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The news magazine from RI district 1020 in Southern Scotland.

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Published by calthomson, 2019-07-16 07:16:39

Rotary District 1020: e-magazine July 2019

The news magazine from RI district 1020 in Southern Scotland.

Keywords: rotary service charity foundation polio community

1

ISSUE 6 JULY 2019

Distinguished Service Award:

Allan Maclaughlan

The Distinguished Service Award is the Rotary
Foundation’s highest award and only qualified
persons may be nominated. For example, you
must have already received The Rotary Foun-
dation’s Citation for Meritorious Service at
least four years previous to even be consid-
ered. This award is decided and awarded by
the Rotary Foundation trustees.

There have been only two previous recipients in District1020 – PDG Alex Laugh-
lan (S/Queensferry) and PDG John Kenny (Grangemouth).

Allan Maclaughlan has served on the District’s Foundation committee for many
years beginning in 2002 and was DRFC 2004-07. Allan was heavily involved not
only in promoting Rotary Foundation but also involved in its programmes. He has
hosted Rotary scholars on numerous occasions and led a Group Study Exchange
team to Africa in 2007. He has also received a volunteer service grant to work on
projects in Malawi- a country close to his heart. He has initiated and developed a
number of big grant projects in that part of the world which many clubs in District
1020 and beyond have been involved with.

At RIBI/Regional level, Allan joined the RIBI Foundation team in 2012 and served
until 2017 serving as Chair between 2015 and 2017. He was appointed Assistant
Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator 2012-14 and RRFC 2014-17. As a Region-
al leader Allan has led training sessions for both DRFCs and incoming DGs at
GETS, Institutes and RIBI Assemblies.

Allan continues to serve District 1020 as part of the District Stewardship Commit-
tee.

NEXT ISSUE—October

Deadline October1st.

2

Page 2

Penicuik: Malawi Project Report

Hello Everyone!

This is Hannah McVicar
calling from Malawi. Last year,
you kindly provided me with
funding to come out and
support the children living
here, as part of a Project Trust
placement.
It has been ten months since I
moved to Malawi and I am
writing to update you all on
how I am doing.
I am living in Yamikani Child
Care Institution, which is an
orphanage based in Limbe
just outside Blantyre. It is home to nineteen beautiful children and for the last nine months,
my home too. Currently, there are fourteen girls and five boys, ranging from the ages of
two to nineteen. There is one other volunteer from Project Trust staying with me in a side
wing of the orphanage.
As volunteers, our role here is to provide emotional support for the children and oversee
the orphanage and make sure it is running well. We also have other responsibilities such as
tutoring the children and helping them with their school work on Tuesday and Thursday
evenings. I am also in charge of social media for Yamikani. This involves uploading posts to
facebook and instagram which helps to make sure Yamikani is well known and also helps to
bring in donations. On the last Sunday of every month, my partner and I run a themed
activities day. For example, in October we held a Halloween fun day with games and
competitions like ‘wrap the mummy’ and a scavenger monster hunt.

Malawi is a beautiful country and its’ people even more so. The children here at Yamikani are
more like a big family, with everyone looking out for each other. Everyone here is so friendly
and positive and the fact they have been so welcoming has made it much easier for me to move
here. It definitely earns its name as the ‘warm heart of Africa’.
As I mentioned earlier, it is our role to organise fun activities and trips for the children. These
children hardly ever get to leave the institution for anything other than school. We are trying to
change this. Currently, we are trying to raise £1000 to fund a summer programme for them. This
two week programme will run from 29th of July to the 6th of August and would include daily
activities for the kids such as taking them swimming, getting chitenge dresses/ shirts made for
them and even going up to the lake for a few days. However all of these are impossible without
funding. If you would wish to help in anyway, it would be amazing and make a real difference to
the lives of the children here.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this and I hope to update you again later on in
the year.

3
Page 3

Currie Balerno: supporting people with Dementia

The Currie Balerno Rotary
Club was proud to host a Pur-
ple Alert presentation at King-
sknowe Golf Club.

The presentation was given by
Charlotte Swarbrick, National
Digital Lead for Alzheimer
Scotland, who is pictured here
(centre) with Club President
Rodger Thom and with Club
member Theresa Douglas,
who is Project Lead for De-
mentia with NHS Education for
Scotland.

