Tony Nicholson
Challenges facing the community welfare sector
Government, business and welfare organisations all agree that the unemployed represent human capital that is under-utilised and it seems that there is little action in government to correct the pressing return-to-work dilemma.
Government social welfare policies have also created unnecessary and unproductive competition within the welfare sector, leading to major loss of volunteers. Welfare organisations also run the risk of being seen as extensions of government rather than extensions of the community.
Tony Nicholson, BA, BSW, is the Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence in Melbourne. He has dedicated over 30 years to improving conditions of those living on or close to the edges of society.
A feature of his work has been his ability to collaborate with colleagues, social justice organisations, governments and businesses to achieve reform in public policy and service delivery to the benefit of disadvantaged Australians. He brings to the task of leadership at the Brotherhood a strong record of service development and innovation, research and policy analysis and compelling advocacy on behalf of those disadvantaged in our community.
Previously Tony has held roles as Chair, Prime Minister's Council on Homelessness, Member of the Victorian Government's Metropolitan Planning Strategy Ministerial Advisory Council and was most recently, appointed as a Commissioner for the Victorian Government's Royal Commission into Family Violence.
Our esteemed honorary member (and charter member), Lou Butterfield, died on 29 January 2015, aged 78, at Mount Martha, after a period of declining health.
Lou was a New Zealander. After studying medicine at Dunedin, Lou came to Australia and established a leading obstetrics and gynaecology practice associated with the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Lou was a charter member of our Club in 1987. He remained a very active member until 2008, when he moved to Mount Martha, and subsequently accepted the Club’s invitation to be an honorary member.
Lou was truly “smitten” by Rotary and its ethos of “Service above Self”. He saw Rotary as the opportunity to extend community service well beyond his own profession, through the fellowship of a group of people with a broad range of vocations. Indeed, he remarked that this range of vocations opened his own eyes to a wider world.
Lou was our second Sergeant at Arms in 1988/1989 (we then met in the old Queen Street RACV Club in the Duke of Edinburgh room).
Libby Matthews, who turned 20 last month, is typical of the young crowd at Perth’s Rotary of Crawley (ROC). Inducted at 19, she’s not the club’s youngest, who’s an 18-year-old.
Libby successfully applied for a club scholarship that pays her dues and breakfast meeting costs. President Chris Eales and President-elect Nick Poll see her as another of the club’s future ‘super stars’.
“I wanted to get involved with giving back to the community and particularly to meet other young people here who are leaders in their area. ROC has that reputation,” she says.
Libby is studying business law and accounting. One of her club jobs is organizing quarterly meetings for new members. “It’s a fun night but in welcoming them, we also tell these young people what is expected of them and how we can help them,” she says.
Recently she hosted autistic children and the parents at the club’s donor-financed corporate box at Perth Arena, to see a top basketball game. The club has fortnightly access to the box to host carers and children with disabilities. “It was my first big experience at the club and it was great,” she says.
Asked about the 90-strong club’s healthy 44% female membership, she says it probably arose because the club started from scratch a few years without a legacy of male overweighting. “But I hardly notice,” she adds.
She loves the relaxed meeting format, which has a fresh style every week. “If a club’s not changing things and moving forward, it must be going backwards,” she says. Because it’s a tight schedule from 7.30-8.30am, she arrives at 7am to meet and chat with members.
TarraWarra Estate has ‘… picturesque vines producing outstanding wine and the restaurant presents earthy yet creative lunches in a stone-and-glass setting" The Age Good Food Guide 2014.
There are just a few places left for lunch in the private dining room at TarraWarra Estate, Yarra Valley on SUNDAY 15th February. Cost $140 pp. Optional coach transport also available +$40pp. Contact Greg Cuthbert.
Mr Leigh Clifford, AO
Chairman Qantas Airways Limited
“Current challenges facing Australian business”
Tuesday 3 March 2015, 7:40am to 9:00am.
Level 2 RACV Club, 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Tickets: $65 per person, includes full hot breakfast
This is a pre-booked breakfast. If you have not reserved a ticket please contact Greg Cuthbert asap
Leigh Clifford, AO is one of Australia’s most talented and experienced senior executives and directors. He is currently Chairman of Qantas Airways Ltd, a role he has held since 2007. He is also a Director of Bechtel Group Inc. and Chairman of Bechtel Australia Pty Ltd, the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and the National Gallery of Victoria Foundation. He is a senior adviser to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and a Member of the Council of Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria.
Between 2000 and 2007, Mr Clifford was Chief Executive of Rio Rinto. His executive and board career with Rio Tinto spanned 37 years throughout many of the company’s divisions in Australia and overseas.
The Rotary Club of Central Melbourne - Sunrise is pleased to invite you and your colleagues to hear Mr Leigh Clifford when he speaks at our Club’s inaugural Business Leaders Breakfast on Tuesday 3 March 2015. His talk will provide an interesting overview of the current business environment from a high profile Chairman and Director.
