Guests: Helen Bourne guest of Patsy. Honorary member Dean Sims was welcomed to the meeting. Bruce Eastick and Kevin Clarke were welcomed after recent absences.
Barry Stewart advised members that the purchase of the donut machine was close. Will soon be ready for action and some training sessions for members.
Patsy Johnson reminded members of the ongoing collection of stamps for Trachoma research.
Members were advised the Christmas carols will be held on Sat 14th December. The club has been asked to provide shelters for the event. A set up time will be advised soon and volunteers required for the catering at the event. At this time it looks like donuts and fairy floss will be our contribution.
The regular meeting was followed immediately by the Annual General Meeting which was conducted by Lance Hatcher. Details of this meeting will be provided at a later date.
The discussion on the motions put forward for the AGM has been delayed to the following week to allow more time.
WORLD TOILET DAY 2019 LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND
World Toilet Day celebrated on November 19 every year, is about inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and help achieve sustainable Development Goal 6 which promises sanitation for all by 2030.
Established by the World Toilet Organisation in 2001, World Toilet Day was made an official UN day in 2013. UN Water leads a task farce of international agencies to campaign around a common theme. The theme of World Toilet Day 2019 is “Leaving no one behind”, which is the central promise of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. This year, the aim is to show that a toilet is not just a toilet; it’s a lifesaver, dignity protector and opportunity maker.
In 2017, non-government organisation Wantam PNG joined forces with the Rotary Club of Manly NSW, and the Rotary Club of Boroko, PNG to address poor sanitation in the Manus Province of northern PNG. Along with a grant, and with help from 2 Australian volunteers work began on a community led pilot to teach teams of elders to install Clivas Multrum composing toilet units.
Using natural materials to minimise maintenance costs the first double block for women took 5 days to complete. A train the trainer approach then brought in the involvement of young men, who worked under teams led by village elders.
It’s the way young men in PNG have typically learnt, working alongside the older men who pass down traditional skills and knowledge.
Over a 3 week period, 3 double, community-sized toilets were built by these teams, delivering safe, hygienic sanitation to the 150 women and girls in the 3 villages on Bundrou Island and giving young men the chance to learn valuable skills, which would be used to generate incomes and improve their livelihoods.
This first phase of the project delivered invaluable learning, which was incorporated into the next phase, the building of the men’s toilet blocks putting Bundrow on track to be the first island in Manus that is 100 percent open defecation free.
But the benefits are far broader than health impacts alone.
Young men reconnect with elders over the transferral of new skills and re-learn near lost crafts like bamboo weaving. If the Government of PNGs goal of increased self-reliance is to be achieved, opportunities like this that help re-unite communities are critical.
Another unexpected benefit was the positive impact on social harmony. Mothers in particular expressed relief that night-time nature calls no longer take young girls on unfit walks to the edge of the village. Meanwhile, the elderly and less-able members of the community are enjoying the amenity of sensor solar lights in the toilet blocks and the comforts of the pedestal.
ROTARY VOLUNTEERING CAN EXTEND INTO MANY OTHER AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY
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A Foundation to build on
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