Welcome
President John welcomed members and the two Colins to the meeting. Colin Sampson introduced himself as the Core Officer for Unley Salvos, is a father of 3 and a member of RC Mitcham.
[Paul Duke's phone was stolen at the Thrift Shop today.]
Guest Speaker: Colin Twelfthtree - Dental volunteering in Vietnam Australia
Paul Duke introduced Colin Twelfthtree, a Master of Dental Surgery and an orthodontist. He is a senior member of the Orthodontist Society and renowned for his volunteering work in a range of developing countries.
Colin was conscripted into the Australian Army in 1965, joined the medical corps as a dentist, and served as a captain when he was sent to Vietnam. He and his wife have 2 children and adopted a Vietnamese boy Sam. In the mid 1980s he was persuaded by Paul Murphy to assist with Vietnam reconstruction and the Australian Veterans Vietnam Reconstruction Group (AVVRG) was formed. Former SA Governor Hieu Van Le, who was a refugee from Saigon, became their Patron. The Long Tan Cross they erected remains today. Their first successful project involved building of an orphananage with vet and other volunteers from Australia. Unfortunately the Baria orphanage closed when the Vietnam government inexplicably removed the children.
Paul and Colin embarked on dental outreach. Australian dental teams, comprising dentists, nurses and hygienists, visited hospital and clinics in Ho Chi Minh city and outer areas every 2 months for 12 years. When the orphanage funded by AVVRG closed, money was donated to a local blind school. Colin showed photos of the kids, team members and locales.......plenty of teeth decay on display! In another twist the clinic at Nui Dat had a kindergarten next door and they worked in partnership until the government closed it. Fluoride mouth washes were provided to prevent tooth decay but it is doubtful whether the children maintained their use. The donation of a bus enabled mobile clinics to visit schools with teams of up to12 volunteers for check ups and treatment, teeth maintenance and dietary advice......too many lollies!
Colin stepped back from his involvement about 6 years ago. The program paused during Covid and has not resumed since. For Colin and the dental volunteers from Australia and around the world, it was a very rewarding experience. While the kids and parents were very grateful for the pain relief provided, the government did not respond in a positive fashion, which was disappointing.
Colin was thanked for his address.
President John announcements
- On the Community Group brochure containing club contact details, JP is proposing that our club's theme should be "A welcoming place, make new friends and give back to the community."
- There is a Salvos Quiz Night, 7.00 - 9.30pm, on Saturday March 29 at Maud Street Unley. Entry $5pp with drinks for purchase. Bookings through Colin Sampson 0434 488 246
- JP met with RC Campbelltown and Variety Club rep about the 2 sets of BBQs at the zoo in April and September. On 8 April Campbelltown will host, while on 9 April Unley will take responsibility but seek help from nearby clubs. JP is searching for the list of consumables we need to order.
- RC Eastwood is co-hosting an event with St Aloysius College featuring Gemma Sissia (of St Judes School Tanzania) 7- 8.30pm on March 20 at the college. A free event with drinks provided. See advert below.
Spots
Garry Taylor announced that the Community Services Committee had met tonight and had decided, because of dwindling attendance and a range of other reasons, to scrap the annual Carols at the Rotunda. This issue is to be discussed at Board level.
Vivienne Wood asked for a replacement for Haydn at the Thrift Shop for the morning shift of Saturday1 March.
Paul Duke explained how his phone had been scooped up at the Thrift Shop counter by a foul mouthed couple......everyone, please keep your possessions safe!
Finale
Eukumbeth won the cash and Vivienne the chocolates.....which she gave to Paul.
The meeting closed in a timely fashion.
Rhonda's and John's adverts
Women in Rotary
A free event with the outstanding Gemma Sisia
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Be THE Voice targets bullying
13 February 2025 By Debbie Cwalina
Elementary school students in Georgia take part in an anti-bullying program.
Shortly after I joined the Rotary Club of Roswell, Georgia, I came across a disturbing article about the rise in suicides among middle-school-aged kids due to cyberbullying. It immediately made me think of my brother who endured years of bullying. Reflecting on some of the ways I came to his support, I began to think up the concept behind a program that would empower students to step in and use their platform to create a force to combat bullying.