President Roy Garrett opened the meeting and welcomed visitors and guests:
Bob Nealls (Canberra Sunrise Rotarian)
Larry # (California Rotarian)
Mark Heywood (guest of Roger Thornton)
He also welcomed back Kerstin Steiner.
Announcements
Tony Thomas
Last week’s guest speak Jeremy Scott’s coffee table book on his 50,000 kilometre cycle trip from London to New Zealand is available at $75.00 - ask Tony Thomas interested.
Anne King
Incoming GSE Team visit (team from Louisiana USA).
Welcome dinner 24 February 2015.
Club is putting together a table, details to come by email.
Our Club is hosting between 4 March to 9 March 2015.
There will be social activities on Saturday 7 March.
President’s announcements
President Roy noted that he had informed Club Members by email of Lou Butterfield’s death, Lou being one of our Charter members. A minute’s silence took place in respect of Lou and to reflect on him. A number of members will attend Lou’s funeral service at Red Hill on 5 February 2015. A number of condolences have been received including from David Jones, Anne Fairhall, Gillian Farrell and Sue Bell. An obituary has been prepared for the Club Bulletin.
Roy reminded us of the “Business Breakfast” for 3 March 2015 with guest speaker Lee Clifford, Chairman of Qantas. 40 have registered so far but only 8 members. Booking in the usual way.
The International Service Committee Meeting under Chairman Frank O’Brien will meet after this meeting.
Community Services Director Report - Neil Salvano
Neil noted that he had stepped into the director’s role taking over from Neville Taylor who is now on leave of absence at Manly for a year. Neil will only be director for the balance of this Rotary year. He reported on the following matters:
Completed projects
91 Christmas hampers were distributed and $1,500.00 in food vouchers.
Tree of joy at TAL Insurance office foyer generated 170 gifts given to Shine On Kids, Lentara, and Steps Ministry.
Fund raising morning tea at TAL Insurance raised further funds.
Community Village was held for the four weekends prior to Christmas with 300 to 400 drinks distributed every night, 34 volunteers over the period including 20 from our Club. A grant of $2,500.00 from Melbourne City Council, has been approved for 2015. Further grants have been received from BHP Billiton and MCC (BHP Billiton in recognition of Neil’s community service).
Community Service projects coming up
White Night Melbourne 21/22 February all night Community Village will require two shifts (two further volunteers needed). This will be a fund raiser for the Club. $1,000.00 will come from the organiser. There are supplies in hand.
Royal Talbot working bee scheduled for Saturday 8 April 2015.
Camp Getaway working bee weekend scheduled for 2/3 May 2015.
Other projects include the mentoring asylum seekers pilot project and the Board is also to consider a literacy project.
Sergeant Session
Our Sergeant Bernie Gerlinger returned to conduct the Sergeant’s session. He noted anniversaries:
Bruce McBain (Club anniversary 21 years)
John and Raylee Illott wedding anniversary
Doug and Pam Robertson wedding anniversary
Herb and Leonie Greenwood 50 year wedding anniversary today
Roy Garrett Rotary anniversary
Athena Driver birthday
He then extracted fines seeking information about Rotary Foundation including questions as to when the Foundation started (1917), the amount of the first contribution ($20.50 US) and its current goals;
Eradicate polio,
Build a sense of ownership with Rotarians,
Helping service projects with six areas of focus including health and sanitation, literacy, maternal and child heath, peace and conflict, and disease prevention and treatment).
He noted the Foundation’s current size is over one billion dollars.
His closing remark was: “Of course I talk to myself - sometimes I need expert advice”.
Guest Speaker
Mik Wells introduced our guest speaker, Dr Rosemary Lester, Victoria’s Chief Public Health Officer, who spoke to us about the ebola virus, the current ebola epidemic in Africa and risks for other countries including Australia.
There has been no case yet in Australia. However our health services are ensuring that they are up to date with infectious disease treatments and procedures including for the ebola virus.
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Lou was a New Zealander. After studying medicine at Dunedin, Lou came to Australia and established a leading obstetrics and gynaecology practice associated with the Royal Women’s Hospital..png)
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Leigh Clifford, AO is one of Australia’s most talented and experienced senior executives and directors. He is currently Chairman of Qantas Airways Ltd, a role he has held since 2007. He is also a Director of Bechtel Group Inc. and Chairman of Bechtel Australia Pty Ltd, the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and the National Gallery of Victoria Foundation. He is a senior adviser to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and a Member of the Council of Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria.
Mik Wells introduced our guest speaker, Dr Rosemary Lester, Victoria’s Chief Public Health Officer, who spoke to us about the ebola virus, the current ebola epidemic in Africa and risks for other countries including Australia. 
