A note from the Co-Presidents

Despite everybody becoming busier with a myriad of Christmas and family activities in which to share, numbers at our meeting on Monday were high. As well as the inclusive nature of our club, I think this was in part due to the speaker for the night, Kevin Purvins, Boroondara Volunteer of the Year, 2025, and immediate past president of Compassionate Friends Victoria. He was joined by friends Ann Steele and Margaret Silverton, a member of RC Balwyn.

 

Particularly as we become older, more and more of us will be touched by the death of a loved one, either family or friend and we often are at a loss about how to behave or what to say. As you will read in the full report later, Kevin’s talk was both very moving and informative. Many people took the offered brochure or fridge magnet containing contact details - they are very close in Canterbury Road near Balwyn Road.

 

Rotary ‘s theme for December is Disease Prevention and Treatment. This is very topical for us having our 2025 Philippines Medical Mission recently completed and the reunion meeting held last week. Also, at our board meeting we will be discussing a request to participate in a district project to provide equipment and supplies to a hospital in Cambodia. Hearing from the orthoptics students, we know that medical services and equipment in hospitals in Asian countries can be much more basic than we are lucky to have in Australia.

 

Next week is our last meeting at CNC for the year, when Roger Taylor will be speaking. We have had a wonderful three terms at CNC, thanks to Tracey Martin and her team, mostly volunteers, and look forward to next year.

 

Members, partners and family are all welcome to our Christmas breakup on Monday 15 December, a BBQ/picnic in Riversdale Park (see the flyer later in this Buzz). I’ll be in my Christmas gear!

 

Elizabeth

LIFE EXPANDS AROUND THE GRIEF

 

Monday nights speaker, Kevin Purvis, Immediate Past President of The Compassionate Friends of Victoria, spoke about a topic very close to me.

 

As you all know, Alex died almost four years ago ( in 2026).

 

Kevin's background, and his back story is extremely compelling. His son, Steve, had experienced many problems - school refusal, isolation and depression - all of which the family sought to respond to. Kevin, formerly a Minister in the Baptist Church, could no longer deal with other people's pain.

 

He explained to us the early beginnings of TCFV, begun by a chemist in Balwyn , who was looking for support due to his personal situation. TCFV is part of  a worldwide organization, which began in the UK. The services include a telephone helpline, over twenty support groups and social groups throughout Victoria and a drop-in centre which is open during business hours.

 

The loss experienced by different members of a family unit is very specific to each individual. Siblings often receive very little attention. Within grief, individuals often feel extremely isolated. The essential feature of TCFV is listening to people. There is no cure for grief.

 

Kevin described that there are still days that he feels the loss of his son, Steve. There will always be an enduring connection with that person. There are many dos and don'ts to discussing suicide. The main thought is that one must avoid platitudes. Kevin emphasised the importance of retaining memories of the person, saying the name and even keeping items which have some personal signifcance.

 

The questions asked at the end of the presentation raised some very specific questions about Kevin's religious faith, and he has maintained his spiritual beliefs. It was quite hard for me, personally, to listen to this presentation. While my grief is no longer as raw as it used to be, it is still there. And, as Kevin said, it never disappears. Loss is part of life, and how you deal with it openly and transparently as possible is an absolute necessity.

 

Kevin is a gently spoken and thoughtful individual, whose loss is expressed authentically in his own way. It was a sombre, but very thought-provoking session.

Club member Roger Taylor will be speaking on the topic surviving the antropocene.

 

 

John Pocock manages the Camberwell Sunday market roster. Please contact John if you need to change your rostered date.

 

 

 

The table below details the roster for setting-up and cleaning up at CNC for our weekly Club Meeting.

 

Details of the actual duties involved with each shift will be outlined on a flier in the storage cupboard in the meeting room at CNC.

 

 

For the new sets of cleaning & laundry needs RIMERN has started a fundraiser.

 

$50 buys a full kit (mop & bucket, broom plus dustpan & brush, laundry basket, clothes hamper & kitchen tidy bin) and every donation over $2 is fully tax deductible.

 

Please support RIMERN via the LINK (https://www.mycause.com.au/page/381392/spri ng-cleaning-with-rimern) and share with friends and family!

Every RIMERN client needs a mop & bucket, broom & dustpan, swing top tidy & laundry basket plus clothes airing rack, but none of these are available second hand so RIMERN has to buy them.

A full kit costs $50 and RIMERN needs 10 a week. Can you sponsor one or more? It's Spring, time to help the RIMERN clients with their cleaning! Thank you in advance!