While the Australian Government pledges military support for Ukraine, two small Rotary Clubs in Canberra are pledging a fun escape for Ukraine children fleeing the country.
It’s a little-known fact that Canberra Burley Griffin Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Hall have a close relationship with the Warsaw Rotary Club, which is helping young Ukrainian refugees to attend a youth camp. The Rotary Club of Frankfurt is also in on it. (Let that sink in – Germany and Poland working together).
A chance encounter on a train in the early 1990s by Canberra Rotarian member, the late Jack Olsson, saw Warsaw establish their own Rotary Club and forge a strong and enduring friendship with Canberra.
Rotary membership director Michael Rabey said the Warsaw Rotary Club dates back to 1919 but due to the Second World War, it closed down. Thanks to Canberra, it re-opened and a beautiful friendship blossomed.
“We got a request from them about the camp for kids – Ukraine refugee children – on the basis that they were missing so much in their lives by having to be uprooted due to the war,” Michael said. “The first camp took place in July and the second one is on August 20. Originally there were to be 50 participants but when the camp hosts heard what was happening, they said don’t send 50, send 80.”
Canberra’s two Rotary Clubs sent $9,500 (5,800 Euro) – a remarkable donation given the fact that the two clubs have a combined membership of about 50 people. They held a fundraising dinner and then tapped into their reserves to reach $9,500.
“We’ve got a long history with Warsaw,” Michael said. “In 2018, members of our club visited Warsaw and we attended their World Peace Bell – another thing we have in common.
“When the war in Ukraine first started (2022), Warsaw were receiving refugees from Ukraine and the Rotary Club of Warsaw were assisting with language skills, job placement, getting people job ready, so they could begin work in Poland. We sent over $22,000 to help the Warsaw club at that time. That was our first effort. We heard of their need and we just asked for donations.”
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.
“[Warsaw Rotary] have reached out to their Rotary friends in the spirit of goodwill and friendship and trust,” Michael said. “These kids, we’ll never meet them, they’ll never meet us, but we just sit back and think, ‘that was a good effort’.”
