Monday nights Rotary Meeting was  held at the Town Hall with guest speakers Cathy Booth, Patrick Kea and Wayne Limbrick talking about their individual experiences with the Umoja Project. There were 130 people who attended from local Rotary Clubs and the community.

 

Wayne spoke from a volunteer/project supporters experience, the satisfaction of physically working at the project and the joy in spreading the word about Umoja. Wayne also promoted the caravan raffle which the profit will go to commencing the build of the second childrens home.

 

Cathy took us on her personal journey from concept to reality over the last seven years. Beginning with a family holiday in Kenya to the frustrations of starting a project in a developing country, to the opening day and arrival of the first children in July 2016. Cathy showed her passion, commitment and perseverence to the 'dream'.

 

Patrick spoke briefly about his life growing up as a child in a poor community with no money or ability to attend school until he finally was able to work and pay to finish primary school at 17 yrs of age. Starting his working life as a gardener, he was given the opportunity to get his drivers license. This enabled him to become a Safari driver, which is how he met Cathy. The rest is history as they say and now Patrick managers the Umoja Project on a full time basis and is Cathy's man on the ground in Kenya. Patrick spoke about Australia being 'the lucky country'compared to Kenya and can't wait till he gets home to put into practice all he has learnt since being in the Goulburn Valley visiting Ivan Routley's orchard, Ciavarella's dairy farm and Kate & Stuart Hodge's cropping/irrigation property.

 

There was no general business for the night however President Jacque Phillips asked for volunteers to sell the advent calendars this Thursday and Friday.

Squish asked for volunteers for the Foodbowl Festival to help pack up at 4:00PM.