THE ROTATOR of the ROTARY CLUB OF SOUTHPORT

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District: 9640 Queensland, Chartered 20 Australia th August, 1945 24 January 2017 Club No 17905 THE ROTATOR of the ROTARY CLUB OF SOUTHPORT Chartered 20 th August 1945 Charter No:

RI President John Germ DG Michael Irving President Graham Lea Rickwood Cooper President 2015/16 TREASURER S BIRTHDAYS 1955 PP Marion Acting President s message for the meeting on

We are pleased that Sahlee and Fred have been able to help Rosalinda study here to have a new future for her and her family.

We enjoyed the company of Marian Lewis of the Rotary Club of Yate in Bristol and her partner Richard. They have been visiting family in Australia.

I see that he has already put his name down to work on the Carousel. There is a movie night to raise funds for Polio Plus on Thursday February 2 at the Gold Coast Arts Centre at 7.

In Canberra, Alexander and Vladimir will meet Isabella Mortimore (who attended in 2014 as our sponsored student) as she is an administrator this year.

1 District: 9640 Queensland, Chartered 20 Australia th August, January 2017 Club No THE ROTATOR of the ROTARY CLUB OF SOUTHPORT Chartered 20 th August 1945 Charter No: Service Above Self! RI President John Germ DG Michael Irving President Graham Lea Rickwood Cooper President 2015/16 TREASURER S BIRTHDAYS 1955 PP Marion Acting President s message for the meeting on January 24 It was great that 29 people attended to hear the heart rending story Sahlee s sister Rosalinda told us. Her experiences have to be heard to be believed. We are pleased that Sahlee and Fred have been able to help Rosalinda study here to have a new future for her and her family. Rotary s good name enabled Rose s visa to be approved, Fred assures us. We wish Rose all the very best. We enjoyed the company of Marian Lewis of the Rotary Club of Yate in Bristol and her partner Richard. They have been visiting family in Australia. We welcome Graeme Hills back from his 5 month sojourn with family in the UK and Europe. We look forward to having Graeme involved in club activities. I see that he has already put his name down to work on the Carousel. There is a movie night to raise funds for Polio Plus on Thursday February 2 at the Gold Coast Arts Centre at 7.30 pm. The cost is $20. I have seen the trailer of this movie called Hidden Figures about African American scientists involved in NASA s projects, especially John Glenn s. It is an excellent movie with a moral to it so if you can support this, please sign up. This week, our 3 NYSF (National Youth Science Foundation) students are at this marvelous programme. In Canberra, Alexander and Vladimir will meet Isabella Mortimore (who attended in 2014 as our sponsored student) as she is an administrator this year. Zainab Noor is attending the programme in Auckland. We will enjoy hearing from these young people soon and I hope that they will be able to attend the District Alumni Dinner on February 18 here at the Golf Club. If you know of any alumni from any Rotary programmes, please let me know so I can send them an invitation. PDG Ross Smith is our guest speaker. He led a GSE (Group Study Exchange) Tour to Turkey. We had 65 people attend last year for a really good night. Chair Sgt Atnd Trs Rt Mn In Tst Chair Sgt Atnd Trs ROSTER 24 January Rt Mn In Tst ROSTER 31 January Jim S Graeme H Michelle W JeanLuc S N/A Graham J Thanks Tony G Up/Dn Scribe M&G Tony P Bill C Sahlee O Helen M Gary W N/A Thanks Leanda C Up/Dn Scribe M&G Steve P Hugh S All Bill C Andrew M All 24 January

