A thought-provoking presentation by Una on Wednesday that made us all realise the plight of so many people, particularly children in less fortunate countries.

She also had some good ideas about another way we can help migrant families and communities in Australia.

If you want to learn more they have an excellent website at https://foodplantsolutions.org/

A number of events happening this next fortnight with Rotary. 19^th & 20^th Sept between 11.30 and 1 pm will be the Rotary Zone 8 conference

on Zoom from Alice Springs. By the time you read this it might be all over.

Other events:

And an advance suggestion for October and End Polio Now. Let’s get together on a walk. WE will plan it.

Hope you have registered with Stan for the next lot of “Guess who is coming …..?

The slightly relaxed COVID restrictions for regional Victoria are good news, when we start gathering in groups, lets do it, but do it carefully.

Masks, spacing, observe limits. Stay safe.

A loving couple was celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, privately, at home with a couple of bottles of champagne.

A bit tipsy and feeling very intimate the husband turns to his wife and asks, "Tell me truthfully, have you ever been unfaithful to me?"

"Well," she replied, "since you ask, to tell you the truth I have been unfaithful on three occasions."

"What? How could you?"

"Let me tell you about it," she said. "The first time was back when we were first married. You needed open heart surgery and

we didn't have the money, so I went to bed with the surgeon and got him to operate for free."

"Gee! That was noble of you. And, besides, I guess I should be grateful. But, tell me, what about the second time?"

"Do you remember that VP of Sales promotion you desperately wanted, and they were going to pass you over for someone else?

Well, I went to bed with the President and he gave you the job."

"Hell, I think I could have done it on my own. But, then again, I guess I should be grateful. And so, what about the third time?"

"Do you remember two years ago when you wanted to become president of the Golf Club, and you were missing 53 votes..."

 

As reported by ADG Ron Payne

 

All are invited to the next Combined Goldfields Cluster meeting via Zoom

 

Subject: Combined Goldfields Clusters special
When: Thursday, 22 October 2020 6:45 PM-8:45 PM Customized Time Zone.
Where: Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting
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Ron Payne                                                        Graeme Lynas
Assistant Governor, Goldfields North             Assistant Governor, Goldfields South
Rotary District 9800                                         Rotary District 9800
Phone Mobile 0419946994                               Phone Mobile 0427403100
 

It was a pleasure to welcome fellow Rotarian, Una Hobday, as the guest for our meeting.Una is the Chair of the Rotary Food Plant Solutions Action Group. Una works with a small level of administrative support and volunteer agronomists to provide planting guides for nutritious food both nationally and internationally. The fact that five children die of malnutrition every minute whilst many of us are trying to lose weight illustrates the great divide in the world and the call to action to help support those in poverty. Una leads an initiative which provides information about the nutrition quality of plants suitable for growing in local conditions.

The Rotary Action Group was founded in 2007 and draws on scientific information about the suitability of edible plants for particular climatic conditions. The program forms partnerships with local organisations and has a particular focus on engaging women in the planning and implementation of initiatives. There is an emphasis on sustainable practices, non commercial crops and the minimal use of chemicals. Una outlined the success which has been realised from working with schools and the creation of community gardens. There are natural links with education and the potential to generate gains in mental health and community wellbeing.

There have been positive impacts well beyond what was originally imagined in many projects around the world. A small pilot project in Vietnam has now expanded across provinces and into fourteen schools. School enrolments have increased and families are drawing on the school experience to duplicate their own and community gardens. A train the trainer model in Papua New Guinea has grown to include 8,369 participants and 2,030 families.An initiative originally with the Nepalese community in Hobart has resulted in close unanticipated ties with the Ethopian community.

It was fascinating to hear of the different mindsets which the project has unravelled. Attitudes like ambivalence about child hunger and questions about the relevance of the inclusion of gardening in the school curriculum have been encountered and dealt with. On the other hand it was uplifting to hear of the Sudenese man who returned to Rwanda and turned his land into a garden ultimately feeding the people who killed his family. We congratulate Una on the wonderful work she is leading and we look forward to the possibility to replicating this type of project in a school like Lightning Reef. Thanks to Una for the giving of her time and for her moving and comprehensive presentation.

Public link to powerpoint presentation https://portal.clubrunner.ca/9389/Documents/en-au/cd366128-151f-4a05-8820-3670370a7b7f/1/