Castello's Cucina, 123 Fisher Street, Fullarton SA
President John Peacham 0431 618 359
Next week we are into emergency services
Last Meeting
Venue: Castello's Cucina
Guest Speakers: Aasya Owais and Helen Glanville
Guests: John Smith, Marie Rothe, Owais Malik
Attendance: 23 members and 5 guests
Welcome
Paul Duke invoked the giving of chocolates to everyone on Valentines Day (tomorrow)........sweetness will abound......mmmmmmm! President John welcomed our guests and again reminded of the Rotary Womens' Breakfast on 6 March and District Conference on 15-17 March. There are 8 exchange students arriving from southern India 8 - 18 March and there is a need for volunteers to host and transport. Happy Valentines Day tomorrow.
Guest Speaker: Aasya Owais - National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)
Stephen Baker provided a background on NYSF which was inaugurated by Rotary in partnership with the University of Canberra in 1983 to inspire young Australians to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths. It has been an outstanding success, and our club has sponsored a number of students who have been high achievers domestically and overseas. Aasya, who our club sponsored in partnership with RC Mitcham for 2024 is a Year 12 baccalaureate student at Glenunga International High School. She is accompanied by her dad Owais and their family hails from Pakistan.
Aasya began like a rocket (and kept going), informing of her NYSF days at the University of Queensland in January.
At the outset, the welcome to the many students put particular emphasis on the importance of stem subjects. Of interest was the reference to mental disorders.
Day 2 was dedicated to the Science Communication Program, where participants beamed into scientific bodies in Switzerland and the USA. Day 3 was about biology and a virtual tour of environmental sciences including waste minimisation. There was a presentation about DES hydraulics and the utilisation of drones for environmental monitoring. Day 4 was Careers Day with an expo on job opportunities, with contributions from scientific professionals. Aasya was particularly struck by the nexus between science and art, and its potential.
Day 5 involved a visit to the University of Queensland Biology Centre where the best part was hands-on experiments with blood analysis. On day 6, the team visited SEQ Water and walked the facility with hard hats learning about water processing and distribution.
At night there were gatherings with games and fun.
There were a number of highlights, including:
meeting and forming friendships with students from across Australia.
exploring the different scientific fields. Aasya was particularly struck by the particle accelerator.
helping with her studies and showing pathways to university pursuits......she would like to combine law and the environment.
Aasya was applauded for her address.
Guest Speaker: Helen Glanville -Second Chances
Paul Duke introduced Helen Glanville who is CEO of Second Chances which aims to assist the children of prisoners. She has a history of being able to navigate crises and has been with Second Chances for 8 years.
Helen had overcome the devastation of the bushfire which had burnt through her Kenton Valley property in 2019, and the loss of her husband 2 years ago. She has spent 45 years in SA and NSW, firstly in nursing followed by public relations with local government and the criminal justice system.
Helen's 'mentionables' were being an under 14yo shot putt champion and a Rotary Exchange Student to Indonesia in 1973, soon after the overthrow of the communist regime.
Helen emphasised that the first 10 years of a child's life are critical to their later development. It all begins with the family environment and it is not the children's fault if they have dysfunctional parents and a horrible homelife which puts them at risk. Without intervention the parents are training kids for a life of crime. There are emerging signs that large areas/suburbs will be impacted. It was estimated in a 2022 study that 6,800 kids in SA and 48,000 nationally are 'dropping off the edge'.
The aim of Second Chances is to restore hope to prisoners, their children and families with practical, emotional and spiritual support. It is community crime prevention. SC believes in ABV - kids being accepted, belong and are valued.
Transformed lives results in positive social impact, economic benefit and common good. The programs include:
110 mentoring camps have been held without incident. 2023 saw a successful leadership camp. While the Smith Family insists on school attendance of 90% for their support, many of the kids SC looks after barely make 30%. Two part time staff help with the distribution of presents, camp attendance and prisoner visitation.
There is considerable financial pressure currently on their modest budget of $750k due to a downturn in revenue from their Op Shop and Furniture Store at Richmond. The State Government helps with only one of the programs (Family Support).
We can best assist through donations and volunteering with transport and mentoring.
Helen was thanked resoundingly for her presentation and presented with a cheque by President John for $1000. see blurred photo on right
SPOTS
Jerry Casburn thanked the team that helped at the Evening Under The Stars (hosted by the Unley Road Association) last Saturday night, comprising Ken, Virginia, Christina (and Jerry) on the BBQ and Kate, Vera Ann and Stephen on the gates. Special mention for Virginia and Vera who had come from the afternoon shift at the Thrift Shop. Jerry also thanked Graham Ey who painted our BBQ trailer.
Paul Duke has been supplied with the 'Cowboy' book written by Dean Jamieson, our guest speaker from last week, should anyone wish to borrow it.
Vivienne Wood is looking to members to provide period products at Woolworths for Dignity Drive during March for women in need.
Finale
Geoff Hill scored the filthy lucre, followed by serial winner Virginia, and lastly the Prez. Jerry declared that there would be a photo shoot of members after the meeting for a new club pamphlet. Maybe next week bedecked in Rotary shirts? A Board meeting follows the photos.
