Guest Speaker: Michael Laker Bali Project.
Michael spoke about a project in the North of Bali. He, together with his wife Lindy, had been visiting Bali since their children were small and wanted to help a village. The north of the island has virtually no tourism and is at least a 4.5 hour drive from the south and major airport. For $1000, 40 families can be supported with a food package for a month and the Lakers were doing that with their own money, but they wanted to do more. Forming partnerships with the RC of Seymour (who contributed $2500) and the John Fawcett Foundation (based in Perth) they identified that eye health was an issue that required attention. This year, with the assistance of Jetstar who transported the materials free of charge, the JFF supported an eye clinic to occur in Desa Umeanyar—a village of 1800 people. The results are listed below!Michael said Rotary gave him the seeds of community and this project came about because he and his wife wanted to help and by forming partnerships, they could achieve so much more. Well done Michael (and Lindy).
Michael was thanked by Rotarian and long time friend Gary Fitzgerald for his presentation and commitment to making a difference.
Three Minuter: Sandra Davey
Sandra was a 10 pound Pom and read a rather clever poem titled 12,000 miles to describe her life. Several paragraphs are included below.
12,000 miles, four weeks on a boat, It was 1964
A young, shy, scared new bride, and a handsome young bloke
A long way from home, stepped onto South Australia’s shore
Bryan and I, we came on the ‘10 Pound Pom Plan’
To bring our skills to Australia, build a new life in this golden sunshine land
Sponsored by Aunty Peg and Uncle Jim, we had to stay for two years
They were to house and mentor us and get us started on our new careers
I worked at the Adelaide Newspaper, as a secretary
Bry, an aircraft engineer, at Weapons Research Establishment known as W.R.E
I worked on school tributes to Winston Churchill’s demise
The Adelaide Arts Festival and the budding authors prize
The heat that first summer was incredible to bear
They’re frying eggs on the footpath, my colleagues would jeer
We started a family, a boy, then a girl– one in each column for Australia I’d say
12,000 miles—we’ve come a long way
Bry joined the Regular Army; Wagga Wagga was our life,
Now I became an Army wife
There was a war on, soldiers to be trained, parades on the ground
By now, we must have paid back the Scheme our 10 pounds
We were posted to Melbourne, built a home in Wantirna
Well done Bry—he was now a Major; and all that regalia
Immigrants naturalise! Came Bob Hawkes cries
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| Michael indicating the location of a village | Catering Team |