Castello's Cucina, 123 Fisher Street, Fullarton SA
President John Peacham 0431 618 359
Next week we are Multicultural
Last Meeting
Venue: Castello's Cucina
Guest Speakers: Behind the Badge - Vivienne, Garry and Ross
Guests: zip
Attendance: 30 members
Welcome
President John welcomed all......but no invocation! He related recent BBQ adventures in the last 10 days at Julia Farr Centre, Variety Club for disabled children at the Zoo in partnership with RC Campbelltown, and Bunnings BBQ yesterday. All snagged out!
John has been zooming into the regionalisation planning meetings. He related that the impetus for this new model came as a result of RIs concern that Australia was losing too many Rotarians (and clubs) and that a new approach was needed to get clubs to work together. The pilot with Community Groups of clubs will begin on 1 July. Nominations for Community Leader for each group close today. The leader's role is to provide inspiration, mentoring, advice, smooth transitioning, liaison with other groups, and a whole lot more.........this is what dreams are made of! Discussions between club presidents has identified membership strengthening as the number 1 item to be addressed. Editor's note....the right way to go. For far too long Rotary clubs have operated as silos which was fine decades ago but is no longer suitable
Behind The Badge
Vivienne Wood
Vivienne was born in Adelaide and has spent most of her life living here, other than for 4 years in London and 2 in Canberra. On leaving school, early work included secretarial and typesetting before she decided to pursue a career in archaeology and anthropology. Her studies took her to Canberra and her first dig was a rock shelter in Sydney. In 1990 she joined a newly formed archaeology firm in Adelaide where she spent 2 years. In 1990 Vivienne formed her own company Vivienne Wood Heritage Consultant. In this role she has traveled widely across Australia identifying aboriginal sites and artifacts, on occasions by helicopter in WA and often in very trying conditions. She has fond memories of the aboriginal women with whom she worked in northern SA. The Pilbara was daunting. After 34 years she is now semi-retired. Craig her partner from the Riverland is also an archaeologist. Vivienne has been volunteering at our Thrift Shop (doing a marvelous job) for 6 years, is involved in projects to assist women at risk and is a volunteer travel guide at Monarto Zoo, which is dedicated to saving endangered animal species.
We were treated to a display of photos taken on the trips - bones and stones, stark landscapes, rocky terrains, old wurlis, and stunning scenery.
Viva Vivienne
Garry Taylor
Garry was born in West Croydon, an only child who lost his Dad when he was 11 and was looked after by his Mum. He attended Woodville High in the A stream where he had the best of tuition and was inspired by one of his teachers to pursue a career in Chemistry. He studied for 7+ years at Adelaide Uni where he gained his PhD in Organic Chemistry. A bonus was meeting and marrying his wife of 48 years. Post doctoral studies took him to California for 2 and a half years. In 1978 he joined SA firm Gribbles Pathology where he spent 20 years as General Manager. A Victorian investor bought the firm and expanded its operations into the eastern States. In the 1990s a Malaysian firm bought a 50% share which led to establishing laboratories in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam which Garry helped set up. He then took on other medical managerial positions: CEO of Benson Pathology for 7 years; Adelaide University medical training centres for 7 years (during which time he established the first super medical clinic in Playford); and Flinders University School of Medicine for 6 years.
On retirement in 2014, he volunteered to work in Cambodia, teaching and training. The worst moment of his life occurred when a rare infection was detected in his lung - 7 weeks in an induced coma at Ashford Hospital followed by a recovery which took 12 months. In addition to Rotary, Gary volunteers with Oz Harvest and has a JP stint with Unley City Council. Relaxation includes fun with the grand-kids and drinking good wine.
Editors Note: It is hard to appreciate what delight is derived from testing bodily fluids as a favoured occupation ....perhaps the wine helped. Good job Garry.
Ross Smith
Ross was born on Easter Sunday 18 April 1976 - significant - and raised in Blackwood. His parents operated 2 shops there. Schoolwork took a back seat to roaming the hills and skateboarding. In his teens, Ross became addicted to watching a late night program on American football produced by Don Lane. This shaped his endeavours for 32 years. He studied arts and law at Flinders Uni, and was employed at the School of Arts, Tafe, Attorney- General's Department, and Public Trustee. But his real ambition was to coach football in America. His first trip was to the Hall of Fame in Camden, Ohio. Eventually he nailed a short term coaching position at an exclusive college in LA.....the first Australian to be a professional football coach in America. Other positions followed in California.
When he returned to Australia, while working at Public Trustee, he was lured into real estate by a representative of Sothebys. He is now employed at Giordano and Partners Luxury Real Estate and is always splendidly attired!
