GLOUCESTER Rotary Club has a busy few months ahead, raising funds and supporting several important local and international initiatives.
As part of the Australian Rotary Against Malaria (ARAM) network, which aims to control and ultimately eliminate malaria, Gloucester Rotary is holding a trivia night to raise funds for ARAM projects.
Malaria remains a major cause of death among children under five.
As the ARAM website states, “The heaviest toll caused by malaria is among poorer communities, mostly in Africa and in other tropical regions. Malaria reflects the health inequality between developed and developing countries.”
The trivia night will be held at the Gloucester Bowling Club on 21 November, with a 6 pm arrival for a 6.30 pm start.
Closer to home, the Rotary Men’s Health Rural Van (mherv) will be in Gloucester on 24 and 26 November, near the corner of Denison and Church streets, offering free health checks for men.
Operating since 2017, mherv travels throughout regional NSW with the support of local Rotary clubs.
“Ten minutes invested in mherv could save your life or the life of someone you love” is the message Rotary wants to get across to men.
Mherv is also supporting the DV Safe Phone program, which encourages community members to donate old mobile phones.
Phones can be dropped into the Safe Phone Box at the mherv van while it is in Gloucester. Rotary will arrange for the phones to be refurbished and provided to women’s shelters or organisations supporting women experiencing domestic violence.
Another Gloucester Rotary fundraising initiative is the Grocery Dash.
“The idea of the Grocery Dash began after a tough year of fundraising for organisations due to COVID back in 2020, when Rotary decided to try to raise money a little differently,” said Gloucester Rotary President Jo Fitzpatrick.
This year, however, there is no running involved.
“It is a dash without the running,” she explained.
“You buy a $5 ticket and if your name is drawn, you’ll receive a $500 voucher to spend within the IGA Gloucester store. You don’t need to spend it straight away.”
Tickets will be sold at Lovey’s IGA Gloucester in the weeks leading up to the draw on 14 December. Rotary members will also be selling tickets near the mherv van on 25 and 26 November.
Gloucester Rotary thanked Lovey’s IGA Gloucester for supporting the initiative.
For information about any of these initiatives email rotarygloucester1@gmail.com
By Wendy BUSWELL
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