Opening
President Rhonda swiftly opened the meeting. Official welcomes and goodbyes were at the end.
Guest Speaker: Desandi Juwan - NYSF 2026
Stephen provided a brief history of NYSF and introduced Desandi who is an ace Year 12 student at St Dominics Priory College. Our club sponsored her to attend the NYSF at Queensland University in January.
Desandi was impressed with the orientation, organisation, buddying and welcome. Students had their floor groups at Kings College and constellation groups (common areas of interest) which worked well.
Her first scientific encounter was with robotics which she had avoided ticking on her preference sheet. Veterinary Science got a tick and the chemistry lab revealed that sunscreen effectiveness differed little for ratings between 30 and 60....shameful. The Kaleida particles spectrometer was a hit as were the discussions on science career options. A fun day out with Confections and Connections [they obviously did not visit a dental clinic] worked a treat. It was a great experience, and she was appreciative of our assistance.
Desandi was thanked for her video show and articulate presentation.
Guest Speaker: Dr Meredith Forsyth - Young health
Donna Cavallaro took over the role as chair of the meeting and introduced Meredith who is a paediatrician with the Child Safety and Wellbeing Health Service at Flinders University. She had also atttended NYSF in her youth.
Meredith led out by asking what was the most prevalent kids health complaint hitting the hospital system and the answer was......respiratory (eg asthma), affecting over 10%.....next on the list is anxiety. Moving right along, she explained that when kids enter school, only about half are on track to do well. And the statistics for the other half are devastating. Child maltreatment through neglect and abuse is of epidemic proportions.There are 92,000 notifications to the SA Department of Child Protection each year, affecting 22% of kids by age 5 and 33% by age 10. Of that 92,000 only about 3000 complaints are substantiated due to resource constraints and limited other placement options. 2% of kids are placed in foster-care. 40% of maltreated kids experience multiple forms of abuse.
This is an endless cycle which is getting worse. The abused victims often have greater physical and mental health issues, employment challenges, shorter life spans, and become the perpetrators as adults. It is tough being an adult after having gone through hell as a kid.
Now it must be said that, after hearing all this dismal news, the editor was on the edge of his seat waiting for solutions. But there is no easy fix and Meredith urged that we:
- understand the issues
- be a child-safe organisation
- support programs that are aimed at prevention
In Scandinavia parenthood is highly valued and quality early child care provided, which makes a big difference.
Meredith was applauded for her daunting address.
Induction of Eva Wodecki
Kate Porter asked Eva to introduce herself. Eva has a Polish background, and lives with her husband Tony plus 2 pooches in Myrtle Bank. She was a lawyer for 35 years, and worked for the Law Society and Alliance Insurance. Unley Rotary offers the opportunity to give back to the community and utilise her skills.
She will be joining the Vocational Committee.
Eva was enthusiastically welcomed into the club.
Spots
John Peacham thanked those who assisted at the Variety Club zoo event last week. A small hiccup with more kids arriving than advised, but a very satisfying day. He needs 6 volunteers on the BBQ this coming Friday at the Unley Primary School Sports Day on Unley Oval. Democracy day left-over snags are on the menu.
Marlene Small and Judy Barton reflected on the soup kitchen and community information event conducted by the Salvos on March 27. The turn-out was disappointing, but we had 10 attendees.
Haydn Baillie informed that he and Sue had hosted a successful dinner party to raise funds for the Afghan Womens Project - the draining of his wine cellar was compensated for by the level of interest in our project.
President Rhonda:
- checked for donations of 'Share the Dignity' goods
- sought details of attendance at RC St Peters birthing kit assembly day next Sunday
- confirmed that we are meeting on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month
- announced that $4613 had been raised towards the Aghan Womens Project thanks to the dinner hosting efforts of Haydn and Sue, Deb, Paul and Di
- informed that there will be a fundraising Afghan film festival event at the Capri theatre on June 9 featuring Australia's early Cameleers
Finale
Our vistors were welcomed and goodbyed. Nice to have Jerry Casburn stroll through the door!
