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With Covid-19 rules now relaxed Kardinia Rotary Club has returned to our normal meeting time of Wednesday mornings at 7:00 am for 7.15 am start for breakfast, at the Highton Bowls Club, corner of Roslyn and North Valley Roads, Highton, Geelong.

We are a diverse group of people who work hard within our local community and the wider community. We warmly welcome you to join us if you'd like to learn more about Rotary and our Club. If you'd like to join us for breakfast please contact our President Ben Systermans at bernard.systermans75@gmail.com or Secretary Nick Oakley at nick@oakley.net.au and they can add you to the meeting attendees list.

Tasmanian Land Conservancy

At our meeting on June 7th we were delighted to have James Hattam share with us his work at the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC). The TLC was established in 2001 and from humble beginnings has grown to be one of Tasmania's largest landholders, working in nature conservation projects across Tasmania, including King Island. James shared with us the range of ways that the TLC operates and funds its operations.

It has as its vision for Tasmania to be a global leader in nature conservation and works directly on properties it owns, through existing landholders and purchasing and reselling important conservation value land to conservation minded new owners.

James presentation can be found at https://www.dropbox.com/s/cinwatqhzvupmcb/Tasmanian%20Land%20Conservancy%20presentation.pdf?dl=0

The Tasmanian Land Conservancy website is Tasmanian Land Conservancy (tasland.org.au)

Loneliness in Geelong

Rebecca Lester, Marie O’Dell, Robert Hodgson, Bree McLennan (with apologies from Luke Kelly) joined us at our meeting on May 26th to share the findings of their Leaders for Geelong project - Loneliness in Geelong.

The project was carried out on behalf of Barwon Health with the following brief;

To understand relevant contributing factors to loneliness and its impact on physical and mental health, to inform recommendations to address loneliness in the Geelong community, specifically young adults (18–24 years), so as to better target existing services and develop relevant information for dissemination.

The key goals and objectives for this project are to:

Develop a better understanding of both the prevalence and the impact of loneliness in the Geelong region based on existing data sources and using a strength-based approach.
Collate a list of existing services available in the Geelong region that may be appropriate to address loneliness.
Identify any gaps in service coverage and propose solutions. Identify opportunities for collaboration between service providers.
Develop material to promote education and awareness of loneliness in the public realm (for example, possible targets could include workplaces, schools, universities, Barwon Health, City of Greater Geelong, Geelong Cats etc.
Identify a pathway to extend the impact of this project beyond its life time by embedding the work in community and research organisations who can continue to implement our findings.
Disseminate our findings across key stakeholders including a report of actionable findings to Barwon Health.

There are many benefits associated to the project:

A healthier and more socially-connected community.
A proactive approach to mental health rather than being reactive.
Better targeted resource allocation for services in the community to address loneliness.
Breaking the cycle of concomitant health issues enabled through loneliness, allowing health providers such as Barwon Health to reduce the number of acute care patients.
Ultimately, improved physical and mental health outcomes, including lower suicide rates in the Geelong region.

Their presentation can be found at this link.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ziiillupu2219y8/Loneliness%20in%20Geelong%20-%20Presentation%20for%20Kardinia%20Rotary%20May%202021.pptx?dl=0

and the full report at;

https://committeeforgeelong.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/LfG-2020-Loneliness-in-Geelong-webacc.pdf

Surf Coast Trek

On May 1st 2021, under sunny blue skies the Surf Coast Trek was held. Once again Kardinia Rotary Club members were out in force to help with parking and bus management, start & finish line logistics, manning drink stations and following up the field as tail End Charlies. In excess of 900 people tackled either the 38 km Aireys Inlet to Torquay or the 25 km Angelsea to Torquay treks along the Surf Coast Trail. The weather was perfect and in addition to our formal roles we are able to provide encouragement and support for participants undertaking this challenging walk.

The 2021 event is on track to raise in excess of $230,000 to be shared equally between the Give Where You Live and Kids+ Foundations.

