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Theme 2007-08

Rotary Shares

"Rotary Shares"

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RCH active in Boroondara Cares

Drought has affected many parts of rural Victoria. Cr Phillip Healey, the then mayor of Boroondara, realised this and felt that city people should be doing more to help their country counterparts cope with the economic and emotional strains caused by the drought. Cr. Healey took the initiative to contact his equivalent at the Shire of Moira in northern Victoria, an area which takes in the towns of Numurkah and Cobram and wasw one of those vshires badly-affected.

His initiative was received warmly so he contacted Peter Allen, RC of Camberwell, to seek the support of the Rotary clubs in Boroondara in turning an idea into a practical form of assistance.

The first step following Cr. Healey's contact with Peter was a visit by a party of almost 60 Boroondara Rotarians to Moira Shire in November 2007. This allowed the city Rotarians to meet with and discuss local problems with the 300+ local people who attended that gathering at Katunga Football Ground. This meeting was the start of the Boroondara Cares program. (You can see here several groups of local people talking to Rotarians).

Boroondara Cares The Boroondara Rotary clubs, ably led by Peter Allen from RC of Camberwell met shortly after the country visit to map out the best forms of assistance which could be provided to the country residents. It was decided that there should be a number of areas such as sport, schools, churches etc each of which would be the responsibility of one Boroondara club. RCH was given sport as its responsibility.

January 2008 provided the first opportunity for our club, through its Boroondara Cares representatives Ian Pohl and Anne Scott, to implement its plans. A busload of young people came to Melbourne and were given a day at the Kooyong Classic tennis tournament and a barbecue with RCH members before they returned home.

Now the Rotary Club of Hawthorn is moving on several fronts to support other sports activities in Moira Shire. On the club's agenda are golf, netball, soccer,cricket, basketball, football and lawn bowls.
According to Ian Pohl, sport is a powerful binding agent in rural communities. It plays a vital role in building and sustaining social capital. This becomes even more vital at a time when the community is under stress from the effects of long drought.

A community golf day is close to fruition and a date is expected to be announced soon for the event to take place within the next two months. Well known golf professional Bryan Twite will be in attendance, supported by Moira based golf professionals and local golf clubs. Boroondara based Rotary Clubs have contributed more than two hundred golf clubs for community use as part of the program.

A large number of these was provided by the Hon. Jeff Kennett who has supported Boroondara Cares since its beginnings. Ian Pohl is in discussions with state and local bodies leading on to communication with several Moira based sports bodies with netball as a high priority for action.

Our aim is to understand where the needs are and to provide support wherever we can, Ian Pohl said.
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