Rotary Grace and the Loyal Toast were the preamble to a very interesting meeting which included the granting of a Paul Harris Fellowship to Belinda Crain from the Wagga Multicultural Council.
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President Richard welcomed our visitors including Ken Sergeant, Hung Kee and Fr. Paddy Sykes. Paddy and Hung had come to hear out Guest Speaker Belinda Crain from the Multicultural Council. Hung Kee addressed the club to tell us his story. Considering that he spoke no English when he arrived in Australia, his ability to stand and speak to the club and relate the events that brought him to Australia, was astonishing. As a catholic minority group he was among those persecuted by the military regime. He fled to Malaysia where he spent four and a half years in a refugee camp. Having applied through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, he was granted an Australian visa. Life in Malaysia was difficult. The local police were corrupt forcing many refugees to pay them bribes to avoid false accusations. Australia was a stark contrast where he was greeted at the airport (including by Burmo), helped by the Society of St Vincent De Paul and provided with Government assistance to commence a new life. His family are currently hiding in the jungle in Burma to avoid arrest and persecution. When he arrived in 2012, Hung spoke no English so he enrolled at TAFE to learn. He lived on the $400 per week he received from Centrelink and also took up a TAFE course in horticulture. His teacher asked him if he wanted a job and he jumped at the chance. Viewco Glass became his new employer and he has been with that firm for nine years and is now the floor manager. Because of his excellent work ethic, Viewco Glass now employs seven Burmese. Our club congratulates Hung and all the other refugees who have come through struggle to find a productive life in their newly adopted country! |
GEARS AND BEERS
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Phil McIntosh and David Byfield reported a very successful night at Coolamon Rotary where they handed over a cheque for $8,000. The money was a reward for the marvellous assistance that the Coolamon Club provided for our festival. Phil and David couldn't speak highly enough of the enthusiasm and commitment of the Coolamon Club for the Gears and Beers festival. They said the mutual benefit between the two Clubs was good for the community and good for Rotary. Albert Suidgeest and Daryl Breust from the Coolamon Rotary Club received the cheque from Phil and David at their regular Monday night meeting.
David also reported that a further $11,500 was distributed by Wollundry to other Clubs in Wagga for their assistance with the festival. As well as providing these Clubs with financial benefits, our festival continues build strong bonds with fellow volunteers throughout our community.
ROTARY PARAPHENALIA
John Gray and Sturt Heriot have recently audited our cabinets and have rationalised what we should keep and what we should throw out. John said that there are a number of items that he will make available on a table at next week's meeting for members to take if they wish. Some members, of the nostalgic variety, might like some keepsakes, e.g. table numbers. Others might like a pullover or a hat or whatever takes their fancy. First in best dressed!
LUCKY DRAW PRIZE  This weeks winner was number 55 John Smith |