Left: Rotarian Wilma Best with president Allan Davidson at the presentation of the handover of the cow. By Melissa Meehan
WANDIN NORTH resident Stephanie Storey has raised $116 for the Milking Cows Project after organising a Hill Billy-themed housewarming fundraiser that will go towards helping families in Kampala, Uganda.
After reading about the project in the Mountain Views Mail in July, Ms Storey said it “struck a chord” in her.
“I read the story about the handover of the Rotary cow and felt it was such an amazing gift to feed the children,”Ms Storey said.
“I was born in the country and have always lived around farm animals and realise that we live in a land of milk and honey.”
Rotarian Wilma Best travelled to Kampala earlier this year and from Healesville Rotary funds, was able to hand over a well bred Friesian cow, in calf, to one needy family in a deprived village.
The cow now provides enough milk for an extended family of 13.
From the surplus the widow can now trade milk for other essentials.
“This was a very worthwhile gift, the family was overjoyed, the cow is highly valued and the milk protein is improving the health and alleviating hunger for this family, especially the children,”Ms Best said.
“Now through Healesville Rotary and with the support of people in the surrounding community, we are aiming to raise enough funds to develop a herd of well bred milking cows, to feed more people and over time this herd will breed with heifers being handed to other families.”
In a recent email, Rotarian James Tugume of the Rotary Club of Kampala thanked Healesville Rotary for the cow and the continued support of the Milking Cows Project.
“Thank you so much for your continued support of effective community projects, certainly the milking cow project is a life changing gift to many desperate families in Africa, Uganda in particular,”Mr Tugume said.
Ms Best said that Ms Storey’s contribution would go towards buying cows for more families.
“We are currently organising a number of fundraising events that will go towards buying a small herd of cows for the families of Uganda,”Ms Best said.
“Every little bit helps.”
Individuals or groups willing to assist Rotary with funds to help provide cows for the Milking Cows Project can contact Wilma on 5962 4326.
