President: Norm de Grussa 2013 - 2014

Rotary club of

WANNEROO 1 8 T H N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 3 B U L L E T I N N O : 2 0

MEETING Wanneroo Tavern

18th November 2013

Guest Speaker: Debbie Singh

Wanneroo Rotary Club Committee 2013—2014

President: Norm deGrussa

Secretary: Graeme Smith

Treasurer: Andrew Kininmonth Youth Services: Owen Douglas

International Service: Debbie Singh

Club Service: Phil Cousins

Vocational Service: Neil Cook

Membership: All Members

Sergeant: Phil Cousins

Attendance: Jacob Etoka Belgrade Village: Colin Griffiths

Program: Peter Miskelly

Bulletin, Publicity

& Photography: Ray Perkins President Elect:

NEW WEBSITE: www.rotarywanneroo.org

Apologies: If unable to attend meeting, an apology is to be lodged with Jacob Etoka before 12 noon Monday.

Contact details for Jacob email: mmungaetjab@yahoo.fr or mobile 0413104989

DISTRICT 9455

P.O.Box 47, WANNEROO 6946

November 2013 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

1 2 3

4 GUEST SPEAKER

Susan Saleeba; To talk on NAKURU HOPE

5 6 7 8 9 10

11 PARTNERS NIGHT TO FAREWELL COLIN PARKER 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 DEBBIE SINGH IS GOING TO TALK ON HER

RECENT VISIT TO THAILAND

19 20 21 22 23 24

25 MEETING BEING HELD AT CAFÉ ELIXIR AND LECTURE

THEATRE IN CULTURAL CENTRE 6.00pm

26 27 28 29 30

DWW

Chairman Graeme Smith

Duty officer Andrew Kinninmonth

Duty officer Peter Miskelly

Vote of thanks Jacob Etoka

Reserve Debbie Singh

Reserve Rebecca Williams

Fellowship Clive Bain

Guest speaker

Topic

Duty Roster 25th November 2013

MEETING AT WANNEROO TAVERN 18th NOVEMBER 2013 Acting President: Secretary Graeme Smith; Graeme welcomed all members present and explained that the 2 exchange students were not present as Anson was on the Youth Exchange Tour with President Norm and Akin was busy with his studies. Next week’s meeting will be held at the Cafe Elixir in Rocca Way which is in the same complex as the Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre. We have the use of the Theatrette for our meet-ing and guest speaker. This facility has its own projector setup that we can just plug our laptop into. This would be a good venue to invite extra guests for very topical guest speakers and hopefully elevate our profile. Colin Parker sent his appreciation and acknowledgment for receiving the Sapphire Pin and asked if we could keep him on the roll until he has decided which Rotary Club to join in England. The club has purchased a 40' Sea Container that is being delivered to Laurie Duffy's property. This was an opportunity too good to pass up for the cost as we need this extra storage and access at all times thanks to Lauries generosity. This will be used to store all items that we can collect such as the computer systems from schools, items collected for the Garage Sales and also for future storage of any equipment that we require. This will have a new lock and keys will be provided to the necessary people. Secretary Graeme asked if there were any pending reports from Directors. Peter Miskelly brought it to the members attention that on the Sunday 1st December we are having the Botanical Golf Game the Harold Harley Trophy Day for 8.00am for breakfast and work out teams and what we are going to do, have the game and then back to Rotary Park for presentation and lunch. It might be hard to get a BBQ there so perhaps take some cold chicken and salad etc whatever you want for lunch and your own drinks. All friends are welcome but keep me informed for numbers which can be confirmed with me next Monday night. Treasurer: Bill Kell; Dues are being brought up to date and the club balances will be sorted. Youth Services; Owen Douglas; Anson is on the 10 day trip through the Goldfields. Akin is being hosted elsewhere with one of the Rotary Scarborough Club families at present due to the English classes he is attending and also he is learning to surf so that is keeping him occupied. Apparently Akin is quite a good musician so they have got him busking and playing the guitar. The Outbound exchange student next year has got the Country of her choice being Finland so we will do her presentation of her blazer at the xmas dinner. International: Debbie Singh; things are going pretty well and I will talk more about the Burma Children Medical Fund later on in my speech. I have a Garage Sale at my property 10 Castroreale Blvd, Sinagra from 8.00am until late with a sausage sizzle and drink for $5.00. Next Monday we are at the Cafe Elixir 6.00 for 6.30 Cost is $25.00 per head and I would like to see partners attend as well. Tom Drinkwater mentioned about the State Governor addressing the Rotary Clubs at the Parmelia Hotel last Friday.