2 TREASURER S REPORT Merv Powell NOTE: All members who fail to send in an apology for non-attendance will be charged as per our club policy, which was agreed by all members at previous club assemblies. Attendance: 25 Members, 1 partner,2 visiting Rotarians,1 club guest, 1 members guest. Total. 30. Polio Plus $58. Fines $ Rotary Carousel Funds Year 1/7/16 to 30/6/17 Last Year Week Ending Weekly Qtr YTD /01/2017 $4, $11, $74, st Qtr $27, $31, nd Qtr $34, $33, rd Qtr $11, $32, th Qtr $0.00 $23, YTD $74, $121, BIRTHDAYS 19 Jan Andrew M 30 Jan Bill C ROTARY Induction ANNIVERSARIES Spouse Birthday 24 Jan Fred Hamblin ROTARY GRACE & FOUR WAY TEST ROTARY GRACE Oh Lord and giver of all good We thank Thee for our daily food May Rotary friends and Rotary ways Help us to serve thee all our days FOUR WAY TEST 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Date Claimer 7 February Club Night JeanLuc S. Member behind the badge 11 February Visit to Ballina 21 February Rotary birthday dinner. Cav s Steak House Apologies to Bill Connelly Club Service Director Apologies must be received on Sunday evening, prior to Tuesday s meeting. There are three ways to apologise if you cannot attend a meeting. Fill in the apologies book on the attendance table. big.yin@bigpond.com Telephone or text Mob The board has ruled that the cost of a meal will have to be paid for by the member if an apology is not received DUTIES ROSTER If members are unable to fulfil a duty, it is their responsibility to find a replacement. CHAIRMAN- The chairman is responsible for telephoning the members on duty to confirm their attendance 24 January

3 SCRIBE S REPORT 17 January Chairwoman Rhonda Whitton opened the meeting at 6.20 p.m. with the reciting of the 4 way test and a toast to the Queen and people of Australia. Lambert Wang proposed an International Toast to the Rotary Club of Yate, Bristol, England. Located 11 miles from the centre of Bristol, the club has 35 members of both genders. Their main fundraiser is the annual South Cotswold Beer Festival. Visiting from the Rotary Club of Yate were Marian Lewis and partner Richard. Acting President Marion Jones exchanged banners before welcoming members and guests, including our speaker Rosalinda Marayan. Directors Reports Bill Connolly asked for the Club s interest in hosting the incoming Friendship Exchange visitors for 3-4 days. Hugh Smith reported that the Carousel roster was full for the moment and that the period over Christmas had been busy. This week there will be a $500 donation for a photo shoot at the Carousel. Leanda Cooper advised that she will be organizing another Aunties and Uncles picnic in the 2 nd half of the year. Graham Jones asked for nominations for the position of District Governor 2019/20 on behalf of DG Michael Irving. Applications are due by the 1 st of March. Graham also advised that Governor General Peter Cosgrove has agreed to be patron for the Malaria Vaccine Project. $38,000 has been raised so far. The goal is $500,000. D.G. Michael Irving confirmed that registrations for the conference are now open. Former RI President Bill Boyd will represent RI President John Germ at the conference. Donations of 12 bottles of good red wine (scoring over 95 points by James Halliday) should go to Col Lee for the conference raffle. Marion Jones sent around a folder for the movie night on the 2 nd of February. She will be collecting the $20 next week and on the 31 st of January. Sergeant Peter Overell extracted money from members and guests during the fine session. Heads and tails were won by our visitor Richard and guest speaker Rosalinda won the raffle. Sahlee Orbidalla introduced her sister to speak about her life. Please see Rosalinda Marayan s moving speech, which is attached. Acting President Marion gave an emotional vote of thanks and presented Marayan with certificate acknowledging that a literacy kit will be donated to a school in Tanzania in her name. Sahlee s husband Fred thanked our club, saying our input had been very helpful in the visa application process. After next week s roster was read, Marion closed the meeting at 7.30 p.m. Lea R. ROSALINDA MARAYAN S SPEECH My name is Rosalinda Marayan. In Australia, my Australian name is Rose. I was born in Western Mindanao in the southern Philippines, where civil war between the Moslems and Christians had been a major problem for decades. Believe it or not, I have 10 siblings; 3 brothers and 7 sisters me being the second youngest. My Father was murdered when I was only 8 years old and my older brothers and sisters had to support our family the best they could. We grew up on a farm and life was never easy, especially without a father figure in the family. 24 January

