Guest Speaker: Jonathon Robran - Operation Flinders
President Jason introduced Jonathon with reference to the founding of Operation Flinders by Pamela Murray-White in 1991. Pamela was a teacher and former army officer who had a passion for improving the lives of young people, particularly those at risk, through outdoor activity and army discipline.
The program began with small teams heading to the Flinders Ranges from May - October....the number of participants grew from 30-40 to a hundred each year. Originally youths who had committed offences were engaged but this was widened and now most come from school recommendations. In 2019 there were 436 participants from around the State involved in 5 exercises of 10 teams. This year there will be 6 exercises with more than 500.
The main aims of the program are to build confidence, leadership and a sense of achievement. It is a physically and mentally tough 8 days, walking 100kms in the outback with various tests along the way, like abseiling and team challenges. There is a session on aboriginal culture. Jonathon reckons that the hardest decision for each is to get on the bus because there is no getting off. There are 70 peer group mentors who are the heroes of the program through their leadership and support.
An evaluation of the program has shown less anti-social behaviour, better marks and improved job prospects. They earn 20 SACE credits for participating. A Certificate 2 Outdoor Recreation course was initiated last year from which 30 graduated and a further 11 already this year. A staff member now looks for job opportunities and there have been early successes. 4 participants have been signed up for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. A grand-daughter of Pamela Murray-White has joined in to help.
Two videos were shown highlighting the achievements. Judi Corcoran who attended one of the exercises enthusiastically endorsed the program.
Jonathon was thanked by applause...…..plus a bottle of Rotary wine by Valerie (see above)
Spots....another measles outbreak
Stephen Baker entreated members to join in the bowls next Wednesday....need all on board.
Patsy Beckett announced the forthcoming St Augustines Anglican Church 150th anniversary celebrations and reminded members that booking with Phil Hoffman Travel could benefit the club.
Trevor McGuirk explained that Fay Reid has a project in the Solomon Islands to provide water and sanitation to the village of Dalousa in Malaita. Shortly a village representative will be visiting South Australia for 3 weeks and Fay and Trevor will be taking him to a number of Rotary clubs to gain further support for the project. Trevor was also pleased with the sell out You've Got a Friend performances of Vicki Traeger and urged members to book for the Metropolitan Male Choir performance on April 5 at the Burnside Town Hall.
Jerry Casburn:
- announced that Bunnings is holding its annual community involvement night on 12 March and would like our club to be represented.....see invitation below
- explained that he and Briony will be away in Nepal and India for 5 weeks and will shortly issue invitations to our meetings in bulk
- asked members to volunteer for painting and maintenance of Calperum in early April or May
Rhonda Hoare is into wine collection for a Rotarian who lost his wine cellar in the recent Cudlee Creek blaze and announced that there is an opportunity for games of slow tennis with friends at 4.30pm on Thursday nights at The Orphanage.
Sorel Coward accompanied Robyn, Rhonda and Roger, and Graham and Patsy to Toc H last Friday for the Openlight project orientation. The team will be involved in guiding the interactive space project for the next 8 Fridays. She announced that the club changeover will be a Saturday luncheon in late June at Toc H in Victor Harbor where the FLO students will present.
President Jason sought and received approval for the proposed constitutional/by-laws amendments previously circulated.
Finale
Graham Beckett won the filthy lucre and Geoff Hill the chockies much to the chagrin of Trevor. Valerie was happy to have been at the Evening Under The Stars last Saturday. Virginia is happy to be having her hearing tested by her audiologist daughter on Friday. Wendy took us on a world tour of mystifying proportions with daughter Jocelyn tracking down, through ancestry.com, long lost relatives....some of whom in Louisville USA would probably wish to remain anonymous. Stephen is happy to be heading for Tassie in March.
The meeting closed with a few minutes to spare.
Bunnings
Dina Mitsios Activities Organiser
Phone: (08) 84050700
ROTARY NEWS
Atomic bomb trees serve as silent witness for peace
By Akio Nishikiori, member of the Rotary Club of Hiroshima Southeast, Japan, and an atomic bomb survivor
My Rotary club, Hiroshima Southeast, has actively promoted peace for its entire 60-year existence. We built a house for orphans who lost their families during the atomic bombings in 1945 and in 1982, became a sister club with Rotary Club of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA. Our two clubs continue to exchange friendship and organize joint service projects.
The park is between Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
This year marks two occasions: the 75th anniversary since the bombs were dropped and our club’s 60th anniversary. To commemorate both, our club planned to plant two tree saplings – second-generation descendants of a tree that survived the atomic bomb – in a park in Koge-machi in Fukuoka, Japan. We chose that park because it is at the exact mid-point between Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The mayor and town council accepted and supported our project.
On the International Day of Peace, 21 September 2019, we held an inauguration event with more than 400 attendees, including community residents and local school children, the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, members of three Rotary clubs (Hiroshima Southeast, Nagasaki South, and Buzen), and members of a local Interact Club. We planted the one sapling each at two locations that we named “Hiroshima Hill” and “Nagasaki Hill.” After the event, we continued the ceremony inside a community hall, where the mayors made proclamations of peace and declared that the trees would stand as a silent witness for peace.
Members of the Fukuoka Prefectural Seiho High School Interact Club and members of Koge Junior High School Student Council plant one of the two trees.
I talked about my own experience as an atomic bomb survivor. I talked about giving meaning to the deaths of those who perished from the bombs and the need for an open peace movement transcending Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A youth theater group performed an original drama about the grave reality of atomic bombs.
We hope that many peace activities will be held in Koge-machi. By collaborating with other Rotary clubs, we hope this place will become a hub where children and young people from all over the world can grow in their understanding of peace and be a witness for peace, just like the seedlings of the trees we planted in the park.
Our Upcoming Meetings
Wednesday 26 February 2020 6.40 for 7.00pm at Clarence Park Bowling Club, Winona Avenue
Annual Bowls Tournament with RC Mitcham Please eat beforehand
Bowling commences 7pm sharp.....followed by supper about 8.30pm Cost $15 each
Tuesday 3 March 2020 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Event: Club Planning
Chair: Bob Mills...…Set-up and Welcome: Dennis Liddle and Trevor McGuirk
Tuesday 10 March 2020 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Les Dennis - Second Chances
Chair: Bob Mills...…Set-up and Welcome: Dennis Liddle and Trevor McGuirk
Tuesday 17 March 2020 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Graham Ey - First Aid On The Run
Chair: Bob Mills...…Set-up and Welcome: Greg McLeod and David Middleton
Tuesday 24 March 2020 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Tim Thompson - Sculpture in Bronze
Chair: Bob Mills...…Set-up and Welcome: Greg McLeod and David Middleton
