Rotary out West: November 2012

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November is Rotary Foundation Month

Ninety Rotarian cyclists from clubs throughout the United States took part

in the El Tour de Tucson on 17 November in Arizona,

raising more than US$375,000 for polio eradication.

RI General Secretary John Hewko and his wife, Marga,

were among the Rotarians, friends of Rotary, and family members

who hit the pavement along with 9,000 riders

from around the world in the charity bike ride, sponsored

by the University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona,

completing distances of 42, 60, 85 or 111 miles.

The Hewkos also exceeded their goal of $111,000 in pledges,

raising more than $200,000 for the ride.

Rotarians have been taking part in the ride since 2009,

when the End Polio Now campaign was designated an official beneficiary of the race,

allowing Rotary to enroll cyclists to gather pledges for the campaign.

In that first year, 27 cyclists raised $35,000.

The number has grown steadily since.

This year’s festivities included a pre-ride dinner the night before.

Rotarians also staffed a water station along the route,

and a booth at the finish line where finishing cyclists could gather

and learn more about Rotary and polio eradication.

Since 1985, Rotary and its global polio eradication partners

have spearheaded the effort to rid the world of the crippling disease.

Cases have dropped to an all-time low --

there were fewer than 200 worldwide in 2012 as of 31 October –

and only Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria remain polio-endemic.

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Rotary Club of West Perth

Rotary Club of Southern Districts

One of the amazing students from Hillside Farm receives his pride of workmanship award

Rotary Club of East Perth

Police Officer of the Year

President Marilyn Adamson with Sgt Paul Daly

Paul is a member of the Rotary Club of Margaret River

With his wife Jodie

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Rotaract Club of Subiaco

Visiting Rotarian

Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay

Tr Rajah recently visited Rotary Clubs in KL and Johore and is seen here presenting Pres. Ken with a banner from this trip.

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Convicts for a Cause

Rotary Club of Perth

At the old Fremantle Prison last week

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Rotary Club of Wanneroo

We had a Joint meeting with the Inner Wheel on the 19^th November 2012

at the Wanneroo Tavern

We had as guest speaker Gary Carvolth the “voice of sport”

who you can all remember from the early Channel 7 days

under Brian Carruthers and the earlier Telethon Master of Ceremonies

plus 6PR radio spots with Jenny Seaton.

Gary gave us a brilliant insight as to how he and his cameraman Bill Meacham met up with Muhammed Ali in Manila when he had his Title Fight there. It was by sheer luck and devotion to their jobs that they went a week early to scout out the scene and by being forward was able to set up a meeting to interview the great Muhammad Ali.

What a great opportunity and in the process Gary asked if he would donate his boxing gloves, shorts and boots to Telethon. Muhammed said do you know how much these would be worth. Gary said he could guess but it was for the children and explained about Telethon and how so much money is raised for such a good cause. He agreed ………. Wow

Gary went on to say how busy they were over that week interviewing people and getting accreditation for the event. Bill Meacham said close to the match well were all set with tickets………. Struth No Tickets for the main event. Gary came up with the idea to watch the event live and from a telephone call in the match as it was happening doing a virtual live cross without actually being at the Fight. Manila was not doing a live broadcast so they quickly packed everything up ready to fly out to Hong Kong that was doing a live telecast and make the phone call from there. Just before they were going to board the plane it was announced that President Marcos had decided to allow the live broadcast from Manila so back off to the hotel they went. Set up the phone line direct to Perth and did the broadcast while watching TV in the hotel room. It was not discovered till later what had transpired but they had pulled it off without a hitch.

Gary remembered about the promised boxing gloves, shorts etc for Telethon and made a mad dash to the conference centre where they were doing the final interviews and just after making his way through the throng of media he was dismayed to see Ali disappear through a door as he was finished. Gary was just about to walk off feeling very disappointed when Ali came back through the door holding a bag and asked “where is my little Australian friend” and found Gary to give him his donation to Telethon.

It just goes to show that with a bit of determination and the willingness just to “ask” can have great rewards.

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Rotary Club of Mill Point

Micoscope presentation at Kensington Primary

President John Lawrence

Uppdated Rotary Club bof Mill Point Photo

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Rotary Club of Geraldton

Rotary Club of Batavia Coast

Rotary Club of Geraldton Greenough

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Rotary Club of Armadale

Rotaract Club of City of Gosnells Inc.'s

Taneika with Rotary Club of Armadale's AG Craig and Eileen Alford.

— with Taneika Saunders, Craig Alford and Eileen Alford

at Mandurah Rotaract Inauguration Dinner

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Rotary Club of Manjimup

local St John's paramedic

Rotary Clubs of Hillarys and Wanneroo

TELETHON: “ROTATE-A-THON” A 24 Hour Event

Held on the Telethon Week-end the 10th and 11^th November 2012

at the Hillarys Boat Harbour Dolphin Wishing Well.

The Combined clubs of Hillarys and Wanneroo staged this annual event with all donations going to Telethon. This has been a combined joint effort every year since the two clubs installed this Dolphin Wishing Well to commemorate the mysterious passing of the three dolphins Rajah, Mila and Echo. The three dolphins passing was a shock to most people that visited Atlantis in Yanchep and later at AQUA in Hillarys. The donations from the Wishing Well during the rest of the year are distributed to local and other community projects identified by the two Rotary Clubs.

With the great assistance of both clubs volunteers we were able to raise $7,080.05 cents that went straight to the Telethon Account. Thanks to Bankwest and their coin counting machine and their patience while their machine chewed through the mountain of coins.

It was a fantastic amount showing the generosity of the people of Perth especially in these financially challenging times. Many notes of all denominations were inserted into the willing tins of our club members.

As well as coins being inserted into the Dolphin Wishing Well to make them rotate we had the portable Spiral Wishing Well where the kids and adults had fun watching the coins rotate in opposite directions rolling around in ever decreasing circles until they disappeared into the central hole. I recommend all clubs should invest in one it really attracts interaction with donors.