Rotary club backing water aid project in Malawi

PRESIDENT Paul Begley and five members of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw were welcomed to the regular meeting of Carluke Rotary.

It was a purely social visit by Motherwell, but Carluke President Jim Speirs was pleased to announce that £500 had been disbursed to the Motherwell Club to assist them in their Well Wish project, aimed at refurbishing wells in the vicinity of Blantyre, Malawi.

Over the years, several well-intentioned projects have installed wells but have not followed through by providing training or spare parts to maintain the mechanics of the pumps.

This initiative intends to develop or repair existing wells and, thereafter, maintain a stock of spare parts plus provide training to local engineers who will, long term, provide the necessary regular servicing of the pumps. The project, covering a period of 10 years, will concentrate financial input during the first five years by getting the wells up and running.

During the meeting any doubts that members had that Allan Smith and Jim Speirs had abseiled down the ‘north face’ of the Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, were firmly dispelled when Tom McNicol showed a video of the sponsored escapade.

In driving rain and strong winds, both boldly went where they had never been before and they admit they are unlikely to go again. The event raised £10,000 for Mercy Ships.

In other business, President Jim Speirs reported the club had disbursed a further £3730 to local, national and international charities.

The recipients, apart from the previously-mentioned Well Wish project, were Stanmore House School, Stanmore House Residential and Respite, Victoria Park School, Friends of Guiding, Asthma Care Scotland and money for the purchase of two Shelter boxes.

Shelter Boxes are boxes that have items including a tent, water purification equipment and other basic items for survival held in store by Rotary International in Britain and Ireland (RIBI), for immediate despatch in times of disaster to any part of the world.

The Carluke curling team went out in the latest round of the Ram’s Head Trophy, spoiling an unbeaten run, having to forfeit their match to Lanark.

However, the team move forward in the Rotary League, in the next round they play against Strathaven at the East Kilbride Rink. Further items for the Support our Soldiers Christmas Appeal, handed in on the evening, will be forwarded to the organisers.

Carluke Rotary Clubs meets regularly on Mondays 6.15pm for 6.30pm at Cartland Bridge Hotel. For further information contact any member or visit www.carlukerotaryclub.org

WELL AID: members of Carluke Rotary Club have given support to Motherwell and Wishaw Rotary Club’s project to provide water aid and technical support to Malawi, Africa.