4 My Mother promised each of us a high school education and I did graduate from the 10 th grade in I should mention that the Philippines only has 10 years to high school graduation, while most developed western countries have a twelve year education. Germany has 13 years. With no money or ability to go on to college, I wound up pregnant and later married Jimmy my Husband, whom I met when we were both security guards. He came from Christian eastern Mindanao and this was my chance to move away from the problems of western Mindanao. Jimmy and I went on to have 3 children; Kenn, Stephen and Divine. Despite our love for each other, the economic situation in the Philippines was horrible and even worse when there was a drought, which meant no crop harvests and nothing to eat. Having come from a very large family where there were always children around, I learned quickly to care for many children at the same time and I was very good at this task. So when our family was suffering tremendously and my children were asking for school supplies, food and clothing, I became very desperate and heartbroken because my Husband and I could not properly feed and support our immediate and extended family. So in 2012, being just 30 years of age with three young children, I signed up with a so called agency to work overseas. The promise was a regular salary that was double what the Philippines could offer. Little did I know that these so called agencies were actually human traffickers of young, helpless, poor and uneducated women. They had you sign an agreement in Arabic and then put you in a processing centre. To give you an idea there were 700 of us housed in 6 large rooms with only 4 toilets. We had to sleep on our small roller bags using it as a pillow, so one s few possessions were not stolen. We were then taken for pregnancy testing and shipped off in batches to the Middle East for a 2 year assignment. I was in the processing centre over 4 months, probably because I was hard to place at 30 years of age. We were taught basic Arabic and I did what I was told. I don t want to go into great detail about how it was in Kuwait where temperatures reached 50 Celsius in summer and 9 Celsius in the winter. All the water was reverse osmosis, so my face had so many sores on it you would think I had the measles. My first employer did not like me and so they treated me horribly and did not pay me for over 2 months. I later resettled with another family, but my two years started all over again. We were paid in Dinar, the local currency, which was about $200 per month in Australian money. The so called agency took about half of our salary for the processing, passport fees, flights etc. I sent home when I could about $100 five or six times a year. It was Sahlee and Fred who kept in touch with me when I was in Kuwait. Fred had come to Manila in 2012 to try to stop me being taken to Kuwait, but I was too much in debt to the agency and had no way to pay for my family s care had I stayed in the Philippines. My sister Sahlee and her husband had sent care packages to my family when I was away so they had something special to eat and things like toothpaste. Sahlee s husband flew to the Philippines and took my children to the dentist when I was in Kuwait. The dentist told him all my children had underdeveloped lower jaws because all were malnourished. It seemed my life was a horrible existence of just surviving somehow. I would cry myself to sleep at nights. So when I was sent home from Kuwait on the 29 th of April 2015, my final memories were like a nightmare. I was sick, and weighed 38 kilos. My face looked like that of a leper and the agency didn t even pay for my food on the flight home. I worried that my Husband wouldn t still love me and if my children were ok. My sister and brother in law applied for a sponsored visa for me to Australia and it was miraculously granted because this Rotary club was willing to endorse my speaking to your club with a special letter of invitation. Sahlee s husband flew to Singapore to ensure I did not land in detention as most single Filipino women do, even though I had a visa and a return flight from Australia. I can tell you that arriving in Australia was a completely different experience than arriving in Kuwait. I could understand most things in English and Australia was clean and green. Everything functioned properly. The water did not taste like chemicals and there was good water pressure everywhere too. The public parks were green, clean and there was no entry fee. 24 January

