This week has flown by, something happening every day. Monday a group from our Club visited the Rotary Club of Gawler to hear a presentation on underground schooling for women in Afghanistan given by Rotarian Erfanulla Abidi. It was a very moving presentation as I said at our meeting on Tuesday, Erfan Abidi will be speaking at the Murray Bridge Town Hall on Friday June 20th. I encourage you to go and hear him speak.
At Tuesday’s meeting we listened to Matt Brown, Principal of Coomandook Area School talking about opportunities available and not available to students of rural Schools.
Sunday was Peter Geoffrey Lennon’s Baptism. It was a lovely day - the service was beautiful with Peter behaving really well all smiles and cuteness. We then went back to Caitlin and Sam’s place where we spent a lovely afternoon talking, eating and drinking. Peter again continued to play to the crowd.
I am happy to report that after a hearing test, eye test, a visit to the dentist and doctor this week I don’t need hearing aids, I can see really well, I only need one more tooth filled and have survived a 2 hour wait to see the emergency doctor to get new scripts!
Thought for the week: “Rotary’s role has never been more vital. You are not just funders. You are advocates, partners, and frontline agents of change.. You’ve helped make history once. Now, we must finish the story together.” - Dr. Shigeru Omi.
( Dr. Shigeru Omi led WHO’s polio eradication efforts in the Western Pacific from start to finish. This region was certified polio free in 2000. )
YOU NEED TO BOOK NOW!!!!!
A Journey from Progress to Oppression
On Monday 5th May, 6 Rotarians from our club attended the Rotary Club of Gawler where President Jenny Alexander-Walters was invited to outline our club activities with the audience while we shared a meal.
Guest speaker, Erfanullah Abidi, a member of Adelaide Light Rotary, shared his powerful story and inspiring work Educating Women Underground in Afghanistan – a mission of courage, education, and hope. A passionate defender of Afghan women’s rights, Erfanulla has been instrumental in establishing schools for Afghan girls through the Empowerment Network 132 in response to the Taliban’s ban on female education. He outlined his shared concerns about human rights and the ongoing violations in Afghanistan, particularly those affecting women.
Establishing Afghan Girls’ Underground Schools provides essential education for girls beyond Year 6 and has seen the writing of new school curriculum to meet the needs of the females in the classes and also the opportunity for Doctors, Lawyers and other professionals to provide information, support and advocacy to the thousands of women who are keen to have knowledge and therefore empowerment to make a difference in their country while respecting their culture.
Erfanullah is an Ambassador of the Refugee Council of Australia and his efforts have earned him numerous awards including the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International.
Erfanullah will be in Murray Bridge as part of Refugee Week in June to share his journey from Afghanistan to Adelaide. (waiting on confirmation of this from Migrant Resource centre staff – but Erfanullah indicated this was in his itinery for the next month)
Coomandook Area School
The Rotary Club of Murray Bridge Environmental Youth Program has been developing partnerships with Rural Schools in the Murray Mallee area. One of these is the Coomandook Area School whose Principal, Matt Brown joined us to discuss opportunities available and not available to Rural Schools. Matt had worked in the NT Finke/Apatula School, then moved into Alice Springs to teach at Yipirinya School before moving to Tasmania. Matt has also worked as an organiser for the Australian Education Union. Now he also has an acting position supporting Principals within the Murray Bridge1 Portfolio. His passion for public education was infectious with focus on the value of citizenship in the education process. Every learning opportunity was important. Costs and funding were significantly different to city schools. John Scarvelis
Art Show Official Opening
Today at the Regional Gallery, The Art Show was officially opened followed by the announcement of prizes.
Many of the artists attended along with members of the media who will ultimately report on the event. It was pleasing to see sponsors present who make our show viable.
If you have not yet visited, please make the effort to attend and also to volunteer.
Thank You Murray Bridge Rotary
The message below was received following our Club donation of $3500
G’day President Jenny and all at Murray Bridge Club
WOW!! 😊
I wanted to write to personally Thank You your Club for your recent generous donation!
FYI – this donation will indeed buy a full truck load of hay (32 bales) which equates to 19.2 Tonne – and that makes a MASSIVE difference, likely to 2 farmers and their livestock.
Keep an eye on our web page. We keep adding details of Trucks delivered plus some new photos here and there.
I have added your Club’s logo to our Web Page to officially recognise this amazing contribution.
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
On Monday 5th May, 6 Rotarians from our club attended the Rotary Club of Gawler where President Jenny Alexander-Walters was invited to outline our club activities with the audience while we shared a meal.
