Please welcome our newest member Millie Swann

Pike Peters

Solar Smiles Dental Charity

In 2009 Rotarian Kim Groizard travelled to Cambodia on what she anticipated would be a fun loving backpacking holiday. However when she visited the Choeung Ek Killing Fields just outside of Phnom Penh she was appalled to discover evidence of the darker side of Cambodia's history.

It was whilst walking around the mass graves she found human teeth coming up through the dirt pathways. These had belonged to people who had lost their lives at the site during the Khmer Rouge & Pol Pot regime.

In 2015 the project SOLAR SMILES Dental Charity was born with the support of the Rotary Club of Docklands. Through extensive research they were able to find a portable solar powered backpack dental chair that meant dental treatment could be taken to communities rather than them having to travel extensively to cities.

In January, 2017, the first group travelled to Cambodia and delivered over $134,000 worth of dental treatment to Cambodian children and young people, many of whom had never received dental treatment before.

The Club has sourced two more chairs that are on their way to Nepal to support rural communities with dental health in that country.

Pike Peters is President of the Rotary Club of Docklands, a sponsor of the Solar Smiles Dental Charity.

John Hinrichs

Behind the badge

John shared details of his childhood in Brisbane, career and involvement with Rotary.

From a very early age and throughout his career, John has displayed a keen interest in mechanical things and particularly fast moving vehicles i.e. planes and racing cars. Whilst spending 17 years in demanding engineering maintenance roles at a pet food factory in Wodonga, John found time to design, build and test racing cars plus teach his son how to drive a racing car even faster than he could.

Prompted by his supervisor’s denial of a 1 day leave request, John left the company, started his own business and began his association with Rotary by participating in highly rewarding RAWCS trips to Tanzania and Cambodia and coordinating a Donation in Kind program to Vanuatu.

There is a plethora of online information available for you to explore to learn more about Rotary projects and programs across the globe. Rotary members undertake inspirational, innovative and impactful service projects and initiatives every day. Some of the key areas (with hyperlinks) to explore are:

• MyRotary: a place for you to access tools and information to make your membership experience better. It has information, links and resources for anything you might wish to search for. Register on MyRotary to gain access to the areas of interest to you.

• Rotary discussion groups: a place for Rotarians, Rotaractors, Rotary Peace Fellows, and alumni to share their experiences and ideas with members of the Rotary family from around the world.

• Rotary Ideas: helps clubs connect for funding, volunteers, partnerships, and in-­kind donations. Unlike other crowdfunding sites, Rotary Ideas emphasises partnerships over simply funding.

• Rotary Showcase: lets you share your service projects with the Rotary world and general public.

• Rotary Service Connections blog: provides personal stories and perspectives to further inspire your service endeavours and enhance your impact. Learn from fellow clubs’ successes, access resources, obtain helpful information, and engage in interactive discussions.

TIME TO MARK YOUR DIARY WITH NEAR FUTURE EVENTS

Please refer to right column of this BULLETIN "Upcoming Events"

President Justine inducting new member Millie Swann

Sarah Overton & Chair Russell Rolls preparing for the technology presentation

Stuart Ellis giving us the latest updates on Youth Service projects