15-05-2024
Our own Rotarian Marie Gerrard giving polio vaccine to children in India during January 2024. Her presentation was about this unique experience.
In 1979, the world witnessed an alarming number of polio cases, with approximately 400,000 reported globally. However, thanks to tireless efforts and strategic immunisation campaigns led by organisations like Rotary, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), and countless healthcare professionals, significant strides have been made towards eradicating this devastating disease.
As of today, we have achieved remarkable progress in reducing polio cases worldwide by more than 99%, with only two endemic countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) still reporting sporadic outbreaks (only 8 so far in 2023/24). These statistics highlight the collective effort to combat polio through routine vaccination programs and widespread public awareness. The work isn't done yet - maintaining high immunisation coverage and surveillance systems remains crucial until every last case of wild poliovirus is eradicated from our planet. Nonetheless, these remarkable numbers exemplify the tremendous impact that global collaboration can have in combating one of humanity's biggest health challenges.
20-04-2024
Our peakers were Lauren Kirkham and Oman ‘too long to say it’ from the Seymour Salvation Army. Lauren gave us an overview of the scope of their work and Oman, who works in the area of homelessness spoke about the huge need for affordable housing. We were pleased to hear their plans to establish a base in Wallan are progressing.
13-09-2023
Carmel Allen is from Tasmania and is a very active member of RYLA who with others from RYLA (from NSW and New Zealand) are helping us to promote Project Lemur and the fund raising that goes along with it.
Click on the image alongside to take up Carmel’s challenge >>>>>>>>>>
06-09-2023
Our speaker this week was Sergeant Rhonda Coates who spoke to us about family violence. Rhonda covered many aspects of the issue. For instance, in Australia Family violence costs $5.8 billion annually in lost time at work, and services involved (police, ambulance, social services, etc.). Rhonda commented that in higher socio-economic groups, DV is more likely to be characterised by psychological coercion rather than physical violence. A large percentage of homicides are categorised as being due to family violence. The most difficult people for police to work with are those who have a cultural background which considers DV incidents as bringing shame to the family, or when interpreters are required, but appropriate interpreters are not available. A lot for us to think about.
30-08-2023
This week we welcomed Ros Stewart, a current Rotary E-Club member, who spoke to the club about Mental Health First Aid.
Ros is a course facilitator and is starting a new course in Broadford next week. Ros stressed that anyone can become a mental health first-aider. If anyone is interested in attending an upcoming 12-hour course over two days, please contact Ros on 0419 367 582.
From left: Speaker Ros Stewart, Chair Andrea, President Rose.
We visit France, Italy, Croatia and South America with Rotarian Roseanne
14-07-2023
Roseanne shared lots of pics of her very delightful trip around the world. It must have been a challenging few weeks given the ground she covered, but we were all lucky to view from good old Kilmore.
05-07-2023
Lisa Walker
Rotary Recycle Op Shop Manager
At our this week’s meeting, we had a great talk from Lisa Walker, Manager of the Rotary Recycle Op Shop (RROP). I look forward to our Club working with Lisa in the long term. Lisa was accompanied by her husband Brad & younger son Kayne.
Tony Speers, Op Shop volunteer representative, also spoke about the work he does, which he clearly enjoys very much.
President Rose.
CALL IN AND CHECK THE SHOP OUT
6/84 Sydney Street, Kilmore
Open 9.30-3.00 Mon to Fri and open 9.30-12.30 Saturday
now with mending, repairs and hem adjustment
28-06-2023
Jay Morgan - my experience at RYLA 25 years ago
Jay spoke about his RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) experience in the late 90s and how much it helped him form into the man he is today.
He spoke of many memorable highlights, inclusive of
• spending a day with the late Jim Stynes, the Irish footballer who impressed him with his genuine sharing of knowledge and making everyone around him feel important
• being educated in the finer skills of public speaking
• participating in numerous teamwork building events, one of which he demonstrated using four of our number who volunteered, midst much laughter.
A spirited question time followed generally around when Jay is going to join Rotary, primarily driven by Ian Lee, which we all would understand.
