Great first meeting of the new Rotary year! We welcomed Garth Perkins along as a guest, considering joining us after many years of Rotary service elsewhere — always wonderful to see Rotary connections carry through.

A real highlight: celebrating Ross Ellis's 35 years in Rotary. Three and a half decades of service is no small thing, and it's a privilege to have that kind of experience and commitment in the club.

We also heard updates on our scholarship programme, with work continuing alongside the University of Canberra to keep the selection process clear and well-run, and a reminder from Jenny about the ways members can support the Rotary Foundation's global work.

The Rotary eClub of Brindabella held their end-of-May meeting where members shared personal objects and stories about what was within arm's reach. The group participated in breakout room discussions to brainstorm ideas for using $5,000 over 6 months for a Rotary project, with proposed ideas including home repairs for homeless people, teaching cooking skills, outdoor movie sessions with environmental themes, and art packs for preschools. Members also discussed plans for the upcoming changeover luncheon on June 13th. The conversation ended with members sharing their hopes for the club's future activities, including scholarship programs, service projects, and potential collaboration with the Nepalese community in Canberra.

Nepal Trip Presentation Overview

Wendy De Luca presented on her recent trip to Nepal, sharing insights about the country's geography, population, and key locations she visited including Kathmandu, Sunduli, Chitwan, and Pokhara. She discussed Nepal's historical significance, particularly regarding the British invasion attempts in 1838 and the role of the Gurkha forces. Wendy also mentioned the recent swearing-in of Nepal's new Prime Minister Balan Shah, who previously served as Kathmandu's mayor and was known as a rapper before entering politics.

Nepal School Project Update

Wendy shared her experience from a trip to Nepal with the RAWCS team, where they worked on converting a classroom into a dining room and kitchen for Sri Kamala Secondary College, and revitalized a damaged shipping container to be sent to another school. She also conducted professional development sessions for teachers at the Senduli Community Technical Institute and visited remote primary schools as part of their sponsorship program. The team faced challenges with road access, which prevented them from delivering the revitalized container to its intended recipient school.

Nepal School Support Program Update

Wendy presented an update on the Nepal school support program, which has been running for 8 years in partnership with the Rotary Club of Kathmandu. The program provides uniforms, school supplies, and support to underprivileged children, particularly those from Dalit castes, helping them attend school on equal footing with their peers. Wendy noted that while the program previously included lunch support, the Nepali government has now implemented a national lunch program for public school children, allowing the sponsorship cost to remain at $75. Wendy invited the club to consider making this program a club project and requested a link to their website be added to the club's website.

RAWCS Program in Nepal

Wendy presented on the RAWCS program in Nepal, which currently supports 900 children across 18 schools with a budget of $75 per child per year. The Rotary Club of Kathmandu handles local implementation, including delivery of supplies and community engagement, while Wendy manages funding from Australia. Wendy emphasized the importance of community buy-in and noted that local materials are prioritized when available, with some supplies sourced from Nepal and others imported from India or China.

Community Project Ownership Strategies

Wendy discussed the importance of helping communities take ownership of projects rather than creating dependencies on external help. She explained how the Nepal school kitchen project was designed without Rotary branding to encourage local maintenance and pride. Ros asked about sustainability and community willingness to take ownership, to which Wendy responded that remote hill schools showed more community-mindedness and independence compared to larger towns. Wendy also shared insights about healthcare challenges in the region, noting that while a new hospital was built, it lacked essential services like anaesthetists due to funding limitations.

RAWCS Program Uniform Discussion

Wendy discussed her experience with the RAWCS program, which involves students participating in school clean-up activities and receiving uniforms and supplies. She explained that fundraising is done both in Nepal through the Rotary Club of Kathmandu and in Australia, with support from various Rotary clubs. Wendy also addressed the issue of uniform durability and reuse, noting that some uniforms last only a year due to constant use, while others may be passed down to younger siblings.

Healthcare and Political Developments

Ross shared his experience meeting a midwife in New Guinea who had delivered 957 babies, highlighting the important healthcare needs in the region. Wendy agreed about the potential for RAWCS programs in PNG but expressed concerns about water quality and security issues. The discussion also touched on political developments in Nepal, where the new prime minister had already taken action against corruption by arresting the previous prime minister following a judicial inquiry into deaths during last year's uprising.

The meeting focused on a discussion with Evan Burrell, District Governor of Rotary District 9660, who shared his perspectives on the organisation's future and challenges. Evan explored innovative ideas for Rotary, including reimagining it for modern audiences and considering alternative structures like e-clubs or regionalised approaches. He emphasised the need for change and adaptation to remain relevant, while acknowledging resistance from within the organisation. 

The group also discussed the impact of regionalisation, the challenges of middle management, and the importance of differentiation among clubs. Evan suggested consolidating efforts in some areas and highlighted successful examples of clubs operating independently.

The club discussed upcoming events and speakers for the year, with inviting members to share what they were looking forward to in both Rotary and personal contexts. The conversation ended with plans to continue discussions about future activities and speakers.

The discussion focused on polio eradication efforts, with Norm providing insights on post-polio syndrome cases and Rob sharing recognition from Rotary International for district contributions. The majority of the meeting was dedicated to John's presentation of various district service projects, including youth accommodation initiatives, domestic violence support programs, and community support initiatives, with emphasis on collaboration with local organizations and upcoming events.

This meeting featured two guests: our outbound Youth Exchange participant Carmel and online Rotary Community Group leader Amanda Barnes. 

Due to the dispersed nature of our club, members are encouraged to join with other Rotary clubs for events and gatherings in September and October. 

Our End Trachoma program has recommenced with new toiletry bags sent to the Northern Territory.

14 members and guests attended our club changeover at Taralga on July 12.