Ross has a 20 year old son who loves meat pies, which dictates the joints where they hang out. He enjoys travel, ancient history and sport.
Maybe the best description of Ross's working life is - Livin the dream to the fullest. Perhaps a Netflix series is in the offing?
What an excellent night! Great contributions from 3 talented Unley Rotarians - all enthusiastically applauded.
SPOTS
John Peacham reported that Rhonda would be teaming up with members to provide morning and afternoon teas at the Presidents Elect Training on 4 May - there were 5 volunteers.
Chris Davis advised that RC Gawler was celebrating its 70th anniversary on Saturday 27 April 2024 at the Vine Inn, Nuriootpa.......visitors form Unley welcome. There is a proposal to hold business awards by the Unley City Council at year-end which should not interfere with our Pride of Workmanship.
Virginia Cossid reminded that our monthly coffee chat is at Impressa this coming Friday.
Garry Taylor needs more bottles of wine for the wine wall at our Quiz Night on 29 June. Early bookings would be appreciated.
Finale
Bob Mills scored the cash and Paul and Ross nabbed the chockies.
President John closed the meeting at 8.07pm.
Rotary International News
Empowering Prosthetic hands change lives
Posted on
By Mohan Kumar K V, member of the Rotary Club of Bangalore Prime, India
The recipient of a prosthetic hand during one of the Rotary club’s medical camps.
Guided by Rotary’s Action Plan, we embarked on a journey of service and empowerment, reaching the unreached by providing free below-the-elbow prosthetic hands to those who had lost limbs.
Our Give Hope Give Hand project restores mobility and dignity to individuals with limb differences, enabling them to live more fulfilling lives. Many of our recipients lost their hands as a result of being electrocuted, having road or industrial accidents, or mishandling fireworks.
Many receive prosthetic hands during one-day events organized in partnership with local Rotary clubs holding medical camps.
Leveraging Rotary’s extensive network, we find our beneficiaries through social media, WhatsApp, print media articles, radio broadcasts, and podcasts. We also collaborate with relevant government agencies, Lions clubs, governments, and corporations. These outreach efforts benefit the recipients and enhance Rotary’s public image.
We have had to develop innovative ideas to reach out to more people. Typically, an individual must have a residual stump length of at least four inches below the elbow to be fitted for a prosthetic hand. However, around 20-30% of our patients come in with stumps that are shorter than that. To address this issue, we collaborated with experts in the field and developed an extender that can be used to increase the length of the stump.
The impacts of a prosthetic hand are immediate and profound. One boy could use his prosthetic hand to write his 10th-grade exams, achieving a commendable score of 73%. Another youth could ride a bicycle to school and complete 12th grade. Other recipients have been able to resume previous vocations, earning income to support themselves and their families. We have received heartwarming videos that show recipients using their new hands to perform everyday activities such as drinking tea, combing their children’s hair, feeding their children, brushing their teeth, and even driving auto-rickshaws.
The power of Rotary to expand our reach and increase our impact was on display as our project continued to grow and expand. After launching in 2007 in India, we extended the project to encompass Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Zambia, and Mauritius, bringing joy to more than 30,000 individuals. This achievement was made possible through collaborative efforts within Rotary’s network. I was privileged to address various Rotary gatherings across India to raise awareness and build capacity.
In Chandigarh, India, we worked with a farmer’s union to find farmers who had lost hands in accidents with agricultural machinery. We provided 1,279 prosthetic hands during a three-day camp. Then, when travel was limited during COVID, we conducted virtual training sessions for the Rotary Club of Flacq, Mauritius. The sessions enabled members to identify beneficiaries and distribute prosthetic hands, and the club has since expanded its outreach to neighboring islands. Additionally, with the assistance of the Ministry of Health in Zambia, I led a team to Lusaka in 2019 to facilitate the distribution of prosthetics. During a recent visit to Sri Lanka, I met a local Rotarian who connected us with a local nonprofit that provided prosthetic hands to war veterans who had lost limbs.
To ensure long-term sustainability, we also empowered local communities to take ownership of the effort by setting up experience centers in more than 30 locations across India. At any point, someone who has lost a hand can walk into one of these centers and get a prosthetic (or a replacement if needed). Some of the centers are at members’ homes or offices. By providing training and resources, we can equip community members with the skills and knowledge they need to support and advocate for individuals with disabilities.
Training is an essential component. Recipients need to learn how to operate their prosthetic hands to receive the maximum benefit. They regain independence and autonomy in their daily routines by learning proper techniques and strategies.