This was to join in a fundraising effort and philanthropist dinner where they had a raffle for $10.00 each ticket and they raised $10,000, there were also several prizes which one of them was a Gold Bar that sold for $8,000 and the other one was a trip to Broome with the airfares went for about $12,000 and I understand they raised over $100,000 and as an inspiration for our club they had round the side all of the mining companies and all other companies that do-nated to the Perth club and the Managing Directors stood up and made donations on behalf of Mining, Printing and every other thing you could think off. Tom thinks on his estimations that it raised well over $100,000 for an hour and the Governor addressed everyone and said what he was going to do with his money so I think we need to get a few ideas from them to raise money for our club and projects. Raffle: 1st Prize; Paul Conti (Needs that like a hole in the head) 2nd Prize; Lucky Laurie Duffy Secretary Graeme brought in a large box of assorted fruit that was sold to the highest bidder Rebecca for $35.00. I think teacher is giving apples to her students this week. Sargeants Session: Phil Cousins; before fining Paul for his raffle win Paul had donated the bottle back to the club and this was purchased by Tom for $16.00, Laurie made his donation for his prize, Paul for his exhibition in Exmouth, members that use hearing aids were fined for not wearing them, Phil tried to fine me again for my wife's birthday but that was paid last week (memory is failing) Andy was asked to pay for his Anniversary but that was not the case as it was Robins birthday and he had paid previously, (hard work being a Sargeant lol) but got him for being on holiday, Rebecca was fined for being fined on the freeway, not really fair, Owen was fined, missing Rotary Pins and Debbie for promoting her garage sale but didn't mention when it was! Also Debbie was late for a client so copped another but apparently she was try-ing to call Clive to let him know she will be late but Clive had left his mobile phone at home so that deserved another fine. Bill received his wallet back. Also being we are getting into sum-mer it seemed strange for Colin to be collecting firewood as he is such a pyromaniac and also was fined for not signing the book. Secretary Graeme introduced our International Director Debbie Singh to give us her talk.

Tonights talk is on the Burma Children's Medical Fund in which she has been involved in for just over a year. She traveled up to the North of Thailand to Mai Sot to the clinic where the BMCF is based. It was founded in 2006 and The founder Kanchana Thornton was brought to Australia as a teenager and she lived with a family here and she qualified and worked as an emergency nurse in Sydney and then felt the need to go back to Thailand and became a volunteer at the Mae Tao Clinic.

What is that ‘stuff’ on the children’s faces?

It is called ‘tanakha’ and it has a rich history in Burma being in use for over 2,000 years. It is made out of

tree pulp from a perennial tree grown in central Burma and it is sold in powdered form at local markets. The

powder is obtained from the bark and roots of the tree and it is said that a tree must be at least 35 years old to

bear premium ‘tanakha’ powder. The powder is placed onto a flat stone and a small amount of water is added. A

mortar is used to blend the powder into a paste that is then applied to the face (usually after a bath).

Women (and children) use it in daily life to cool and refresh the skin and it also a natural way to protect skin from

the sun. The word tanakha actually means ‘cleansing agent’ and ‘cosmetic for beautifying the face’. It is used al-

so in ceremonies as face painting is a sign of cultural significance, nobility and purity.

What conditions does BCMF treat?

BCMF funds the treatment of many conditions including congenital heart disease;hydrocephalus (‘water on the brain’); imperforate anus (a malformation of the rectum); retinoblastoma (affecting the eye); meningocele (large growths, usually located on the lower back associated with spina bifida); club foot; hypospadias (a birth defect of the urethra in males); Hirschprung’s disease (a congenital condition affecting the bowels); and we have recently piloted the treatment of a young boy with thalassaemia (a blood disease).

