Welcome to this October circulation outlining activities of the Earthquake Recovery Support Project (EQRSP).
(Note; The Christchurch Rotary Earthquake Appeal Charitable Trust has a separate newsletter to communicate its activities.)
We have encouraged all Rotary Clubs in the District to become actively involved in earthquake recovery support. This Newsletter is an important communication.
Can you please ensure it is forwarded on to your Rotarians and EQ project teams in your club.
Matching Grants
In mid September we received notification that our Matching Grant application to The Rotary Foundation was approved. The project is for Replacement of Emergency and Medical Equipment for St John Ambulance - total project value $69,000.
Clubs in our District who supported the MG with commitment of their DDF are RCs Ashburton, Nelson West, Ashburton Plains and Bishopdale Burnside. RC Chch West and RC East Malden (UK) provided cash contribution also.
D3870 – Philippines, is the Matching Grant International Sponsor with a contribution of US$20,000. District 3780, which includes all chartered Rotary Clubs within the territory of Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, was formally established by Rotary International in 1989. Since then, District 3780 has held the distinction of being probably the only "one-city, one R.I. district" in the entire Rotary world. There are over 90 clubs in the District with more than 2000 Rotarians. See http://www.district3780.org/ and read about our generous MG partners. Special thanks to PDG Danilo Espinosa for his excellent liaison
District Simplified Grant
Application has been made to The Rotary Foundation to approve a District Simplified Grant (20% of DDF – about $15,000) to be applied for earthquake humanitarian projects. This will enable the six “EQ Front Line Clubs” to spent their DDF allocation on projects in their catchment.
Portable Swimming Pools
Funds have been committed by D9750 Sydney; RC Belfast-Kaiapoi; RC Whakatane; RC Coffs Harbour South; RC Nelson West; RC Richmond; RC Motueka; RC Bishopdale Burnside and CREQA Fund. Thank you for your generosity.
Respite Vacations
We have generous offers from North East Victoria (Aust); Northern NSW (Aust); and Rotorua for provision of travel, accommodation and friendly hosting to Rotarians who deserve a respite break from their business and home difficulties as a consequence to the earthquakes. Can Clubs give consideration to likely recipients within their midst and contact Lindsay Crossen to align the offers (all enquiries will be confidential)
Projects Completed
Roger Horton , Group Leader Mount Pleasant Sea Scouts with Sea Scouts Vaughan Bamford and Campbell Wright receiving a cheque for $4000.00.
The donation was made for rescue boat repairs so they can carry out their activities on Lyttelton Harbour as the Estuary is not available due to pollution and depth changes following the earthquakes. The funding was made up from RC Winton Club (Southland), RC Murgon Club (Brisbane) and RC Christchurch South who coordinated the project.
Support from Mosgiel
Colin Mackintosh represented the Rotary Club of Mosgiel was in Christchurch recently where he attended gatherings at Te Mapua Trust, RC Christchurch South and RC Linwood-Woolston. At these meetings cheques were handed over for more than $25,000 which had been raised by Mosgiel Club to assist with earthquake recovery projects. The Rotary Clubs coordinated the projects in their local areas.
The Principal of Waltham Primary School, Gordon Caddie, was given a cheque to help rebuild the library shelving and Colin Hammond, Principal of Bamford Primary School (both are low decile schools) received a cheque for $3,000 to assist in funding an educational trip to Wellington. These projects will help bring some normality to those schools in EQ affected communities.
Support from the Far North
Soon after the February earthquake PDG Merv Huxford of District 9910 organised an humanitarian matching grant and aligned to the Aranui Community Trust. This association has progressed to nearly $25,000 of $500 Family Needs Grants being distributed to needy cases. This project has had great support from the Rotary Clubs of Bay of Islands, Kerikeri, Maungaturoto, Whangarei South and Kaitaia.
Separately, when Burwood School (which has 70% of its catchment Red Zoned) asked for assistance with 3 small projects, District 9920 and the Chenery Memorial Trust made funds available for RC Chch North to assist the school.
Emerging Projects
The following are potential earthquake recovery projects that the Project team is currently evaluating;
Mobile Library Vans to extend the CCC mobile library service where community libraries have been damaged and closed and the people demographics has changed around the City. A project is being developed in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries to assist them to rejuvenate and extend their current services.
Repair of “soft surfacing” under a number of playgrounds around the city – this has potential for a Club working project.
A number of Sports Clubs are now working on recovery of their facilities and projects requiring assistance are starting to emerge.
- Shirley Tennis Club needs to get its courts back operational for its 400 junior players.
- Shirley Boys High School is now back in their school (after six months double shifting with Papanui HS) but their half constructed astro turf sport area is unfinished and their cricket practice facilities and main wicket area need repair.
- The pavilion at the Heathcote Sports Ground, a popular community, cricket and picnic venue, is damaged and requires substantial rebuild.
There are many “donor offers” waiting to support projects allocated or taken up in partnership with Christchurch based clubs. Christchurch clubs who have a project, or have lost their fundraising base and want to continue supporting their Charities and Programs, should contact Lindsay Crossen (contacts above) with their requirements
Special Clubs Assembly
DG David Drake has called a Special Clubs Assembly on 13th October to update clubs on earthquake assistance in the District and look forward to community needs where Rotary can assist “Recovery”.