The evening brought together
representatives of interested

organisations in the local area to- put out which will be received by
gether with Club members and all people in the area who have
partners. downloaded the app. Those peo-

Charlotte explained that Purple ple will then be able to help by
Alert was a free app designed responding to the alert if they see
jointly by people living with de- someone fitting this description
mentia and their carers, by Alz- who appears to be disoriented.

heimer Scotland staff, by Police 8000 downloads of the Purple
Scotland, by Dementia Friends Alert app have been made
Scotland and by health and social throughout Scotland in the past
care providers. It seeks to con- year. The target is 10,000. Char-
tribute to the objective of helping lotte invited all members and
people with dementia to continue guests to download the app and to
to be part of our community and spread the word among friends
to live safely within the communi- and contacts. There have already
ty. been several cases this year of the

Charlotte described how people app being used successfully to
in the local community who had locate and care for missing per-
downloaded this app could help sons.

in the event of a vulnerable per- If you are interested to know
son getting lost and she showed a more, go to purplealert.org.uk or
video to demonstrate its effective- contact Theresa Douglas on
ness.
07738288636.

The way the system works is that
in the event of someone being re-
ported missing a description is

4

Page 4

Jedburgh:

Jedburgh Callant Evan Munro and his
henchmen visited the Rotary Club of
Jedburgh on 20 June and were
welcomed by club members.
Callant Munro praised the club for the
work it does both locally and
internationally, to help others and to
support worthy causes in many
locations and situations.
President 19/20 Martin Breach
presented Euan with a Jedburgh Club banner as a souvenir of
his visit.

The Junior Fishing event at the Hass Loch took place on 24
May.

5
Page 5

North Berwick: Classic Car Tour

Just over £8000 was raised from the club’s third
annual Classic Car Tour .

Gordon Symon, organising chair of the Classic Car

Tour committee said “Our third Classic Car Tour
took us into Northumberland and the Borders and

was blessed with exceptionally fine weather. We

were delighted with the turnout of 65 cars, who Rotary Club Community Service Chair Alan Nisbet, Ro-
came from near and far, with Andrea Downham tary Club President 18/19 Liz Martin, Ben Wilcox Train-
winning the prize for the furthest travelled car, ing Officer North Berwick Yacht Club and John Wilcox

in her 1972 Fiat 500, from the Midlands of Eng- Commodore North Berwick Yacht Club receiving a
land. There was a great variety of vehicles on cheque for £1400 to help with the purchase of much
show at the start, at Tesco’s North Berwick, and needed equipment for the increased number of young
it was pleasing to see so many members of the people aged 16 and over now taking up sailing.

public coming along to see them before the off. The winner of the oldest car

on the tour was Keith Cornwell of Dirleton with his 1958 Bentley S3.The prize
for most sponsorship raised was won by Sean McCashey, who drove a Rover

Mini, from Signals restaurant in North Berwick, with the sum of £450, The win-

ner of the quiz prize was James Gascoigne from Whitekirk driving an Aston
Martin. ELC councilor Jane Henderson awarded the prize for the car she

would most like to take home to Ian Cook of Dalgety Bay for his 1974 Triumph

Stag and similarly North Berwick Community Council member, Bill Macnair,
chose a 2017 Dax Rush owned by Ian Tait of Roslin. Although all the money

has yet to be collected, this year’s three nominated charities to benefit equal-
ly are Muirfield Riding therapy, The Vine Trust and Maggie's Centre.”

The Rotary Club would particularly like to thank its many sponsors and in par-
ticular the following North Berwick businesses Anderson’s Butchers, Ander-
son Landscaping and Garden Services, Archerfield Walled Garden, Bella Ita-
lia, Cottages in Speyside, Dalrymple Service Centre, Drem Timber and Fenc-
ing, George Cochrane Floor Coverings, Henderson Travel, Howard Selby
Auto Services, Jerba Campervans, Jim’s Taxis, Nether Abbey Hotel, North
Berwick Distillery, North Berwick Fry, North Berwick Holiday Homes, Paris
Steele Legal, Parkers Private Hire, Signman, The Ship Inn, Tesco and other
local supporters Bell Smokehouse Dunbar, Car Audio Stuff Dunbar,EDF Ener-
gy, Investec Edinburgh, Lothian Broadband City Speeds, Marshall Meadows
Hotel near Berwick upon Tweed, Robert Templeton & Co Insurance Brokers
Dalkeith, Royal Mackintosh Hotel Dunbar, and Tustain Motors Haddington.

