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PAUL FRASER INDUCTED
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NEXT MEETING
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CAN YOU HELP? Urgent
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CAFE INTERNATIONALE
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SISTER TRISH - RETIRED?
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MICRO CREDIT EXAMPLE
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MEETING REPORT 19th MAY
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GALLERY
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Dr Janet Butler - "Kitty's War"
 Kitty's War is based upon the previously unpublished war diaries of Great War army nurse Sister Kit McNaughton. Kit and historian Janet Butler grew up in the same Victorian district of drystone walls, wheatfields and meandering creeks, except many decades apart. The idea of this young nurse setting out on a journey in July 1915 which would take her across the world and into the First World War took hold of Janet Butler and inspired her to research and share Kit’s story.
This decisive and dryly humorous woman embarked upon the troopship Orsova, bound for Egypt in 1915. Kit’s absorbing diaries follow her journey through war, from Egypt, where she cared for the Gallipoli sick and wounded, to the harsh conditions of Lemnos Island, off the coast of the Dardanelles, and then on to France and the Somme and Passchendaele where she worked near the front line. Kit finished the war as Australia’s first plastic surgery nurse, assisting medical pioneers in this field as they repaired the shattered faces of Australian soldiers.
Through Kitty’s diaries and Janet’s thoughtful narration, we see the war through the eyes of a young Australian nurse as she is transformed by what she witnesses. Kitty’s War is an intimate and rare story of one woman’s remarkable experience of war
 Dr Janet Butler is an Honorary Research Associate in the History Program at La Trobe University. Her research explores the personal accounts of Australians at war to shine new light on – and ask different questions about - this aspect of our nation’s history. Her book Kitty’s War, based on the diaries of First World War army nurse Kitty McNaughton, was published by the University of Queensland Press in 2013. It was awarded the New South Wales Premier’s History Prize for Australian history, and the WK Hancock Prize for a first work in Australian history, and was short listed for the Magarey Medal for Biography and the National Biography Award.
Janet was recently awarded an Australia Council for the Arts Literature Grant to support the writing of her next book, Writing the Desert War - a history of the Australians in the Imperial Camel Corps.
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Posted by Tony THOMAS
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 Twenty-six Rotarians and friends made a big difference to the grounds at Royal Talbot Acquired Brain Injury Unit on Saturday 18/4. The working bee party comprised 13 from RCCMS (including two partners), ten from Melbourne Park, Richard Bowen and Wendy from Casterton RC, and Kevin Simkiss from Melbourne RC. Steven Wells, the unit’s garden guru, was thrilled at the progress, he said. “I seem calm but I’m jumping up and down on the inside.”
It’s the 11th annual working bee since Lyn McBain, then a nurse at the unit with Steven, suggested Steven address RCCMS about the garden needs. It all started from that. (Lyn worked there from 2000-08).
The difference is shown in pics of the unit grounds eight years ago – it was then a jumble of low-grade turf and concrete paths – and today, a riot of flowers, cacti, shrubs, pergolas and winding flagstones. Every shade of green and many timber textures blends into gentle harmony. The latest party spruced up the beds, mulched, and trimmed, then turned their attention to nearby outdoor spaces that are as forlorn as the ones shown in 2007. Worker bees dug over large areas of semi-lawn ready for new gardens to come.
Steven, thanking the group at morning tea, said the gardens give hope and freshness in what would otherwise be a clinical setting where patients have the stress of adjusting to a different life after spinal and brain damage. Some can’t talk, other can’t use a limb, few can foresee a career. But he sees often how patients have benefited from ‘horticultural therapy’ where they feel they can do small stress-free tasks or just sit in a pretty spot.
One former serviceman, very fit, had fallen down stairs and is permanently in a wheelchair. He has taken up bonsai horticulture, and though he lacks fine-motor skills, is engrossed in planning bonsai into different growth paths, and sharing his successes on Instagram and YouTube. “His dad told me, ‘You’ve triggered something in him’ and that makes it so worthwhile for me,” Steven says.
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Read more...
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Posted by Tony THOMAS
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 Report of presentation by Browyn Stephens to the club Tuesday 17th April.
A multi-club effort is cutting overheads as it ploughs funds into revitalizing a central Cambodian village. The group raised and spent $250,000 last year alone in bringing farm, health and school facilities to Bosala, a village of 800 people.
Former emergency and tropical medicine nurse Bronwyn Stephens of Melbourne South RC chairs the aid committee. Other clubs involved include Melbourne RC, Chelsea, Wyndham, Malvern, Echuca, Carlton, Rochester, Holroyd (NSW) Woodend, Brighton, Kyneton and St Kilda. “We pool know-how and fundraising and do things at lowest cost,” she says.
The money came in from sources like taking Rotarians, friends and students on guided tours to Cambodia ($50,000-plus); craft markets ($10,000); Xmas card sales ($8000), and private donors ($100,000). District ($20,000) and Global ($65,000) Grants made up the balance. One couple even fund-raised $1000 via their wedding-present register.
 Bronwyn says she’s been able to do the paperwork for a Rotary Foundation District International Grant in half an hour and get it approved same-day. “Some people don’t realise how streamlined it can be,” she says.
The group’s Rotary program “World of Difference” has on tap Rithy Ann, a multi-lingual Cambodian guide. Rithy was orphaned at age 4 by Pol Pot thugs, but with monks’ help became a university graduate (teaching, agriculture and management) and now a member of Phnom Penh Rotary. He runs the group tours, scouts for projects, and monitors them to completion.
