Castello's Cucina, 123 Fisher Street, Fullarton SA
President John Peacham 0431 618 359
Next Week We Are Fighting Addiction
Last Meeting
Venue: Castello's Cucina, Living Choice
Guest Speaker: Steven McLachlan RC Gawler Light
Guests: Rob's assistants Eucabeth Mokaya and Caroline Palacios
Attendance: 21 members 2 guests
Opening
President John sadly announced that Oleh Bilyk had died that morning, that we had lost a Rotarian and he had lost a good neighbour and friend. Because of this John has been next door and unable to introduce the speaker who will provide his own biography.
It has been a busy week for the club. Members have been to Clare to pick up wine and label it. Bunnings made $860. Today at the zoo 1200 sausages were cooked. It was a solid 3 hours work, a good day.
The club is still looking for a President Elect if anyone is at all interested. In the District only 92 clubs have a President Elect. With help, it could be like an apprenticeship with sharing of tasks…
25/11 Rotary says no to domestic violence. This is a District Event a walk which one has to register for [its free] and it includes other organisations. We would walk together as zone9.
Guest Speaker: Steven McLachlan - Shelterbags
Speaker. Steve introduced himself as a Rotarian for 20 years and before that he was in Rotoract. He is Area governor for area 6 & was AG in 2010. A retired painter, after 52 years, he still dabbles in painting.
Mary, a member of the Rotary Club of Terrigal, went to South Africa and saw shelter bags. A company in South Africa manufactures them by using the labour of unemployed people who are paid a small wage. Mary wrote an article about shelter bags in the Rotary Down Under magazine and later imported a container full of shelter bags. They now cost $90 each delivered. They are waterproof. For example a bag was lent to the Baptist Church in the area of Briony’s Rotary club and the person who used it washed it & slept in it that night.
23 bags are being used in the Gawler area in collaboration with Red Room which combines Police, Salvation Army, and local Council. The Rotary club purchased 10 bags, Council 10, and donations 10. Twenty three are being used, two have been returned. One was found in Nuriootpa abandoned due to mental health issues of the person.
The reason Steve is visiting Rotary clubs is that a container load of shelter bags will be ordered & more orders are needed. Terrigal has ordered 300, Mt Waverly 300, Gawler 300, District Grant 160. In winter the bag can be used as a ground sheet. There is room in each shelter bag for a sleeping bag or blanket & it keeps bedding dry. It is not seen as a solution to homelessness but to provide dignity, worth and safety. There is a RAWKS account but Steve would prefer payment direct to Gawler club.
His club does not want to join arguments about best solutions for homelessness – there has already been a critical letter to the Gawler newspaper. The club wants to assist people, not encourage people to become homeless. Maitland club bought 5, Alice Springs said they would take as many as possible. Steve explained that they are working with smaller organisations. Hutt street has funding for full swags. Shelter bags are like low maintenance swags, made of plastic canvas with a hood a huge flap on the zip & with a thin mattress. Less than 2kgs in weight.
Very few have been returned but their usage in Gawler has yet to be evaluated.
Thanks for the script Judy......could be the sign of things to come.....editor
SPOTS
Jerry Casburn thanked the Adelaide Zoo. Variety Club had organised 1450 students who ate close to 2000 sausages. Thank you to all the volunteers, 10 from our club & 10 from Campbelltown.
Brendan Kenny - Thanks to everyone involved in the process of sourcing wine, labelling, transport and distribution especially to those who travelled up to Clare – Gerry & Kate.
Vivienne Wood stated that we have so many clothes in the Thrift Shop, including a lot of new & designer clothes.
Puddle Jumpers are looking for organisations to have a gifting tree. Would that be a good thing for the shop, or to be a collection point?
Paul Duke shared how happy he is to be without the need to wear glasses since cataract surgery. [wearing glasses since the age of 12.]
John Peacham mentioned that Stephen is happy to start work on the strategic plan. The whole club will be involved early on.
Faye Reid has resigned from the club.
Finale
Ross Burton won the filthy lucre..........but what happened to the chockies?
The meeting finished benignly at 7.45pm
Hear Ye from Patsy
VENUE: CALPERUM STATION WOOLSHED. Calperum Station, 1371 Wentworth Road, Renmark (approx 16kms from Renmark) Limited Tickets $150 each or take advantage of the 'Early Bird Special' of $135 per ticket (if booked before Wednesday, September 20). Group tables available. For Ticket Sales, accommodation or other enquiries phone 08 85957359 or email admin@alt.org.au OR book through Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com.au/calperum-station-fundraising-bush-ball-tickets
Rotary International News
Bangladesh project spreads happiness
By Nahid Hasan, past district Interact representative and past president, Interact Club of Habigonj, Bangladesh
Members of the Habigonj Interact Club treat street children to an evening of food, gifts, and games.
On 15 August, I had the opportunity to help bring a moment of happiness into the lives of 50 underprivileged children living on the streets of Sylhet, Bangladesh, as part of my Interact club. Interact develops leadership through volunteer work and we take seriously our call to make a difference in our school and community.
Those of us who have been blessed with all that we need have a responsibility to lend a helping hand to those who struggle to secure even the basic necessities. We designed our “Happiness” project to be an example of community service with a spirit of empathy and compassion.
On the chosen day, we welcomed the children to the hotel we had chosen for our event and treated them to a delectable dinner, meticulously prepared to cater to their tastes and preferences. We created an ambiance filled with joy and camaraderie. The children were able to leave their worries aside for a while and take part in interactive games, storytelling sessions, and other creative activities. Each child was presented with thoughtfully curated gifts, symbolizing love, care, and the promise of a brighter future.
By bringing a moment of joy into their lives, we hoped to create a ripple of change extending beyond that day. Our goal was to enhance their self-esteem, enabling them to seek better opportunities for themselves off the streets. We also want to build community awareness of their situation and foster compassion among the volunteers who helped us out with this project.
For the day, we enjoyed a colorful moment of levity with them, and gave them a reason to hope for brighter days. Interact is a great youth organization. Thank you, Rotary, for supporting our efforts – and Long Live Interact.
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 6 October 2023
Upcoming Meeting
Tuesday 3 October 6 for 6.30pm Castello’s Cucina
Guest Speaker - Jo Baxter - Fighting Addiction
Greetings Team: Patsy & Graham Beckett
Tuesday 10 October 6 for 6.30pm Castello’s Cucina
Guest Speaker - Elizabeth Davis - Support Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC)
Greetings Team: Patsy & Graham Beckett
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: 7 October 2023
Early: Paul Duke for Jerry Casburn & Haydn Baillie | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 28 October 2023
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5: 30 September 2023
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 Saturday 7 October 2023.
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
His club does not want to join arguments about best solutions for homelessness – there has already been a critical letter to the Gawler newspaper. The club wants to assist people, not encourage people to become homeless. Maitland club bought 5, Alice Springs said they would take as many as possible. Steve explained that they are working with smaller organisations. Hutt street has funding for full swags. Shelter bags are like low maintenance swags, made of plastic canvas with a hood a huge flap on the zip & with a thin mattress. Less than 2kgs in weight.
