Centenary Project Downunder- a James Wheeler Davidson Legacy
Doug McMillan
Following visits by James Wheeler Davidson (Rotary Club of Calgary) and Col. Layton Ralston (Rotary Club of Halifax), in 1921 Rotary Clubs were established in Australia (Melbourne & Sydney) and New Zealand (Auckland & Wellington). One of their centenary projects is still ongoing- immunization for children in Seven South Pacific countries. Patrnering with UNICEF and the Government of Australia, this hightl successful project is expected to save lives of many children. For a message from the present Project Coordinator and financial details for the project, see further under Story Content.
Seven years ago, we set out on this quest to celebrate the Centenary of Rotary in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. The project that we agreed on was ambitious to say the least. And now we are almost there. All the necessary funding is in place. The three vaccines have been introduced into all nine Pacific Island countries and the governments in each of those countries have committed to permanently embed these vaccines into their national immunisation schedules. It was estimated at the start that approximately 100,000 children would be vaccinated during the project. In fact, by the time all the vaccines purchased as part the project are used, the number will be in excess of 140,000 – a significant over-achievement! Most of these additional children are in a slightly older cohort who missed out on these in earlier years but will now benefit through a so called ‘catch up’ programme.
We still have some work to do getting the HPV vaccine fully introduced into Kiribati, and the remaining funds will be spent on this over the next two years. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the partnership with UNICEF. Their expertise and relationships with the governments in the region have been essential to its success. To my mind this clearly demonstrates that while Rotary can do enormous good in the world, we can do even more if we partner with the right organisations. Thank you again to everyone who has supported this project. The impact that this is having and will continue to have on communities in the Pacific is just amazing.
James Allen, Project Director
For more information, see everychildafuture.com.
We still have some work to do getting the HPV vaccine fully introduced into Kiribati, and the remaining funds will be spent on this over the next two years. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the partnership with UNICEF. Their expertise and relationships with the governments in the region have been essential to its success. To my mind this clearly demonstrates that while Rotary can do enormous good in the world, we can do even more if we partner with the right organisations. Thank you again to everyone who has supported this project. The impact that this is having and will continue to have on communities in the Pacific is just amazing.
James Allen, Project Director
For more information, see everychildafuture.com.
