Williams then conducted a highly undisciplined quiz and to this day, it is not known who won!!!!
Everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable time and thanks to Terry, Astrid and Trevor for arranging the activities.
Club Programs:
Brian will be away for the next three (3) weeks and provides the following updates for the program for the period he is away.
Tuesday 11 Nov. 2014:
Remembrance Day: The venue will be our usual meeting place at the Football Club.
The speaker for the night will be Summer Medley. Summer is a year 11 student at Brauer College currently studying year 11 &12. Her passion is public speaking, debating, current affairs, basketball, boxing, travelling & experiencing different cultures and on graduating from Brauer College, Summer wants to go to University in Melbourne to study journalism.
Summer participated on a sponsored trip to Turkey and Gallipoli earlier this year and will speak of her involvement and reflections during that journey.
Summers parents will be attending the meeting as club guests.
I have also invited, President and Secretary of the RSL, Doug and Helen Heazlewood from Legacy, Members of Interact and Rotaract and a representative of The Standard.
Partners are always welcome to attend and are especially welcomed on this evening.
Tuesday 18 November 2014:
On this night, we will be visiting the Warrnambool Base Hospital Clinical School of Medicine with Assoc. Prof. Barry Morphett. This has been arranged at the request of several members following Barry’s presentation on 16 September 14.
I have contacted Barry and advised him that in my absence, the club contact person will be Doug Maclean, and have asked Barry to contact Doug with information about where to meet at the hospital prior to going to the clinical school. On my behalf, Keith McLeod has arranged with the catering department at the hospital for us to have a meal in the cafeteria following our visit.
Remember, this visit will start at 5pm from the Base Hospital
As always, partners would be made most welcome on the night.
Tuesday 25 November 2014:
This is the night our AGM is held in our usual meeting place. The speaker for the night will be Henry Barton of CFA. Henry will address the issues of the debate on which of the two different types of household smoke alarms is better and the need for all of us, to be fire ready for the coming summer period.
Please note: If you are unable to attend a meeting, please contact David Brown with your apology OR if you are attending and bring someone with you, please contact David Brown with the additional person/s. This is all for catering purposes.
This year's Inner Wheel Club of Warrnambool Garden Party will be held on Sunday 9 November at 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at 20 Mountain Ash Drive, Warrnambool. 
