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To the outsider one may wonder what Rotary is about. The Bulletin will run a series of items to remind members (and friends) of just how Rotary volunteers participate.
Here is an example in which Hawthorn Rotary is heavily involved in more way than one, both literally with our manpower and lifting but also annual financial support ........DIK or Donations In Kind. With DIK especially, there is always an opportunity for everyone no matter where they are located or the time available, to get involved and make a difference.
The DIK concept involves retrieving items from the public, often excess materials or that from unused production runs or perceived redundant equipment at for instance Hospitals, and storing and cataloging them at warehouses. Our efforts concern the West Footscray Store which is part of the National Rotary Donations In Kind Store network. DIK is Rotary Australia’s largest ongoing project.
Collected goods are provided free to those in need both in Australia and overseas.
With proximity to Asia much of the overseas push goes there, and most recently to Timor. In our club, member Peter Lugg's (that's him above in the warehouse) connection with and awareness of Cambodia's medical needs has been the catalyst to retrieve and distribute surplus hospital beds from Melbourne to some regional hospitals in that country.
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