Next week we have our Community Services Committee
Last Meeting
Venue: Living Choice with Nature's Providore
Guest Speaker: Senior Constable First Class David Brown SA Police Officer of the Year 2025
Guests: From Unley - Genese Mullins, Graham Ey, Diane Duke, Kathryn Needs, Rowena Barbosa, Donna Cavallaro, plus Rob's assistants Eukumbeth and Joanne
Joined by Superintendent Cindy Healey, Sergeant Karen Newman, Cindy Brown; nominators Samara O'Toole, Michelle Roberts, Laura Head together with Brian Roberts and Bronwyn Head
Attendance: 29 members 17 guests
Welcome
Chris and Simon set the scene for a great night with POOTY signage and red and blue lighting (ready for an arrest for any audience misbehaviour).
Chairman Chris Davis (and POOTY coordinator) opened proceedings and welcomed the police personnel and POOTY nominators from Murray Bridge. President Rhonda welcomed each of our guests.
Superintendent Cindy Healey outlined the criteria for POOTY selection. Basically the nominee must not only be a top-notch officer but also perform above and beyond the call of duty. It is a community award, not one conferred from within the police force, thus strengthening police ties with the general public. David Brown is a deserving winner. He joined SAPOL in 2008 and was appointed to the Murray Mallee in 2016. His work with youth through Blue Light and other activities has been oustanding. His nominators were thanked as was our club for its continuing commitment to honouring the best of the best within the force.
Chris Davis then called on 3 of David's nominators to tell why David enjoyed their support. Samara O'Toole and Laura Head are both youth development officers. The common theme was that David made the time to get connected with kids at risk. He organised stimulating activities through Blue Light and would invariably go 'the extra mile' to help those in need. Michelle Roberts is the area coordinator with Neigbourhood Watch which was, until David arrived, largely dysfunctional. David turned that around by organising regular meetings and by keeping members up-to-date with what is happening in their area. Blue Light under his tutelage has been a winner as have the activities at the community centre. Simply put - he is always there and available.
Laura, Michelle and Samara below
Chris Davis confirmed that of the 12 POOTY nominees for 2025, the committee selection panel viewed David as being 'everywhere'.
Guest Speaker: SC David Brown -SA Police Officer of the Year 2025
David provided a brief version of his life, namely born in Liverpool, now 49 years old, 17 years in the SA Police Force, married to Cindy with a daughter and twin sons, and a fanatical Liverpool soccer supporter.
In 1992 he came to Australia on holiday and loved it. 1995 saw him in Camp America; 1998 he was backpacking around Australia; 2002 he went to Sri Lanka on his honeymoon and viewed the devastation of the tsunami; 2006 he and his wife emigrated to Australia. In 2008 he joined SAPOL - 9 months at the Police Academy and 16 months on probation - motivated by excitement, sense of right and wrong, wanting to help people and to make a difference.
From 2008-2016 he served in the Yorke Mid North area (Port Pirie and smaller towns), came back to Adelaide, and was then posted to Murray Bridge where he was on patrol, involved in crime prevention and was made responsible for Blue Light. Blue Light offers a range of fun programs (eg picture shows), camps(eg Kuti) and visits (eg Monarto Zoo) to engage teenagers. Kids having fun is important.These activities also offer the opportunity to engage with those who are more vulnerable and at risk.
In 2022 he introduced a 7-8 week boxing program and, as a qualified boxing coach, is now taking the program into schools.....and it is a winner. Female participation is on the up..... as one would expect!
As Neighbourhood Watch coordinator he has been able to increase household awareness and reporting of incidents.
Coffee with a cop operates bi-monthly and levels of interest are raised when the likes of the police motor cycle squad, police band, and trips to the Tailem Bend race track are to the fore.
Community Service Groups activity, like helping Rotary distributing shelterbags, conduct of health surveys and meeting with farmers, adds a further positive dimension.
It is all about breaking down barriers and establishing trust.
He thanked Cristy, the nominators and our club.
David was applauded for his contribution.......a worthy recipient
Club historian and POOTY stalwart Bob Mills was called on to pin the POOTY badge on David
Spots
John Peacham reported that there was plenty of food left over from today's Variety Club BBQ at the zoo managed by RC Campbelltwon.....we will not be short tomorrow. It is a 9.30 am start for the BBQers and for setting up, 10 am for the rest of the crew with meal service starting at 10.30 am and finishing by 12.30 - 1 pm. A good day is guaranteed!
Vivienne Wood congratulated the Saturday Thrift Shop crew for selling $600 of stock on Saturday
Induction of Kathryn Needs
President Rhonda conducted the ceremony. Kathryn, nominated by Patsy, has had a career in high school teaching, education management and financial planning, and is a casual academic at Flinders Uni. Her passion is the Arts. She is active on a number of committees, does research for the Art Gallery, and is tackling a PhD on 19th century fashion history, Her love of golf extends to the board of Golf SA.
