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Who are we?
Boroondara Cares is a Rotary-led community
partnership between the City of Boroondara and the Moira Shire
in the Murray Valley. We exist to provide on- going support for
the residents of Moira Shire as they seek to deal with the
severe economic and social challenges caused by a 7 year long
drought. This innovative and exciting program brings together
the resources of the two municipalities and the volunteer
resources of twelve Rotary Clubs – eight in Boroondara and four
in Moira Shire. Together we aim to demonstrate in practical and
supportive ways that “Boroondara Cares”.
Where did we come
from?
The Boroondara Cares
programme had its beginnings in contacts between the Mayors
of Moira and Boroondara in September 2007 and their shared
conviction that “something must be done” to support country
people in dire circumstances due to the drought. The Rotary
Club of Camberwell quickly jumped on board and invited their
fellow Clubs inside Boroondara and Moira Shire to
participate to form Boroondara Cares. This was reciprocated
with the Moira Shire and its its four local Rotary Clubs to
form Moira Cares.
Why does Boroondara
care?
Families are under severe
stress as income dries up and debt loads become
unsustainable. While finance, farm debt, bankruptcies and
related business pressures are at the centre of the rural
drought crisis, the flow on effects of these are being
manifested more widely in an erosion of ‘social capital’.
The consequences of this include marriage break-ups, mental
health issues and suicides. |
What projects have we
completed so far?
• Evening with the Stars Oct 07
• 2000
Christmas cakes and puddings delivered to farms
in Moira Shire December 2007
• 2 tonnes
of rice per month to Moira Food Share
• Tickets
for children to Kooyong Tennis Classic
– Jan 08
• Children’s
bus trip and visit to Melbourne Zoo
– Jan 08
• Return
visit to Moira and farm tour - Feb 08
• Sponsorship of the Burramine Gift – Mar 08
• Moira
producers at the Boroondara Farmers Market
Mar 08
•
Sponsorship of Family Day at
Cobram Trotting Track
on 8th May 08
•
Glenferrie Farmers Market Saturday 21st June AM
Moira Produces and the Cobram School Band
•
Father
& Son Football Match Bus Trip Saturday 21st
June
What’s in the pipe
line?
•
School to School partnering and visits
•
‘Drought
through the eyes of a child’ exhibition
•
Golf tuition by leading Golf
Pro in conjunction with
Numurkah & Cobram Barooga Golf Clubs.
•
Work program, part-time employment
for Moira
residents in Melbourne
•
Establishing a bank of Rotarian
homes for hosting
Moira residents visiting Melbourne to attend medical
appointments
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