The quality of our speakers in recent times has been nothing short of fantastic. The speaker at our last meeting was definitely no exception.
Reese Masita is a member of the Victorian Kiribati (pronounced Kiribas) Association. She grew up in the tiny island nation but has been a resident of Australia for many years now.
Reese described Kiribati as the world's best kept secret. Here are some facts about the country:
- It was formerly known as Gilbert Islands.
- It is the first country to see the dawn of each new day.
- It sits in all 4 hemispheres.
- 21 out of the 33 islands are inhabited. There are a few man-made concrete causeways that link some of the islands. Otherwise, you have to travel by canoe from one to the other.
- It is very remote. To fly there from Melbourne, you take a 5-hour flight to Fiji and then another 3-hour trip to Kiribati.
- Their language has only 13 letters.
- The islands grew from coral build up on the tips of underwater mountains.
- Tarawa is the main island and has a population of 53,000 on just 17 square kilometres of land. It's widest point is only 200 metres long.
- The islands are at risk from:
- Rising sea levels - within 60-80 years the islands will be permanently covered by water. All inhabitants will be relocated to Fiji before then.
- Limited drinking water.
- Crops including coconut palms and breadfruit trees are dying from sea water.
- King tide floods - these are a recent phenomena.
- Disease. Children are particularly vulnerable.
You could describe the Kiribati people as an easy-going and resilient race. Their philosophy seems to be that whatever happens they will overcome it and just move on with life.
However, Reese explained that there are a number of community facilities that could either be renovated or constructed to make things better. Some of their major issues include poor sanitation and a lack of clean water. Our club, in conjunction with the Rotary Clubs of Melton and Hoppers Crossing, is considering travelling to Kiribati on a FAIM trip to provide the necessary skills to make a positive difference to their community.
It would seem that, based on Reese's compelling presentation and her infectious enthusiasm, there won't be a shortage of volunteers.
You could tell that Reese's love of her country is so intense. So much so that she will be moving back there soon with her husband who is a doctor. She is even thinking about establishing a Rotary club in Tarawa.
Click here to see a few more photos of the evening.