Last Week's Meeting
President Sangeeta welcomed guests Kerry Graham and Steve Ridley ‘the Bee People’ to the meeting for their third time. She also extended a warm welcome to our guest speakers, Russell Hayes and Grant Klaaysen from Wheelchairs for Kids.
- Happy Birthday Colin Brown
- Anniversary joining Rotary Marcus and Emma 21 yrs
- Anniversary - Colin Brown joined 1 July 1979 – 44 yrs!!! What a great commitment to Rotary.
Colin provided some background into his association with Rotary. He was asked to join Rotary when a young man and living in Palmerston North in NZ before moving to Australia. Rotary for Colin been a part of his life. Things were different and slower when he wife, Robyn and he came to Australia. They were young people starting life in Melbourne and joining provided a club and fellowship for them. They were lucky to have lived around the corner for many years! Colin has appreciated the times he has had and the people you connect with and the friends you make.
Welcome again to our club Rowan and Linda
Rowan French and Linda Culell were presented with their Rotary Badges.
Wheelchairs for Kids
Russell Hayes and Grant Klaaysen
Wheelchairs for Kids was started in 1998 by Scarborough Rotary Club and 55,000 chairs have been provided by Wheelchairs for Kids so far.
Russell will be moving into Macclesfield Road in the next 12 months!His father, Peter Klaaysen, was passionate about Wheelchairs for Kids – he has sadly passed away but Grant promised to keep up the good work and is doing a great job
The organisation helps kids around the world by providing them with a wheelchair - there are literally millions of kids needing access to a wheelchair that will be able to cope with difficult terrains. The wheelchairs go to Rotary Clubs or disability centres so that the chairs are fitted to size and they do not get sore (all wheelchairs meet WHO standards0.
‘Having a disability shouldn’t bar anyone from school ‘ is the belief of Talandira - an inspirational young man on the video we were shown. It is incredibly brave for the children to get on a wheelchair and go to school. The wheelchairs get children off the ground and give them dignity and the opportunity to gain an education.
The manufacturing takes place in Perth with 800 volunteers involved in the operation that makes up to 50 wheelchairs a day. Each wheelchair costs $275 iand each one goes out with a knitted rug and teddy bear for the child recipient.
Kids can go into chair at aged 5 and still be in it at 15 years of age because there are 60 adjustments to allow this to happen.
For new members of the RC of Emerald and District – our club is fundraising for Wheelchairs for Kids via the IGA Community Program and have been for a lot of years.
Ways you can help:
- Organise Wheelathon events – connections to local schools would really assist
- Ritchies Community Benefits Program – you can sign up and choose the Rotary Club of Emerald and District and your purchases will help raise funds
- Assistance providing presentations – connections further afield to raise awareness
- If you are inspired and would like to get involved more, speak to Grant or Russell
If you would like to take part in raising funds for Wheelchairs for Kids, you can download the Richies Rewards Apps by scanning the QR codes below - or search for Ritchies in the Apple App Store or Google Play. You then go into the App, login and register and choose the Rotary Club of Emerald and District as your charity partner.
Screenshot within the App to Register:
