Since receiving the President's report from wednesday's meeting the situation has changed drastically. The COGB have cancelled this years Easter Fair and as a consequence
Ted will make contact with all the Market site holders and make arrangements for going forward. A short time later the President was informed the District Conference has
also been cancelled. Further information will be supplied by the District Team as soon as they are able to sort out the details.
Presidents Notes
Unfortunately, our scheduled guest speaker, Robin Pearson from Bendigo Goldfields Library, was unable to attend. We hope all is well with Robin, and hopefully she will be able to speak with us on another occasion .
Thanks go to our members Graeme Lynas and Doug Lougoon, who stepped into the breach and gave us an update on two projects they are involved with. The meeting as usual, was interesting, productive and very enjoyable.
Graeme gave us an update on the Knitting project for Timor Leste. He told us about the type of goods and equipment that are also collected in Bendigo, how they find their way across to Timor-Leste, and the way they are distributed over there. It was very interesting and informative. Thanks very much, Graeme.
Graeme has since provided us with an email from Sr Henrietta in Maubisse, of the Sisters of Mercy, who is heavily involved with the distribution of our knitted goods in Timor-Leste. Following this email , there is one from Patti Cotton, giving us a summary of the latest activities at “The Ranch”.
Email from Sr Henrietta:
“Grateful thanks for the benefactors all! I write about the babies after consulting Dr. Gabriella at hospital, father Feliciano (who baptized the babies) the Carmelites, and chefe suco Wilson. The most accurate will be combined number the hospital ( since the Carmelites reports to hospital too) and father Feliciano who baptized the babies. We agreed that hospital has around 300 babies from municipal Ainaro, Same and Suai, but from Maubisse the number is around 80 - 100 newborn babies last year. So we have petition for Patty from Dr. Gabriella for 2 big packages of babies knitting like last year. They will be enough for the hospital, and Carmelites clinic (according to her). Best regards always😁 “
Email received from Patti Cotton outlining the current situation prior to knitted goods being sent to Timor Leste in mid-April:
“After 3 energetic workshops, this morning Carol and I finished our last morning before the containers are packed. Jenny Feiss (BMFG) collected the items for the sewing group and we closed the 2 special bags (additional to the 2 bales) for Dr Gabriella. They are in the Ranch for collection by Ray. This year we are back in routine with 12 bales - 2 for Fundasaun Alola in Dili, 8 for Administration distribution Maubisse and sub districts of which 2 bales are for Dr Gabriella at Maubisse Hospital, With the majority of our knitting coming from Shire of Campaspie, Bendigo and Ballarat which are linked to Ainaro through the Government Friendship Groups - we are hopeful Aguida Mendoca, Deputy Director Ainaro municipality, will be able to benefit from the final 2 bales “
More news on the knitting project:
Liz March, CEO of Access Australia Group, has very kindly arranged for Pepper Green Farm, in Thunder St, to be a depot for the collection of knitted goods. This generous act will allow out-of-town knitters to drop off their clothing safely, and with secure storage, until they are transferred across to The Ranch for final sorting and grouping. The Farm operates 6 days a week, and we hope the Farm Shop/Café gets some extra business as a result of Access Australia’s generosity.
Doug Lougoon gave us an update on the Bendigo Chinese Association participation in this year’s Easter Festival. It seems likely that the original Imperial Dragon, Loong, will make his final, final, final, final, final appearance this Easter to mark the 150th anniversary of the festival. Again, Doug, thanks for keeping us informed and entertained with news of Association’s involvement with this years’ festival.
Our market organizer and President-in-Waiting, Ted, gave us the good news that the Easter market sites are completely sold out for our trading days of Friday and Monday. Both days have waiting lists, showing that stallholders appreciate participating in a very well-run market. Congratulations from all of us, and a great result, Ted.
Computers for Congo
Tom Cecil, the man who started this excellent programme, is now back in Bendigo after his recent trip to the Republic of Congo. He was very pleased to see that the programme is operating well there, and that the IT equipment he provides is going to the right places, and is valued and appreciated. Tom is still keen to accept any unwanted IT equipment our members may have, as he sees his programme to be ongoing.
Tom has offered to come along again to our club to share his experiences in the Congo, and give us an update on the progress, effectiveness and long-term aspirations he has for his programme. We look forward to hearing from him at a later date.
District Conference – Friday, 27th to Sunday, 29th March
Around a dozen of our members are attending our district conference, which promises to be of very high quality. Speaker sessions will be held at the Ulumbarra Theatre, while morning & afternoon teas, lunches, and the Rotary Showcase, will be held in the adjacent Bendigo Senior Secondary College gymnasium.
Maurice Woodburn and Ray Carrington are our delegates for the smooth running of the Showcase, and the needs of the participants. They would really appreciate a little bit of help, if possible, from some other club members on the Friday afternoon, and again on Sunday afternoon, to help set up and take down, furniture used in the gym. Friday, from 2pm to 4pm, and Sunday, from 4pm to 5 pm, would be ideal. Please let either Maurice or Ray know if you can help out.
