It was a great night last Wednesday night with the Rotary Club of Pakenham. Our contingent helped add to the group from Pakenham and Cranbourne Clubs to make 55 attendees.David Dippie, from Donations in Kind (a Rotary Project of the Victorian Districts), presented a project of supplying and installing dental equipment in Tonga. The equipment sent via containers to the project was first rate, supplied by the Victorian Dental Association members. Training was also undertaken by the members of the team. The project was so popular in Tonga that their Queen was an avid helper too. It is amazing what Rotary can do, we just need to promote the great work and the real differences we make to people’s lives.
The Rotary Club of Berwick has been involved in such projects with DIK for many years and is a financial member club of Donations in Kind Inc.
DIK is also involved closely with the St John of God Hospital in this Tonga project and other projects in Timor Leste.
Our Rotary Donations In Kind Store is one of the best in the world.
It specializes in repurposing reusable goods, that commercial organizations no longer require and diverts them from landfill. We live in a very lucky country where we are able to upgrade equipment long before the existing items have worn out. Often these items are perceived as having little value locally but are highly valued overseas.
This major project is located in a 3400m2 warehouse and runs entirely by volunteers who contribute 10,000+hours annually. In the last 20 years, 37,600m3 of goods have been recycled.
Equipment from our Hospitals and Schools has been of enormous benefit in developing countries.
This is a project that everyone can support, encouraging donations, helping with their collection and funding the repurposing costs.
For more information www.rotarydik.org
Looking forward to catching up with everyone at our Christmas party next week at Jason’s Restaurant in Upper Beaconsfield.
