LOCAL LIFE
Rotary Club of Richmond renews international Iinks
Eight members and friends of the Rotary Club of Richmond recently travelled to the Philippines to renew their partnership with the Rotary Club of Panglao Island, located in the province of Bohol.
This connection was first established in 2011, when Rotary District 9680 sponsored a Group Study Exchange team to the region, aimed at fostering stronger international friendships. The exchange was led by Past President Ian Jordan, along with four team members representing the Hawkesbury: Constable Rebecca Rose, social photographer Kylie Pitt, firefighter Martin Crew, and bank manager David Martin.
The visiting delegation— President Peter Chidgey and his wife Vickie, President-Elect and Past President Debbie Cooper and her sister Beverly Gordon, Secretary and Past President Ian Jordan and his wife Judy, along with Rotarians Janelle Munro and David Kirkby— self-funded a 10-day trip, during which they were graciously hosted by the Rotary Club of Panglao Island( District 3860).
Since the initial partnership in 2011, the Rotary Club of Richmond has supported several key initiatives of its sister club in this disadvantaged region of the Philippines. In 2012 and 2014, the Richmond club shipped two large containers filled with furniture, clothing, toys, sporting equipment, medical supplies, technology, hospital beds and lightweight blankets. The second shipment proved especially vital following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the area in 2013.
Members of the Panglao Island club were warmly welcomed in the Hawkesbury during reciprocal visits in 2014 and 2016. Past Presidents Ian Jordan and Debbie Cooper have made several return visits to the Philippines. Notably, PP Debbie led a team of four Hawkesbury Rotaract members to collaborate with their Panglao counterparts on nutrition and conservation projects.
This well-established relationship also led Western Sydney University to approach the Richmond club, which facilitated arrangements for B. Sc. students to travel to Panglao in 2018 and 2020. Hosted by the Rotary Club and the Municipality of Panglao, these students participated in the university’ s International Sustainable Development Program, focusing on conservation, resource management, geochemistry, food security and sustainable agriculture. These ongoing tours have been widely regarded as highly successful.
Two major projects of the Panglao Island club supported by Richmond over the past 14 years are the Little Angels Orphanage and the“ Feeding of the Children” nutrition programme. The latter targets malnourished sixyear-olds in nearby coastal villages. With funds raised through Rotary and private donations, an extra
bedroom and toilet facilities were added to the orphanage. The nutrition programme is run in coordination with the Municipal Community Nurse, who identifies children for a 100-day intervention. The Panglao Island club provides nutritional food and recruits parents and grandparents to help feed the children. Each child is expected to show weight gain before graduating from the programme. During their recent visit, the Richmond team were honoured to visit the orphanage and participate in the feeding programme— both deeply moving experiences.
The hosts extended extraordinary hospitality to the visiting Rotarians, providing home accommodation, meals, and daily transport. A combined Rotary meeting was held, during which the sister club agreement was formally renewed and re-signed.
The current Rotary International theme is“ The Magic of Rotary”. The far-reaching influence of Rotary’ s ideals— especially the commitment to doing“ a little bit of good”— is the true magic behind this partnership and the initiatives it has inspired.
Congratulations to all involved since 2011.
Submitted by Ian Jordan, Secretary, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Richmond. Email contact @ rotaryrichmond. com. au or phone 0408 219 942.
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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 179 // APRIL 2025 5