Rotarians from Narre Warren, Roger McGill, Chris McGill and Roger Hall, will head to Tonga next year with more than 15 other members to start a school renovation project. Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Kelly Yates
ROTARIANS from Narre Warren will be jetsetting to Tonga next year to start a school renovation project worth $20,000.
More than 15 members from the Rotary Club of Narre Warren will spend two weeks in May installing lights and fencing, painting classrooms, creating ramps for wheelchair access and laying an asphalt assembly area at the school.
Rotarians Roger McGill, his wife Chris, and Roger Hall travelled to Tonga in July after the club installed several water tanks on the property.
Mr McGill said the school, which catered for more than 200 students, was very run down.
“I was shocked by the conditions at the school. It looks like a paddock,” he said.
The Rotary clubs of Narre Warren and Endeavour Hills held a joint meeting on Wednesday 29 October, with guests John and Margaret Bath from the Rotary Club of Nuku’alofa in Tonga.
Mr Bath spoke about the need for the project, which is set to go ahead for the next three to four years, saying it was valuable for the students and the community.
Mr McGill said the club was looking forward to the project in Tonga. “It’s a rewarding feeling helping out a community in need and it hits your heart strings when children are involved,” he said.
The Rotary Club of Narre Warren will hold a dinner dance and auction to raise funds for the Tonga project on 18 April at the Grand International in Dandenong, with an Elvis impersonator entertaining guests.
For more information, call Roger McGill from the Rotary Club of Narre Warren on 0429 345 627.
