BULLETIN 2nd May, 2023 (May 02, 2023)

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WHAT'S IN THIS BULLETIN

2^nd May 2023

Next Meeting
Guest speaker, Tuesday 2nd May 2023
From The Last Meeting
Rotary International Convention - Melbourne 2023
RCM & RCEM joint working bee in Rochester
A Night To Celebrate - Rotary Gala Dinner 1st June 2023
Two Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Last Weekend
Cambodia Wash Project Global Grant Application
Changeover Dinner - 30 Jun 2023
Thank you for your donation to Shelterbox
Gallery

Chair

ROBINSON, Therese

Greeter/Zoom Host

WILLIAMS, Rohan

Reporter

VOICE, Mary

Photographer

THORNTON, Roger

Bulletin Editor

HARVEY, Koren

Social Media Editor

NEXT MEETING

This is a face-to-face meeting at the RACV Club.

If you would like to visit our meeting, please book directly through Humanitix by close of business on Monday, 1st May 2023. If you would like a more general discussion about attending a Rotary meeting, phone 0455-858-996.

The meeting will commence at 7:40am and conclude no later than 8:45.

Members can use this Humanitix link for all future face to face meetings. This link will be published in the bulletin every week going forward.
https://events.humanitix.com/rotary-central-melbourne-breakfast-meeting

GUEST SPEAKER, TUESDAY 16TH MAY 2023

Josh Guy: Silk Miller Scholarship - Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing

Rotary Central Melbourne instigated the Silk Miller Scholarship in 2000, named in memory of two slain Police Officers, Sgt Gary Silk and Snr Constable Rodney Miller. Scholarships funded by the Club have now been awarded to over 20 police officers.

Our Club became involved when Rotary’s focus on health included the issues of youth suicide prevention and youth mental illness. The club accepted the potential of a link with Victoria Police as one of the relevant agencies involved with youth. Through broader education, trained Youth Resource Officers and other police officers, would apply a greater understanding of how young people “tick” and assist develop improved strategies in dealing with them.

It was considered that better interventionist strategies would assist the youth in our communities and potentially reduce youth suicide rates. This was in the context of the course aim to “improve young people’s life chances by focusing on adolescents at a critical life stage”. It includes the transition from childhood into adolescence and the transition beyond adolescence into adult life. Importantly, the club recognised that a key to improving young people’s health and wellbeing is to enhance the capability of practitioners in a variety of fields who work with young children.

Since the introduction of the Post Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing in 1996, over 130 participants have benefited from funding by 27 Rotary Clubs. Participants are drawn from a wide range of sectors aside from Justice which is our club’s focus, including hospital, school and community health-based professionals, education and community professionals.

Invited guests include:

Victoria Police: Superintendent Kelly Lawson, Dr David Broderick, serving police members Josh Guy (2023 Scholar), Julie Woods (2022 Scholar), Ben McWilliam (2021 Scholar).

University of Melbourne: Dr Ani Wierenga

FROM THE LAST MEETING

Rotary Central Melbourne Breakfast Online (Zoom) Meeting Report

Tuesday 25^th July 2023

Posted by Mary Voice and Sarah Overton

The evening meeting kicked off late due to nefarious tampering with our Zoom link by an international spy ring… or just a weird tech glitch.

Thanks to all who stuck with the process to join the meeting! The resulting banter was rather cheeky.

Michelle opened the meeting with an acknowledgement of first nations of our localities; then informed the meeting that Marjorie Gerlinger is rejoining the club.

Club Reports

Club Admin (Suvam Ganguli)

Much change is underway, as we transition into the new Rotary year and the new leadership team. Please be forthcoming with feedback.

We are committed to trialling some new things, including reshaping our arrangements with RACV.

We are also looking forward to locking in details for upcoming major events: Victoria Police Leadership Mentoring Program, Paul Harris Breakfast, and Christmas breakfast.

Thanks to members who have signed up to take on meeting duties, and to all who are embracing & sharing new ideas. John Ilott reminded us of Rotary leadership training available for interested Rotarians.

Youth Service (Rhys Williams)

Goals for the year:

- Promote District programs, RYLA and RYPEN, the National Youth Science program (NYSF), keep in touch with Youth Exchange

- Growing impact of Bernie Gerlinger Scholarships (auspices by Concern Australia)

Strategic Challenges

- There is ongoing challenge to identify and consolidate long-term partnerships. One that is going well is Police Legacy. Also Melbourne Youth Alliance (working with African university students in partnership with Melbourne Huddle), looking to run a youth mental health program. Looking at secondary schools to connect with as the program expands. Simmons College is a potential.

Broader observations

- Rhys shared findings from a recent report regarding a “volatile workforce” influenced by AI and digital, which will drive great displacement over the next few decades. Rhys is looking into an ‘employability initiative’ on this front.

Vocational Service (Ignacio Inchausti)

- The committee remains focused on the two flagship vocational programs - Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria Leadership Mentor Programs (VPLMP and AVLMP)

VPLMP - successfully graduated15 mentor/mentee pairs last year, and the program will start recruiting around October on the (now fixed) Rotary mentor website.

