by David Cook
Rotary Club of Albury West, N.S.W.
Sometimes you gain more when you give, rather than when you receive.

All clubs raise money for charitable causes. They involve themselves in community service and promote the well-being of their local region. While clubs may embark on these projects with the primary aim of helping the recipients, and publicity may be given about the events, a club needs to be aware of the internal benefits from involvement in club projects.

The Rotary Club of Albury West, N.S.W., found that it gained more than many anticipated when it ran a charity fund raising auction.

The money raised for charities, the public recognition accompanying the event and the gratitude of the recipients were all anticipated and welcome.

However, perhaps an even more important outcome was unforeseen in the planning stages – the motivation that it provided within the club.

In February, 2004, Bernie Lamers (then President of the Rotary Club of Preston, Vic.) spoke to the Rotary Club of Albury about the Bone Marrow Donor Institute, of which he is vice-chairman.

Following that talk the Rotary Club of Albury West chose the Bone Marrow Donor Institute (BMDI) to be the principal beneficiary of monies that would be raised at a charity auction.

Other local charitable causes would also receive some of the money raised. However, the Rotary Club of Albury West decided that the Bone Marrow Donor Institute would be the “headline” cause that the club would support.

Amongst its many programs to help research into leukaemia treatment and assistance for patients and their families, the Bone Marrow Donor Institute established BMDI House in Blackwood Street, North Melbourne, Vic.

It is an accommodation facility when patients are treated in Melbourne. It was this specific program that caught the attention of the Rotary Club of Albury West.

Why choose a facility in Melbourne to receive the money when the Rotary Club of Albury West’s own community is 300kms away? The answer is simple.

If some member of the Rotary Club of Albury West’s community becomes ill with leukaemia then he or she will require treatment in Melbourne. The patient will often need to spend up to 100 days at a time in isolation while being treated.

The BMDI facility provides accommodation for patients and their families in self-contained apartments that are atmospherically pressurised to keep out air from outside that may be carrying germs. Leukaemia patients have a reduced immune system which makes them susceptible to other illnesses for a time.
This accommodation facility is available for a family for $A15 a night. At a time of illness the family is under stress. Having the families together in one place helps them to cope better during this difficult time.
Statistics show that many families break up because of the strain during the period of illness of a family member. This facility helps reduce the strain within the family.

Patients have the privacy they need to heal, while having their loved ones with them. There is no better place for a person to recover than in the presence of their own family.

So the Rotary Club of Albury West had a cause to support, and an event to run.
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