Image: DG Peter Shepheard *addressing the Crowd* including RCM Members with DIK Mgr, Colleen D’Offay on his right.
Image: PDG Denis Shore, Past R I Pres Jennifer Jones, Jim Orchard from Rotary Melbourne, DG Peter Shepheard and PP Nick Krayacich
Reporter : Frank O’Brien
Tuesday 24 March 2026 was the date scheduled by Colleen D’Offay, DIK Manager, for the loading of a 40 foot Container headed for Cambodia, complete with much needed Medical Equipment and Medical Supplies which had been assembled on site at West Footscray over many weeks. The recipient will be the Children’s Surgical Centre in Phnom Penh, a reputable tertiary teaching hospital with more than 100 local staff providing free or low-cost specialised surgery for disadvantaged patients.
Our Club as usual was very well represented by volunteers… (Fleur Maidment, Rob Hines, Roy Garrett, Yanpu, Herb & Leonie Greenwood, John & Raylee Illott, Peter & Sue Duras and Frank & Pauline O’Brien).
Not only did we assist with the loading (a huge job which wasn’t completed until well into the afternoon) but as usual when we are there, we “got stuck into the Clothing Bay” plus other Bays (eg Education) and made a huge difference in sorting and reassembling Boxes ready for despatch to Local and International needy causes.
A highlight of the morning was the Morning Tea, complete with Hot Scones and Cookies, which is not usually the case!!! Coincidentally, Canadian/Ontario based Past RI President Jennifer Jones (JJ) and husband PP Nick Krayacich, inter alia, attended and spoke glowingly of the massive benefits of Donations In Kind. Later that week, they attended the Multi District Conference in Horsham. JJ is the Incoming Chair of Trustees of The Rotary Foundation (2026/2027)….we are in good hands.
“Well done everybody as usual”, as echoed to me by Colleen some time after the Container had left the Building.