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Kevin Nolan

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    April 19
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    May 2
Home Page News
Covid Protective Equipment
In late February 2024 our Rotary Club was asked by Holloway Aged Care facility in Keilor East if we could assist it by disposing of a huge accumulated quantity of excess, brand new, Covid 19 Personal Protective Equipment, comprising:
  • 104 cartons of Surgical Gown Packs (20 packs per carton)
  • 117 cartons of Cuffed Isolation Gowns (108 cartons of 50 & 9 cartons of 100)
  • 16 cartons of XS D95 Masks (600 masks per carton)
  • 16 cartons of Goggles (200 Goggles per carton)
  •                               
So, it was 253 cartons (comprising almost 21,180 individual items, with a conservative value exceeding $50,000) – enough to fill a small shipping container, and so much that it had rendered Holloway’s Community Hub unavailable for its daily activities.
All of our initial offers to major hospitals and health facilities went nowhere because it seemed they all had the same issue – they also were holding huge supplies of their own.
 
                                                
We began the distribution with a trickle of smaller deliveries, some to the Rotary District D9800 Donations in Kind Store, some to a local Medical Centre, and some to a medical research facility, but it was time for some lateral thinking if the project was to be achieved.
A preliminary check with a major animal rescue service and a large Veterinary Hospital brought no results, but a few “dog with a bone” members came to the party to the extent that all 253 cartons of equipment found new homes by mid-April – providing recipients with resources and cost savings that they value highly.
Large quantities of equipment went to animal rescue and veterinary services, including:
Second Chance Animal Rescue
  • Essendon Animal Referral Hospital
  • Cat Protection Society of Victoria
  • Unusual Pet Vets
  • Karingal Veterinary Hospital
                                
Many cartons of Goggles went to Men’s Sheds, including at Aberfeldie, Strathmore, Brimbank, Melton, Taylors Hill, Sunbury, and as far as Birchip. The Sunbury Men’s Shed also requested some gowns to placate wives who were sick of trying to clean resins and glue from member’s clothes.
 
                                                                                         
 
Last carton loaded – and the Community Hub is clear and available for its intended use.
The project was a great challenge - and in the end we were up for it.
JOB DONE.
Rotary Exchange Student
Rotary Club of Keilor is sponsoring a Rotary Exchange student Irene Anderson Pett who is now in Germany.
 
             
Recent photos were taken at the Blazer Presentation for our outbound students:
 
      
Rotary Exchange students are recognised by their Rotary Youth Exchange blazer.  The colour of the blazer usually depends on which country or region the exchange student is from, Australia being Green.  One Rotary tradition is that students cover their blazers in pins and patches they have traded with other students or bought in places they have visited as evidence of their exchange.  It is popular for the students to bring a large collection of national- or regional-themed pins and trade them with students from other areas. This tradition is popular worldwide.
We had the pleasure of District 9800 Governor Ron Payne presenting the blazers to the students.
To add to the occasion, a special presentation from PDG Grant Hocking to Barry and Vanda Mullen recognising their significant contribution to The Rotary Foundation
Our Club wishes Irene great happiness for her Rotary Exchange in Germany with her host families
Christmas Bags Appeal 2023
For more than 25 years, the Rotary Club of Keilor has undertaken an annual project to source the contents for, and pack, 100 Christmas Bags for distribution by Bolton Clarke community Nurses (previously the Royal District Nursing Service) in the lead up to Christmas.  We are supported in this project by a number of supporters whose assistance we greatly appreciate, especially the support with a Grant from Greater Western Water
 
 Our Club was again able to undertake the project in the lead up to Christmas 2023.  Each bag contained personal hygeine products including soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, tissues, cotton buds, as well as food items, including baked beans, spaghetti, soup, biscuits, minced tarts and a Christmas Cake - together with some miscellaneous items, including a book, pen, a cleaning product, small can of wine, sunglasses, beanie and Christmas treats etc.  For Christmas 2023 we also had assistance from Rotary District D9800 Donations in Kind in the form of some donated products.
 
The Bags were packed by more than 25 members, family and friends at the Aberfeldie Bowls Club in what is a traditional evening working bee, concluding with pizzas and fellowship.
 
 
On the following morning, a fleet of Bolton Clarke cars arrived with the Nurses at the Bowls Club to receive the Bags, and pick them up for distribution over the following few days to the most elderly, isolated and lonely residents under their care in the Moonee Valley & Brimbank local government areas. 
 
