A new Rotary club has been established to assist communities in Ocean View, Masiphumelele, Simon’s Town, and Red Hill.
The Rotary Club of South Peninsula-Cape Town was founded by a Fish Hoek couple, Jane and Ray White, who are both retired medical doctors.
Dr Jane White is the club’s president. She has been a Rotary member since 2021 although she has been associated with the organisation since 1992 through her husband, who is the president of the Rotary Club of Cape of Good Hope.
The new club was officially chartered on Monday January 29 with a launch at the Clovelly Country Club on Wednesday February 28.
“We noticed there were significant needs in our community, that there was a gap in community assistance and wanted to fill it. Even though there are already Rotary clubs in the south, given the size of the area we want to serve, starting a new club seemed like the best way to help effectively,” said Dr Jane White.
They hope to involve people of all ages from Ocean View, Masiphumelele, Red Hill, Fish Hoek, and Simon’s Town and have already set their sights on setting up a small business hub to offer shared workspace and support to people from Ocean View, Masiphumelele, and Red Hill.
“We also want to start a vocational programme at Ocean View High School to provide students with alternatives to dropping out and possibly create a toy library at Fish Hoek Beach in partnership with the City of Cape Town, featuring a borrow, use, and return policy.”
Dr White said she was excited about leading the club
“As I step into this leadership role, I’m incredibly excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. I’m fortunate to be supported by an exceptional team, with members from diverse backgrounds across the south. We’re ready to make positive changes.”
The district governor of Rotary District 9350, Ann Wright, said: “We are pleased to welcome another club on board, which brings our district – covering Angola, Namibia, and the western half of South Africa – to a total of 58 clubs.“
Each club operated autonomously and planned its own projects, she said.
“We encourage clubs to prioritise Rotary International’s seven areas of focus: peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; community economic development; and the environment,” she said.
“Rotary has 1.2 million members in 220 countries and has a global impact, with millions of members worldwide working on volunteer projects showing how collective action can address community needs.”
If you’re interested in joining Rotary or starting a club, can contact David Holtzhausen at davidho@yebo.co.za.
