Werribee Rotary member Michael Redding recently completed a visit to Uganda to catch up with Chris Ochaya and his family. Chris was the 2018 Royce and Jean Abbey Scholarship recipient. He was in Australia in 2018 to learn good farming techniques that he could use on his return to his country.

Michael said it was fantastic experience to see how Chris has utilised his new-found skills and knowledge and has started to transform the Tamarind community farm into a first-class sustainable agricultural showpiece that will support the local population.

Click here to read Michael's story.

Pictured above - Past RI President Ian Riseley and PDG Juliette Riseley with President Graham Roper.

Werribee Rotary Club celebrated its 50th anniversary in fine style on Saturday 18th August at the Werribee Racecourse Function Centre. The evening was a good mix of fun, fellowship, formality, nostalgia and self-indulgence, all appropriate ingredients to make the night something to enjoy and remember. Guests even had a chance to dance in between meals and speeches.

Some of the highlights of the evening included:

• A speech from Immediate Past Rotary International President Ian Riseley, Australia's 5th Rotary International President.
• Presentation of a Paul Harris Fellow (Diamond) and crystal ornament to Past District Governor Colin Muir for his significant donation to The Rotary Foundation.
• A presentation by President Graham Roper to the club's remaining charter members Past President Tino Ballan and Past District Governor Ian Knight OAM.
• Music from the band Kartoon who got in the spirit of the occasion by dedicating their first bracket of songs to the 1968 era.
• The cutting of a special 50th cake by the more senior members of the club, Tino Ballan, Ian Knight, Tom Lentini, Jeff Garfield, Peter Ross, Roland Wade and President Graham Roper.
• The following video recordings that were shown at various times during the evening (click on the highlighted names to view the video):
  • Charter members, Tino Ballan and Ian Knight, who walked down memory lane and told guests about the formation and early days of the club.
  • Club members, Lyn Fava and Rob Fava, who offered some contemporary thoughts about the club and Rotary.
  • Past Rotary exchange students Graeme Pett (Canada - 1970), Yoko Majima (Japan - 1992) and Simone Barbosa (Brazil - 1998) who fondly recollected their 12 months in Australia and expressed their best wishes to their host club for reaching its major milestone.
  • Chris Ochaya from Uganda and his wife Sarah who thanked the club for its support of their Ugandan community farm and who wished everyone well for the celebrations.

Click here to view some photos of the evening. There will be more photos available in next week's edition of The Bulletin.

Click here if you would like to view or print a copy of the menu.

Special thanks to Lexie Smith, Ann Smith, Micki Hovey, Geoff Smith, Phil Purdy, Ross Smith, Roland Wade, Rob Fava and President Graham for all their hard work to make the function a great success.

LETTER OF CONGRATULATIONS FROM RI PRESIDENT

Barry Rassin, the RI President for 2018-19, has sent the club a letter of congratulations for reaching 50 years.

In the letter, he said "Since your club was founded, you have had the opportunity to make a significant difference in our local and global communities. I know that you have devoted your time and effort to your club because you have felt what I have felt since I joined my own club in 1980: a true sense of fellowship and purpose. Your dedication to our organization has made all the difference...."

Click here to read the whole letter.

Thanks to everyone who attended and for making it a function to remember for the next 50 years.

Congratulations to the dedicated members of the club and friends of Rotary who, over a 9-year period, participated in five 200km charity walks around Victoria with the aim of raising $200,000 for the Royal Children's Hospital Palliative Care Unit.

A cheque for $202,732 was presented recently at a function hosted by the RCH Foundation to recognise this great achievement and the impact the project has had on the unit and the families they support. Rotarians Lyn, Lou and Mary attended and were, in turn, presented with a torch for our club symbolising the light and support this effort has given to the families caring for children with life-limiting conditions.

Pictured above is a group consisting of some of the walkers and support crew and senior staff of the RCH Palliative Care Unit at the cheque presentation.

Congratulations to all who participated in the walks. Your efforts were greatly appreciated.

The picture below shows club members Mary Macaulay, Ross Conley and Lyn Fava proudly displaying the cheque and the torch.

Peter Copp is the Executive Director of the Werribee Mercy Health Foundation and he was at our meeting to receive a cheque for $20,000 from President Ross.

Peter thanked us for the very generous donation which was made possible through funds raised at our Golf Day. The foundation target was $2 million and, with only several months to go, approximately $1.5 million has been raised. Peter is confident that, with a bit more publicity and promotion, they will reach their goal.

He said the funds will now make critical care in Wyndham possible. He cited a recent incident where, after giving birth in the birthing ward at the hospital, a woman fell gravely ill. The only available hospital with a vacant critical care bed was in Frankston where she stayed for 5 days before returning home to be with her new-born child and her family. In the future, this situation will not happen.

Peter explained that the new building is nearly finished. Here is an image of what it will look like.