AVLMP - Currently under review

- International Students Mentoring Program - The focus of this newer initiative is connecting international students in Melbourne to local culture and networks. It is currently in a state of hiatus due to our partner, MentorMatch, undertaking a review.

- New Generations Service Exchange (NGSE) - International professional development exchange program to develop young people up to the age of 30 to hone their talent and build relationships. This is a District-wide program (potentially), although our club, along with RC Melbourne, leads the administration.

Fundraising (Campbell Chambers)

- Recent barbecue with Police Legatees raised $2000 for the Legatees and $4500 for the club.

- Next on-line raffle is planned for September.

- Next big event will be the Paul Harris Breakfast. More will come on this, including calls for donations and auction items.

- Bunnings BBQs have been in a slight hiatus, however looking forward to getting them back up and running in the summer.

- Looking for ideas to supplant the Garden Design Fest, which has become challenging to manage in terms of burden of logistics.

Community Service (Rebecca John)

The committee welcomes project ideas from all members.

In the 2023-24 year, the committee:

- Continues to work with Youth Projects in Hosier Lane to address ongoing needs, reminder about the current toiletries callout.

- Ongoing relationship with RYMERN, which provides furniture and homewares to displaced members of our community. The roster is filled out for the remainder of the year.

- Lift the Lid - ongoing fundraising efforts for mental health research

- Tree of Joy partnership with TAL, to coordinate gifts for children

- Christmas Hampers - Coordinating food donations for Lantana and Steps

- Phillip Island Tree Planting (Saturday 12 August)

- IFTAR friendship dinner

- Liaising with district 9800 contacts on projects related to domestic violence

Foundation (Rohan Williams)

- Working with RACV to lock in a date for the Paul Harris breakfast, ideally on Level 17, where 200 people can be accommodated. Date TBA.

- Channel Nine presenter Peter Hitchener is locked in as the keynote speaker.

Treasurer (Doug Robertson)

- Annual dues are due now.

- Club financials are returning to pre-Covid health, with thanks to fundraising and great thanks to bequests.

The meeting concluded with a discussion of the club’s speakers program – all members are asked to identify at least one potential speaker, their topic title, potential speaking dates and online or in-person.

Roy Garrett informed us that Anne Mitchell (STEPS) featured in a recent article in the AGE, from a former role as a teacher, see extract below.

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION - MELBOURNE 2023

Registration link: https://convention.rotary.org/en

Click to watch the Rotary International Convention - Melbourne 2023 Promotional Video.

RCM & RCEM JOINT WORKING BEE IN ROCHESTER

Contributed by Frank O’Brien

On Saturday 22 April, Pres Rohan Williams and Sue, Peter & Sue Duras, David and Sally Moon, Roy Garrett and Pauline and Frank O’Brien travelled to Rochester to meet up with RC Rochester Pres Heather Watson who was seeking help to clean up gardens of Rochester residents who had suffered severe damage to their homes and gardens due to major flooding of the Campaspe River last November. We were joined by 3 Rotarians from our Sister Club RC Echuca Moama.

All together, there were 13 willing and very energetic workers who combined to really Make a Difference to the gardens of 8 local homes, all of whom were on large blocks, each at least one quarter acre in the old language. These gardens were well and truly over run with weeds and 25cm grass in many parts. So together with at least 4 mowers and whipper snippers and a large amount of “hard yakka” , we spent most of the day cleaning up, making these gardens more than respectable again and no doubt giving joy to the owners, some of whom were living on site in Caravans.

It was good to catch up with Echuca Moama Rotarians again.

Thanks to our Club members and partners attending who did a wonderful job.

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A NIGHT TO CELEBRATE - ROTARY GALA DINNER 1ST JUNE 2023

As there is no District Conference this year, due to the Convention being held in Melbourne, this is a fabulous opportunity for our Clubs to get together and celebrate Rotary in District 9800. Think of it as the conference dinner.

World President Jennifer Jones will be attending as will RIPE Gordon McInally and his wife Heather and RIPN Stephanie Urchick. There are not too many function where three years of Rotary leadership are able to attend.

In addition Lord Mayor Sally Capp will be in attendance.

The dinner is being held at one of Melbourne's most iconic venues, The Plaza Ballroom.

Entertainment will be provided by legendary Jack Jones and high energy dance band, The Baker Boys.

Let's end the Convention and Celebrate the 2022-2023 year by coming together "For A Night to Celebrate Gala Dinner". Bookings are open at https://events.humanitix.com/rotary-gala-dinner/tickets

Thank you in advance for your assistance and look forward to seeing everyone at the dinner.