Next year’s Tour is already in the planning and will take place on Sunday 26th
April. Watch out for details on the Rotary Club of North Berwick’s Facebook
page or website www.northberwickrotaryclub.org

6

Page 6

Penicuik: International Evening

A wonderful International aged eight, behind by Navaar House Hotel
Evening was held in with her sisters. for the occasion.
Navaar House Hotel, Pe- Seven years later
nicuik on 28th May. This she managed to Finally, the members
was a chance for mem- get enough money were delighted to be
bers, partners and guests together for him to able to confer a Paul
to listen to long term Pe- join her and he Harris Fellowship on Sir
nicuik resident, Sir Geoff made the journey Geoff who was clearly
Palmer OBE talking about alone to the UK touched by the warmth
his life. where he met her of his reception at the
at Paddington Sta- club and the tremen-
Sir Geoff has lived in Pe- tion. He told us of dous affirmation from all
nicuik since the 1970s. He the struggle for those present for the
is a Professor Emeritus in him and his mother presentation to him.
the School of Life Scienc- to make a life here,
es at Heriot-Watt Univer- of the difficulties Good food, an inspira-
sity in Edinburgh. He was they encountered tional speaker, musical
honoured by the award of and how, as an un- entertainment and fel-
an OBE in 2003 for his der educated child lowship. A marvellous
contribution to the Brew- he had pursued evening which was en-
ing and Distilling Industry and made the most of the joyed by all.
and in 2014 was knighted educational opportuni-
for services to Human ties available to him in
Rights, Science and Char- the UK. That eventually
ity. He was recently ap- took him to university in
pointed Jamaica’s first Leicester to study botany
Honorary Consul to Scot- and ultimately to Heriot
land. He has been associ- Watt in Edinburgh. All of
ated with the Rotary Club this was delivered in the
of Penicuik for a number light and good hu-
of years during which moured manner which is
time he has told us much typical of Sir Geoff. It
about his passions – not was indeed an inspira-
only about whisky, distil- tional story.
ling and the brewing pro-
cess but also about hu- We were then enter-
man rights, the slave tained by two students
trade, racial equality and from Beeslack High
more. School, Penicuik who
came along to play the
This evening, Sir Geoff Marimba. They certainly
told us about his early life provided a suitable mu-
in Jamaica and how his sical flavour to compli-
mother came to the UK as ment the excellent Inter-
part of the ‘Windrush national dishes prepared
Generation’ leaving him,

7

Page 7

Primary Schools Quiz: Jim McPherson

The District Final of the Primary Schools Quiz took place on Saturday 1st June in the Lifestyles
Centre in Carluke. Eleven teams attended along with a very large “travelling support” with 44
Youngsters competing and well over 100 supporting parents, other relatives, teachers and Ro-
tarians present too.

To get this far, each team will already have won a Club Heat from some of the 250 Schools who
took part in over 40 Club Heats. They will then have been the winner or runner up in one of the
6 Area Heats with around 40 teams taking part in those. All in all, more than 1000 youngsters
will have taken part in the quiz this year, hopefully enjoyed the experience and maybe learned
a bit about Rotary in the process. With similar numbers of teachers, parents and others support-
ing the pupils at these events, we should now have an increasing awareness of Rotary in many
schools and homes which can only be to the long term good.

Unfortunately, one team had to withdraw owing to “other commitments”, always likely to be a
problem at a busy time of year for schools. 2 teams from each of District 1020’s 6 Areas had
been invited to the District final, and 11 teams did make it to Carluke to fight it out as to who
would be the eventual PSQ Champions for our District in 2019.

In a closely fought competition, Larbert set the early pace, but as early as the second round,
New Abbey school (a school near Dumfries, with less than 40 pupils) edged ahead and then
held their collective nerves and maintained a slender lead from there on to claim the District
Governor’s Shield. The challenge for the runners up place was much more uncertain with Ech-
line, Ladeside, Priorsford, South Morningside and Wallacestone all in the mix through the re-
maining rounds, with Echline overtaking Priorsford in the final round to claim the Runners Up
spot by half a mark.

Unlike previous years where the District Final was the last one for the year, we now move on to
the Scottish Final between our 3 best placed teams, New Abbey, Echline and Priorsford, along
with 3 teams each from District 1020 and 1230 to find out which school will become Scottish
Champions for 2019. The Scottish Final will be held in the Iris Murdoch Centre – part of Stirling
University and promises to be yet another occasion where we get the chance to see many of the
best of today’s Youth in action. Spectators are welcome.

All the youngsters taking part were a credit to themselves, their Schools and teachers, their par-
ents or carers. Every single one of the teams did very well, entering into the spirit of the event,
enjoying the occasion but also being quite serious in their efforts to do well.

Thanks are due to the Carluke Lifestyles Staff, for their assistance during the day and also to the
many Rotarians who pitched in on the day to supervise teams, help with the scoring, produce
certificates and do the catering for refreshments for the youngsters and supporters taking part.

