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Birthday time for Charity Club of Pattaya
The Charity Club of Pattaya held a celebratory 3rd
birthday at Gian’s Wine Bar on Thappraya Road. The club was founded by
Malcolm and Christina Boden on 1st July 2004 and is run by Malcolm,
Christina and club treasurer Vic King, owner of the Queen Victoria Inn Soi
6.
 The
Charity Club of Pattaya celebrated its 3rd birthday at the beginning of
July.
The club raises funds for the needy here in Thailand by arranging various
events with all the money they raise being spent on the chosen charity.
They have raised funds for children and the elderly, not only in Pattaya but
as far as Krasang near Buriram.
From 1st July last year to 1st July this year with the help of their
dedicated band of supporters they have raised 754,885 baht.
This year they spent the money raised on the following: built and furnished
a classroom in the Wat Wang Wa temple school south of Rayong; donated food
and clothing to the Mercy Mission here in Pattaya; food and furniture to the
Camillian Centre Independent Living Centre Rayong; donated wheelchairs and
blankets to the elderly in Esarn; helped with the flood victims in the
Bangkok area; donated bicycles to schools in Esarn; special food for
children who cannot eat solid food; donated food and clothing to children
living with HIV/AIDS in Nong Khai, bought with some of the money donated by
the Leigh family in the U.K.; bought a specialist wheelchair for a severely
disabled boy bought with the money donated by the Admiral Lord Nelson Soi 6
Pattaya; repaired a leaking roof for a family in Esarn with a severely
disabled child; donated food to the people living in the slum areas of
Pattaya; made a cash donation to the Rotary Club Pattaya to help with their
charity work and made a cash donation to the Free Masons West Wind Lodge to
help with their charity work; Christmas gifts and a Christmas party at
Jameson’s for the children of the Camillian Centre.
The Charity Club would like to thank the following establishments for their
help during the year by hosting events for the Club: Jamieson’s,
Witherspoon’s, Oliver Twists, Kilkenny’s, Queen Victoria Inn, Pinnacle
Resort Na Jomtien and the Caddy Shack.
A big thank you must also be given to friends and supporters for their
constant support; without them the club wouldn’t be as successful with its
fund raising. In the 3 years, to date they have raised 1,869,642 baht.
If you would like to know more about the Charity Club contact Christina on
the club’s email charityclubofpat [email protected] or check out the club’s
website www. charityclubofpattaya.brave host.com
Beating death and living life to the full
John Lynham
“I’ve looked into the jaws of death six times - dying is not a nice experience.”
Robert Mawson, the speaker at the Pattaya City Expats Club meeting on 1 July at
Henry J Beans, was a living, breathing example - if not of immortality, then
certainly of the will to survive. Invalided out of the British army with two
leaky heart valves (a congenital defect) at the age of 31, he was given 48 hours
to live. “But I can’t die now, doctor,” Robert insisted. “That beautiful girl
waiting outside, we had our first date last night, and I’m not leaving her.”
Miraculously Robert pulled through, and over the next three decades survived six
cardiac arrests before finally getting a heart transplant four years ago. The
operation was the first heart transplant to be shown in its entirety on
television, on the Discovery Channel.
 Robert
Mawson, the speaker at the Pattaya City Expats Club meeting on 1 July at Henry J
Beans, was a living, breathing example - if not of immortality, then certainly
of the will to survive.
The immuno-suppressive drugs necessary to the transplant’s success, however, led
to osteoporosis and arthritis, which necessitated spine-strengthening steel rod
implants and persuaded him to start taking Juice Plus, a fruit and vegetable
extract that he says has cured the arthritis and other side-effects. His website
www.4adayforhealth.com gives more information.
Any fears that we were being sold the latest health fad evaporated with Robert’s
common-sense approach to a healthy lifestyle: more fruit and vegetables, less
sugar, water to drink and regular exercise. “I do a five-mile walk every day,
and weights three times a week,” he beamed. “I leave people half my age
standing.”
Looking at this tough 63 year-old, speaking confidently without notes or slide
show or visual aids, you could readily believe it. A practitioner of meditation
and a peace ambassador for Wat Dhammakaya to the United Nations, he has taught
meditation to professional bodies in the USA and abroad. A wise smile playing on
his lips, he was a wonderful example of beating death and living life to the
full.
