The Rotary Balita no. 784 (November 10, 1955)

A report received from the International Contacts Committee of the Rotary Club of Bacchus Mar discloses the project approved by the International Service Committee regarding assistance offered to New Australians in the Community who so desire to become naturalized Australians. The Rotary Club of Bacchus Marsh is only two months old and in reply to a welcome message remitted by the Inter national Contacts Committee of our Club has sent a copy of the minutes of its Committee meeting which reads as follows: ROTARY CLUB OF BACCHUS MARSH Report of the International Committee submitted to Club Assembly, 14th September, 1955. The International Committee comprising: Alf Wig nell, Chairman; Max Durham, Secretary; Alex Bond, Bernie Trethowan and Pat Whelan, members, is meeting on the 2nd Wednesday in each month from 7:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the homes of its members. Rotarians Ted Wiseman and Joe Bradbury of the Essendon Club were present at the first meeting to advise on how our Committee could best operate in the International Service field-Rotarian Bill Fraser attended our August meeting. The following decisions have been made by the Committee and approved by the Board: 1. "That this Committee assists New Australians in the Community who so desire to become naturalized Australians." To this end sufficient of the necessary Forms have been obtained from Commonwealth Immigration Department; and these are in the process of being distributed to interested New Australians. It is considered that it may be possible to arrange a Civic Ceremony when the preliminary requirements have been complied with. 2. "That Asiatic Students be invited to Bacchus Marsh for a weekend from time to time-the object being to promote goodwill in this direction." Inquiries made to date indicate that of these students, those who attend the University for Academic courses are rather well catered for in this regard,-none were available from this source during the recent University vacation period. Approaches will now be made to other sections of the University, the Melbourne Technical College and the Gordon Institute of Technology at Geelong. 3. "That the Committee will welcome any New Australian in this Community, who would like to attend our Committee meetings from time to time." It is felt that it would be of assistance to the Committee to have the views of these people -It was also considered that we should exercise great care in extending these invitations as it could be embarrassing to a New Australian whose command of the English language was poor and/or whose education was- such that he would feel out of his depth at our Meeting. 4. "That the Committee members make a study of the Colombo Plan with a view to bringing to the notice of Club Members at some future luncheon allotted to our Committee, the nature and purpose of the Plan. 5. "That we support Rotary Foundation Fellowship." The Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study are university scholarships with allowable expenses for one year of study abroad by young men and young women selected for their qualifications and the promise they show for becoming influential leaders in their community and their chosen vocations. Through these Fellowships youth is served and at the same time the objective of international understanding and goodwill is served. There is no thought of balanced exchange of students between countries, but on the contrary the purpose is to obtain the widest possible geographical (exchange) interchange of students.