The meeting closed at 7.53pm......well done.....despite the final joke.
The Rogues Gallery
Photos from the Evening Under The Stars hosted by the Unley Road Association at the Soldiers Memorial Gardens last Saturday with proceeds to Jodi Lee Foundation.
Expert sausage crematers Jerry, Ken, Virginia and Christina kept in rhythm by the fabulous Supernova.
On Tuesday 13th February, with an 8.30 start Graham Ey and Jerry Casburn set about masking and spraying the BBQ trailer. Graham provided the expertise and equipment, and Jerry the supporting labour. The result the trailer is now Ultra Blue, but still masked. End result to be shown on Thursday. Thanks to Graham who is not a Rotarian, but a very good friend. Jerry
Editor's note - Tis good to see Jerry getting more practical painting experience but note that Graham did not trust him with the spray gun. And the true blue support for Sturt footie club is appreciated.
By AP Singh, past president and chairman of the Heartline Project
RI President R. Gordon R. McInally, (fourth from right) and his wife, Heather (second from right), visit a heart surgery patient at Fortis Hospital in India. Also pictured is Anil Chadda, president of the Rotary Club of Chandigarh (far left), Past RI President Rajendra Saboo (third from right), and Heartline Project Chairman AP Singh (far right).
It all began with the tragic death of a young man awaiting surgery for a congenital heart issue. Our Rotary Club of Chandigarh, India, and our Inner Wheel friends had been raising money for the young man. Determined that no other person in need of corrective surgery would die from lack of money, we were moved to act, and our initiative, a part of Gift of Life International, came to be. That was May 1998. We received a grant from The Rotary Foundation in 2000 and combined that with funds from District 3080 (lndia), District 2630 (Japan), our club, and the Rotary club of Ebingen, Japan.
Today, we have saved 777 lives and counting. During a ceremony for the 100th surgery in 2004, the father of a young man from Pakistan who had received a surgery said, “Pakistan gave him birth, but India gave him life.”
Realizing the impact of the project in saving the lives of children suffering from congenital heart disease who could not afford surgery, our club rechristened our efforts as the Heartline Project, signed a memorandum of understanding with Fortis Hospital, Mohali, and continued to help children. The team of surgeons handled everything from a hole in the heart, to a faulty heart valve, to other congenital heart problems.
Signature project
This became our club’s signature project, funded by Rotary members, Rotary clubs, friends of Rotary and – most importantly – grants from The Rotary Foundation. We never faced a shortage of funds because we were in the business of saving lives. The project has been running for 24 years and going strong.
We passed milestones, reaching out to children from across borders and continents. We started getting requests from neighboring countries in the Indian subcontinent. Our club responded, and the Heartline Project has helped 34 children from Pakistan, 3 from Afghanistan, 8 from Mongolia, and 18 from Nepal.
Past RI President Rajendra K. Saboo, a member of our club, received numerous requests from even further away. Always eager to help, he would accept and assemble a team of doctors for another medical mission. We have had the opportunity to help 22 children from Malawi, 7 from Uganda, 6 from Nigeria, 50 from Rwanda, and 10 from Zimbabwe. One child from Iraq was also operated on. These add to the more than 600 children belonging to very poor Indian families who have benefited from the project.
Presidential visit
Rotary International President R. Gordon R. McInally and his wife, Heather, visited Fortis Hospital on 17 January. They met with Saboo and our district governor, Arun Mongia. They also met Anu, an 8½-year-old girl from Mohali, who had undergone a successful operation a day earlier.
They also met 16-year-old Daphne from Zimbabwe, who arrived a day earlier with her mother for her corrective surgery. She had received a previous surgery in 2016 at the age of 9 but was informed then that she would need another corrective surgery at a later date. Our club assured her and her mother that this would be done. On 22 January, she received her surgery and is recovering well. The Rotary Club of Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, provided funds for Daphne’s travel to India.
McInally also met the team of cardiac surgeons and expressed his gratitude for their service in saving children’s lives. He presented a citation to Fortis Hospital Mohali on behalf of our Rotary club. Later he visited six children who were operated upon in the last few months.
This is Rotary in action. Together we create hope for children across borders to have normal, healthy lives.
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 1 March 2024
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 20 February 2024 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 24 February 2024
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 one is on 17 February.
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Aasya began like a rocket (and kept going), informing of her NYSF days at the University of Queensland in January. 
Helen emphasised that the first 10 years of a child's life are critical to their later development. It all begins with the family environment and it is not the children's fault if they have dysfunctional parents and a horrible homelife which puts them at risk. Without intervention the parents are training kids for a life of crime. There are emerging signs that large areas/suburbs will be impacted. It was estimated in a 2022 study that 6,800 kids in SA and 48,000 nationally are 'dropping off the edge'. 
110 mentoring camps have been held without incident. 2023 saw a successful leadership camp. While the Smith Family insists on school attendance of 90% for their support, many of the kids SC looks after barely make 30%. Two part time staff help with the distribution of presents, camp attendance and prisoner visitation.
