Notes of Meeting 4 March 2024
Chair Elias Lebbos opened the meeting and recognized Rotary International. President Rhys Williams acknowledged the Wurundjeri people, the traditional owners of the land on which the meeting was held and paid his respects to elders past, present and emerging.
President Rhys welcomed the following visitors to the meeting:
Dr Armit Gil, Rotary Club of Melbourne
Jade Lewis, ex Rotaractor, ex Exchange Student, currently on a working holiday from France.
Senior Sergeant Brigette de Chirico, the Guest Speaker
Guest Speaker - Snr Sgt Brigette de Chirico: Public Housing Community Safety in Ashburton
Brigette is a participant in the Victoria Police Leaders Mentoring program and is being mentored by Neil Salvano.
Brigette has 30+ years service in investigative, frontline and proactive roles. She commenced in 1994 and worked at various frontline locations and divisional crime investigation units. She had involvements as a bushfire arson investigator and worked as a sergeant at frontline and proactive policing unit in outer east. Since March 2022, Brigette has been Station Commander at Camberwell Police Station.
Brigette spoke about an initiative to work with relevant agencies and community groups and NGOs to improve public safety in and around public housing, and to work together in all stages of planning for large public housing redevelopments in Ashburton.
Part of the mentoring program is the development of a community project, using the skills and expertise of Rotarians to help design approaches to engage and work with communities. Brigitte drew on her experience in proactive policing, the operational needs of her members and the advice of Neil on ways of building ownership by other decision makers to influence the design of new public housing and affordable housing that promotes safety and the feeling of safety.
She gave examples of three redevelopment projects, one completed, one underway and one on the drawing board and how she was able to influence the approach to client and public safety. Monitoring of crime reports from the completed project has shown a 40% reduction in 000 calls. Feedback from RCM members that know the area confirmed the improvement in the amenity there.
Brigette emphasised the value of mentoring in developing a strategy to influence others to achieve the outcome.
Announcements
Peter Duras advised the meeting that club members had donated 15 suitcases that had met the needs of the Good Samaritan house for the next few months. He also said that Caprice had donated 500 infant garments to be distributed to various charities.
Rowan Williams reported that the club had sourced boxes of children’s toys form DIK and provided them to Concern Australia and the Uniting Church Asylum Seeker project.
Roger Thornton provided a great example of how RIMERN made an impact on someone’s life by allowing her to furnish a home after being found accommodation through another community group.
Tom Callander asked that anyone wishing to donate phones to the DV phone initiative contact him in the next week. DV phones has placed 11,000 phones with domestic violence survivors. He also issued the first calls for donations of sleeping bags for the homeless for this winter.
Elias Lebbos advised that the there is a potential for an inbound New Generations Service Exchange participant in Spring this year and asked that members consider being a host. He also reiterated that call for volunteers for the International Flower and Garden Show.
President’s Announcements
President Rhys reflected on a very successful and enjoyable social event at the Mt Martha BBQ hosted by Lorraine Meehan. Rhys thanked Lorraine, Roger, Pippa, Veronica, Kevin and Yanpu amongst others for help on the day. He also advised of an opportunity for young or future Rotary members to be sponsored to attend the International Conference of Rotary in Calgary or the Multi District Conference in Adelaide. Rhys and Marjorie have details.
The Rotary Emergency Services Community Services Awards are open again.
Next Week’s Meeting
Next weeks meeting is on line via Zoom and the guest speaker is Mawien Ariik. Ariik will provide an overview of implementing sustainable healthcare initiatives within the political, social and cultural aspects of South Sudan.
