In 2008, the Rotary Clubs of Pakenham and Koo Wee Rup-Lang Lang joined forces to raise funds for a significant humanitarian project. Their collective effort aimed to construct a three-classroom building at Chamabondo School, located in an underprivileged region of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The profound impact of this initiative became evident when Pakenham Rotarian George Blenkhorn and his wife Sue visited the school in 2010 and discovered a heartfelt acknowledgment on the wall, recognizing the contributions of both Rotary Clubs.
Fast forward to 2021, members of the Rotary Club of Pakenham paid a visit to the Rotary Donations In Kind (DIK) warehouse in West Footscray to deliver wheelchairs. While there, they noticed a range of goods that could be used to improve the lives of the people living in Victoria Falls. After consultations with the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls, a plan was devised to dispatch a container of essential items from DIK to areas with significant needs. A comprehensive wish list was prepared for the local hospital and three schools. The list for the Victoria Falls hospital alone required the equivalent of four 40-foot containers. DIK's quote of $7,250 per 40ft container, along with transportation costs of $17,500 from Melbourne to Victoria Falls, set the stage for an ambitious undertaking.
To fulfil this mission, the Rotary Club of Pakenham generously covered the container expenses, and they reached out to fellow Rotary Clubs of Berwick, Casey, Cranbourne, and Greater Dandenong, who readily offered their support to this noble cause. The initiative was all set to launch in 2022, but an unforeseen surge in shipping costs caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, escalating the expenses to $36,500, led to a temporary postponement of the project.
However, in August of this year, a turning point emerged when DIK informed the group that the container could be sent from Melbourne to Bulawayo for a reduced cost of $17,000, provided it was paid within seven days. The five participating clubs successfully raised the required funds, and the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls graciously agreed to cover the expenses for the onward journey from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls.
On the 10th of this month, members of the Rotary Clubs came together to pack the container, which was destined for Port Melbourne for shipment. The container was filled with a valuable assortment of supplies, including 30 modern hospital beds and bedside cabinets, 132 cartons of assorted surgical instruments and consumables, a baby resuscitator machine and baby care stations, as well as school desks and chairs.
It's worth noting that all the items supplied by DIK are sourced through donations from hospitals, schools, and businesses when they upgrade their stock and equipment or have excess or outdated goods. DIK plays a pivotal role in distributing these goods, both within Australia and globally, contributing to humanitarian efforts in communities around the world, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Rotary Clubs.
