ROTARY AUSTRALIA WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE (RAWCS)

The Australian flavour of World Community Service

Contact information-
Chairman : PP Terry Lobban [Lyn] Bellerive [H] 6244 5605 [M] 0419 100 945

Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd (RAWCS), a company established by Rotary in Australia to support the delivery of international projects by Australian Rotarians.
District 9830 is in the Southern region, as shown on the map..

Southern Region Districts are:

District 9780 - 61 Clubs District 9790 - 60 Clubs
District 9800 - 70 Clubs

District 9810 - 52 Clubs District 9820 - 51 Clubs District 9830 Tasmania - 48 Clubs

RAWCS four major activities are

Project Volunteers - supporting volunteers working in Australia and overseas
Safe Water, Save Lives - fostering projects providing water supplies
Donations in Kind - providing donated goods to developing countries
Rotarians against Malaria - helping to control malaria in South-East Asia

District 9830 has recently had contact with these projects-

Fiji - Rotahomes Project; coordinator Lew Pretorius [Central Launceston]

Solomons - Malaria bed nets; coordinator Lou Johnson, [West Launceston]

Phillipines - Water Projects; coordinator Geoff McLennan, [Deloraine]

Fiji Rotahomes Project

District 9830 has been involved with the Project Volunteers, Rotahomes project near Lautoka, Fiji for a number of years. This is an on-going project following the establishment of the first town Koroipita 1 (K1) of 85 homes. Koroipita 2 [K2] will involve the construction of 150 simple, timber framed and steel clad homes each with a kitchen/shower and toilet block for displaced families.

In July 2009 NZAID announced support for the K2 phase which will help setup the infastructure prior to the development of the next stage of the village development.

Photo shows construction in April 2008.

Update February 2010
NZAID funding for the first stage, and additional funding from the Fiji Government together with the 3H funds which were lodged in the bank by R.I. in 2007 has enabled the engineer John Yalde fij1 n to obtain all the necessary approvals to allow work to begin on the infrastructure for the next 161 homes (K2) and associated community buildings.

Tasmanian Rotarians have played a huge part in the past with this project. Pro-rata they have provided a large proportion of the volunteers in the past and it's greatr to see that teams are preparing to go again in 2010 to help with the start up of village K2.

Pictured is engineer John Yalden (left) and PDG Lew Pretorius checking the area for the road to the K2 village.

Find out more about the Fiji RotaHomes Project, including a February 2010 update.

Malaria Bed Nets

In the Western Solomons (population approx 85,000) the rate of malaria has progressively and steadily declined from around 20-30% in late 2001 to around 5% and in some areas t bednet o as low as 2%.

The current emphasis is to get people under chemically impregnated long life bed nets; a small, medium or large village can be “adopted” for the cost of $1000, $2000 or $3000 respectively.

Rotarians can be proud of what has been achieved but much more remains to be done and your continuing support will make a difference.

Pictured are women in the Solomons sewing bed nets.

Donations in Kind

As an example of equipment donated for use overseas, recently the Rotary Club of Bellerive collected school furniture, computers, books, shelving and storage units and filled a 40 foot shipping container which was sent to their Lautoka schools project in Fiji.

In addition, the container also carried bras for the “Project Uplift ” and X-ray equipment to go to the CWM Hospital in Suva. The X-ray equipment was organized by Peter Koens from the Rotary Club of Nunawading (Vic).

Boxes of babies and children’s clothing were donated by the Margate Second Hand Shop for the Cat’s Home and these were gratefully received at the baby clinic connected to the hospital.

Also in the container were forty eight sewing machines donated by Stewart’s Sewing Centre in Devonport.

At present District 9830 has collection points in Hobart and Launceston to store such materials.

District 9790 Website contains information about Southern Region activities

Contacts are

District Coordinator: PP Graeme Elphinstone [Jenny Simons] Spring Bay
[H] 6257 3641 [B] 6257 3242 [M] 0418 133 366
North PP Gerard Blizzard [Fiona], Smithton [H[ 6452 3398 [M] 0417 532 392
South PP Veena Tilly [Denys] Bellerive [H] 6244 5749 [M] 0429 445 748

Kokoda Walks

District 9830 has responded superbly to the first RAWCS walk – walking the Kokoda Track from Owers Corner to Kokoda.

The trip took place in September 2008, a collection of people from all around Australia made the pilgrimage to walk the Kokoda Trail in recognition of the work of Rotary International and raise money for RAWCS.

Approx $30 000 was raised

Further walks are planned, see details here...

More information here

Donations eligable for Taxation Deductability

Recently the Government has made some modifications to the way tax deductible donations can be used. To benefit from these exciting opportunities, the Board of RAWCS has acted to upgrade the Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund (OAF) to full charity status. More details from the RAWCS National website.

Looking for an Overseas Project?

Examine the list of projects available on the RAWCS National website. Some projects listed may qualify for a Rotary Foundation Matching .

Download a pdf file of projects looking for volunteers as at February 2010

Download a list of projects just seeking funding as at February 2010

Team selection criteria . Skills vary according to the program, however general good health, team participation capacities and cultural sensitivity is required

Some important current issues to note;
All team members must pass a medical and a national police check. Insurance issues are a current cause for concern. While teams are fully covered for normal occurrences, our insurance may not cover a range of pre-existing injuries/ailments. If team members do have pre-existing conditions, insurance applications must be submitted through the District Insurance Officer for submission to our insurers. If cover is rejected, the team members will have to arrange suitable insurance privately. If unable to do so, they cannot be accepted for teams.

Clubs may nominate an approximate time for travel (month and year) and let the project co-ordinator allocate a project. If teams prefer a particular project or country, you may need to be flexible in terms of when you can be sent there.

Teams are usually 5 to 8 persons. Non Rotarians are welcome. Not all projects are suitable for ladies, project details should indicate this. At least one building trade person or close to it is needed in each team. There is usually on the ground supervisors, but some skills are necessary.

Up to date application forms should be downloaded here

Once your interest has been narrowed down, you will deal with the RAWCS District 9830 Chair: PP Terry Lobban [Lyn] Bellerive [H] 6244 5605 [M] 0419 100 945

District 9780 - 61 Clubs	District 9790 - 60 Clubs	District 9800 - 70 Clubs
District 9810 - 52 Clubs	District 9820 - 51 Clubs	District 9830 Tasmania - 48 Clubs