Immediate Past President Trevor introduced Les, a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and member of the Regency Park Rotary Club. After moving from NSW 40 years ago, Les has enjoyed a productive career in management with the Parks Community Centre, Norwood (and other suburbs) Council, and Scripture Union SA. Since retiring he has devoted himself to helping the people impacted by the Criminal Justice system (predominately the families, and especially the children of those incarcerated).
The children of felons are six times more likely to end up behind bars, and this is not really surprising since they are usually the collateral damage from the felony and they are largely unsupported or cared for. Les is himself the child of a felon, having met his father in prison at the age of four, so he feels an affinity with the problem.
He firstly showed us a well-produced video about Second Chances SA that intervenes early to help. They have been operating in this guise for five years and in this time have helped many via 18,000 hours of voluntary time. They have only one full time employee paid for by their main fundraising activities, their Op Shop and their Furniture Warehouse. They provide material support such as school clothing, shoes and equipment so that the children can have the confidence to attend school.
Les is the Secretary of the organisation and also an active volunteer in the mainly weekend camp programme. There are plenty of camps, split mainly into younger children camps that are co-ed and camps for teenage boys that are mainly active physical adventures, and more subdued camps for teenage girls. The teenage boys’ camps cost more because specialist paid staff is often required.
Les provided several case studies of those that have been helped by the programme, and also of some disappointing outcomes. Part of the rich tapestry of endings when dealing with this disadvantaged cohort.
Volunteers with experience in mentoring young folk with problems are welcome, but they need to be prepared to commit to a reasonable period of involvement. Success is usually not immediate. Money is always helpful and a number of organisations sponsor individual camps and individuals to attend camps.
Sorel thanked Les for his talk.
Spots
David Middleton apologised for stuffing up the despatch of the newsletter, blaming a lack of training by Stephen Baker and that the training provided was deeply flawed. It has gone out now.
Patsy Beckett reported two barbecues at Mitre 10, one unscheduled on the Monday holiday where, just to prove versatility, food other than incinerated sausages was purveyed. Overall $630 was raised.
Valerie Bonython reported on cooking breakfast at Oakbank previously and wondered if the club might be up for a social outing on Easter Saturday 11th of April. Think about it so we can talk about it next week.
Valerie continued and raised the prospect of us teaming up with other Rotary clubs to organise fishing for carp in the Murray event. A similar event in Barmera caught lots of carp and raised $12,000. A tentative date of 11th October has been proposed and support is sought.
Patsy Beckett spoke about the fishing event, and postulated that the proceeds could be used to sponsor the Royal Flying Doctor Service in training new pilots.
A moment of reflection:
This is an editorial comment that has no authority. The announcements above raise an interesting conundrum. Usually fund raising events are not conflated with spending decisions. Rotary clubs have separate committees that decide on spending initiatives and make proposals to the Board. Proposing a fund raising event for a purpose without committee support needs discussion.
In Rotary we have conventions, and clubs delegate decision making responsibility to the Board led by the President. The Board and the President are servants of the club, not the other way around. In my view, the Board and the President lead the club to do what the club wants to do, and this is achieved through consultation.
So the club can choose to do what it likes. It just required civil discourse towards a consensus. If this happens, there are no winners or losers.
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Pam Trimmer wasn’t present for the club planning come assembly and missed the discussion about the Thrift Shop where people were confused about the lease arrangements. There are negotiations with the landlady and she has agreed to freeze the rent until a new lease is entered into from 1 July. Under the proposal the rent will stay the same for the first yearwith the process for rent changes after that being the subject of negotiations. The club is free to consider alternatives until the lease is signed.
Trevor McGuirk advised the Metropolitan Male Choir will be performing at Burnside Town Hall on April 5th. He has booked two tables and the cost is $30 per head ($5 discount to the price for everyone who doesn’t know Trevor). Speak to Trevor if you’re interested.
