banner

WHAT'S IN THIS BULLETIN

7th May 2019

  • Vale Kevin Walklate

  • Next Meeting - Guest Speaker

  • Happy Birthday ... to Us

  • Royal Talbot Working Bee

  • Victoria Police Legacy's 2019 Charity Breakfast

  • Seniors Winter Morning Tea at Parliament

  • Meeting Minutes 30th April

  • Gallery

VALE KEVIN WALKLATE

Sadly our dear friend and colleague Kevin lost his battle with cancer and passed away peacefully at St Vincent’s on Saturday 27th April 2019, surrounded by his family and close friends.

Kevin was a member of Rotary for over 30 years and a member of our Club for 20 years. During this time he served on Club Administration, Fundraising, Community Service, Foundation, Membership, Vocational Service, Youth Service and as Treasurer and President in 2011/12. This level of service was recognised by the Avenue of Service Citation in 2018.

Kevin was also multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

In addition to his active involvement in club activities, Kevin guided and inspired new members (including President Neville Taylor) at the start of their Rotary journeys.

Our thoughts are with Heather, Mercedes and Rick and Simon and Amy at this sad time.

NEXT MEETING - GUEST SPEAKER

Tal Shmerling - Human Rights Lawyer Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

"Our Stories – a school educational program about the stories of four refugees building a new life in Australia"

Our Stories features the stories of four refugees building a new life in Australia. Alpha, Shabnam, David and Aya each arrived in Australia at a different time and from different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. Our Stories explores our common humanity and highlights both the common and unique challenges faced by our newest Australians. Through the website, users are encouraged to step into the shoes of a refugee as they start a new life in Australia and face a series of difficult scenarios encountered by that refugee.

In partnership with Cool Australia, they have also developed free Years 8 and 9 civics citizenship lessons. The lessons draw on the experiences of refugees building a new life in Australia to deliver real-world learning and develop values of inclusivity and tolerance.

Tal is a Senior Lawyer at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, where he intervenes in cases raising important human rights and equality issues.

Tal has 6 years of legal and policy experience across government, legal and community sectors and has collaborated on a number of law reform and social change projects. Tal is passionate about refugee issues and the use of storytelling to create meaningful social change. A lawyer by trade, he is an educator at heart.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.... TO US

IT’S OUR BIRTHDAY – 32yrs ON WEDNESDAY May 1st.

 

Rotary Club of Port Phillip Melbourne - now - Rotary Central Melbourne

 

On March 2, 1987, the Provisional Rotary Club of Port Phillip-Melbourne met for the first time in the Duke of Edinburgh Room of the RACV Club, Queen Street, Melbourne.

Twenty-one days later Officers and Directors were elected and under the leadership of Charter President Terry Cocks they decided the Club would meet weekly for breakfast on Monday mornings.

The Rotary Club of Port Phillip-Melbourne was admitted to Rotary International during April 1987 and on May 1, at a banquet dinner for 300 guests at the Southern Cross Hotel ballroom, the club was chartered with 35 founding members.

A lot has happened since then…………………………….

Charter members who are current members are:

Terry Cox OAM, Charter President
Cec Akerley, Honorary Member
Tom Callander
   

Herb Greenwood and Frank O'Brien - on the steps of the clubs first home, RACV Queen Street

 

ROYAL TALBOT WORKING BEE

We will once again be involved in a morning of gardening in the magnificent sensory garden attached to the Royal Talbot Acquired Brain Injury Unit.

Saturday 18th May

8.30am and concluding by 1pm.

                   1 Yarra Blvd, Kew VIC 3101                     

[Melway 45 A1]

 

Mid-morning refreshment and a light lunch will be provided.

We will be under the supervision of clinical nurse specialist and horticulturist Steven Wells - 2012 ABC Gardening Australia ‘Gardener of the Year’ and in 2015 Steven was awarded a prestigious 50th Anniversary Churchill Fellowship to research the development, use and management of therapeutic gardens in healthcare settings.

Members should wear appropriate clothing and if possible bring gardening implements including spades etc.  If you don't have gardening implements, don't worry Steven has a supply.

To assist with catering please register by Tuesday 14th May on-line or contact Lynne Webber.

Fine tuning travel directions; Enter Yarra Boulevard from Chandler Highway, opposite Guide Dogs. Hospital Drive is first turn on left, the entrance is signed but partially obscured. There is a boom gate at the top of the drive. Security have been alerted to raise the boom gate on request. When in grounds just follow the ABI signage and park nearby.

VICTORIA POLICE LEGACY'S 2019 CHARITY BREAKFAST

You may be aware that RCM has been working closely with Victoria Police Legacy to forge a closer working relationship. This relationship builds and strengthens current relationships with VicPol.

