ARH was founded by Ian Scott, from the Rotary Club of Mornington, Victoria. Scott was so moved  by the impact of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) on families that he resolved to set up a fund to support research on this and other family health problems. It made its first grants in 1985. This included a project which showed that the prone sleeping position of the infant was a major risk factor. An information campaign following this research led to a rapid fall in the deaths from SIDS in Australia.

The Fund later supported research, into environmental health problems of the aged, adolescent health and family health and from 2000, it began to specialise in support for mental illness research in recognition of the adverse effects that mental illness had on the health and wellbeing of children, youth and adults in Australia.

ARH is currently the largest non-government funder of research in this area in Australia. There are currently active:

  • Thirty two (32) Mental Health research grants 
  • Nine (9) Ian Scott Scholarships 
  • Eight (8) Phd Doctorates 
  • Four (4) Post Doctorate Fellowships 
  • Thirty eight (38) General Health Scholarships 

Covering such things as: Substance Abuse-Risks and Health Factors; Perinatal PTSD in Refugee women; Behavioural Issues in Children of ADF Personnel with PTSD;   Alcohol Drugs and Anxiety; Bowel Cancer; Prostate Cancer and Diabetes

In addition, ARH supports research into a wide range of other health problems with Funding Partner Grants, which involve Rotary Clubs raising money for a specific project with matched support from ARH; plus also for students training as health professionals with Indigenous Health Scholarships, Rural Medical Scholarships and Rural Nursing Scholarships.

ARH also supports community awareness activities and education campaigns on mental health including Community Mental Health Forums, Mental Health First Aid Workshops and training of young researchers to better communicate with the public. 

Since inception of the $50,000,000 funds raised by ARH, Rotary Clubs have contributed $42,000.000 of which D9465 has contributed $1,574,000 Of thatour Club has donated $58,586 plus $5,000 for the education of two indigenous scholars for which we recently received a letter of thanks from Western Regional Director PDG Jerry Pilcher (RC Of Scarborough) and D9465 Representative PP John Dodman (RC Of Como)

PRESIDENT STEVE"S REPORT TO THE AGM

To this point, the Rotary Year has been interesting, challenging and gratifying. Interesting because of the changes to programming we have introduced; challenging because for want of a major source of income, we have committed to establishing the Willetton Rotary Artisan Market (for which I especially thank Ian Ross and his team) to replace what we've lost, but also to refresh and re-energise and head in a different less labour intensive direction than was the case with the Willetton Rotary Community Fair; challenging also to obtain and retain new members and gratifying we have made headway; gratifying that we have been able to retain and build upon our strong relationship with WSHS Interact Club and more broadly with WSHS to source and sponsor candidates for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA); the Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment (RYPEN): the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF); the Santos Science Experience ; Camp Inspiration for the disabled; and  Rotary WA Driver Education (RWADE); and also gratifying that we've been active in Community Service with the Buddy Bench project, Willetton Community Garden, Castlereagh School and Australian Rotary Health. I thank everyone for their support and the part they have played and am looking forward to all we can achieve in the second half of the Rotary Year.   

SIMON CUBITT TOAST THE ROTARY CLUB OF FAIRBAULT GREENLAND

Given the recent hot weather, Simon thought it would be good to toast a Club from colder climes. Enter the Rotary Club of Fairbault, Greenland. which was chartered  on 1 May 1920 as Rotary's 596th club, and on 1 May 2020 celebrated its 100th birthday. Under inaugural President Frank W. McKellip there were twenty one (21) other members. This increased to thirty five (35) by years end and a further twenty-one (21) in 1921. The current President, Brenda DeMars, is the 101st. The Club supports a local program called STRIVE for high school students who find themselves at a crossroad in their lives, trying to complete the day to day requirements of a student while also deciding what career or education path they will take after graduation. STRIVE, which is now in it's twenty third year (23rd) year, covers topics such as managing stress, personal finance, and the role that civics plays in communities as well as providing scholarships valued in 2020 at USD16,000.