Japanese treat for Comber Rotary


Young Writer of the Year acknowledged by Belfast East


10‑year old Amy Cullen of Gilnahirk Primary School, Belfast ‑ was the winner of this year's Rotary Young Writer Competition at District level!


Amy was presented with her prize of book tokens at a recent lunchtime


meeting of Rotary Club of Belfast East Here she is pictured with President Liz Doherty."


Attention


I'm only a girl of 10 years old. I try to behave and do what I'm told. But I'm worried something's happening all around. Things are changing from the sky to the ground. The North Pole is melting, that's not good! We're using more electricity than we should. Waste is a problem; the most there has ever been, We all need to think more and try to be "GREEN".


So turn off lights when not in need. Each family should have an eco‑creed. Never drop litter ‑ put it in the bin. Taps left running ‑ that's a sin!


Oil spills are dangerous, so make sure they stop. Pollution needs to end, we can't have another drop.


Fumes from cars are filling the air. Stop and think for ifs destroying the ozone layer.


So ATTENTION everyone, listen to this rhyme. We all must change before we run out of time. So try to recycle as much as you can. To be eco‑warriors ‑that's our plan!


Group Study Exchange participants who visited Japan are welcomed to Comber Rotary by the President, Phillip Beggs (right). They are (left to right) Verity Swann, Anne Flanagan, Kathy Busby, Darren Campbell and Justine Smyth


A taste of Japan was brought to a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Comber in Balloo House. Head Chef Danny Millar and his team conjured up a special meal in honour of our visitors who had come to tell the club about their experiences in Japan as part of a Rotary sponsored Group Study Exchange (GSE) programme. And to further add to the occasion the visitors delivered their presentation dressed in traditional Japanese costumes. They explained how Rotaryʼs Group Study Exchange programme offers an opportunity for vocational exchange to business people and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. It provides travel grants for teams from different countries to exchange visits, and presents the opportunity for team members to experience their host countryʼs culture and institutions, to observe how their occupations are practiced abroad, to develop personal and professional relationships, and to exchange ideas. In practice, this meant that a Japanese team were chosen to visit and be hosted by Rotarians in Ireland, and an Irish team was selected to visit Japan. Each team also had the opportunity to meet and work together in both Ireland and Japan.


They were hosted during their month‑long visit by Rotarians in the idyllic and remote Shimane Prefecture on Honshu Island bordering the Sea of Japan in the Pacific Ocean. There they had time to see many of the local sights including the ancient town of Izumo, which is home to one of the countryʼs oldest Shinto shrines, an inland sea area where the Seto Ohashi Bridge links the islands over a six kilometres stretch, and a recently designated geophysical park in a coastal area of natural beauty.


Their vocation days brought the whole team to schools, hospitals, care centres, city offices, restaurants and hotels relevant to the vocational experience of each member of the team. Having made the best of their pre‑departure preparation the team impressed their hosts by delivering – in Japanese – a presentation to some 1,500 delegates to the annual Rotary Conference in Matsue – the prefectureʼs capital. But for all of them the outstanding memory was to visit Hiroshima, once again a thriving city, where each of them was privileged to ring the Bell of Peace.


Rotary in Carrickfergus Youth Leadership Competition Following a selection procedure at school level


Gillian Scott (Carrickfergus College), John Cameron (Downshire) and Emma McLean (Ulidia Integrated College) competed for a place in the area final. Competition organiser, Carrickfergus Rotarian Jim Dunlop, and his panel of judges including local businessmen David McCune, Rtn Sydney Johnston and chairman Rtn Rickie Erskine interviewed the candidates and were extremely impressed by the calibre of all those participating. They had a tough task selecting the local finalist who, on this occasion was Emma McLean from Ulidia Integrated College. Rotary President, Michael McCune congratulated all the participants and offered the Clubʼs best wishes to Emma for the area final which this year was hosted by the Rotary Club of Belfast East at the Stormont Hotel on 18th November .


Emma McLean ( competitor Ulidia Integrated College), Michael McCune (President, Rotary Club of Carrickfergus), John Cameron ( competitor Downshire School), Rtn Jim Dunlop (Youth Leadership Competition Organiser), Helen Boyd (teacher Downshire School), Rtn Rickie Erskine (Chair of Judges), Gillian Scott ( competitor Carrickfergus College), David McCune (Judge), Ashley Donnelly (teacher Carrickfergus College), Rtn Sydney Johnston (Judge).


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