Castello's Cucina, 123 Fisher Street, Fullarton SA
President John Peacham 0431 618 359
Next week we have the Variety Club
Last Meeting
Venue: Castello's Cucina
Event: Meeting with daughter club Prospect
Guests: Prospect Rtns - Ken Adams, Rod Bish, Arch Boonen, Talis Evans, Suren Krishnan, Doug Layng, John McEachern, Kevin & Ros Obst plusRob's assistants Joanne and Eukumbeth
Attendance: 26 members 10 guests
Welcome
President John opened the meeting and welcomed Prospect President PDG Doug Layng with his merry band. Doug opened his meeting 3435A to avoid overcounting......unlike us, we count everything. As part of the getting-to-know-you, each provided a summary of club activities.
Unley President John Peacham started the ball rollling
Unley has 47 members (27 males and 20 females) plus 9 honorary members. Major programs include:
SA Police Officer of the Year (most outstanding), which we have been running since 1978. Last year's recipient was SC Chris Mailley from the South East, recognised for his ground-breaking initiatives to tackle domestic violence.
Local Teacher's Awards was launched in 2024 to recognise the contributions by great teachers and teaching teamwork - very well received.
Calperum Station rejuvenation and renovation, instigated by Jerry Casburn - now involves a multitude of clubs.
Carols at the Rotunda each year.
Other programs include Shelter Bags, Pride of Work along Unley Rd, BBQ at zoo for disabled young people with the Variety Club, sponsorship of SA Youth Orchestra, support all the District Youth programs, international projects in Tonga and eye testing and glasses provision in Nepal.
On the fundraising front we have the Thrift Shop, Bunnings and Mitre 10 BBQs plus occasional corporates.
Prospect President Doug Layng
While Unley was established by RC Adelaide in 1935, Prospect got its spurs from Unley somewhat later (1950 if the editor has his maths right) - celebrating its 75th birthday in October this year.
Prospect has 22 members (3 women) with average age of 80, and 4 honorary. Two members, namely Dr Sonam Jamstsho (a plastic and reconstructive surgeon) and his wife Pema Deki are from, and live in, Bhutan. A major project this year is to provide TVs to help kids learn at a local school there. Sonam and Pena will be visiting the club on April 9.
ENT Professor Suren Krishnan will be taking on the Presidential reins on 1 July. He has volunteered his services in a wide range of Pacific countries over many years.
Like Unley, Prospect is supportive of all the District Youth Programs, Shelter Bags, Community Group1 participation (we are Group 3) and Pride of Workmanship. One fun activity is Koala capers in the outback. A vocational award has been introduced for Blackfriars School, and recently they held a youth night with RC Regency Park
Both John and Doug were applauded for their contributions
Postscript
President John announced that after a District 'call to arms' for hay bale relief for SA farmers severely affected by the drought, he proposes that the club spend $3,250 (from his Presidential fund) bringing over 32 bales from Victoria. There was no dissent.
Doug Layng has similarly committed his club to this drought aid.
Spots
Chris Davis explained that POOTY 2025 is soon underway. There is a meeting with the constabulary on 25 March, with presentation at the Showgrounds early September. For the Teachers Awards, another 3 local schools have been included, with the presentation in October. Kate is to help with the program.
President John was asked by Judy to summarise the achievements of the Malaita Solomon Islands project. Despite difficult circumstances due to Covid and disconnect with local project leaders, the club had successfully provided fresh water capture and storage, toilets, raised garden beds, chickens and coops, a boat and outboard motor for fishing, educational opportunties and health and hygiene guidance. The project is in the process of being finalised.
JP in his research noted that David Middleton had joined Unley Rotary on 2 March, 35 years ago.
The team negotiating the Thrift Shop lease comprises the Prez, Greg McLeod, Vivienne Wood and Graham Beckett.
Patsy Beckett extolled the virtues of Prospect members signing up for the 10th 'International' Car Rally run by the club, to be held the last Sunday in October.
Rhonda Hoare explained that we and RC St Peters had founded Young Friends of Rotary with young people from a range of backgrounds (including several from Afghanistan) who had previously participated in District Youth programs. There has been successful fund raising with $5000 to feed mothers and children in Afghanistan, and $3000 for Shelter Box. Some of the youngsters involved with Prospect may be interested.
Doug Layng closed his 3435A and reminded of the normal meeting next week at the Lord Melbourne.
Finale
Graham again won the filthy lucre (Greg has lost his mojo) and a Prospectite somehow snared the chockies.
And the meeting closed on time....nicely managed, with a hellishly good joke at the end.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Empowering victims of gender-based violence in Argentina
By María Julia Moreyra —
As a lawyer in Argentina who specialized in the fight against gender violence, I have been grieved by recent developments in my country. Argentina has a history as a pioneering country in addressing gender issues and had even made significant legal advances to protect women and promote diversity. But recently, the country has taken several steps back with the closing of the Ministry of Women (at national level), the elimination of subsidies for victims of gender-based violence, and the shrinking in size of the number of people manning hotlines by which victims of violence or human trafficking can report their situation or seek help.