We have provided a number of Police Legatees with the opportunity to participate in the Rotary RYPEN program and the club continues to support the Silk Miller Scholarship. The Police Leadership Mentoring program also continues to grow from strength to strength.

This year the Victoria Police Legacy's 2019 Charity Breakfast will be held at the MCG on Thursday 6th June 2019. Funds raised will support initiatives addressing mental health of Victoria Police employees and shared between Victoria Police Legacy and the Victoria Police Provident Fund's Mental Health Fund.

Victoria Policy Legacy continues to directly support families who suffer the most tragic consequences of mental health , and this breakfast is an important way to reduce the stigma of suicide and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I am looking to organize a table in support of this event. If you are interested in joining me, could you please let me know by email by Friday 17th May 2019 so I can make the booking. 


 

SENIORS WINTER MORNING TEA AT PARLIAMENT

MEETING REPORT 30th APRIL 2019

Guests

  • Tamirat Gebremariam, an artist.
  • Sandra Lee, Cochlear Implant Clinic Audiologist
  • Madelaine,  Cochlear Implant Clinic

 

Vale Kevin Walklate

President Neville spoke about our old friend and fellow Rotarian of 30 years standing, Kevin Walklate who died on Saturday April 27th after a long illness.  Neville recognized Kevin’s many contributions to club life and his untiring willingness to help.  Kevin was awarded an Avenues of Service Award in recognition of the many roles he played in the club. Something he made no fuss about.  We will remember Kevin’s courage in coming to meetings until quite recently despite the debilitating effects of his cancer.  Neville will miss Kevin’s company and his regular feedback in the car on Tuesdays.

 

Announcements

  • Rob Hines reminded everybody about the Oh Kolkata Night at the Duras Apartment on Saturday evening.  About 60 guests are expected. Let Peter Duras know if you are a new booking.
  • Warwick Cavell drew attention to the Changeover Dinner on June 28 at the Angliss Restaurant.  Book via Try Bookings.

 

The Spectacular DIK Container at Docklands

President Neville reflected on the recent forum which featured the many activities of the club and introduced Sean Car who gave us a colorful account of the week the Docklands Branch brightened up the waterfront with a hand painted container destined to go to DIK and when the funds are raised, onto Malawi loaded with medical equipment.  This was the first project of the Docklands Branch and presented a very atypical Rotary image, attracting Channel 7’s interest quite apart from the local print media.  Sean thanked Tamarit in particular for his artwork, though there were many contributors by the end of the week, including VCA students.

 

Guest Speaker Sandra Lee on the Cochlear Implant Clinic

Sandra provided a very clear explanation of how the Cochlear Implant works by stimulating the hearing nerve fibres.  About 4000 Australian patients now have implants and many times that amount overseas.  The inventors work in the business still and research is ongoing.  The technology is world leading and many specialists in the field visit Melbourne.  They do have competitors but not with the track record, research capability or international standing of Cochlear.

Cochlear are increasingly applying the implant to patients who have severe but not total hearing impairment.  Sandra pointed out the downsides of struggling with poor hearing saying if one reaches the point of withdrawing from social events due to increasing deafness, it is time to give her a call. Cochlear manage the cases with a multi-disciplinary team of audiologists, speech therapists and ENT surgeons. The surgery takes about 2 to 3 hours followed by an overnight stay in hospital.  This is followed by a long period of therapy as the brain learns to recognize a different hearing signal.  The total cost of the whole episode is around $40,000, but if you are a public patient it is fully subsidized!

GALLERY

Photos from our Breakfast Meeting

President Neville Taylor opening the meeting

The container ready for loading medical supplies for Malawi

Sean Car recognizing Tamirat Gebremariam for painting the container

Chair David Jones

Guest Speaker Sandra Lee

Peter Duras and Tony Thomas

Meeting Responsibilities

Chair
GERLINGER, Marjorie
 
Greeter
ZHANG, Yanpu
 
Reporter
JOHN, Neville
 
Photographer
THORNTON, Roger
 
Door
LOVE, Kevin
 
Bulletin Editor
WILLIAMS, Rohan
 
Social Media
LIM, Daniel
 

Upcoming Events

Oh Kolkata!
May 04, 2019
7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
 
Board Meeting
May 08, 2019
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
 
Royal Talbot Working Bee
ROYAL TALBOT
May 18, 2019
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
 
Board Meeting
Jun 12, 2019
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
 
DIK Working Bee
Woolshed 39
Jun 22, 2019
8:45 AM – 12:30 PM
 

Speakers

May 07, 2019
Our Stories – a school educational program, stories of 4 refugees building a new life in Australia
View entire list
ClubRunner Mobile