For the rest of the competition, I’d like to say “Thank you so much” to all the Clubs and their or-
ganisers for the first round of Club Heats, and then a very big “Thank you” to the 6 Area Organ-
isers for their efforts. Most of all though, it has to be “well done indeed” to all the pupils who
took part at any stage of the competition, along with the many parents, teachers and Rotarians
who supported them. I hope you enjoyed the experience and that you would like to go through
it all again next year.

8
Page 8

Grangemouth: eyeing up success

Over 70,000 spectacles collected over
17 years.
A total of 71,375 spectacles have been
collected by Andrew Finlayson of the
Grangemouth Club since 2003. The lo-
cal opticians know Andrew well and
save them up for him. The glasses are
boxed up and sent off to Vision Aid
Overseas who recycle them to provide
access to sustainable and affordable
eye care services across Africa.

See how you can help here

https://www.visionaidoverseas.org/how-it-works

9

Page 9

Annan: calculating how to help our youngsters

During June, members of Annan Rotary distributed nearly 200 scientific
calculators to Primary 7 leavers from the various schools which feed into
Annan Academy.

This project which has been running for many years, used to give the P7
leavers, on their way to the “big school” at Annan Academy, a dictionary.
Following a feedback exercise carried out a couple of years ago, this
will be the second year that the club has given the P7 leavers a scientific
calculator instead of a dictionary. Feedback from last year about the cal-
culators was very positive, so members decided to stick with the calcu-
lators this year and are already making plans for next.

This project is one of a number undertaken by Annan Rotary each year
to raise the profile of Rotary within the wider community as a whole.

10

Page 10

Falkirk in Action

President Jim is pictured With the investment in
handing over a cheque for her business she can
£450 to Lynda Ross-Hale
from the Cyrenians. earn more and deal
The cheque represents the with the high cost of
proceeds of the collection living. The improved
for the Floral Clock which
took place at our Charter profits will also help
Anniversary Dinner in get her children well
February.
It is hoped that the Clock educated for a better
will be finally complete by future life. She will be
the end of June / early July
this year. repaying this loan in
The works are in place and 17 instalments.
operational. The new
hands are ready to be fit- two sons and two daughters. Rani has fully repaid
ted once the clock is plant- She is 33 years old. She lives her loan of £196.02
ed and the design of this
year’s planting regime is in Kasur with her husband Our micro loan contri-
well underway. and children. She helps her bution was £15 which
This has proved to be a
marvellously successful husband in making shoes to was fully repaid at the
partnership to the benefit support her family financial- end of April 2019.
of the local community. ly.

Micro Finance with LEND All her children are studying
WITH CARE in school as she wants them
to become doctor and live a
Rani Safia is a mother of
respectable future life.

Rani and her husband sup-
port the household expenses

together. They have been in
this business for 5 years and

jointly earn 19,000 Rupees
per month. The amount they

earn is not enough to fulfil all
their basic needs. Most of
their customers are from the

markets of Lahore.

She applied for a loan from
Akhuwat to expand her busi-

ness on a larger scale. This is
her second loan request.

With the first loan she started
her business. This loan will

help her to buy more shoe
making material for big or-
ders.

11

Page 11

Falkirk Rotary: Alastair McMillan

It was with great sadness that I These are the four
received the call from George community ser-
Honeyman on the evening of the vice folk ( not for
23rd June informing me of the any misdeeds)
passing of Alastair McMillan. Linda, June, Ian
and Stewart.
He is survived by his daughter
Kay and grandson Sam. Wednesday morn-
ing 26th June
Alastair had suffered a second these four cleared
stroke and was greatly frustrated our allotted beds
by his inability to properly com- in the High Street
municate. His first stroke left him and replanted
with a difficulty in his speech and with more suitable
as a result he sought to remain material.
among familiar company at our lunchtime meetings.
Tom Curry was in that regard a great comfort to The morning went well with the lads prid-
Alastair. ing them-
selves in
Alastair McMillan joined our Club in 2002 and barring their abil-
two bouts of illness occasioned by severe stroke was a ity to
regular attender at our lunchtime meetings. He chaired keep well
the International Committee from 2005-2007. within the
gender
Alastair "served his time" as a Merchant Navy Deck equality
Apprentice with the Clan Line of Glasgow and then rules ,
worked for them as a Deck Officer in various ranks as watching
he passed his professional qualifications. After gaining and su-
his certificate as Master Mariner Foreign Going he
achieved the position of Chief Mate or Chief Officer, pervising while the ladies grafted . All
i.e. second in command to the Master, or Captain. After joking aside the work was within the 2
some years in this position Alastair joined Forth Ports hour time frame even though Stewart’s
as an Assistant Harbour Master at Grangemouth. Hav- shopping
ing spent a time in that position he took up the post as trolley with
Master (Captain) of the Forth Ports dredger Ab- 6 bags of
botsgrange, the vessel which kept the port open by bark
removing the silt which continuously builds up at the spilled in
entrance to the lock. the high
street .
As a Grangemouth Pilot Gordon Daly often had to call There was
Alastair on the radio to discuss how they would pass no time for
each other or to find out what his next moves might be. a coffee
Gordon recalls that he was always courteous and re- afterwards
laxed and gave clear information. Gordon also remem- this time,.
bers that he was known to run a happy but efficient
ship and that the two things are not always compatible. The people of Falkirk always had time for
a wee chat with us which as always was
Alastair was also a Falkirk Seagull Skipper until his first very welcome.
stroke rendered him unable to do this.

