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Who are we?
Sharing Communities is an initiative of the Rotary Club of
Camberwell. It was conceived as a governance structure
while Boroondara Cares was in formation. Boroondara Cares
is a Rotary led community
partnership between the City of Boroondara and the Moira Shire
in the Murray Valley. It exists 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.
Following in the footsteps of Boroondara
Cares, we are pleased to welcome Stonnington Cares an
initiative of the Rotary Club of Prahran in conjunction with
the Mayor of
Stonnington
Claude Ullin and the Rotary Clubs of Bennalla and the
Mayor of Bennalla
Pat Claridge.
This innovative and exciting program brings together the
resources of the two municipalities and the volunteer resources
of Rotary Clubs. We aim to demonstrate in practical and
supportive ways that the city communities can share with the
country cousins.
Where did we come
from?
The Sharing Communities 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 the city
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. |