Be THE Voice was launched shortly after I met Michael Schoppenhorst, who co-founded the program with me along with the incredible support of my Rotary club. Interact clubs in a handful of area schools implemented the program and it has since evolved into a student-led movement promoting kindness and inclusion and impacting hundreds of thousands of students in our Rotary District 6900.
It’s pretty cool when you think about it! Be THE Voice is a Rotary-born initiative, proudly sponsored by Rotary clubs, with many leveraging their Interact clubs to facilitate the program. Its success has not only been due to the popularity of its student-led platform, but from the longstanding partnerships between my club and other Rotary partners throughout our district. Interact clubs love leading a program that embraces Rotary values. Be THE Voice’s mission aligns perfectly with Rotary’s focus on promoting peace. Rotary creates environments where peace can thrive; precisely what our program is fostering in K-12 schools in Georgia.
Students sign a banner to Be THE Voice against bullying.
The statistics speak for themselves. In Georgia’s fourth-largest school district, the 28 schools involved in our program experienced a substantial decline in bullying incidents from 2021 to 2023. Compared to schools that were not in the program, there was a 95% reduction in elementary schools, a 77% decrease in middle schools, and a 91% drop in high schools. These numbers represent real change and a safer learning environment for our children. You can hear this directly from the assistant superintendent who shared this amazing data with us in here
YouTube video.
Rotary is continually working to recruit younger members. Backing a highly visible program focused on improving children’s social and emotional well-being is a great initiative. The Be THE Voice platform impacts the entire school community with five months of motivational messages that teach students to “Do what is Right, not what is Easy.” The messages resonate beyond the classroom and into the households of parents, teachers, and administrators.
Be THE Voice’s impact is being recognized beyond our state. The program was selected as one of the top 35 mission-driven changemakers of 2024 by the Public Information Registry, out of a pool of 1,700 non-profit organizations in 69 countries.
We are eager to promote Be THE Voice to Rotary members beyond Georgia. I am confident that our dynamic, youth-led approach will continue to create a kinder, more inclusive school climate while elevating awareness of Rotary and the work we do in empowering youth.
Debbie Cwalina is the co-founder and executive director of Be THE Voice and a member of the Rotary Club of Roswell, Georgia, USA. Learn more about the program at www.be-the-voice.org
Coffee Chat at Impressa, Unley Shopping Centre
10.30 am on the first Friday of the month is good for a chat with Rotary friends and a caffeine fix - Next one is Friday 7 March 2025
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 25 February 2025 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Guest Speaker: Jo Phillips Lions Heart learning
Welcoming team: Ross Burton & Robyn Carnachan
Tuesday 4 March 2025 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Guest Speaker: TBA Joint meeting with RC Prospect
Welcoming team: Virginia Cossid & Chris Davis
Apologies and Meeting Enquiries to: Secretary Greg McLeod on 0417 811 838 or email to secretary@unleyrotary.org.au
Venue Set-up Enquiries to: Bulletin Editor Stephen Baker on 0403 687 015
Saturday Thrift Shop Roster
Early Shift: 10.00am to 1.00pm Late Shift: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Week 1: 1 March 2025
Early: Haydn Baillie & Wendy Andrews (Jerry Casburn) | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Week 2: 8 March 2025
Early: Greg Mcleod & Wendy Andrews | Late: Virginia Cossid & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 3: 15 March 2025
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 22 February 2025
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5:
Early: Bob Mullins & Wendy Andrews | Late: Virginia Cossid & Paul Duke
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact: Vivienne Wood 0408 819 630; e-mail: vwood@ozemail.com.au
Mitre 10 and Bunnings Barbeques
The Mitre 10 BBQs are the first and third Saturdays of each month. Morning shift 8.30am - 12 noon; afternoon shift 12.00 - 3.30pm, then clean-up.....next scheduled is Saturday 1 March 2025
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Morning shift: 8.00am – 12.30pm | Afternoon shift: 12.30 – 5pm
We have been allocated the last Monday of each month, the next being Monday 24 February 2025
The Tale End.....
