THE Rotary Club of Mount Isa is putting $100,000 back into the community to support local initiatives surrounding youth including Learner Driver Program, Buddy Benches, PCYC sporting balls and a family fun day.
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Rotary Club of Mount Isa president, Tracy Pertovt, said the club wanted to pump the $100,000 back into the community.
“We just want to lift the name of Rotary in our community while supporting and targeting the younger demographic,” Ms Pertovt said.
“For our first project Rotary teamed up with Young People Ahead to implement a Learner Driver Program.
“Young People Ahead have the vehicle and Rotarians have committed volunteer hours to drive children who may not have access to a supervisor or a car to complete their 100 hours. Rotary have also donated money to supply five professional driving lessons per person.”
Rotary Mount Isa has also enforced an idea from a United Kingdom Rotary Club called Buddy Benches. Benches will be distributed to all schools in Mount Isa to assist with children’s mental health and wellbeing.
“We hope this will also assist with suicide prevention. The Buddy Benches will be located in the playground in primary, secondary and residential,” Ms Pertovt said.
“The idea behind it is if a child or young person is feeling lonely or a bit down they go and sit on that bench. Another student will sit down on the bench and talk to them and make them feel better. There will be a program throughout the school to enforce this.”
Rotary’s third program has expanded on an initiative it supported last year.
“In 2015 we donated sporting equipment to Doomadgee PCYC. This year we thought we would expand on that by supplying Rotary branded sporting balls to PCYCs across North West Queensland,” Ms Pertovt said.
“This is something that will help raise the rotary profile and give children an opportunity they may have funding for.”
Finally a Family Fun Day will be held before Christmas to help bring the community together and raise the profile of Rotary in Mount Isa.
“We want to circle the young people as many feel Rotary is all older people. We want to educate young people about Rotary so they understand what we do in the community and maybe encourage them to join the other youth in our organisation.”