The Nurses regularly tell us how the Bag "pick up" and their distribution to recipients is one of their favorite activities.  The thanks we receive from the Nurses and, more particularly the recipients, is reflected in a report, including recipient photos and stories, received from Bolton Clarke each year  It is this report, highlighting the delight and thanks of recipients, which enthuses our members to continue this annual project. 
 
        
     
 
    
Swim 4 Life Project in Thailand
The Rotary Club of Keilor financially supports the Swim 4 life Project, managed by
The Rotary Club of Sammui- Phangan our Club donated $3000 to fund a 12 week learn to swim program for 20 children between 8 - 12. The first cohort has just been completed with every child receiving a medallion and certificate.
Information recently received was that 40 students are about to start thesecond cohort. Unfortunately in the same update, a news item stated that  4 children decided to play and  cool off in a nearby stream, none of them survived.The World Health Organisation has proclaimed Thailand as the number one country in ASEAN for child deaths from drowing.
 
 
Club News
Covid Protective Equipment
Covid Protective Equipment
In late February 2024 our Rotary Club was asked by Holloway Aged Care facility in Keilor East if we could assist it by disposing of a huge accumulated quantity of excess, brand new, Covid 19 Personal Protective Equipment, comprising:
  • 104 cartons of Surgical Gown Packs (20 packs per carton)
  • 117 cartons of Cuffed Isolation Gowns (108 cartons of 50 & 9 cartons of 100)
  • 16 cartons of XS D95 Masks (600 masks per carton)
  • 16 cartons of Goggles (200 Goggles per carton)
  •                               
So, it was 253 cartons (comprising almost 21,180 individual items, with a conservative value exceeding $50,000) – enough to fill a small shipping container, and so much that it had rendered Holloway’s Community Hub unavailable for its daily activities.
All of our initial offers to major hospitals and health facilities went nowhere because it seemed they all had the same issue – they also were holding huge supplies of their own.
 
                                                
We began the distribution with a trickle of smaller deliveries, some to the Rotary District D9800 Donations in Kind Store, some to a local Medical Centre, and some to a medical research facility, but it was time for some lateral thinking if the project was to be achieved.
A preliminary check with a major animal rescue service and a large Veterinary Hospital brought no results, but a few “dog with a bone” members came to the party to the extent that all 253 cartons of equipment found new homes by mid-April – providing recipients with resources and cost savings that they value highly.
Large quantities of equipment went to animal rescue and veterinary services, including:
Second Chance Animal Rescue
  • Essendon Animal Referral Hospital
  • Cat Protection Society of Victoria
  • Unusual Pet Vets
  • Karingal Veterinary Hospital
                                
Many cartons of Goggles went to Men’s Sheds, including at Aberfeldie, Strathmore, Brimbank, Melton, Taylors Hill, Sunbury, and as far as Birchip. The Sunbury Men’s Shed also requested some gowns to placate wives who were sick of trying to clean resins and glue from member’s clothes.
 
                                                                                         
 
Last carton loaded – and the Community Hub is clear and available for its intended use.
The project was a great challenge - and in the end we were up for it.
JOB DONE.
Rotary Exchange Student
Rotary Exchange Student
Rotary Club of Keilor is sponsoring a Rotary Exchange student Irene Anderson Pett who is now in Germany.
 
             
Recent photos were taken at the Blazer Presentation for our outbound students:
 
      
Rotary Exchange students are recognised by their Rotary Youth Exchange blazer.  The colour of the blazer usually depends on which country or region the exchange student is from, Australia being Green.  One Rotary tradition is that students cover their blazers in pins and patches they have traded with other students or bought in places they have visited as evidence of their exchange.  It is popular for the students to bring a large collection of national- or regional-themed pins and trade them with students from other areas. This tradition is popular worldwide.
We had the pleasure of District 9800 Governor Ron Payne presenting the blazers to the students.
To add to the occasion, a special presentation from PDG Grant Hocking to Barry and Vanda Mullen recognising their significant contribution to The Rotary Foundation
Our Club wishes Irene great happiness for her Rotary Exchange in Germany with her host families
Swim 4 Life Project in Thailand
Swim 4 Life Project in Thailand
The Rotary Club of Keilor financially supports the Swim 4 life Project, managed by
The Rotary Club of Sammui- Phangan our Club donated $3000 to fund a 12 week learn to swim program for 20 children between 8 - 12. The first cohort has just been completed with every child receiving a medallion and certificate.
Information recently received was that 40 students are about to start thesecond cohort. Unfortunately in the same update, a news item stated that  4 children decided to play and  cool off in a nearby stream, none of them survived.The World Health Organisation has proclaimed Thailand as the number one country in ASEAN for child deaths from drowing.
 
 
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