Rotary Connects the World

• G4VA has been operating in Australia for 4 years.
• There are 3 people doing all the work- from finding the veterans who suffer from Trauma then enrolling them into the program.
• Veterans are given a brand-new (or almost new) guitar and either 5 X one hour lessons or 10 X 30 minutes lesson.
• At the completion of the lessons, they are invited to join the guitar club.
• Each participant costs $100 and they have 5 at a time. As soon as the coach is booked, they pay $500 up front.
• The group does not receive any money from the government and all income is raised by performing at RSL’s, Hotels and public speaking etc.
• So far 500 veterans have been coached and given the opportunity to own a beautiful guitar, meet other veterans with the same trauma and make and enjoy wonderful music.
• Veterans can be of any age, from any service or from any conflict zone.  

We have received many apologies and emails of congratulations ready for our 70th Anniversary dinner

Here are a couple of interesting ones.

Hon Neil Andrew former Member for Wakefield and Speaker of the House of Representatives

Greeting Brian,

Please pass on to President John, Secretary Michael, Members and friends of the Rotary Club of Gawler; Carolyn and my congratulations on reaching this 70th anniversary milestone. And reaching it with the Club as goal focussed as always.

We wish we could join you for this significant occasion but a granddaughter’s special birthday has become the family priority.

My personal indebtedness to Rotary International stretches back to my experience as the member of a GSE team over half a century ago. I was grateful to the Rotary Club of Waikerie for nominating me and that GSE experience coincidentally resulted in my first visit to Gawler Rotary.

Our arrival in Gawler as a family 15 years later, came with the invitation to become an Honorary member of your club. This privilege meant I witnessed and participated in the activities of a club with a proud history and a determination to meet the Rotary objectives.

As my friend and mentor Bruce Eastick will attest, the Rotary Creed obligates all members to extend the hand of bi-partisan friendship. Having chosen a potentially polarised vocation both Bruce and I welcomed the sometimes bemused but always welcoming, embrace of fellow Rotarians.

You are celebrating 7 decades as a local group determined to meet the objectives of Rotary International. This is to the credit of your leadership and membership. The positive impact on the Gawler community and on International understanding is self - evident.

Congratulations and best wishes,

Neil.

AND from Ingi a GSE team member from Norway

To my favorite Rotary Host & Friend

Thank you for your most kind invitation to

the 70th anniversary of Gawler Rotary Club.

I wish I could say “I am coming to sleep with you”

as I have done before but now I am skint.

My love and congratulations to Gawler Rotary Club

Ingi xxx