World Immunisation Week

During World Immunization Week, 24-30 April, join with Rotary to combat vaccine hesitancy and misinformation by spreading the facts about why #VaccinesWork.

This year, you can take action for World Immunization Week in these ways: 

Download and share our new two-minute video, “Rotary Inspires Leaders in Global Health,” (see link below). In it, global health leaders like U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair Bill Gates, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore, and World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus talk about what Rotary has achieved in the fight to end polio.
Post graphics and other content from Rotary’s World Immunization Week Toolkit on social media with the hashtags #EndPolio and #VaccinesWork.

 https://cdn2.webdamdb.com/md_ATxV56VXabE1.mp4?1616510175

Baton Relay to celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Australia and NZ

Rotary in Australia and New Zealand is 100 years old this year. Share in the celebrations with the 14 Rotary Clubs of Geelong and District this Sunday, 21 March, as we join together for our R100 Baton Relay. Three relay teams will converge from around the District in Geelong at Christ Church where there will be a celebration including music, a coffee van and a chance to picnic and enjoy the the fun.

For further details, please click the following link: https://rotary9780.org/event/geelong---district-clubs-baton-relay/?fbclid=IwAR2tUaZVYgLlJZKcL2FHBbPDFT3uSmN3PocqqewzNCRGXCUxsjfUbzeDSJs

Rotary Peace Poles

To celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Australia 100 Rotary Clubs or School’s from around Australia were invited by the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin to become involved in this joint Centenary project. Kardinia and Corio Bay Rotary clubs have combined to donate 4 Peace Poles to Northern Bay College to install at each of their 4 primary school campuses.

The Peace Poles were presented to the school, represented by Ken Massari, College Assistant Principal - Student Enrichment and Community Partnerships, at the Northern Bay early Learning Centre by the 2 club Presidents on March 3rd as part of a Kardinia Rotary Club breakfast meeting at the centre. It is planned that unveiling of poles at each primary school campus will coincide with Harmony Day 21^st March 2021.

Working as a School Counsellor in Indigenous Schools in the NT

At our meeting on November 25th Michelle van Zanden spoke to us about her experience as a School Counsellor in remote NT indigenous schools. She is based on Groote Eylandt servicing 3 schools on the island, one on a neighbouring island and one on the mainland. She shared some history of the island, the cultural practices and how that can impact on school attendance.

To see her slide show follow the link https://www.dropbox.com/s/1btbs2iowwmyql6/Indigenous%20School%20Counsellor.pptx?dl=0 . The text related to the slides is in the Story Content below.

Geelong Gourmet Goodies

Our 2020 Geelong Gourmet Goodies project was an outstanding success, enabling us to raise $25 k to fund local projects and support Community organisations and Rotary programs both locally and overseas. We are most grateful to all our individual and corporate customers as well as all our very supportive local suppliers.

We plan to be back bigger and better in 2021 so watch this space.

East Gippsland Bushfire Aid Containers

Over the 2019/20 summer the East Gippsland area of Victoria was devastated by bushfires, with many communities and farmers losing homes, sheds and livestock. The District 9800 Bushfire Relief committee has established a project to supply retired shipping containers to farmers to replace destroyed sheds, as a temporary measure. Funds raised by clubs are able to be matched by funds from the District 9800 Bushfire Relief committee through RAWCS. Through the generosity of our members Kardinia Rotary Club raised sufficient funds to supply 4 containers.

Key Note Speaker - Sarah Henderson

On September 23rd the Kardinia Rotary Club conducted it's first on-line Fundraising event with Federal Senator Sarah Henderson as our guest speaker. She spoke on the topic of "Victoria's Post Pandemic revival : the challenges and opportunities".

The event was raising funds for the NIKERI Indigenous nursing scholarships so we also had Professor Mark Rose, Associate Professor Gabrielle Fletcher and Senior Lecturer Kelly Menzel as guests to share with the audience the fundamentals of the NIKERI nursing program.

The event was successful in raising in excess of $2,500 to enable the club to continue its ongoing support for the program.

