Fourth Avenue in Motion (FAIM)
This project enables voluntary workers to spend 2 to 4 weeks in a developing country as members of a District 9800 team. In Canterbury’s first year the International Committee promoted individual life membership of FAIM (at $10 each) and 34 members joined up. In subsequent years the Club supported several volunteers. In 1990 Glen Bradford and Wayne Devlin (employees of Canterbury member Graeme Hindhaugh) spent 10 days working on the Martyrs’ Memorial School in Poppendetta, Papua New Guinea (one volunteer funded by RC Balwyn). The following year Graeme Hindhaugh went there to continue the work, accompanied by Wayne, who volunteered for a second visit. In 1992 Peter Evans went to work on a project in Western Samoa, with a team constructing an administration building for the Catholic Education Board.
Interplast
Interplast is a joint venture of District 9800 and the Australasian College of Surgeons which provides expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery to countries in the Australian region. In 1988-89 the Club provided funds for a doctor from Fiji – Dr. Asaeli Matairavula – to visit Melbourne for 3 months to learn plastic surgery techniques. Half the costs were met by a matching grant from Rotary International, organized by then International Service Director John Richards. Further assistance for Interplast included arranging donation of two basic surgery kits and donation of funds for medical books.
Ambassadorial Scholarships
This is another Rotary Foundation program, in which men and women spend a year abroad, studying at postgraduate level. Canterbury nominated a successful candidate, Deborah Knuckey, a journalist with the Weekend Australian. Deborah commenced a graduate course in journalism at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in August 1990, and subsequently continued at her own expense to complete a MBA. Canterbury nominated unsuccessful candidates in 1987/88 and 1990/91.
Rotary International Scholarships for World Peace and Conflict Resolution
Pia Simonsen, a former Rotary Exchange student, successfully applied for a scholarship, with Canterbery’s sponsorship. The scholarship is for up to two years Masters level degree with an estimated value of $US100,000. Pia departed for the US in July 2007 to take up the scholarship at Duke University. Canterbury also sponsored another student, Susan Carew, for a Peace and Conflict Studies Program at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Susan commenced the program in January 2008.
Shelterbox Project
The ShelterBox provides material and equipment for people displaced by natural or other disasters. In 2006-2007 Canterbury donated $6000 for the purchase of five Shelterboxes, and continues to support the project.
District Conference 1990
The Conference trip was talked about for months; most members attending travelled to Canberra via Thredbo Village where the fellowship was truly memorable – thanks to Doug McLauchlan for his organisation and also to Brian Dawson for arranging the club dinner function at Canberra.
International House
Host Rotarians and partners: Peter Evans, John De Ravin, Barbara Coopes, Alfred Ong, Anne Ong and Alan Farrington.
International House is a University of Melbourne residence for international and Australian students with which Rotary has a long standing association. Canterbury has held occasional club meetings at International House and has organised outings (such as AFL games and the penguin parade) for recently arrived overseas students. John Richards (International Service Director 1988-91) has served on the District International House Committee.
Philippines Eye Screening Project
This project was initiated in 1997 as a result of a suggestion by Canterbury member Jill Keeffe, a research ophthalmologist and World Health Organisation consultant. Teams from Canterbury have visited the Philippines for about a week to conduct eye screening for cataracts and other eye problems, in conjunction with the Cataract Foundation of the Philippines and the Rotary Club of Bacolod North. Bacolod is the main city of Negros in the central Philippines. The Australians work with local Rotarians, doctors and field workers to conduct screenings in towns and villages throughout Negros. The first visit took place in May 1997, and in the course of a week screened nearly 1200 people, 291 of whom were found to need immediate cataract surgery. Subsequent visits have been made every year since. The 1999 team took with them a new operating microscope for use by the Cataract Foundation. The microscope was purchased with funds from Canterbury and Bacolod North, with a matching grant from Rotary International. This Australian-designed instrument enabled surgeons to conduct surgery locally, instead of the patients having to travel to Bacolod City. In recent years the areas covered by the teams have extended to the neighbouring island of Panay, and have been assisted by several more local Rotary Clubs. In 2006, to mark its tenth year of involvement, Canterbury contributed $10,000 to enable the purchase of an operating microscope and data projector which was presented to the Cataract Foundation and subsequently made available to an eye doctor working in villages in the north of the island of Panay. The club has assisted several health sciences students to join the teams, and is planning to extend the program to include hearing testing.
