Obviously quite pertinent as we took the opportunity to have an intra club meeting discussing the great opportunities we, as a club, have to offer to the community and potential members. More of that will be shared by the Pres directly to members.
Here is her note to the bulletin
Thank you to the dedicated crew who attended this week’s meeting and supported my report about the year to come.
Huge thanks to all of you who continue your work in Rotary across many projects and roles, without seeking reward or praise, living out the Rotary creed of “Service above self”.
Many thanks for all the contributions and ideas raised when I asked for input and help. I will email members with a summary when they have been collated. Thank you David Chivers for offering to take up the role of co-ordinating Wear the Wattle. John Braine will be pleased to show you where everything related to it is.
Jill and I are attending the BCO event on Homelessness this week (that was in the bulletin last week but didn't show - albeit that it's on the version on the website. Gremlins!! - The Ed.)
Next Monday, August 12th is a board meeting, so please can board members have their reports to Joe by Friday this week.
Next week on Thursday August 15th I will be meeting with the Mayor of Boroondara, Lisa Hollingsworth (who came to our Changeover) at her meeting of all presidents of the Rotary clubs in Boroondara as she seeks to find areas where we can collaborate.
Make our Canterbury Buzz really buzz by sending your stories and photos e.g. ‘spotted at ‘to Tony L (early in the week). More to come in a separate email
Matters in the Interest of Rotary
Steve helped out at RIMERN recently by installing new (modern) light fittings - You can see more about below that in our new article "Spotted"
With the retirement of Bob Lambert, we need assistance with the relationship with RIMERN - in particular setting up the roster for next year. It's a one-off event unlike the Sunday Market
It seems we have happy recyclers - the pink bin is full so Elizabeth took it away for cashing in
Doug reminded the Upskilling Project committee that we were meeting - this project is progressing really well and there will be more news on that
John B has extended the fee discount - have you paid up?
Nora advised of the set up for the food packing at MacRob and also of the upcoming packing with Melbourne Uni Rotaract and RC Melbourne - next week August 14th
Short report - 32500 meals packed, Thanks to Alan, Ant, Doug & the MacRob maintenance staff - Stuart & Isiah for the set up (the A team apparently)
Also to Alan, Ant, Marg our adopted member from RC Port Phillip, Gerry& Kate, Jill, David, Neil and Steve for yesterday's packing event
A reminder from Doug about the upcoming Philippines trip - we leave on October 5th - if you are interested let him know
Catherine Eagleson (aka the Clue Detective) is a true wordsmith who has been honing her craft in designing codeword puzzle games for over 20 years. Her passion for creating problems for others to solve is palpable. Piecing together the puzzle grid is not just a mental workout for her but a form of escapism.
Catherine’s commitment to puzzles is truly inspiring. She takes pride in her meticulous word research, ensuring every puzzle is a treasure trove of new knowledge. Solving a codeword is not just a game but a journey of continuous learning, expanding the puzzler’s vocabulary with each solved puzzle.
Following the COVID pandemic, more people are now grappling with mental ill- health, but the benefits of solving codeword puzzles are even more telling. “Cracking” and solving codeword puzzles not only offer participants a sense of achievement but also serve as a respite, helping to alleviate anxiety. They are also highly entertaining and provide a reassuring reminder that effective ways to cope and build resilience exist.
Catherine’s Clue Detective Codeword Puzzle Portal has become a digital resource for public libraries. Catherine extends a warm invitation to join the Clue Detective’s codeword puzzling community, where puzzle enthusiasts can connect, share their experiences, and reap the benefits of this engaging pastime.
Catherine’s research strongly indicates that public libraries are warm, welcoming, and safe environments. They are crucial in promoting the benefits of solving puzzles library patrons can significantly benefit from engaging in these activities. By offering a puzzle-solving program, libraries can unite patrons in a social atmosphere, fostering friendships and enhancing vocabulary and knowledge building.
Thanks to Elizabeth for this article following her and Jill's attendance at the BCO presentation
Homelessness Panel at Boroondara Community Outreach
What does home mean to you? To me it means a place of warmth and security where I can nurture and enjoy my family and friends, where we all can relax but also pursue our goals. Home is more than having a roof over your head. Jill and I had an eye-opening experience last night when we attended the Homelessness Panel event at BCO in Highbury Grove, Kew. In that warm, safe space many interested people, as well as several who already volunteer at BCO, gathered to listen to the story of real people who have experienced homeless and the factors involved.
Natalie Dixon-Monu, who many of you met at the recent Christmas in July event, started off by giving us some definitions and statistics from the last Census. When we think of homeless people, we think of those who we occasionally see sleeping rough-yet they only represent 6% of homeless people. Often these people have major mental health issues which makes living in hostels, rooming houses or regular accommodation very difficult for them.
Natalie then introduced Ixia, who travelled to Australia from Iran with her fiancé. She travelled on a tourist visa. When their daughter was one she had to leave the family home to escape domestic violence. Her experience with case workers and having to tell and retell her traumatic story as the workers were replaced frequently, and her struggle to understand the foreign language and customs was also traumatic. Being moved from hotel to hotel nearly every fortnight meant she never could learn about a place, and a single hotel room with no means of cooking or a secure yard is not a home, either for her but most especially for her toddler daughter. Added to these problems, despite having married an Australian citizen and having a child (who is Australian) she is ineligible for any government funding and has not been able to apply for permanent residency because her husband was ineligible to sponsor her due to his earlier (unknown to her) domestic violence offences against his first wife!
For an almost blissful three weeks they were housed in a women’s refuge and there she was given the number for BCO. When they were moved again, as her husband found their location, and she was placed at a hotel in Kew, she was urged to call them. “But I don’t need a food voucher, I need a job”, she said. Fortunately for her, she called and when it was explained how she could walk there from her hotel, she made the trip-and found a haven! Ixia now has a home and her daughter is becoming a happy, healthy little girl, but their journey and struggle is not over. Ixia’s story is similar to those of many women trying to escape domestic violence, many of whom also suffer from lack of family support and not being English speakers.
Another, growing group of homeless people are single women over 55.
Clearly there is much work to do in this space and we need to consider how we at Rotary can help.
In addition to the regular sorting picking up, delivering duties sometimes our members help in other ways. Last week Steve was spotted at RIMERN doing what a good sparky does, upgrading and fixing the electrical resources
Steve was upgrading warehouse lighting at RIMERN. Dull and falling apart fluorescents were replaced with energy efficient high bay LED lights. When told of the need, one of Melbourne's Electrical Wholesalers happily donated the lights saving the project $400 plus. Cleaning fridges and other household appliances is much easier with the increased light.
Ahem..... On another note please don't mention any OH&S issues you may spot in these pictures!!!
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