MVUMI Hospital Scholarship Project

For the last 3 years the Kardinia Rotary Club, with support from District 9780 grants, has supported a Nursing Scholarship program at the Mvumi Hospital in the Dodoma district of Tanzania. At our meeting on September 2nd we had the privilege of having Doctors Angela and Brian Savage join us from the UK via Zoom.

NIKERI Indigenous Nursing program

At our meeting on July 29th Steve Funnell introduced Kellie Menzel (NIKERI Snr lecturer), and Nikki McGrady and Lani Harris (two NIKERI nursing students and Rotary scholarship recipients). Our club has been a supporter of these Scholarships and it was good to have some insight from Kellie as to the program and Nikki and Lani from a participant perspective.

East Gippsland Bushfire Recovery

At our meeting on Wednesday July 22nd we first viewed a recent Landline segment highlighting the locally driven bushfire recovery effort in Mallacoota. President Henry, after viewing this, subsequently made contact with one of the East Gippsland Rotary clubs to understand what role Rotary locally, and more broadly, can play in assisting this difficult process.

Deakin Food & Mood Centre

At our meeting on July 1st we had an enlightening presentation from Megan Hockey, who is a PhD Research Student at the Deakin Food & Mood centre. Her research is focussed on the link between diet and mental health. The research shows there is a strong link between diet and mental health and that improving diet should be a key strategy in treatment of depressive mental illnesses.

To see Megans full presentation please click the link below.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xygzse2v6sxxk9v/Deakin%20Food%20%26%20Mood%20Centre%20presn.pdf?dl=0

Northern Bay College Family Learning Centre

During this past year, the club has worked hard to develop a garden comprising a number of raised beds, a chicken coop, herb garden and tree plantings for the children of the Family Learning Centre at Northern Bay College. We were delighted to receive a letter of appreciation from the centre accompanied by this letter from the children.

IMFR Challenge Walk

An intrepid band of club members took part in the International Marathon Fellowship of Rotarians Challenge Walk along the Barwon River this morning, 13th June 2020. The IMFR have kindly indicated that they will donate to a cause voted on by the participants, world wide. Check out the video:

IMFR Challenge Walk from Ben Systermans on Vimeo.

Bushikori Mbale Uganda

One of the projects that our club has supported for a number of years is the Bushikori Christian Centre in Uganda. Our club member, John Watts, who has been our link to the project, shared the following video that was put together to explain to our newer members what Bushikori is all about and what it does. This is well worth a look.

Lockdown Buddies

We recently had two amazing young people speak to the club about their excellent initiative, Lockdown Buddies. Despite Rachel and Kara having 5 boys under 5, they have established Lockdown Buddies to support those most vulnerable in the Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast areas during the Covid-19 period. They are supporting all age groups, from the elderly who do not have family and friends to support them, to students who are isolated, who can’t get home and have lost their jobs. They can provide Apco Care packages, and volunteers who will assist with gardening and small maintenance issues. They are working closely with Volunteers Geelong to ensure that all the support personal are interviewed, have Working with Children registration and are suitable for the tasks to which they are assigned. Their web site below has information about the services. Click the following link or refer to the flyer below that.

https://www.lockdownbuddies.org/?fbclid=IwAR0CnXeSjWna4TQrE6Vqh_JNAJF8U2gqnDFNdy7CIpU VV6PYV_zsQBOAO3g

Club Meetings

We are pleased to share that our regular, virtual Club Meetings using the Zoom platform have gone very well. Our members are rapidly becoming proficient with the platform. Breakfast continues as usual!

Meetings start with a 7:00 am join, via Zoom, with the formalities starting at 7:15 am, as usual. The meeting link will be shared via email.

Please refer to the Meetings / Calendar page for meeting detail and the meeting duties.

Africa’s Agents of Change

The arrival of the first peace fellows at the new peace center in Kampala, Uganda, heralds the beginning of a new era for Rotary and the continent.

Rotary 2022 International Convention to be held in Houston

Rotary 2022 International Convention to be held in HoustonThe event will bring more than 20,000 participants from around the world and deliver $30 million in local economic

Rotary projects around the globe