RUTH CROSS HAS DONE IT!

Right on the cusp of the new Rotary year, on 30 June 2019, the Rotary Club of Tarawa was Chartered as the newest Rotary club in District 9920 and further boosted the Rotary presence to a large area of the Pacific. The story of their formation and how Rotary is now represented in Kiribati is compelling reading. 

Ruth Cross, a member of the Rotary Club of Melton and former President of the Victorian Kiribati Association has returned home to Kiribati after many years in Melbourne. She has been a familiar face at Donations in Kind and at the Moonee Valley Next Rotary Generation group meetings. She has been keen to re-establish Rotary in Tarawa, and has  been strongly supported by Assistant Governor Jenny Foster and Rotary Melbourne's Stephanie Woollard.


After the previous two Rotary clubs in Kiribati (Bairiki and Kiritimati) closed in 2015 and 2016 respectively, there had been no Rotary presence.  However the initiation of a Global Grant to Kiribati by the Rotary Club of Richfield, District 5420 in Utah USA, was the catalyst for a visit to Tarawa, Kiribati in May 2018 by DGE Ingrid Waugh and PDG Jennie Herring.

Ruth was instrumental in engaging with many different sectors of the community and running several interest meetings. Even before the official number was reached, the future club has a very impressive list of projects underway and planned.

Upcoming projects (confirmed and proposed):

  • Delivery and distribution of hospital donations (June 20)
  • Delivery of birthing kits from Country Women’s Association (Australia) to outer island medical centres.
  • Provide storage facility for rehabilitation centre at hospital, assist with centre clean up and procure rehabilitation
    equipment needed.
  • Train and deliver of “Days for Girls” menstruation kits to outer island school age girls.
  • Develop training curriculum for all 348 communities on South Tarawa to provide sound leadership, consistent
    governance and collective efforts towards agreed goals (sanitation, education, peace, access to clean water).
  • Running water to each household.
  • Community toilet builds.
  • Community rain water tank installations.
  • Community sanitation programs.
  • South Tarawa waste clean-up and ongoing management. Collective efforts and changing narratives.Well done

Ruth, congratulations on continuing your Rotary journey.


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