After the Tsunami struck S.E. Asian. countries on Boxing Day 2004, our club and most of the other Clubs involved in collection at the Camberwell Sunday Market in Melbourne, donated all the takings for the month of January 2005, towards a Tsunami Relief Fund. This amounted to some AUD81,000 and was passed to the International Committee for careful distribution.
Our objective, was to ensure that 100% of these funds reached those in need. Recognising that Rotary is not organised to dispense emergency relief, we set about identifying a long-term, well managed Relief Project that would remain valid long after the media and emergency relief organisations had moved on to new places of need.
Cheque presentation to the General Manager of the
Penang Skills Development Corporation by President Gerard Robless
Using personal contacts throughout the affected countries, we determined that one much overlooked location was Penang Island, off the North West Coast of Malaysia. Where a highly respected Rotary Club of 79 years standing, was able to join in managing the employment of these Funds in a Joint Project with RC Balwyn.
In 2005/6 the Malaysian Government funded new fishing boats and outboard motors for affected fishermen. In parallel, AUD15,000 was applied from our Relief Fund, to provide commercial fishing gear needed to make those craft fully operative.
AUD66,000 remained, and after much research by RC Penang, it was jointly decided to apply this in full, for a Scholarship Project that will teach deserving young people manufacturing industry skills. Enabling them to be lifted out of the poor fishing and rural areas, and obtain employment in the many electronic industry companies in Penang and Butterworth.
The Scholarship was open to students whose families were directly affected by the Tsunami (The Primary Affect), plus those in rural areas who later suffered similar hardship (The Secondary Affect) as a result of the extensive damage to the overall economy of the region.
Scholars invited to the RC Penang Board meeting to be recognised
Two programs were offered at the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), for students 16-25 years of age:
- Year 1. Advanced Machining, and
- Year 2. Advanced CNC Machining.
- A small bursary was also offered to those who needed to live away from home.
Entrance requirements are:
- Schools pass in Mathematics, Science and English.
- Parents must not earn more than a combined income of MYR2000 (AUD700) per month.
- Pass the proscribed PSDC entrance examination.
This Rotary Tsunami Scholarship Project funded by RC Balwyn and conducted jointly with RC Penang, was launched on 29 January 2007, by the Chief Minister of Penang,Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
Wise investment of the funds by RC Penang in fixed interest ensured protection of the capital through the “Financial Tsunami” of 2008/9, and generated sufficient additional funds to grant scholarships to three (3) extra students.
In all, 31 students have been awarded scholarships to PSDC and have progressed satisfactorily through their courses.
Scholar's representative thanking the Rotary Clubs of Balwyn & Penang
