By JONATHON HOWARD
COOROY Rotary has welcomed its newest member, Noble Peace Prize Certificate recipient and UNESCO Peace Prize holder Vivianne Dawalibi.
Vivianne was born in Syria and grew up in Sudan.
She served for two decades assisting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in providing solutions to refugees’ issues.
She was entrusted to lead various emergency operations with UNHCR starting from Sudan, to Kenya, Somalia, Armenia, Belarus, Bangladesh and finally in Bosnia Herzegovina during the Kosovo conflict.
Each of these operations had its own specificity depending on political conditions of that country and relationship with UNHCR in regard to International Refugee Convention.
She said she was delighted to become a refugee herself in Australia (1999).
Vivianne now runs the Cooroy Family Practice.
In welcoming Vivianne to the Rotary Club of Cooroy, president Chris Durie said the club was proud and honoured to have Vivianne as its newest member.
“She brings with her all the ideals of Rotary in world understanding, peace and community involvement,” he said.
“You will all hear more from Rotary and Vivianne in the future, starting with the Cooroy Mountain walk community event in October.”
Mr Durie also extended a warm welcome to residents to come and see Rotary at work every Monday at 6pm at the CWA Hall Cooroy.
Mr Durie can be contacted on 0409 875 507.
Vivianne can be contacted at the Cooroy Family Practice in Myall Street, phone 5472 0064.
Vivianne was officially inducted into the Rotary Club of Cooroy by visiting District Governor George Grant.