The club’s AGM took place, in abbreviated form: Lawrie McLaughlin announced the
new composition of the board; outgoing Chairman Andre Machielsen reported on a
very successful year, with an explosion of special interest groups and a variety
of trips near and far which helped, he said, the club to grow together more as a
family; and Max Rommel presented a treasurer’s report which showed a healthy
bank balance. Thanks were given to all those who gave of their time and
expertise to maintain the club, especially Sermsakdi, David Meador (secretary)
and Richard Smith (president).
The meeting rounded off as usual with the Open Forum, in which members ask for
help with practical matters or share their experiences of life in Thailand. The
livelier-than-usual audience was managed with aplomb by Bob L’Etoile, sparring
in-between contributions with his sidekick carrying the radio mike, Harry ‘Sig’
Sigworth. “If you are what you eat,” said Bob, “Sig would be a bargirl.”
Back home and happy – thanks to Rotary
How tragedy can be turned on its head! The Rotary Club of
Taksin-Pattaya was contacted two months ago by the Social Services Director
at Nongprue Sub-District, asking for help in restoring a family home that
had been damaged by a fire, leaving the family homeless. Secretary Bob
Denzil headed up the committee responsible for taking on the task and just
two months later the house has officially been handed back to the family.
 The
remains of the gutted house before Rotarians went to work on it.
An emotional handover ceremony took place on July 1st at the house and was
attended by IPP Charles Evans and wife, Vice President Trutz Fiddickow,
Secretary and project chairman Bob Denzel, Treasurer Khun Pranom, SAA Lothar
Kraus, Rotarian Michael Bosian, 3 Representatives from Nongprue District and
Khun Bee, the house owner, who was radiating with happiness and relief at
being back home.
House proud Khun Bee, Project Chairman Bob Denzel and committee members Khun
Pranom and Lothar Kraus showed everyone round the rebuilt house as Khun Bee
explained to IPP Charles how grateful she was and indeed, how delighted she
was by the work that had been done. Now, all that remains is for the windows
to be fitted and the family will finally return to live in what is to them,
less a house and more a home! In his last official act, IPP Charles
authorised the donation of 4,000 Baht from club funds to allow the job to be
finished, which he handed to Khun Bee at the ceremony. Another job well done
by Rotary.
Rotarians and spouses
including Khun Bee all seem very happy and relieved during the handover of
the renovated house.
Rattana Kiewpet decorated for
donation to Immigration Bureau
Narisa Nitikarn
Ms Rattana Kiewpet, the landowner who donated a plot of land at Jomtien
Beach for Pattaya Immigration Bureau to build new offices, has been
conferred the Commander (Third Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the
Direkgunabhorn.
 Pol.Col.
Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, Superintendent of Pattaya Immigration, applied
for the Royal decoration for Ms. Rattana.
The ceremony took place at the new Immigration offices on Jomtien Beach Soi
4, where in a somber and dignified ceremony Rattana received the order from
in front of a portrait of His Majesty the King, in recognition for her
services to the nation.
The 1-rai plot of land was valued at 7,550,000 baht at the time of handover.
Pattaya Immigration Bureau had been in urgent need of new premises because
the existing offices at Pattaya Beach Soi 8 had become too small to cope
with the growth in the number of visitors to Pattaya.
Rattana, speaking at the awards ceremony, said that she was the owner of a
real estate business named Siam Best Enterprise Co Ltd. Knowing the
difficulties faced by Immigration in their out-of-date accommodation, she
said she decided to give something back to the nation and society, so she
donated the land to the government.
Pol Col Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, superintendent of Pattaya Immigration
said that Pattaya Immigration Police had submitted Rattana’s name to the
Royal Thai Police to apply for the Royal Decoration.
The new building erected on the plot of land was opened for service last
year and has proved admirable both in purpose and in the impression its
attractive surroundings imparts to overseas visitors.
Rattana Kiewpet sits proudly
in front of the portrait of HM the King after being conferred Commander
(Third Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn.
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