Burma Adult Medical Fund treats special adult cases who present at the Mae Tao Clinic with a condition that can be corrected by minor surgery or treatment in Chiang Mai (using the same referral process as BCMF). We are also trying to gain funding to treat women with gynaecological conditions at Mae Sot Hospital. These conditions include uterine prolapsed; uterine mass; ovarian cysts; and women who have sustained damage to their birth canal during childbirth.

What languages are used at BCMF by staff, patients and carers?

Burma has many diverse cultural and ethnic groups each of which has their own distinct language. Burmese and

Karen (P’wo and Sgaw) are the most common languages spoken by BCMF patients (and staff). Staff at BCMF

also speak English and Thai. Fluency in Thai is essential when navigating the process needed to gain authority to

get our patients to Chiang Mai and it is also used at the hospitals where are patients are treated. We have

translators and interpreters available who are proficient in a number of languages to ensure that our patients and

carers are able to understand the medical procedures and communicate with doctors and nurses.

Burma has the worst health record in Southeast Asia. The World Health Organisation

(WHO) ranked Burma’s health system as the world’s second worst out of 191 countries. Burma’s official spending

on health per capita is estimated to be $0.74 (24 baht) compared with its Thailand, which invests $89

(2, 955 baht) per capita. The UN’s Development Programme’s Human Development Index ranked Burma 130 out

of 177 countries.

Burmese people have no option but to come to Thailand for basic health care. People in Burma are dying

because there’s no access to the most basic, cost-effective health interventions that should be available at home.

Over 7 percent of Burmese children will not survive to their first birthday, 10 percent will die before their fifth and

one in 12 women will lose their lives from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. In Eastern Burma one in 10

children will die before the age of one, and more than one in five before their fifth birthday. Malaria, HIV/Aids and

tuberculosis rates in Burma are considered epidemics by international health organizations.

A John Hopkins School Of Public Health report, The Gathering Storm, estimates that Burma’s military regime

spends as little as ”3% of national expenditure on health, while the military, with a standing army of over 400,000

troops, consumes 40%”.

Doctors in Burma are frustrated by the lack of equipment and medicine needed to do their job. They are not

allowed to report disease outbreaks or speak truthfully about ill health. They have to manage on out-of-date

medicines and unreliable electricity supplies.

The humanitarian organization, the Thai Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), estimates “…that more than 3,200

settlements were destroyed, forcibly relocated or otherwise abandoned in Eastern Burma between 1996 and

2007.”

The TBBC report that at least 470,000 people are internally displaced in eastern Burma alone. Between 2006 and

2007 the Burmese army burnt down villages, laid landmines and drove more than 76,000 villagers from their

homes into jungle hideouts.

The Burmese military regime has turned Burma into one of the cruelest places in the world to live. Secret police

and para-military thugs have been dispatched in hundreds of nighttime raids to drag opposition politicians,

journalists, labor activists, artists, comedians, internet-bloggers and Buddhists monks and nuns from their beds.

The arrested are rarely charged, instead are held, interrogated and tortured for days or months without access to

lawyers or family in secret detention centers, jails or police cells.The regime Draconian sentences recently

handed down have ranged from three to sixty-nine years for acts of so-called civil disobedience. The regime has

jailed more than 2,100 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 14-years under house

arrest.

The New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has described Burma’s humanitarian crisis as ”one of the

worst in the world”, and says one third of its citizens lives beneath the poverty line on about a $1 a day.

It is estimated that over 2 million Burmese people have cross the border to Thailand in the hope of work and a

better life. Migrant work is often dirty, dangerous and degrading.

The Mae Tao Clinic (MTC), founded and directed by Dr. Cynthia Maung, provides free health care for refugees, migrant workers, and other individuals who cross the border from Burma to Thailand. People of all ethnicities and religions are welcome at the Clinic. Its origins go back to the student pro-democracy movement in Burma in 1988 and the brutal repression by the Burmese regime of that movement. The fleeing students who needed medical attention were attended in a small house in Mae Sot. In recent years, Dr. Cynthia has gained international recognition and accolades. She received the Jonathan Mann Health and Human Rights Award in 1999, the Foundation for Human Rights in Asia’s Special Award from Japan in 2001, the Van Heuven Doedhart Award from the Netherlands in 2001, Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in August 2002 (dubbed the “Asian Nobel Peace Prize”) and was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

Since 1989 MTC has grown, from that one small house to a large complex of simple buildings that provide a wide

variety of health services to different groups of people. Today it serves a target population of approximately

150,000 on the Thai-Burma border. Exact numbers are hard to calculate because of the fluidity of the population.

