President’s Report                                                                    July 18
 
Last week we had the pleasure of having a joint meeting with our friends from Bunyip/Garfield Rotary Club. They had organized Paddy and Howard from the Level Crossing Removal Authority to present an insight on this huge project, to remove 50 railway level crossings through out Melbourne. Nine of these are on the Pakenham line and are being removed by constructing a “sky rail”. Unfortunately the Cardinia Shire’s level crossings have not been included in the 50 level crossings to be removed.  
 
On a brighter note, we were again visited by Kamya Foster and her daughter Jemima, with her best friend Hannah. This time we had arranged for them to visit, so we could present them a Certificate of Appreciation for their outstanding fund raising effort, for the Wheel Chair for Kids program. This program provides wheel chairs for children in developing countries across the world. There is more to this story though! Each wheel chair makes a life altering change to not only the recipient, but also the family. Many of these children need to be carried by someone, so these wheel chairs make a great impact to the lives of many.  An excellent example of “Rotary Making a Difference”
(Some of the above is taken from a speech made by PP Trevor Westland at District Assembly.)
 
I am currently working on our Membership book which is taking up more thought and time than I had anticipated. We have had to do some last minute changes and it will be at the printers soon.
 
 
Michael O’Brien had another go of drawing the elusive Joker, and elusive it still stays!
 
We all wish Wal a speedy recovery from the flu.
 
Our condolences go out to the family of Sam Owori. Rotary International President-elect, who died unexpectedly last Thursday evening in the United States as a result of post-operative complications from a planned surgery.
 
That’s about it, until next week,
 
Best regards to all,
 
Greg Peck.