Last Thursday we heard from Area 5 Governor Greg Davis about how our Club can benefit from interaction with District and the wider world of Rotary. In figures: Rotary has some 1.4 million members worldwide, who put in over 47 million hours of volunteering and provide funding of USD333 million for sustainable development projects each year.

 

Last Monday, 11 September, at Mawson Primary School, several hundred students, staff and parents participated in a wonderfully prepared ceremony around the Peace Pole in their play area. Bill and Amanda Andrews (who was the school's previous Principal), were there to present the message from the United Nation's Secretary General highlighting the issues effecting world peace at the present time and seeking the students' commitment to pursuing Peace. The school leaders conducted the ceremony with several students individually reading a line from Lao-tzu peace poem, and then reading out the message of Peace in the various languages painted on their Peace Pole.

 

The school had previously restored the pole which was one of the first (3/100) so that it is now "Mawson school blue" which highlights the printed messages on each of the sides of the Pole. It is an improvement we should look at for future restorations as the Poles deteriorate with age.

 

Students presented Bill with a box of folded cranes which we promised would be sent to Hiroshima Peace park and hung at the Sadako Peace memorial. 

 

The ceremony concluded. with an enthusiastic rendition of the National Anthem. There were many thanks from teachers and students and a promise to repeat the ceremony next year. It was a memorable event.

 

On Thursday, 14 September, we meet on Zoom, to hear from Past Club President and now Honorary member Terry Newman, who will update us on “The changing face of China”. The link to join is:

Michael will kindly open the link at noon for informal interaction ahead of the meeting start at 12:30 pm.

 

If you are not able to perform your allocated duty, please arrange a replacement and advise Acting President Ross. Please advise Stephen of any planned absences to avoid being rostered on while away.