Hosted by the Pres who did a great job in introducing herself and presented the thought for the day
Note from the Pres
On Monday we were treated to another tasty meal and an interesting and informative interactive presentation from our Local Community Group Leader Michael Stillwell.
By drawing out from us why each of us had joined Rotary, he was able to illuminate the activities and benefits we need to highlight to the community in order to attract partner organisations, volunteers and new members to Rotary. (You'll see those in the report. Ed)
Michael believes one of the main areas to develop, and he says we and many clubs are doing this to some degree already, is to collaborate with other clubs in projects and through sharing expertise so clubs don't have to 'reinvent the wheel' when developing projects.
It will be interesting to see the results of the regionalisation trial. I think our Local Community Group is in good hands with Michael!
Talking of collaboration, it was exciting to hear Cathie Macmillan's report from Co-chair Steve Wiley on the Community Service project to supply emergency food (and other) relief to people by police officers, from packs they carry in their cars. This new project is a collaboration between Boroondara Community Outreach (BCO), RC Canterbury and Acting Inspector Jill McBain ,who is based at Boroondara Police Station. Rotary provides the FORaMEAL packs, BCO provides other food and hygiene items and the Police dispense the packs to community members they come across in the course of their work who need support. You can imagine the positive impact of this timely support for people in need!
The recycling is working well, though please make sure the cans and bottles are completely empty please, with the last load earning $35.40 to be donated to RIMERN. The more you bring for recycling the less there is in landfill and the more funds RIMERN has to purchase needed items for their needy clients- it's WIN WIN.
Matters in the Interest of Rotary
- David Z re the lunch which (yesterday) was held at Box Hill RSL
- Nora gave a review of the packing at Camberwell Grammar
A great success with 20,400 meals packed by 68 students from Camberwell Grammar and Presbyterian Ladies College
IMPORTANT - On September 16th we have a speaker who will be talking to us about helping the people affected by the floods in Shepparton. He is planning a relief "mission" there in early October so this is a call out to anyone who can spare time and effort to assist. Here are the details
============================================================ ======================= Connecting Communities Australia are a charity focussed on disaster recovery work in Australia - flood, fire and drought typically. https://connectingcommunitiesaustralia .com.au/ CCA have been successful in getting a grant to take a volunteer team into the Shepparton area to help flood impacted households and are trying to round up more volunteers.Project date 1-7 Oct 2024Accommodation in Tatura Park Showgrounds - camping or some indoor areas you can lay a swag down. WC, showers, kitchen and meeting room all there.Meals should all be provided - except breakfast.No specific skills required - but hardworking and keen and happy to tackle most things. Enjoy a glass of red at the end of the day - close to essential!Age is unlikely to be an issue! Chris Knight the project lead is 69 and one of his key team is 83!Chatting with the impacted folk is very important - after this amount of time after the flooding events it is typically most vulnerable who still need support.Typically these efforts have a really positive spirit.We are fully supported by Shepparton Shire Flood Relief team and Goulburn Flood Recovery Services. I can supply letters of support from them if you need them.We need 20 volunteers in total (currently at 10) - including myself as project leader.WHY SheppartonGreater Shepparton was significantly affected by the floods in October 2022 and some properties within the municipality were also affected in January 2024 floods. In excess of 1000 properties were heavily impacted and those impacts are still being felt.Eighteen months post the October 2022 event, Goulburn Flood Recovery Services are still supporting approximately 180 households and many of those still have substantial need for rehabilitation of land or properties. Typically after this amount of time the folks needing help are the most vulnerable - elderly, unwell (either mentally or physically), uninsured. For example, one person was who was fully inundated was insured, but found out she had cancer and with all the additional costs through cancer treatments and not working, she has had to live off the insurance money .....I'll be doing a scoping trip roughly the week beginning 9 Sept.to enable a project plan. Thats when we really know what we're doing. But initially think minor repairs to houses and buildings, some minor fencing, possibly painting/ plastering and LOTS of rubbish clearing and removal and cleaning. The project plan is always matched to the capabilities of the volunteers.Chris Knight is happy to take calls/ emails from anyone on this if they have any queries.Chris KnightCCA Project Lead0421991898Chris is a resident of Mont Albert.
Finally - upcoming FaM packing events
Strathcona - Tay Creggan Hall 30 Yarra Street Hawthorn
- Set-up in the Hall on Tuesday 10th September at 2.30pm
- 90 students run from 9am – 3pm on Wednesday 11th September
- Lunch and Morning/Afternoon tea will be provided. Please advise me of dietary needs.
Scotch College - 1 Morrison Street Hawthorn
Wednesday 18 th September 2024 Set up 9am Event 10am – 1.30pm (60 students)
Directions – if coming off Glenferrie Rd turn onto Callantina Road then left into Fordholm Rd and
go straight ahead to senior school entrance, follow curve in road to car park area on the right.
Parking is also possible on the roadway.
go straight ahead to senior school entrance, follow curve in road to car park area on the right.
Parking is also possible on the roadway.
If coming along Riversdale Road turn into Fordholm Road and go straight ahead to senior school
entrance and follow curve to carpark area on the right. Parking is also possible on the roadway.
Reception is in the Randall Building (Gert Reifarth-Peterson is the teacher for sign in)
Set up is in student cafeteria along the walkway to the right of Reception.