Regards

Marjorie

District 9800 Admin Support

TWO BUNNINGS SAUSAGE SIZZLE LAST WEEKEND

CAMBODIA WASH PROJECT GLOBAL GRANT APPLICATION

Our club is involved in a major project in Cambodia which involves a collaboration between Rotary Clubs in Australia, the USA, Thailand, Ireland and Cambodia. This project is the subject of two separate Global Grant applications with our District project, World of Difference, playing a major role in both. This video, narrated by Bill Taylor, a fellow Steering Committee member from the Rotary Club of Edmunds Daybreakers in the USA was made in support of our applications. It lasts a total of 8 minutes and was filmed in the village where Central Melbourne contributed to the construction of Washrooms last year and where we plan to construct another 150 Washrooms over the next 2 years in the first part of the project. https://vimeo.com/worldofdifference/kokbenhvillage

An important part of our project is not just building the washrooms but educating the villagers on the importance of hand hygiene. Another steering committee member, Paul Rake of the Rotary Club of Chadstone-East Malvern has written the following article on that subject.

CREATING BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES THROUGH MAJOR PROJECTS

The Rotary Foundation provides financial support and technical advice to Rotary Clubs to enable life changing projects around the globe. Whilst physical outcomes (such as new toilets) are often the visual focus of change, the real change that projects are seeking is BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE.

Rotary Clubs are focused on projects that change the lives of people. This is especially so when we look at our Club’s major project in Cambodia. We are planning to impact the lives of over 300 families by providing them with a Washroom Toilet.

But the provision of a physical asset (in this case a Washroom Toilet) is only half of the game plan. The more challenging half is to bring about behavioural change.Put simply behavioural change is about changing habits and behaviours for the long term. Research around health-related behavioural change proposes that small changes can lead to enormous improvements in people’s health and life expectancy.

When we conduct a major project, a significant component is the provision of what is known as WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) training. Again, put simply it is education to create awareness that in turn leads to changes in practice because of better understanding. For example, understanding why and how to wash hands before eating or after touching something that could have disease or other illness causing elements is important. Learning how to wash hands without understanding will not last.

In addition, small changes by one person can have a knock-on effect for other people. If a teacher understands (from education and awareness) that washing hands is important for health and can explain this to school children who in turn can pass on the understanding to their families, then we will achieve a much wider behavioural change impact. In third world countries behavioural change at the village level is important. But understanding at the local NGO/not for profit organisation level is also very important because it is these agencies that are in the best position to educate villagers to lead to understanding and long-term change. Part of the attached video is targeted at 20 plus NGOs based in Siem Reap Cambodia – all members of the Cambodia Leaders Learning Community. Our aim was to share with them understanding of what we are trying to achieve so that they too might become aware and model change.

Scan through the video and you will pick up different elements of our project planning and implementation. https://youtu.be/5nkQDgXYEyQ And as Rotarians we can reflect on the great work we are able to do, with financial and technical support from the Rotary Foundation.

RCM 36TH CHANGEOVER DINNER - 30 JUNE 2023

President Rohan & Susan Williams and President-elect Michelle & Alan Crawford request your company at our club's 36th annual Changeover celebration.

Join us to celebrate our club's wonderful achievements for 2022-23. Welcome Michelle and her new board and hear her enthusiasm for the new Rotary year.

Most of all, come along and enjoy the company of members and guests for our gala event to see out the old year and welcome the new.

Click on this Humanitix link to book or visit https://events.humanitix.com/2023-changeover-celebration

Date: Friday, 30th Jun, 6:30-10:30pm

Venue: Studley Grounds, 121 Studley Park Road, Kew VIC 3101

There are ten raffle items to win and seven silent auction items for you bid on, you can view these in the weekly newsletter. A big thanks to those who have donated goods and services, as you can see there are some great opportunities.

Raffle tickets will be available on the evening, however if you can't be there or would prefer to get in early you can use this link.

If you'd like to bid on one of the silent auction items before the night please email me with your offer.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION TO SHELTERBOX

Dear ROTARY CLUB OF CENTRAL MELBOURNE

I am writing to you to thank your Club for your recent generous donation to ShelterBox. It is the kindness and thoughtfulness of people like you who help us do our job in bringing some hope and returning dignity to many others around the world who have lost their homes and most possessions through disaster or conflict.

As you know ShelterBox is Rotary’s partner in disaster relief, a position we’ve held proudly for the last 11 years. This partnership has enabled us to be first responders, working with Rotary and our in country partner agencies, assisting those deprived of their homes by natural and man-made disasters. In my capacity as Chair of ShelterBox Australia I have the honour to oversight the operations of our organisation here in Australia, and to participate in collaboration with our other Affiliate ShelterBox organisations around the globe. I see first hand the work of our operations centre in the UK, and the deployments of our volunteers when a response is required. I also see the partnership with Rotary in action with many Rotarians in affected countries assisting in the delivery and distribution of our aid.

We continue to respond with distributions in both Türkiye and Syria post the recent earthquake, while also continuing our work in Ukraine, Pakistan, and Yemen.

On behalf of ShelterBox and on behalf of the recipients who will benefit from your donation, I offer my heartfelt thanks. We look forward to your continued support as part of our global ShelterBox family.

Yours Sincerely

Rob

Robert Walliser

Chair

ShelterBox Australia