Valerie’s third spot was to tell us about Graham Ey’s presentation next week on improvised First Aid. He has asked people to bring a footy scarf, a head scarf, a blanket, a cushion, a long sleeved shirt, a solid cardboard box, an old sock, tissues, and a clean hankerchief.
Sorel Coward advised she would be featured in SA Life to celebrate being elected as Rotary’s first gender diverse president. There will be a photographer at the changeover.
Finale
There were no happy or sad fines.
Patsy Beckett won the $10 in the unlucky cards and Wendy took home the bar of chocolates.
The meeting closed at 8.07pm
ROTARY NEWS
Water and Sanitation Project in the Solomon Islands
There was interest in the club to hear form Peter Koti, visiting from the Solomon Islands and the assistant pastor in the church in the Dalousa Village. As there was no time available in the action packed meeting described above. It was agreed that those interested could stay and hear from Peter about the project after the close. Most of those present stayed.
Peter did well talking to the club in English which is actually his sixth language. He described first meeting our member Faye Reid and said he thought she was a gift from God. Don’t we all?
The village has a well that provides brackish water for the village and they capture rain water in buckets also. They have recently constructed one toilet for women (so Faye would come back) while the men mainly use the nearby Mangrove swamps, risking being taken by salt water crocodiles.
The project entails erecting a structure with a roof to capture rain water and also to provide shelter for community education. There’s plenty of rain so the structure will service three 5,000 litre tanks to provide a ready supply of fresh water for the village. The plan is also to establish a sanitation station, to build more toilets and if funds are available, solar panels to provide electric power.
Peter is a father and a grandfather and wants to improve their future. He is the only person in the village with a secondary education and is the man on the ground driving the project forward. There is much to do to improve the living standards and the efforts are hampered by local and national governments that Peter believes to be corrupt. He has wider political aspirations.
His visit to Australia has astounded him, experiencing life in a first world developed city. He, Faye and Trevor have visited St Peters, Kidman Park, Henley Beach, Encounter Bay, Adelaide, and Campbelltown Rotary clubs promoting the project and all have promised consideration.
$33,000 is required for the first stage.
Peter says you can’t change the whole world, but you can change one village for the better.
Our Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 17 March 2020 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Graham Ey - First Aid On The Run
Chair: Bob Mills...…Set-up and Welcome: Greg McLeod and David Middleton
Tuesday 24 March 2020 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Tim Thompson - Sculpture in Bronze
Chair: Bob Mills...…Set-up and Welcome: Greg McLeod and David Middleton
Apologies to: Sorel Coward in Jerry's absence 0408 406 558 (Jerry Casburn by e-mail
jerry@thecasburns.com.au or 0407 646 396)
Meeting Enquiries to: Secretary Vera Holt on 0417 892 624 or email to unley.secretary@rotaryclub.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 March 2020
Early: Vera Holt & Chris Davis (Jerry Casburn) | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Week 2: 14 March 2020
Early: Greg Mcleod & Virginia Cossid | Late: Wendy Andrews & Heather Kilsby
Week 3: 21 March 2020
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Pam Trimmer & Ken Haines
Week 4: 28 March 2020
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Rhonda Hoare & Jason Booth
Week 5:
Early: Bob Mullins & Wendy Andrews | Late: Jerry Casburn & Reno Elms
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact: Pam Trimmer (T) 8293 2612; (M) 0415 238 333; e-mail: pamela.trimmer@bigpond.com
Bunnings Mile End Barbeque
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Next Date: Monday 30 March
Morning shift: 8.00am – 12.30pm | Afternoon shift: 12.30 – 5pm
The next Mitre 10 BBQ (first Saturday of each month) will be on 8 April
The Tale End.……More One Liners
I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
Sex is not the answer. Sex is the question. “Yes” is the answer.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on the list.
We live in a society where pizza gets to your house before the police.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
If I agreed with you we’d both be wrong.
We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
War does not determine who is right – only who is left.
Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
Children: You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 years telling them to sit down and shut-up.
My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch.
Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening’, and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.