5 The beaches had no litter and plastic garbage floating everywhere. My favourite place was the Southport Library. I asked my sister what the cost was to have the automatic plastic card to borrow books and she replied our taxes pay for this. I didn t really understand fully. My family here in Australia told me how important it was for me to learn as much as possible about a properly functioning real world. My sponsors also made it clear that I was not to violate any law or overstay my visa. I want to thank this Rotary Club s Board of Directors and President for supporting me with a letter of representation, because this letter was important to immigration in granting me a further multiple entry visa to Australia. Using this visa, I was able to obtain a student visa on the 8 th of July and I studied English for 6 months so I could speak to you tonight. Presently I am studying child care. With a Diploma in Child Care and a Business Development Management certificate, I know my future will be great. Education is priceless and the chance to live like you all do has always been a dream. I now have the right to legally work in Australia and remain until 2019 to finish my studies. My life has gone from one of despair, nightmares and no hope to one of a bright future and many interim successes. For this I would like to thank my sister Sahlee and the Rotary Club of Southport for your unselfish help and support. There are those of you in the Rotary Club who went an extra mile to assist me and this will never be forgotten. Special thanks to Marion Jones, Andrew Middleton and Lea Rickwood, who undertook and wrote me a letter of support to speak to your club. This was the key to having my visa approved. My sister Evangeline owns her own home, has titled land, farm animals and her visa was rejected. I can only speculate that it was a letter from this Rotary club that made the difference to allow me to be here tonight. After my arrival, another angel appeared from this Rotary club. There is a member of this club who knew my life more intimately and he made an incredible donation to my Son s education. This donation will enable my oldest to study here in Australia and I would like to thank this man who put service and philanthropy above self. God bless all of you and thank you again. If there are questions, please ask them clearly and slowly so that I may answer. Important Dates for 2017 Note change of date. February 11 th, 10.30am, District Conference Committee Meeting attended by Merv and Leanda and a Club visit to Ballina, hosted by the Clubs of Ballina and Alstonville, lunch at followed by a tour of Conference venues and Ballina. Both times NSW time. All members and partners are invited to attend as a lead up to the May conference. Merv P is taking numbers.. February 26 th Rotary Leadership/Learning Institute stage 1. March 4 th a visit and working bee at Donations in Kind, am pm including a sausage sizzle. March PETS and District Assembly in Lismore. March 20th, return trip to Charleville work to begins. March 26 th The Gold Coast Ramble with our Satellite Club. April 2 nd, Rotary Leadership/Learning Institute stage 2 24 January

6 . May 5,6,7,8. The District Rotary Shares because Rotary Cares Conference in Ballina, with promise of enough events to keep us busy for four days. June 25th District Changeover. June 27 th Club Changeover This week:- Sylvia Jones Topic:- Finding Great Grandfather Please Note. Correct phone number for Sandra Doumany is January

Dear Andrew, Re: Youth Report January 2017 RYLA: This event is run 20-27 Jan 2017 and is for age groups 19-28.

7 Dear Andrew, Re: Youth Report January 2017 RYLA: This event is run Jan 2017 and is for age groups Through Graham and Marion Jones we managed to secure one applicant, a Mr Samuel Hall from Griffith University. MUNA: The Model United Nations Assembly is for year 11 and 12 students due to be held on 25 March Could anyone who has contact with a school who would be interested in putting together a team contact them as we are prepared to sponsor a team. RYPEN:The Rotary Program for Youth Enrichment is for 14-16year olds and is designed build personal qualities and life skills. Applications are due 21/4/17 for a Camp May It is held at Camp Bornhoffen PCYC. Again I call for all members to look at their kids/grandkids for applicants. Yours faithfully David Randall Director of Youth Rotary Club of Southport 24 January

8 PolioPlus Movie Night GOLD COAST ARTS CENTRE THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2017 at 7.30pm Tickets $20 each available from Neil Jones THE MOVIE HIDDEN FIGURES is the incredible untold story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) Brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: The launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanised the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big. 24 January

