District 9620: Towards our new District

We are moving ever closer to merging our two Districts – 9600 and 9630 will be known as District 9620 from July 1 next year.

Our call for interest in roles is about to start – there’ll be roles in the Youth portfolio, Service portfolio, Public Image and Membership – just to note a few.

This month we’re inviting Rotarians to send DGE Wendy an email if they’re interested in occupying the role of Assistant Governor during the charter year. There will be thirteen Rotary Club Clusters and one Rotaract Club Cluster with each including between 8 and 10 Clubs. While the groupings have been determined we do recognise that there may be some minor changes come next February when we see final membership (club) numbers.

Eligibility to be an Assistant Governor includes that you have membership (other than Honorary), and be in good standing in a Rotary Club; need to have served as a Club President or Club Leader for at least one Rotary year and have an engaging and proactive communication style. The thirteen Rotarians will be joined by the District Rotaract Representative.

Our clubs will continue to live their Rotary/Rotaract values and I’m certain will continue to give ‘service above self’ but additionally this team will provide leadership and support so that we can increase our impact, engage well, give opportunities to participate and adapt to our changing circumstances.

Remember: This is a new District and appointments will be recognised as the first year taking a position in 9620

Wendy Protheroe: wendyprotheroe@optusnet.com.au

Rotarians Against Malaria: Towards Elimination

Although we are fully aware of the threat to our health and wellbeing from Covid19, an acute disease whose impact is likely to be reduced over the next year or so due to unprecedented investment in vaccines and treatments, many of us are not aware of the devastation caused every year by malaria. Recently, Covid19 deaths have surpassed the annual death rate of 450,000 deaths caused by malaria, mainly affecting the most vulnerable: mothers and small children (<5 years old) but Covid 19 cases are only a fraction of the 216,000,000 cases of malaria reported each year. Put into perspective, at its peak, there were only 350,000 cases of polio reported when the Rotary Polio eradication initiative began.

RAM is dedicated to eliminating malaria within Australasia where infection rates are as high as 300 cases/1,000 of the population. In PNG and the Solomon Islands, RAM has succeeded in reducing the incidence of malaria but hotspots remain, particularly in the Sepik, New Ireland and New Britain, primarily through the distribution on long life insecticide nets (LLIN). Experience has shown that more needs to be done to control the insect vectors and to diagnose and treat the disease. Village volunteers are being trained to enhance these efforts. Funds are desperately needed for these important initiatives.

Prior to the Global Fund investing in malaria elimination in the early 1980s, many Rotarians in D9600 donated funds to RAM to distribute LLIN in PNG and the Solomon Islands. Recently, Global Fund support has declined. Hence, RAM needs funds from Rotarians, Rotary Clubs and Districts to help achieve elimination of the disease within our District and surrounding regions. Apart from a couple of exceptions, few Rotary Clubs in D9600 have contributed to malaria elimination through RAM. In fact, the vast majority of donations to RAM are from Eastern and Southern Regions of Australia. RAM is one of the most successful humanitarian projects in our part of the world. It has reduced the incidence of malaria dramatically, contributing to better lives in PNG, The Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, and elsewhere. The battle against malaria is not over. There is still much to do.

A modest contribution from Rotary Clubs of $500 each year will help Rotary’s dream of a better world - a world where malaria does not continue to ruin the lives of over 200 million people each and every year. If your club can afford more, so much the better. Every bit helps!

Russ Stephenson is available for Club Meeting Talks and is ready to coordinate with RAM Champions throughout the District. You can contact Russ via email: rusmer1@hotmail.com or phone: 0409 765 124