Charmaine Wheatley has been a Rotarian for over 12 years and has project managed ten humanitarian trips to South Africa. This morning she presented the next Humanitarian Trip opportunity to Welkom, South Africa 29 February to 14 March 2020.
Charmaine is a mum of eight children, grandmother to 17 and is a keen paddler. She has been passionate about fundraising for various projects in Australia and describes herself as "South African born but Australian by choice". Charmaine is the Mentor for the 'Sunshine Coast Rotary Community Corps' - a very active community group on the Sunshine Coast - and is a member/director of the Rotary E-Club of South Africa One.
On the 2017 trip, the volunteers delivered a 40 foot container filled with medical supplies, 150 wheelchairs and 15,000 pairs of re-cycled spectacles among other valuable items.
For the 2020 trip,
- a donation from her Rotary Club of $3,000 will cover the cost of a new classroom for a new little pre-school to be established in Charmaine's hometown - Welkom, 300 km south of Johannesburg
- 120 Hippo rollers have been donated by a Canadian Rotary Club for delivery to various Rotary projects in Welkom (cost $200 each)
- a new little school will be commissioned in Thabong (a township outside of Welkom) which will be called the AGAPE PRE-SCHOOL
- some WASTE TO TOYS workshops will be facilitated to create job opportunities to the local community
Several volunteers attended today's meeting along with other interested visitors. Nurses, teachers or handymen are asked to volunteer to accompany the group to undertake some odd jobs, administration systems and medical examinations.
Judging by today's presentation, the 2020 trip is definitely not for the faint-hearted but will impact the lives of hundreds of children and leave a HUGE heart print in Africa.
If you want to learn more about the proposed trip, go to the Facebook Event Page.
President Chris, as Chair for the meeting, welcomed our visitors, Brian Wallace (moving from RC Nowra, NSW) and our speaker plus a number of the volunteers going or thinking about the Humanitarian trip to South Africa with Charmaine.
Thank you from Inner Wheel
Meg Nagel, President of Inner Wheel of the Sunshine Coast joined us to present thanks for club's donation towards the birthing kits that have now been delivered via DIK for shipment to Papua New Guinea. These are then distributed to the Village Birth Attendants for use with their expectant Mums.
More information about the birthing kits here.
Meg will be presented more on Inner Wheel at our meeting on 1 October next.
President's Announcements
Chris including the following items.- District Governor Darryl's report on our Rotary District's response to the devastating Queensland fires and the RAWCS relief fund that has been established. See news item here.
- Letter of thanks for donation from MS (Qld)
- Positive progress on funding for the All Abilities Playground proposal withy Cr Tim Dwyer indicating that funds will be available, and a number of grant applications in the wings.
- The BBQ fundraiser on 25 September needs some more volunteers - details here
- The volunteer list for the visit to DIK on is open - details here
Other Announcements
- Genta reminded us that the volunteer list for the visit to DIK is open - details here
- Judy also reminded us that the BBQ fundraiser on 25 September needs some more volunteers - details here
- Judy reluctantly announced that the opportunity to obtain a grant for our NYSF sponsorship had come and gone while she was away as the club's email address was not used; if it had been used someone else not travelling could have made the application
- Merv reminded us of the next RYDA days on 15-16 October for which volunteers are called
- Darry imposed some history - noting that the Caloundra & Caloundra Pacific clubs were responsible for the original establishment of the Information Centre opposite Rotary ParkChris also mentioned that next year's RYDA program would have four extra days to accommodate the transition from Year 11 to Year 10 students as required by Queensland TMR
See all the photos