About 50% of those who come to MTC for medical attention are migrant workers in the Mae Sot area; the other

50% travel cross-border from Burma for care.

The clinic is located in Mae Sot, only a few kilometers from the Burmese border. It began as a small operation,

with very few supplies and medicines. Over the years, its reputation has grown among the migrant population

and inside Burma as a center that provides free, quality medical treatment. In 1989, the clinic provided health

care for 1,760 patients; in 2009, the clinic treated nearly 100,000 patients.

Today the Clinic’s services include internal medicine; pediatrics; surgery; reproductive health and obstetrics;

a laboratory and blood bank; primary eye care and eye surgery; prosthetics and rehabilitation; HIV/AIDS

prevention; malaria management; and TB case finding and referrals. The Clinic also has many health worker

training programs. Most of the health workers who graduate from these programs return to their villages

inside Burma to provide much-needed health care. Others choose to serve in the refugee camps in Thailand

and a small number stay on at the clinic.

Dr. Cynthia has built and sustained an institution of importance and quiet dignity. For the past 21 years, it

has been serving the community and saving lives. But it does more than that. While the clinic members are

grateful to their Thai hosts, they want to return home. Until that day arrives, the existence of Mae Tao Clinic

gives hope to all people who look forward to a more just Burma.

Most of the Burmese people coming to Dr Cynthia Maung’s Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) are in dire need of medical

care not available to them in their home country.

Due to the ever-worsening humanitarian and economic crisis in Burma, MTC sees up to 20 percent more

patients each year. MTC offers free medical care to Burmese migrant workers, refugees and to villagers

displaced by the Burma army.

Many of the displaced patients the Burma Children’s Medical Fund cares for have exhausted all

avenues of health care in their home land. They come to BCMF in desperation. You can help facilitate

the treatment of these children by making a donation to BCMF today.

------------------------------------------------------

Debbie showed us a video of a 5 year old girl and the video showed her results and also with Debbie showing the donated wheel chair from Wheel Chair for Kids. The link for this video is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-OJG6hrjEc

Debbie explained that this is only about a 100

th example of the number of kids that come

through the centre and it shows the huge increase in the children’s quality of life. Debbie is going to continue with her trips to Thailand to keep working with BCMF in raising funds locally plus taking further wheel chairs up there for their use. Again Debbie is holding the garage sale this Sunday from 8.00am with a sausage sizzle and drink for $5.00. Please drop in. Vote of Thanks; Rebecca Williams; Rebecca thanked Debbie for her informative talk and said that it was a sobering thought when you see children, and the plight of kids around the World and its really nice to know that we can be a part of the process to help those kids and particularly that you are our conduit to all those different charities, thank you for tonight. Secretary Greame: Reminding people that we are at the Café Elixir for 6.00pm and the cost is $25.00 per head and would like to see as many people there as possible and partners are invit-ed. Final numbers by Friday.

GIGGLE’S CORNER

MEMBERS BIRTHDAYS

MARGARET BAIN 4TH

PAUL CONTI 7th

VIV PERKINS 21ST

MEMBERS ANNIVERSARYS

NEIL & DIANNE COOK 12TH

CLIVE & MARGARET BAIN 14TH

DOLPHIN WISHING WELL—CLEANING ROSTER 2013

30th NOVEMBER CLEANING ROSTER

TBA

TBA

Mark Kitson (Supervisor)

Chairman Clive Bain

Duty officer Andy Anderson

Duty officer Ian Bradshaw

Vote of thanks Paul Conti

Reserve Neil Cook

Reserve Owen Douglas

Fellowship Laurie Duffy

Guest speaker

Topic

Duty Roster 2nd December 2013

LOC

ATI

ON

OF

CA

FÉ E

LIX

IR