Adjusting to life with a prosthetic hand can be challenging – both emotionally and psychologically. Counseling provides recipients a safe space to express their feelings, fears, and frustrations about their limb loss and the adaptation process. By offering coping strategies, emotional support, and validation, counselors help recipients navigate their journeys’ emotional ups and downs. We have one volunteer, a previous recipient, who has coached and trained other recipients for the past 10 years.
As we follow the Action Plan to reach the unreached, we gain the power to transform lives. We’re building a more just, equitable, and compassionate world through the Magic of Rotary.
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 5 April 2024
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 9 April 2024 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Guest Speaker: Vicki KanakarisMulticultural Aged Care
Welcoming team: Rachel Randall & Ross Smith
Tuesday 16 April 2024 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Guest Speaker: Owen Cress Angel Flight
Welcoming team: Vera-Ann Stacy & Garry Taylor
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
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 27 April 2024
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5: 30 March 2024
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 one is 6 April.
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
We have been allocated the last Monday of each month and the next one is 29 April
The Tale End.....
Innate intellectual ability.......true stories
We had to have the garage door repaired.
The repairman told us that one of our problems was that we did not have a 'large' enough motor on the opener.
I thought for a minute, and said that we had the largest one made at that time, a half a horsepower.
He shook his head and said, 'You need a 1/4 horsepower.'
I responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4 and he said, 'Nooo, it's not. Four is larger than two.'
I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked, ‘Has anyone put anything in your luggage without your knowledge?’
To which I replied, ‘If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?’
He smiled knowingly and nodded, ‘That’s why we ask.’
The pedestrian light on the corner beeps when it’s safe to cross the street.
I was crossing with an ‘intellectually challenged’ co-worker of mine.
She asked if I knew what the beeper was for.
I explained that it lets blind people know when the light is red.
Appalled, she responded, ‘What on earth are blind people doing driving?’
When my husband and I arrived at the garage to pick up our car after a service, we were told the keys had been locked in it.
We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver’s side door.
As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked.
‘Hey,’ I announced to the mechanic, ‘it’s open!’
His reply, ‘I know. I already did that side.’
This email was sent by Stephen Baker
Rotary Club of Unley | PO Box 18 | Unley | SA | 5061 | Australia
Vivienne was born in Adelaide and has spent most of her life living here, other than for 4 years in London and 2 in Canberra. On leaving school, early work included secretarial and typesetting before she decided to pursue a career in archaeology and anthropology. Her studies took her to Canberra and her first dig was a rock shelter in Sydney. In 1990 she joined a newly formed archaeology firm in Adelaide where she spent 2 years. In 1990 Vivienne formed her own company Vivienne Wood Heritage Consultant. In this role she has traveled widely across Australia identifying aboriginal sites and artifacts, on occasions by helicopter in WA and often in very trying conditions. She has fond memories of the aboriginal women with whom she worked in northern SA. The Pilbara was daunting. After 34 years she is now semi-retired. Craig her partner from the Riverland is also an archaeologist. Vivienne has been volunteering at our Thrift Shop (doing a marvelous job) for 6 years, is involved in projects to assist women at risk and is a volunteer travel guide at Monarto Zoo, which is dedicated to saving endangered animal species.
Garry was born in West Croydon, an only child who lost his Dad when he was 11 and was looked after by his Mum. He attended Woodville High in the A stream where he had the best of tuition and was inspired by one of his teachers to pursue a career in Chemistry. He studied for 7+ years at Adelaide Uni where he gained his PhD in Organic Chemistry. A bonus was meeting and marrying his wife of 48 years. Post doctoral studies took him to California for 2 and a half years. In 1978 he joined SA firm Gribbles Pathology where he spent 20 years as General Manager. A Victorian investor bought the firm and expanded its operations into the eastern States. In the 1990s a Malaysian firm bought a 50% share which led to establishing laboratories in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam which Garry helped set up. He then took on other medical managerial positions: CEO of Benson Pathology for 7 years; Adelaide University medical training centres for 7 years (during which time he established the first super medical clinic in Playford); and Flinders University School of Medicine for 6 years.
Ross was born on Easter Sunday 18 April 1976 - significant - and raised in Blackwood. His parents operated 2 shops there. Schoolwork took a back seat to roaming the hills and skateboarding. In his teens, Ross became addicted to watching a late night program on American football produced by Don Lane. This shaped his endeavours for 32 years. He studied arts and law at Flinders Uni, and was employed at the School of Arts, Tafe, Attorney- General's Department, and Public Trustee. But his real ambition was to coach football in America. His first trip was to the Hall of Fame in Camden, Ohio. Eventually he nailed a short term coaching position at an exclusive college in LA.....the first Australian to be a professional football coach in America. Other positions followed in California.
We had to have the garage door repaired. 
