The major fundraising venture for Guyra Rotary over the last two years has been to raise enough funds to build a Helipad at the Guyra MPS (hospital). 

“Following a very generous donation of $17,000 from the Costa Group, who own Guyra’s Tomato Farm, together with many donations from members of the community and organisations we have nearly reached our target,” Ms Mulligan said. 

“However, planning has already commenced for the construction of the Helipad.”

The Hunter New England Health Facilities Management Team has taken on the planning for the Helipad and work on the project should commence after these investigations are complete.

At the Changeover dinner held at Rafters Restaurant on Tuesday night, Aileen MacDonald was inducted as the new President of Guyra Rotary Club for the 2015-16 year. 

“My aim is to wrap up the funding for the Helipad and then I want to initiate a new community project,” Ms MacDonald said. 

“Next year will be Guyra Rotary’s 70th anniversary and I want to organise a suitable event involving the community to help celebrate this milestone for Guyra Rotary.”

The Changeover dinner was attended by 50 people including Rotarians from Dorrigo, Glen Innes and Armidale North Rotary Clubs. 

Many community groups also attended the dinner.

The Rotary Club also surprised long serving member Sharon Bowles with a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of her work over a number of years. 

The award is one of the highest honours which can be bestowed by a Rotary Club and is made available by Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation in recognition of the late founder of the organisation, Paul Harris.

Keynote speaker for the evening was Past President David Pearson who has become involved in an international project aimed at assisting the health authorities in our neighbouring countries to control the deadly disease malaria. 

He is now the Deputy National Chairman of Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) which started in 1995 in the Solomon Islands and PNG and has been active in Timor Leste since 2006. 

RAM’s approach has been to provide Long Lasting Insecticidal Bed Nets to protect people from being bitten by the mosquitoes which carry malaria. 

Since distributing these bed nets, significant reductions in the incidence of malaria and related deaths have been achieved. 

In 2014 David led a RAM team to Timor Leste to distribute bed nets, especially to expectant mothers. Guyra Rotary presented David with a cheque for $1,000 to contribute to this cause. 

Other donations during the year have included:

$850.00 – National Youth Science Forum attendance by Austin Youman

$500.00 – contribution to students’ travel expenses on a Rotary Australia World Community Service project in Timor Leste

$500.00 – end of year school book prizes

$1,187.00 – Rotary International PolioPlus Fund

$27,248.58 – Guyra Helipad fundraising