Andrew Giumelli, Vice President or the Univesity of Canberra Rotaract Club, reports that the club has had a busy and exciting first semester:
Our Rotaract Club has continued to grow this semester and we currently have 25 members and many people that are involved in the club without being members.
Some of the things we have been up to:
- University market day and free pizza night to spread the word about Rotaract and gain new members
- Volunteering with Canberra Rotaract Club at their birthing kit assembly day
- Whiskey and Poetry social night to celebrate World Rotaract Week
- Running a BBQ on campus to raise awareness for the Canberra Peace Bell
- Participating in the North Canberra Relay for Life 2017
- We received the Community Service Ministers’ Commendation for Group Achievement in the ACT Young Citizen of the Year Awards 2017
- Volunteering with Safe Shelter ACT to provide a safe and warm place for homeless men to sleep
- Our incoming board members attended Board Elect Training in the Blue Mountains
- Volunteering with St Vincent de Paul to put together hygiene packs for people living on the streets, and sort donations at their distribution centre.
- Running a Handball tournament on campus as part of the university’s Stress Less Week (the week before exams)
The Canberra Rotaract Club ran a birthing kit assembly day in March for Birthing Kits Foundation Australia. Our club had a number of members involved in the day and helped to pack 400 kits. These kits provide essential items for women in developing countries to give birth and avoid infections.
Our BBQ on campus was a great success in raising awareness for the Canberra Peace Bell and raising funds for our club.
Many of our members have started volunteering for Safe Shelter ACT. Safe Shelter is a local intiative to provide a warm and safe place for homeless men to sleep. Volunteering involves opening the church hall, socialising with the men, providing supper and staying the night. We have found it to be a rewarding experience and a great way to provide support to people within canberra that are less fortunate than us.
Six of our eight incoming board members attended the NSW/ACT Board Elect Training in the Blue Mountains in May. We all had a great weekend and learnt about Rotaract, Rotary and leading our club. We also made friends in clubs all over NSW and heard about some of the amazing ideas they have. I would like to thank the Rotary Club of Hall for sponsoring three of our members to attend this training.
We have also started volunteering at St Vincent de Paul. During our first session we packed hygiene kits to be delivered to homeless people in Canberra. We also spent time sorting donations and packing them into boxes for storage until they are needed and distributed to outlet centres.
If you would like to know more about any of the above projects or the Rotaract Club of Univercity of Canberra, please get in touch via the club’s Facebook page.