LEARN MORE ABOUT RYLA: https://www.rcsm.org.au/youth
08-03-23
Jeremy Scrivens and his daughter Sarah
Love in Action - Wallan & Broadford
At our Club meeting tonight we were provided with information about “Love In Action” from founder Jeremy Scrivens and daughter Sarah who is President.
Love in Action is a community initiative in Wallan and Broadford that offers practical support to people in need. From providing meals and clothing to offering emotional support and assistance with basic needs, Love in Action volunteers work tirelessly to make a positive impact on the lives of those who are struggling. Their love and compassion for their fellow community members is truly inspiring.
30-11-2022
Jenny Foster
Donations In Kind (DIK)
Jenny and her family have a long history of Service Above Self, much of it in our region. She outlined her experiences in Asia where even the most basic medical instruments are in incredibly short supply. Change commenced with Rotarians bring in much needed instruments in suitcases to now when shipping containers are regularly used. The primary purpose of Jenny’s visit wa to inform us of two large storage sheds in Broadford that are about to be renovated so they can be used to better manage medical instruments given the existing DIK facility at Footscray is bursting at the seams. This will become a major project for our Club to manage as it is right in our backyard.
The Broadford facility.
October is Rotary Mental Health Month. Thanks to George & Steph for asking Lachlan Matthews to speak on mental health at last Wednesdays meeting. Lachlan is a qualified Mental Health First Aider and also works for that organisation.
He is a former member of the Mitchell Shire Youth Council and has been involved in a number of local Mental health initiatives. Lachlan was a very impressive speaker who spoke eloquently; describing mental health as a continuum with many factors influencing both positive & negative manifestations. He spoke about mental health in very down-to-earth language which I found really informative – I hope others felt that as well. Members contributed generously towards Australian Rotary Health “Lift the Lid” mental health program. Thank you everyone who contributed, especially Lachlan.
26-10-2022
Lachlan Matthews
Mental Health First Aid
12-10-2022
Ted Waghorn
Chair ESRAG Oceania 2021-22
Guest speaker this week was Ted Waghorn, ESRAG Oceania Chair 2021-22. The environment was added to Rotary’s Areas of Focus in 2020. Ted spoke about the work of ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group) which covers a wide range of areas.
Come Join Us and Take Action, as we work to leverage the Rotary Brand and Global Network to build n environmental organization taking real action to help people and our planet thrive.
You do not need to be a Rotarian to join ESRAG…
You just need to want to help take action ‘TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENT’ Join Here
Kerry & Anthony from Kilmore SES demonstrate the use of our newly acquired defibrillator. The defibrillator will be located in the BBQ trailer. The two main learning points I took from this demo were that application of CPR is critical before the use of a defibrillator, and secondly, the defibrillator issues verbal instructions about what to do, making it easy to use (in theory). In an emergency situation, it is helpful to have at least two people present – one to issue instructions and one to carry them out, given that the need to use it could create a state of anxiety!
21-09-2022
Kerry & Anthony
Kilmore SES
Our Youth Exchange student, Maddy Antonietti, gave a wonderfully informative presentation to the club at our Wednesday meeting. Maddy shared some details of her life in a town just a short distance from Milan. We learned Maddy loves sports and enjoyed seeing photos of her skiing, playing soccer and paddle boarding. She also shared some facts about Italy – Italy is the biggest wine producer in the world (even though many believe France holds this record), there are many national dishes – pizza & pasta just being two of thousands of national dishes, and that while Italian is the national language, there are hundreds of dialects spoken throughout Italy. School children learn Italian & English which explains Maddy’s excellent command of English.
Thanks to Angelina & Tony for inviting Maddy into their family and making her so welcome. She is a very impressive young woman and it is such a pleasure for our club to host her as a Rotary Exchange student.
14-09-2022
Maddy Antonietti
Rotary Youth Exchange
Sue Marstaeller OAM and Carolyn van der Ree spoke to us this week about how the Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) program started in Mildura and how they introduced it to our Shire. The program currently has 10 participating primary schools. The program runs in partnership with Wallan Police and is is introduced to year 6 students. The aim is to make students break the ice with local police before they go to secondary school.
The program covers: Bike/Road Safety, Bullying, Crime Reporting, Learning how to look out for crime/what to report, Cyber safety/what to look out for.
