Cheques go a long way

By Emma Sun
PAKENHAM Rotary Club handed cheques to a number of beneficiaries during the presentation night that happened recently.
Recipients included St Vinnies, Officer Fire Brigade, Make A Wish, Salvation Army Pakenham, Cardinia Civic Concert Band, Monash University and SES Pakenham Unit.
Rotary Club president Graham Tudge handed the first cheque for $2000 to president of the Pakenham branch of St Vinnies Rosie Boon.
She said the funds will be used to help many families in Pakenham who are “doing it tough” as after payment of utilities, they often do not have enough left for food. The help is necessary in this community.
Officer Fire Brigade representative Michael Van Den Acker thanked Pakenham Rotary for the $2000 cheque for the brigade.
The Officer station, made up of volunteers, look after car accidents, fuel spills, wild fires as well as house fires.
Cardinia/Casey Make a Wish representative Carol Henzen thanked the Rotarians for $2000 cheque, that will go to make such a difference to the families who are touched by Make a Wish.
She said the foundation grants wishes every year to children who have life threatening illnesses. The wishes range from a puppy to a bedroom makeover to a trip overseas.
Pakenham Rotary’s very own Kaine Harris was present to receive a $500 cheque for the Salvation Army Pakenham.
“Thank you to my Rotary mates,” Mr Harris said.
“There are increasing numbers of people turning up for assistance. It is not the case of people misusing money, but people with real needs.”
Mr Harris not only does office work, such as paying bills and banking money for the Salvos, but he also mows lawns for people who need help.
The Cardinia Civic Concert Band’s acting president John McLean accepted a $500 cheque, which he said will be used to buy new sheet music.
All band players are volunteers aged between 18 and 80 and they provide music for the community including at the Dawn Service, the Pakenham Show and community concerts.
Professor Eric Ecklund of Monash University received a cheque for $1000, which will go to research into the promotion of the Toomuc Creek area.
The money will allow the research into the history and heritage of the area to begin.
Finally, Pakenham Rotary donated $1000 to SES Pakenham Unit, with Shayne Honey accepting the cheque.
The unit covers a large area and due to the severe weather over the last couple of days, have had over 60 requests for help, mostly with damage to roofs.