Kathryn will join the Youth Committee and carry the vocational designation of school teacher
Kathryn will no doubt be able to assist the editor with his recalcitrant golf swing.
Finale
Rob and Eukumbeth cleaned up the money and the chocolates
President Rhonda closed the meeting at 8.12 pm .......... an excellent night at the office.
Rogues Gallery
We had the Peace Pole ceremony at St Raphaels School on Friday (note the usual suspects of Rhonda, Greg, John K, Marie and Vera-Ann), the Brendan and Bronwyn Kenny orchestra on Sunday urging City Bay 'fun' runners to lift their pace (in dampish conditions)......and of course, the very best until last.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Saving mothers and children in Nigeria, Why I never struggle to go to work
Health workers do community outreach for the Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria program.
By Olubunmi Afolabi, Communications Officer, Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria
I rarely struggle to get out of bed in the morning. The thought of the countless lives touched by Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria (THFN), a Programs of Scale recipient, gives me strength for each new day. Statistics on Nigeria’s maternal mortality – 512 deaths for every 100,000 pregnant mothers – may appear faceless on paper, but not to me. I see the mothers. I see the babies. I have stood in the very rooms where those numbers either become tragedies or triumphs.
On the second day of our Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) training, a woman in labor came in to a nearby health center in Aaye in Ekiti State. What transpired after I arrived will stay with me forever. The woman had been pregnant five times before and was now carrying twins at just over 36 weeks.
The situation was tense. The facility was short-staffed, and the officer-in-charge – a nurse midwife – was absent. A Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) had stepped in to manage the delivery. She was not a midwife by training, but she had been part of our THFN program, equipped with lifesaving skills through the EmONC training.
The first twin came quickly, head first, at 8:30 a.m. The cries of the newborn filled the room, and for a moment, relief washed over us. But the second twin was not as cooperative. He was in breech position, and despite the community health worker’s best efforts, the delivery would not progress. Time slowed. The room grew heavy with fear.
I knew then what had to be done. A referral was made immediately, and thanks to the training and coordination in place, the Medical Officer of Health and a nurse who were also attending the workshop acted without hesitation. Together, they transferred the mother to the General Hospital in Iyin Ekiti.
Hours later, I stood at her bedside as the second twin was delivered safely at 12:25 p.m. But the ordeal was not over. Suddenly, the patient began to bleed – postpartum hemorrhage, one of the leading causes of maternal death in Nigeria. Swiftly, oxytocin was administered, followed by misoprostol. Slowly, her bleeding came under control. Both babies, though small – 1.9 kg (4.1 pounds) and 2.0 kg (4.4 pounds) – were breathing steadily. The mother’s life had been saved.
That night, as I lay down, I thought of her face, pale but smiling, and the tiny forms of her children bundled at her side. I thought of the community health worker whose training gave her the courage to try, of the referral system that worked when things turned complicated, and of the hospital team who did not give up until both mother and babies were safe.
For me, this was more than another day on the job. It was a calling reaffirmed. The experience reminded me that behind every statistic is a story – a mother, a child, a family, a future. It also underscored something I now carry into every training and conversation: the importance of timely referrals and the strengthening of our health systems.
When people ask me why I do this work, I think of this woman, her twins, and the hundreds of thousands of families touched by the efforts of Rotary and the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health. Their stories are the reason I rise each morning, eager to continue the work.
Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria aims to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in select areas of Nigeria by 25% and to increase the number of families who get health care in clinical settings. The program was initiated by the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH) and by Rotary District 1860 in Germany and Rotary District 9125 in Nigeria, in partnership with the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health. It received the 2021-22 Rotary Foundation Programs of Scale grant. Watch or download this video from the Brand Center.
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 3 October 2025
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 30 September 2025 6 for 6.30pm Living Choice
Event: Community Services Committee presentation
Welcoming team: Paul Duke and Deborah Forbes
Tuesday 7 October 2025 6 for 6.30pm Living Choice
Event: Colin KavoorisLifting the Lid on Mental Health and RYPEN participant Athok Deng
Welcoming team: Brendan and Bronwyn Kenny
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 September 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 4 October 2025
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
David provided a brief version of his life, namely born in Liverpool, now 49 years old, 17 years in the SA Police Force, married to Cindy with a daughter and twin sons, and a fanatical Liverpool soccer supporter.
It is all about breaking down barriers and establishing trust.
President Rhonda conducted the ceremony. Kathryn, nominated by Patsy, has had a career in high school teaching, education management and financial planning, and is a casual academic at Flinders Uni. Her passion is the Arts. She is active on a number of committees, does research for the Art Gallery, and is tackling a PhD on 19th century fashion history, Her love of golf extends to the board of Golf SA.
