Rotary Club of Ballan
Making a Difference to Local and International Communities
The Rotary Club of Ballan is a small but dynamic club, making a difference locally and on the world stage. Examples of just two recent projects are below.
Rotary Leading the Local Community
In 1996 Ballan Rotarian, Director of Community Services, Kerry Robertson said, ‘We have a strong community spirit, and there is a need to promote this to the many people who visit and move to our town” After living in Ballan for nearly 30 years Kerry was disappointed that the many community groups, except for five, were never ever displayed.
This early comment was the catalyst for the eventual construction of new signage boards on the east and west sides of the town. This simple project was more involved than many people expected. The style and design would need Council approval and not clash with other gateways projects. Local artist and sculpture Peter Blizzard designed a magnificent structure, which would have been a significant landmark for Ballan, but unfortunately, it was beyond the financial resources of the Club
Eventually, Engineer and Rotarian Archie Campbell drew up plans for the structure we have today. Approval was sought and given to locate the signs in front of Mrs. Joan Young’s property in the east side of town and Mr. Peter Frazer’s property on the west side.
This community project of approximately eight years would not have been possible without the support of past and present Rotarians and the support of Eureka Concrete and Moorabool Shire..
Our Community Service groups play a vital role in making our community a great place to live.
Other recent community activities include provision of a large clock to the Ballan Swimming Pool and participation in the Ballan Lions Club Market with a Trash and Treasure Stall.
Youth & Rotary
The Rotary Club of Ballan was happy to help out at the recent public meeting to launch the youth project at Mount Egerton. The BBQ provided by the club was enjoyed by all.
Thte Rotary Club of Ballan is currrently running a literacy project in the district's primary schools. The outcome of this will be posted on the website after April, and also in the local paper.
In the next few months two young people from Ballan and district will be attending two Rotary programs, RYPEN and RYLA, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ballan. For more information about Rotary's youth programs, see the Rotary International Website or contact the Secretary of the Rotary Club of Ballan. Details for both on the contact page.
Rotary Overseas
The Rotary Club of Ballan coordinated this international project to provide a rainwater harvesting system on a new health clinic in a remote village in East Timor - Leo Lima. The project involved all of the Rotary Clubs in Group 8 of District 9780 (all of the clubs in Ballarat and Ballan) and was funded as a celebration of Rotary’s centenary. We worked with a local Timor-Leste organisation, Bia Hula. The project also aimed to demonstrate that rainwater harvesting is a simple and reliable source of water. The project has been an outstanding success on all counts.
Staff at the clinic have reported very positively on the reliability and quality of the new water supply. Elidio, the local manager for the national Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, is delighted with the system and believes it should be used far more widely around the District. Those involved in renovating and rebuilding local primary schools are keen for support in installing similar systems to improve the quality of water supply at the schools, or in some cases to deliver any kind of water supply at all.
Most importantly, the Vice Minister for Health has inspected the system installed at Leo Lima and has determined that such systems should be installed on all clinics across Timor-Leste where water supply is unreliable. The Ministry of Health now wishes to work further with Rotary International to look at options for funding this project, particularly in retrofitting recently completed clinics.
This project is an excellent example of what Rotary can do. With remarkably little financial outlay, Ballan and Ballarat Rotary Clubs have provided key information that has opened up new approaches to water supply in a country with large rainfall yet limited access to clean water. And we have provided a reliable source of clean water to a health clinic that previously had none.