9 24 January

10 A fantastic Rotary Friendship Exchange opportunity to share with Rotarians from District Arizona USA has arisen. District 5510 has more than 35 clubs from all over North East Arizona, from central Phoenix, to the White Mountains and over to Flagstaff and is mainly desert based. There is a team from District 5510 (15 = 7 couples plus a single Rotarian) set to arrive in our District for a Friendship Exchange for up to a 2 week period starting on Saturday 28 October Initially we need host clubs over the period that these Rotarians plan to be in our District - Saturday 28 October 2017 to Saturday 11 November Is you Club interested in Hosting over this period? Secondly, are you interested in joining in on the team for the return part of the Friendship Exchange to Arizona scheduled to occur in October 2018? I would appreciate if you made you members aware of this opportunity. I would really appreciate hearing from you - by 31 January whether your club is interested in Hosting and if there are members interested in being part of the team to Arizona. Yours in Rotary Friendship Neil Baldwin Broadbeach Rotary Club nandcbaldwin@gmail.com DUTIES 24 January 31 January 7 february 14 february Chair TonyP Jim S Gary W TonyG Sergeant Bill C Graham H Tony S Lea R Attendance Sahlee O Michelle W Peter O Neil R Treasurer Helen M JeanLuc S Leanda C Greg D Rotary Minute Gary W N/A Michelle W N/A Int Toast Graham J N/A David R Vote of thanks Leanda C TonyG N/A Andrew M Ups and Downs Steve P BillC Jim S Lionel P Scribe Hugh S Andrew M Marion J Liz H Meet & Greet A ll All All All GUEST SPEAKERS & CALENDAR 2016 Partners are welcome at all meetings and vocational visits. 24 January Sylvia Jones Finding Great Grandfather 31 January Graham Stephenson Photo Journalist. Strange places beyond the fringe. 7 February Club Night. Buffet meal JeanLuc S. Member behind the badge 14 February Col Laurenson Donations in Kind Contributions to The Rotator are most welcome, please tonyandmira@optusnet.com.au before 6.00pm Thursday. Copies to Sue Dux suedux@hotmail.com 24 January

11 Declaration of war and notes made by Sister Catherine Hollis. Provided by DG Michael Irving 24 January

Carousel Roster Coming Days 19-Jan Thu Ashmore RC Ashmore

Lionel Susan 21-Jan Sat Graeme H Lambert Robina RC Susan

Susan Date Day 9-12 12-3pm 3-6pm 6-9pm 23-Jan Mon Tony P

& Ken David & Pam 25-Jan Wed Have a Feed Have a Feed Have A

RC Robina RC 27-Jan Fri Robert Allen Jean-Luc Lionel Susan

Rotaract Club Satellite Club Satellite Club Susan Date Day

Penny 31-Jan Tue Dot & Ken Hugh Graeme H David & Pam Rhonda

Exchanging banners Leanda the caravanner Conference talk

12 Carousel Roster Coming Days 19-Jan Thu Ashmore RC Ashmore RC Ashmore RC Robina RC 20-Jan Fri Robert Allen Jean-Luc Lionel Susan 21-Jan Sat Graeme H Lambert Robina RC Susan 22-Jan Sun Rotaract Club Satellite Club Satelitte Club Susan Date Day pm 3-6pm 6-9pm 23-Jan Mon Tony P Robert Allen Graeme H Peter O 24-Jan Tue Dot & Ken Hugh Dot & Ken David & Pam 25-Jan Wed Have a Feed Have a Feed Have A Feed Have A Feed 26-Jan Thu Ashmore RC Ashmore RC Ashmore RC Robina RC 27-Jan Fri Robert Allen Jean-Luc Lionel Susan 28-Jan Sat Graeme H Lambert Robina RC Susan 29-Jan Sun Rotaract Club Satellite Club Satellite Club Susan Date Day pm 3-6pm 6-9pm 30-Jan Mon Tony P Robert Allen Penny 31-Jan Tue Dot & Ken Hugh Graeme H David & Pam Rhonda chairs Lambert toasts Yate Rotary Club Marian Lewis Exchanging banners Leanda the caravanner Conference talk from DG Michael Sahlee introduces sister Rosalinda Rosalinda s emotional story 24 January

Thanks and a hug from Marion Certificate presented Fred tells his story PP Marion with Rosalinda, Sahlee and Fred Thoughts for the week Sister:

A little demon came home from school one day and said to his mother, 'I hate my sister's guts.

