Greetings from Fiji.

Having given up trying to use facebook, and with a very slow internet - I decided to send an email out ... with out photos! ....

We left Tullamarine Airport lat Sunday 4th May, arriving in Fiji Sunday afternoon where we were met by Peter Drysdale - the man  

 behind this project. Peter commenced this project - called Rota Homes - in 1985. More recently it had been renamed Community Homes Trust, and Peter is coordinating the construction of a complete village approximately 10 km out of Lautoka called Koroipita (Koroipita is Fijian for 'Peter's Town').

There is a second Rotary team here from Campbelltown in South Australia, also doing a 2 week volunteering trip. They are working on a second place, except for Val, the lady with them who is assisting with the painting. 

Monday morning 5th May we were collected from our Hotel Accommodation, arranged by Peter, and taken via the supermarket, to buy food for lunch, to Koroipita for a 2 hour briefing before commencing work later that morning.

Jenny and myself have been painting doors, window shutters and timber trims while Johnny, Rod, Lonnie and Ben started building a house. There is 'foremen' in each area keeping an eye on things!

The team has done very well during the week getting the place we commenced close to 'lock up'.

Days have been quite hot, temperatures into the high 20's with fairly high humidity. Plenty of water is consumed each day!

Days commence for us after been collected at 7.45am and conclude around 4.30pm. ...Except for Friday.

Friday we finished at 11.30am (worked heaps of overtime during the week!) and I had arranged for us all to spend the weekend on Navini.....for a little 'R&R'.

After the weekend of fishing, snorkeling, swimming and relaxing - we go back to Lautoka this afternoon ready for work at 7.45am Monday (tomorrow).

Our first task will be to complete the house we are working on, then find out what will be 'next'.

We will complete our work at Koroipita on Friday 16th May around lunch time - to allow us time to get changed ready to fly home Friday afternoon.

Our 2 sponsored apprentices - Lonnie and Ben have mentioned, and expressed their appreciation on a few occasions of the opportunity our club has provided for them.

Everyone here has really enjoyed the experience, and once we return and collate the photographs will give a more detailed report.

From us here sitting and sweating in shorts and shirts (must be time for a swim???!!) will catch you all next Monday 19th May, to a no doubt different temperature?

Cheers,

Michael, Jenny, Johnny, Rod, Roger, Lonnie and Ben 

Our meetings have catered dinners, so if you are unable to attend a meeting, or if your partner is unable to attend a designated Partner's Night, YOU MUST ADVISE us of your absence.

There are two ways to do this:

1. filling out in advance the "Apology Book" that is available at each meeting,

2. telephone 03-5222-2022.   an answering service operates our of hours 

• Apologies must be made no later than 9.00AM , on the Monday of the meeting (unless other arrangements were addressed in the Bulletin). 
• NOTE an answering machine operates at all times
• If no apology is recorded by that time, the absentee member willl be sent an invoice to pay the Club the dinner fee ($25) for your non-attendance, and/or that of your partner if it is an official Partner's Night.
• REMEMBER on "Partners Nights" it is assumed that you partner IS attending unless you apologise for them!

Also note, if you are bringing a guest or partner (to a non-partner night), you need to notify us of the extra number of persons who are attending.