Brendan Kenny cracked the filthy lucre and GREG DID IT AGAIN with the chocolates
The fullsome meeting closed at about the right time
Rogues Gallery
These were our teams for the Variety Club Zoo event for disabled kids last Tuesday. Over 1800 snags were cremated. And the editor's phone camera worked as well as it normally does...............
A special prize for identification of all participants!
Rotary International News
Rotary projects around the globe - April 2026
By Brad Webber
Mexico
Within hours of deadly floods and landslides that struck Mexico in October, Rotary members were responding. In hard-hit Poza Rica, Rotary and Rotaract members brought residents to safety, plowed mud-laden streets, and moved house to house to clean properties. The effort was supported by clubs throughout District 4185 and by neighboring districts and others abroad. The Rotary Club of Poza Rica joined the nonprofit
Planet Water Foundation to install four water towers and a water block in the neediest area and deliver purified water elsewhere. The club also coordinated with
World Central Kitchen to provide hot meals. Still, “we desperately need help to get back on our feet and return to our normal lives,” says club member Pepe Badillo. “The houses were a total loss. Everything was destroyed, from a single plate to the bedrooms on the second floor.”
Canada
Members of the Rotary Club of Kelowna in British Columbia placed 220 crosses personalized with the details of fallen soldiers in a Remembrance Day tradition the club has co-led with the Okanagan Military Museum Society since 2018. The Field of Crosses is accessible for 10 days beginning 2 November. Rotarians’ “dedication extends to coordinating lighting, ceremonies, and educational programs produced by the museum that connect the community, especially students, with the stories behind the names,” says Club President Robin Smith. The project strikes a personal chord: “We have a number of members who have served with our military,” Smith says, “and this allows us to honor them and the hundreds of others from the Kelowna community who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.”
Latvia
The monthly soup kitchen at Saint Saviour’s Anglican Church has been a mainstay in Latvia’s capital since 2001. For the past several years, the Rotaract Club of Riga International and, more recently, its sponsor Rotary club have supported the initiative, which serves as many as 60 visitors per session. “One shift prepares large pots of soup, porridge, and warm tea while another welcomes and serves guests when they arrive,” says Kim Leandersson, a past president of the Rotary Club of Riga International. “Ingredients are planned and purchased by our members, with our club covering the modest costs and occasional donated products from bakeries adding something extra. It’s regular, hands-on service where you see the impact immediately. Cooking, serving, and sharing a meal may sound small, but for many of our guests it means warmth, dignity, and being seen.”
India
The city of Thane, northeast of Mumbai, is recognized for its arts and culture scene. It’s home to drama troupes, an art expo, international film festivals, and comedy venues. What it was lacking, says Atul Bhide, of the Rotary Club of Thane Hills, was a large showcase for aficionados of the written word. To amend that, the club (which also sponsors a book-reading initiative for youth) launched the Thane Literature Festival. Over two days in November, bibliophiles toasted 22 authors and poets who read from their work and participated in panel discussions. The event honored journalist and writing coach Bachi Karkaria with the Thane Literature Festival lifetime achievement award, and judges critiqued entries in a short-story contest. “Encouraging reading habits and love for literature for Gen-Next is also our motive behind this literature festival,” says Bhide.
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 May 2026
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 21 April 2026 6 for 6.30pm
Living Choice Nature's Providore
Guest Speaker: Tara Belton CEO of RSL - Anzac Day
Welcoming team: Christina Way and Vivienne Wood
Tuesday 5 May 2026 6pm
Maid of Aukland Hotel 926 South Rd, Edwardstown
Event: Quiz Night with RC Edwardstown
Welcoming team: Greg Abel and Sarah Sullivan
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: 2 May 2026
Early:Haydn & Sue Baillie | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Week 2: 11 April 2026
Early: Greg Mcleod & Wendy Andrews | Late: Vera-Ann Stacy & Reno Elms
Week 3: 18 April 2026
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 25 April 2026
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 18 April 2026
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Morning shift: 8.00am – 12.30pm | Afternoon shift: 12.30 – 5pm
We have been allocated the last Monday of each month. Our next one will be 27 April 2026
The Tale End.....
With apologies to our younger members
