The two big projects the Club has undertaken during this Rotary year have come to a successful conclusion. At this week’s meeting the Club presented cheques to Very Special Kids and the Werribee River Association for the great work they are doing in the community.
· At the Rotary Charity Golf Day held on March 26th the Club raised $24,000 for Very Special Kids.
We presented a cheque for this amount to its CEO, Michael Wasley. In his talk Michael told us more about how VSK is supporting children with life-threatening conditions by providing a children’s hospice and professional family support services. Approximately 850 families across Victoria are helped with ongoing support from diagnosis all the way through to bereavement and beyond.
Congratulations to Ian Hovey for leading this project.
On April 17th the Club had a Tree Planting Day to recognize and celebrate the Centenary of Rotary in Australia & NZ.
This was a combined activity with the Werribee River Association and involved planting over 400 trees and shrubs in the new Werribee River Park, which extends along the west bank of the river from the freeway to the sea.
In recognition of the considerable amount of voluntary work the WRA is doing to improve the Werribee River environs, the Club presented John Forrester and Lisa Field with a $1,500 cheque for the WRA.
Congratulations to Kathryn Williams for leading this project.
Jeff Garfield is about to leave us
Next Monday Jeff and Pam are leaving Werribee to live permanently in their new home in Point Lonsdale. They have sold their large house in Werribee and are downsizing to a smaller apartment.
We wish them well in their wonderful new location on the Bellarine. I hope the Club may see a visit from Jeff later in the year.
Best wishes to Colin Muir
Colin returns to Vincent’s Private on Friday for his next operation – which he is hoping may be the last one required.
We extend to Colin all our very best wishes for a successful outcome.
Guests - Jerestine Saher - guest, Imran Kaskem - guest, Lisa Field & John Forrester - Werribee River Association, Liz Ross - extraordinary partner of Peter Ross, and PDG Ian Knight on Zoom.
On Saturday 11th April 2021, Werribee Rotary and Werribee River Association conducted a tree planting on the banks of the Werribee River. The working bee was Werribee Rotary's contribution to the celebration of 100 years of Rotary in Australia.
In recognition of the preparation work done by the Werribee River Association, Werribee Rotary presented the John Forrester & Lisa Field with a cheque for $1,500 towards future projects.
Guest Speaker - Michael Wasley
Tonight's guest speaker was the CEO of Very Special Kids - Michael Wasley. Michael is known to some members of the club, as he has previously spoken in his previous role as CEO of Matchworks. Michael is also Vice-president of Werribee Football Club.
Very Special Kids is a family support charity, operating in the children space. VSK supports families with children who have terminal illnesses. VSK has two areas of operation;
A hostel in Malvern where families can come and stay with their sick children, in the last stage of their life, where they can grieve with trained staff on hand to support them. The hospice also provides temporary respite for children, to give their families a needed break.
VSK has 20 psychologists and 300 volunteers working throughout Victoria, who support dying children who wish to stay in their home, and supporting families who have recently lost children. 15 Wyndham families are currently receiving support from VSK.
The hospice building in Malvern was a government building donated by the Kennett Government, and converted to a hostel. The building is 'past its use-by date' and doesn't meet best practice in supporting families. VSK has obtained federal & state funding, and the hospice will be demolished & rebuilt commencing August 2021. Its operations will temporarily relocate to Monash Health for the 15 months of the rebuilding.
VSK needs $9 million a year to operate, of which the State Government contributes $2 million. The rest comes from philanthropists and fundraising.
President Michael Redding had the pleasure of presenting a cheque for $24,000 to Michael, being the proceeds of the Gold Day on 26.03.2021.
For the first time, and in the year we celebrate our Centenary of service above self in Australia, we are bringing together all five Rotary Districts in Victoria for a unique and inspiring Multi District Conference, Virtual Victoria.
Held over two days, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd May from 11am to 1pm, the conference will be a celebration of Rotary’s achievements over the last 100 years, as well as a forum for new ideas and opportunities that will foster enthusiasm at club level to continue the amazing impact Rotary has within our communities.
I encourage you all to join with your family, friends and community partners to share in this wonderful online event and book via: https://www.rotaryconference.org.au/
We will be involved with the Werribee Mansion Fun Run. The club will receive $75 for each volunteer and the combined funds will go to The Rotary Foundation. Vas will be co-ordinating our involvement. We need 7 volunteers from 7.45 till 11.00am, and it looks like we have enough volunteers.
Guest Speakers
Everyone knows someone with an interesting story to tell. Please pass their details on to Ian Hovey so we can follow them up to speak to us in person or on Zoom at a later date.
Bingo
Last nights bingo saw 99 players and a profit of $1,560.
We expect large numbers next week, as there are two $1,000 jackpots up for grabs.
Roster for bingo (be there by 6.30):
3.5.2021 - Jim Randall & Ross Smith
10.05.2021 - Rob Fava & Peter Ross
17.05.2021 - Tony Todaro & Tom Lentini
24.05.2021 Kim Deneys & Marty Vaina
Speak to any Board Member, if you know any suitable projects that we can distribute Bingo Funds to.
Some Rotary Board members met with three City of Wyndham council officers on Zoom last Monday, to discuss future projects for the Werribee CBD. We will have a guest speaker from the council in a few weeks to present the strategy for the CBD.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club has recommenced.
You are not required at the school until 8.00am, as the gates are not opened for the students until 8.15am.
Tuesday 4/5 - Kathryn Williams & Terry Argent
Wed 5/5 - Norman & Margaret Johnson
Thurs 6/5 - John & Sue Campbell
TIP OF THE WEEK
Cant understand Irish or Scotish people when they talk?
Go into Google - in the search bar type "translate" then the words you want translated, then the language.
Mai is a Regional Microfinance Officer at Good Shepherd Australia.
She is working on providing No Interest Loans (NILs) for individuals and families on low incomes with access to safe, fair and affordable credit.
Loans are available for essential goods and services such as fridges, washing machines, car repairs and medical procedures for up to $1,500. Repayments are set at an affordable amount over 12 to 18 months.
NILs is offered by 170 local community organisations in over 600 locations across Australia.