Three years ago, Rithy led Bronwyn to Bosala after it was devastated by outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, dengue and pneumonia.
“It was diabolical,” says Bronwyn, who previously managed. with her husband Mark, their Melbourne private hospital. She’s been to Cambodia 14 times
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Read more...
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RCCMS SILK-MILLER GOLF DAY
SOUTHERN GOLF CLUB, KEYSBOROUGH. FRIDAY 8th MAY
We will be raising funds for the Silk-Miller scholarship program, established in honour of the two Victorian police officers that lost their lives on duty on August 16, 1998.
The format will be teams of 4 playing Ambrose.
Cost of the day is $100 per person and includes a light lunch after the game.
Please consider attending and if possible fielding a team of 4.
Individuals are very welcome, teams will be assigned on the day for those not registering four players.
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AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE 'STEPS OUTREACH' 30th ANNIVERSARY, MAY 8th.
More from Roger shortly.
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LAST DAYS TO REGISTER.
 ,
SATURDAY 9th MAY 6.30pm
INVITATION TO ALL MEMBERS
"Dear Roy Garrett, President of Rotary Club of Central Melbourne Sunrise.
International House and the student community cordially invites you to attend
Café International 2015 "Festivals of the World"
Join us as we explore the cultural wealth and diversity of human festivities from all around the
world. Let your spirit run wild as we adventure across cultures to experience some of the most
intriguing traditions. Embrace the night to inspire and rekindle a love for culture, dance, and
celebrations.
As with previous years, our resident students provide an evening of high quality dining and
performance! In accordance with tradition, a percentage of the profits (50%) will be donated
to The World Wildlife Fund for Nature WWF. The remaining goes into running
International House Student Club.
Café International is on Saturday, 9th May at International House, 241 Royal Parade, Melbourne.
Dress Code: Formal, cultural clothing encouraged!
Doors will open at 6:30pm for pre-dinner drinks and refreshments. Dinner and the show
begin at 7:15 sharp.
Ticket cost is $85 AUD per person and includes all beverages for the night, a three-course
meal and spectacular entertainment.
RCCMS members are asked to register direct with RUSSELL ROLLS, by 26th April.
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Posted by Allan DRIVER
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Once again we have the opportunity to assist our sister club the RC Echuca-Moama raise money for their local community as well as having a great time.
When: Queen’s Birthday Weekend, 6th and 7th June 2015 
What time: 9am – 4.30pm
Where: Rotary Park, Echuca
Please consider and let me know if you are available.
If you need more information contact me on 0418 573 803.
Allan Driver [on behalf of the International Service Committee]
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Chair: Stuart Ellis
Visitors: Mohamed Elrafihi and Khodr Merhi (State Government Multi-Cultural advisers), Caroline Adrian, Warwick Cavell, Paulk Fraser.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Marjorie Gerlinger: Home baked fodder promised to workers at the Royal Talbot working bee this Saturday.
- Koren Harvey:
- Host families needed for potential youth exchange student in conjunction with another club. Contact Koren.
- Also Whisky Master Class is on May 23, $110, contact Greg Cuthbert or Koren.
- Herb Greenwood: Donations in Kind event went well with 9 members and spouses/friends.
- Russell Rolls: Don’t miss International House dinner, “Festival of the World” May 9. Contact Russell.
- Dick Mitchell: Charter President and art aficionado Terry Cocks turned 89 last week and took family to MONA in Hobart.
- Rob Hines: Fitzroy Crossing visit:
- 21/4 involves a men’s shed toy-making practice session straight after our meeting, and
- 28/4 a two-hour cultural awareness briefing 9-11am after our meeting. All welcome (including non-Fitzroy travellers).
- Frank O’Brien: Hospital bed shifting exercise at Box Hill 18/4 cancelled.
Presidents Announcements:
- Roy Garrett: We need to support Brighton North’s “Presidents’ Breakfast” 7.15am May 1, contact Roy.
DIRECTOR REPORT
George Mackey, Youth Services.
- Focus is on low-cost programs such as Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) and Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). We also have interns for mentoring from Russia and Bangladesh, Anna and Sabbir. Herb Greenwood assisted an architect graduate from Nepal on a job search – this can be a baffling process for strangers.
- Our club helped eight youngsters from Botswana attending the Aids Congress here recently.
- We have increased the Silk Miller Scholarships to two, Liz Toffoletti doing an MBA (Melb), the second a graduate diploma in adolescent health, part-funded by District.
- Michael Li had applied for a Rotary scholarship to Cambridge but withdrew because he won a Gates Foundation sponsorship there instead.
- Interviews planned for National Youth Science Forum candidates, and a suggestion District rather than individual clubs roll out invitations to schools in future.
- Members invited to fill still-vacant slots as minders at Model United Nations Assembly. Camp Getaway 29-31 May.
- George’s committee budget for the year is $12,850.
SERGEANT
Acting Sgt Kevin Walklate addressed the riveting topic of Rotary Acronyms. Mary Voice succeeded in a near-miraculous guess that the author of Sins of the Father was Geoffrey Archer.
GUEST SPEAKER – Bronwyn Stephens, Cambodia: See separate story in Bulletin.
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ACTION AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING
OLD ACQUAINTANCES MEET UP. BRONWYN WAS ABLE TO 'FILL IN' VERY ADEQUATELY AS GUEST SPEAKER AT SHORT NOTICE.
NEW ACQUAINTANCE - VISITOR MOHAMED ELRAFIHI GETTING TO KNOW GERRAD AND ALAN.
MORE SHOTS FROM THE ROYAL TALBOT WORKING BEE
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