Former East Gippsland Shire mayor, Cr John White, presented 83 grade six students from 11 primary schools with their Rotary Junior Community Award certificates over two nights during November.
The program, now in its 29th year, is still attracting new Rotary Clubs in Victoria and other states as well as in England to support the program for their local schools.
The program, based on the Duke of Edinburgh Award, designed by the late Rotarian David Hawkey, follows the ideals of Rotary in that students learn the joy of volunteering and giving beyond self for the benefit of others.
This is as well as personal development in learning or increasing a new skill, taking part in physical recreation activities and getting to know and understand their part in the community through social experiences. The experiences include attending a community meeting, finding out about others’ religious or spiritual beliefs, having a cultural exchange, attending an arts performance, taking part in a community commemoration and identifying a local environmental issue.
The program takes at least two school terms and is for the most part undertaken outside school time. Students who complete tasks in all areas are supervised and their diaries signed in order to earn their award. Each activity has a reporting task to be completed. The program is inclusive and can accommodate children of all abilities. This program is very relevant in developing resilience in today’s climate of youth mental health issues.
The children are supported by Rotarians when necessary and the culmination of the program is the presentation night put on by the Rotary Club of Mitchell River, Bairnsdale.
Every child’s program is different and when they speak publicly about their experiences, their parents’, friends and teachers are amazed and delighted at their confidence in articulating their activities and feelings about the program.
Every diary is read and comments written by Rotarians or friends of Rotary and each child has a photo taken of their award.
This is truly a community event and the support of the Bairnsdale Uniting Church in providing the venue over many years is appreciated.
