DIK was offered an incredible opportunity to collect equipment, toys and games from a kindergarten/childcare centre that went into receivership in February 2026. Sadly, the centre remained unused since then, but all of the equipment, toys and games were still there. If the items were not to be collected, everything would go into a skip.
DIK simply could not let this happen because just two weeks ago DIK received a request for exactly the type of items that were available. Whatever we are able to collect would be packed into a DIK container bound for Timor-Leste in late September.
It is not often that DIK needs to call on Rotary Clubs for assistance of this nature, and at such short notice, but they did as they needed around 12 people on Saturday 29th August, in Tarneit of all places, from 7.00 am to 11.00 am, to help pack the two DIK trucks. DIK also needed someone with the confidence to drive a DIK truck which would need to be collected from DIK in West Footscray and driven it to Tarneit ready for the collection.
So as Secretary of DIK I reached out to some Camberwell Rotarians and Alan & Andrea Lorenzini and David Chu offered their assistance. I agreed to drive the truck, so it was an early start. Thank you, Camberwell Rotarians!
Pictured above are just some of the items collected which we packed and then unloaded at the DIK warehouse. There were children’s cots, chairs, tables, hard and soft toys, playground equipment, outdoor tables and chairs, bookcases etc. PE David had never seen DIK so came away suitably impressed.
In total three truckloads were collected from the Kindergarten. What might otherwise have been destined for landfill will instead be given a second life and provide much-needed resources to children in Timor-Leste and children in local Australia communities.
So just to reminded to us all that Camberwell Rotary is a member of DIK which is a significant resource to be utilised for our Community and International programs.