Teacher: It's a kangaroo. Class: What's a kangaroo, miss? Teacher: A kangaroo is a native of Australia.

' asked the school secretary on the first day of the new academic year. 'He's a conjurer, Ma'am,' said the new boy. 'How interesting.

13 Thanks and a hug from Marion Certificate presented Fred tells his story PP Marion with Rosalinda, Sahlee and Fred Thoughts for the week Sister: Mom wants you to come in and help fix dinner. Brother: Why? Is it broken? A little demon came home from school one day and said to his mother, 'I hate my sister's guts.' 'All right,' said his mother, 'I won't put them in your sandwiches again.' Teacher: What's this a picture of? Class: Don't know, Miss. Teacher: It's a kangaroo. Class: What's a kangaroo, miss? Teacher: A kangaroo is a native of Australia. Smallest boy: Wow, my sister's married one of them. 'What's your father's occupation?' asked the school secretary on the first day of the new academic year. 'He's a conjurer, Ma'am,' said the new boy. 'How interesting. What's his favourite trick?' 'He saws people in half.' 'Gosh! now, next question. Any brothers or sisters?' 'One half brother and two half sisters.' Dad: Don't be selfish. Let your brother use the sled half the time. Son: I do, Dad. I use it going down the hill and he gets to use it coming up! Why did your sister wear a wet shirt all day? Because the label said, 'Wash and Wear. 24 January

30pm Runaway Bay Paradise Point Bowls Club Paradise Point Tuesday 6.30pm Parkwood Arundel Tavern 226 Napper Rd. Arundel Tuesday 6.

14 NEARBY CLUBS FOR MAKE-UPS Further information can be found in the District Directory Day Time Club Venue Address Monday 6.30pm Surfers Paradise Mantra Legends Gold Coast Hwy and Laycock St Surfers Paradise 6.30pm Coomera Valley Arundel Tavern 226 Napper Rd Parkwood 6.30pm Runaway Bay Paradise Point Bowls Club Paradise Point Tuesday 6.30pm Parkwood Arundel Tavern 226 Napper Rd. Arundel Tuesday 6.30pm Broadbeach Crowne Plaza Hotel 2807 GC Hwy Surfers Paradise Wednesday 7.00am Surfers Sunrise RSL Surfers Paradise Surfers Paradise 7.15am Hope Is Hope Island Golf Club Hope Island 12.30pm Mermaid Beach Quality Inn Markeri St. Mermaid Beach 6.30pm Ashmore Ashmore Steak and Seafood Cnr Ashmore Rd and Reed St. Thursday 7.00am Burleigh Hds Burleigh Hds Surf Club Goodwin Tce. Burleigh Hds 2 nd and 4 th 6.15pm Gold Coast Southport Golf Club Slatyer Ave Thursdays Central 7.00am Coomera River Waterlife Restaurant Gold Coast Marina Waterway Dv Coomera. Friday 7.00am Broadwater Southport Southport Yacht Club Main Beach 24 January

ROTARY CLUB OF SOUTHPORT Queensland, Australia. Service Above Self

THE ROTATOR of the ROTARY CLUB OF SOUTHPORT Queensland, Australia 1955 District: 9640 Chartered 20 th August, 1945 9 September 2014 Charter No: 6069 www.southportaustraliarotary.org Club No: 17905 Service