First Shoots in Brora....
As part of the "Focus on Crocus" Polio Campaign last autumn, the Rotary Club of East Sutherland planted 5,000 crocus with the help of the Wee Wonders at Brora Golf Club. Similar numbers were planted at primary schools right across Sutherland. Despite the northerly location (60 miles north of Inverness) these crocuses were among the first in Scotland to be reported as being in bloom - thanks to Brora's micro climate!
Our picture shows local Rotary Club President William Sutherland with Rotarian Fiona Risk and junior golfers Campbell Ross, Robert Paylor and Grant Ross beside just 1 of the 4 heart-shaped beds of the emerging and blossoming 1200 crocus
This is just a small part of the £50M Challenge that worldwide Rotary has taken on, to rid the world of Polio in the next five years -with Bill Gates of Microsoft offering to double that sum.
And the generous people of Sutherland have helped in a very generous way
Crocus Planting Commences...
(Photo Gallery at Bottom of Page)
Primary school children of the whole of Sutherland have taken delivery of 10,000 crocus bulbs gifted by the East Sutherland Rotary Club and will plant them in their school grounds while other children’s organisations like the Wee Wonders at Brora Golf Club will do the same.
The purpose is to spread the word about Rotary’s aims and achievements in wiping out endemic Polio across the world so that only a few pockets still exist in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and they are being targeted now. T
he children in India and Pakistan who receive their vaccination get a reward and to control the thousands of children and ensure they do not get too many vaccinations they have their pinkie dipped in purple dye. So each year Rotary holds a Purple Pinkie Day when our own children are told about Polio and what Rotary is doing. This year the children
are encouraged to plant purple crocus bulbs so that when they flower in the spring they will remind everyone about the work being done and perhaps encourage their communities to support Rotary fundraising. The first group of children to plant their crocus bulbs were the "Wee Wonders" at Brora Golf Club who (with a bit of help) cut 4 large hearts in the bank above the putting green and filled these with over 5000 bulbs thus ensuring a fantastic display of colour in march/april next year and every year. The fundraising for the Polio and the Pakistan Flood Disaster really gets under way on 1st October when tickets for the New Year Draw go on sale and that will conclude with a Rotary "White Heather Club Tribute Concert" (wi’ a hint o’ Burns) on Wednesday 26th January @ Brora Golf Club when over 10 of the North’s top Scottish entertainers will perform at this special Charity Event--Dance Bands, Singers, Harpists, Fiddlers, Gaelic Choirs, and much more--so put it in your diary now!
Pic 1 shows:-
Rotary President William Sutherland resting on his spade surrounded by "Wee Wonders" Grant & Campbell Ross, Ali & Bilal Akhtar, James & John Griffith, Robert Paylor, Owen Davis, Giaum Dafur, George Mackenzie, Calum Payne and Murdo Whitefield With Rotarians--Terry Robinson, Graham Gillot, Pat May & Fiona Risk.
Pic 2 shows:-
Dornoch Primary pupils planting crocus bulbs., The pupils are left to right in the front Anne-Sophie Chalmet and Sophie Morrison and then left to right at the back Michael Macleod, Ruby Grant, Dexter Murray, Ryan Holden, Robbie Allan and Kyle Mackay.
And a super turnout at Rogart School looked like this (see more in the Gallery)
East Sutherland Rotary Club have been visiting local primary schools to show a DVD about how Rotary & Bill Gates of Microsoft as attempting and hopefully succeeding in eradicating endemic Polio for the world.