A fine seaman, expert shiphandler and a true gentle-
man of the trade with a great sense of humour and an
endless fund of yarns of times past.

His daughter recalls that although Alastair was “not
visibly enthusiastic about things in general” he was
passionate about his love of “The Bairns”. I have no
such feelings but I have heard many of our members
refer to this passion of his and they recount many tales
of the conversations they have had with Alastair on the
subject. He will be greatly missed.

12

Page 12

Rotary Friendship Exchange

Over the last 3 years, D1020 of fun is involved. next seeking hosts. Ex-
has successfully provided pressions of interest from
guests from D3141 (Mumbai, In August 2019, a team from members in the City Area
India), D5520 (Texas/New D1020 will be out in the USA on Clubs in particular will
Mexico, USA), D9800 a return leg of our most recent be much appreciated.
(Melbourne, Australia) and exchange. It looks likely that a We are presently consid-
recently, in June 2019, from team will also be formed to go ering an exchange with
D5610 (USA) with a fantastic out to Melbourne during Sep- D2410 (Latvia) which will
taste of Scotland. This has tember 2020. Those involved in take place over 2020-22
been due to a relatively hosting so far will get priority to and this will be attractive
small, but highly enthusiastic travel to Australia but there will to those not wishing long-
and able group of Rotarian also be spaces available so con- haul journeys – details
volunteers from across our tact the District’s RFE Coordina- will appear in our District
District who act as hosts and tor if you want to join the team. weekly Newsletter.
who willingly provide ac- Full details will appear in a
commodation and their time forthcoming District Newsletter. Further information can
to ensure a great time is had be had from the District
by all. Within and around D1020 is most certainly on the website about what host-
our District there is so much radar of many other countries. ing involves. A RFE ex-
to see, whether this is within We are presently sitting with a perience provides a rela-
the central belt, the city, in waiting list of some 69 Districts tively inexpensive way of
the south-west, the Scottish from across the globe which seeing another country as
borders or down the east have expressed an interest in accommodation and
coast. All of the D1020 folk carrying out an exchange with meals at home are all
involved really enjoy being D1020 – such is the popularity of covered by hosts. In ad-
involved and they wish that Bonnie Scotland! If we had dition, local hosts take
many more Rotarians in the more hosts in D1020 willing to their guests to many plac-
District would come on host for 3 or 4 nights then we es not on the usual tourist
could offer our incoming guests trail. Get on board and
board as they do not know even more variety and spread you will never regret it.
what they are missing out on. the hosting load more equita- For more info contact The
New and lasting friendships bly. Please give serious consid- District’s RFE Coordina-
are formed and a great deal eration to hosting when we are tor, PDG Alistair Marquis,

[email protected].

13

Page 9

Rotary District 1020 In Brief
serving Southern Scotland and the
Membership as at July 1 2019: 1,404 (source: RI
world global database).

Editorial Team Rotary Foundation (Annual Fund) giving
Calum Thomson, PDG Olive 2018/19: $106,236 US ($73.47 per member aver-
age). Eighteen clubs (33%) exceeded the RI tar-
Geddes, get of $100 per member with the top three clubs
receiving banner recognition later this year.

Polio donations 2018/19: $42,551 US. Six clubs

(11%) will be recognised by Rotary Internation-

WEB ADDRESS al later this year for exceeding the RI target fig-

W W W . RO TA RY 1 0 2 0 . O RG ure of $1,500. All six of these clubs ALSO met the

$100 annual fund target.

Top giving club to Polio 2018/19: Rotary Club of
Linlithgow Grange. ($7,115, 16% of the total con-
tributions)

Handover 2019—IPDG Agnes hands over to our new DG Jo
More photos on the district website.


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