I am a Rotary Peace Fellow, having gained invaluable experience in the complicated issues surrounding human trafficking during my time at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. I have also completed Rotary’s Positive Peace Academy; and in 2020 was selected to become a Positive Peace Activator. The Pillars of Positive Peace, a cornerstone of that program, serve as an important guide for addressing issues like gender-based violence and human trafficking. Coupled with more than 25 years’ experience addressing gender-based violence, I was highly motivated to draw upon all that I have learned to help the women of my country.
Out of this milieu, a special project was born, with the help of local and international NGOs such as FULAC, Fundación 100% Platense, Proyecto Palomas, and Network SE4U, the Rotary clubs of La Plata Sur and Berisso, to whom I am extremely grateful, and the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP).
From Pain to Hope brought together a group of 15 women, all victims, and survivors of gender-based violence, for a six-month program in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, where they were guided on a path of healing by an interdisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, lawyers, medical doctors, and government officials.
These women were treated to an atmosphere of listening, empathy, and discretion. They were allowed to share their personal stories of long-term suffering, experience with the systemic failures in the justice system, and lack of a support network to lean upon. Their stories were met with compassion and understanding.
The need for such programs is evident. La Casa del Encuentro conducted a study in 2024 that documented 318 deaths at the hands of gender violence, the equivalent of one every 27 hours. In another report, the government’s office in charge of prosecuting human trafficking and exploitation said it had received 5,776 reports of trafficking through a special hotline between 2021 and 2024, of which 321 included victims with mental health conditions or disabilities. Of those, 68% were women, 75% were adults, and 60% involved sexual or labor exploitation.
As part of From Pain to Hope, each case was analyzed through the lens of the eight Pillars of Positive Peace. This served to identify what pillars had been weakened, and which they could draw upon for strength, to empower them to be able to build lives free from violence and to build support networks so they would no long have to face feeling all alone in their struggles.
Members from the La Plata Sur and Berisso clubs shared Rotary’s concern for the welfare of all individuals and its commitment to creating lasting change in communities around the world.
There were moments of deep emotion, as participants, who did not know each other beforehand, found connection through their shared experiences, discovering that they could express their feelings freely without judgment.
A particular moving and emotional part of the program came during a carpentry workshop led by a local architect at the San José Seminary in La Plata. Thanks to the generosity of Priest Andrés Rambeaud, this serene, century-old setting surrounded by nature allowed the women to relax, enjoy each other’s company, and express their creativity.
The project represented a turning point for these women with many ongoing benefits:
An increased resiliency demonstrated by each participant
Increased support from local and international organizations like FULAC, the Fundacion 100% Platense, the Palomas Project, and SE4U (an organization linked to the United Nations.)
The opening of new institutions such as Caritas and Nuestra Señora de la Piedad Parish, both in La Plata, to help victims of gender-based violence and human trafficking
Increased access to authorities for urgent assistance
The creation of a solid support network between the participants
The project ended on 30 November 2024, but the healing and empowerment continues. It remains an example of the transformative power that is available thanks to Rotary, the IEP, and the guidance of the Pillars of Positive Peace.
María Julia Moreyra is an attorney in Argentina and magister of international relations, specializing in gender- based violence and human trafficking. She is one of the directors of the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS), Speaker Chair at the Rotary Club End Human Trafficking, a Rotary Peace Fellow, and a Rotary Positive Peace Activator.
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 11 March 2025 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Guest Speaker: Mark McGillVariety Club
Welcoming team: Virginia Cossid & Chris Davis
Tuesday 18 March 2025 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Guest Speaker: Libby RobertsonExperiences in the APY lands
Welcoming team: Paul Duke & Ken Haines
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: 22 March 2025
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5: 29 March 2025
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 15 March 2025
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
We have been allocated the last Monday of each month, the next being Monday 31 March 2025
The Tale End.....
More true stories from the US of A
Bad driving
A man was eating in a truck stop minding his own business, when three dangerous looking bikers walked in.
The first walked up to the old man, pushed his cigarette into the old man's pie and then took a seat at the counter.
The second walked up to the old man, spat into the old man's milk and then he took a seat at the counter.
The third walked up to the old man, turned over the old man's plate, and then he took a seat at the counter.
Without a word of protest, the old man quietly left the diner.
One of the bikers said to the waitress, "Humph, not much of a man, was he?"
The waitress replied, "Not much of a truck driver either. He just backed his truck over three motorcycles
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)
Trump Threatens to Deport Chickens Unless They Lower Price of Eggs
Calling the birds behavior a disgrace, on Thursday Donald J. Trump threatened to deport the nation's chickens unless they act immediately to lower the price of eggs.
"We are not going to be held ransom by some birds that are, quite frankly, disgusting," he said. "This should never be allowed to happen in this country."
Trump vowed retribution against the poultry, calling the birds far left radical Trump haters.
Noting that egg prices had skyrocketed since he took office, he remarked, "The chickens have been treating me very unfairly." "They may not be coming home to roost"
And now for some good news
This email was sent by Stephen Baker
Rotary Club of Unley | PO Box 18 | Unley | SA | 5061 | Australia
While Unley was established by RC Adelaide in 1935, Prospect got its spurs from Unley somewhat later (1950 if the editor has his maths right) - celebrating its 75th birthday in October this year.
