Dayle began by thanking the Rotary Club of Milton for their donation of $10,000 to support their operational costs in Milton. This is the first time the MCHT has had to rely on donations for the operating costs. They are funded by the SDHB but not enough to cover costs.
Over the past few years there has been an increase in higher social needs within the local community. They often are involved with helping people to help themselves before working with the medical issues. The primary goal of the MCHT is to keep people at home.
The core business of the trust is district nursing, nursing, palliative care. They are also sub-contracted to SPS Physio and to Clutha Health First for an occupational health service. MCHT sub-contract Ashley Grove rest home to provide the meals for the Meals-on-Wheels service and they are audited to meet nutritional requirements. There are approximately 80 volunteer drivers for the MCHT. These drivers deliver meals, take people shopping, take people to medical appointments, etc. They are always looking for more drivers so please contact the MCHT if you can help out. Meals-on Wheels takes approximately 1 hour per month.
Eligibility for home help and hospital care has changed. The SDHB no longer fund 1 hr eg vacuuming to be done. For an elderly person to go into rest-home care they must first undergo a health assessment by Clutha Health First.
Milton Community Health are supportive and forward thinking. There are long-service members on the management board, led by Helen Vollweiler. They support a range of community services eg Advocacy Service, Toko Community Health, Project Bruce have supported a wide range of community services. Nineteen services are provided per month at the Community Hub. Kiwi Harvest provide a great range of groceries with a free food market and children’s clothing is also regularly donated.
Project Bruce is now an independent entity. They have organized the ‘Feed our Kids’ project which provides lunches for young people in need in our local schools. These lunches are made at the prison kitchen and are providing an opportunity for inmates to build their self-esteem. 60 school lunches are delivered each day – ore volunteer drivers also needed for this programme.
Last year Dayle attended the Aspiring Leadership Forum as a volunteer presenter. The forum is for 18 – 26 year-olds and the Clutha District Council provides 2 places each year. Dayle reported that it was the best, hardest, busiest, most confronting forum she had ever attended. She recommended that we support application for the forum and try to find young people in our community to attend this year’s forum.
Dayle is also a member of the Bruce Community Facilities Trust who are fundraising for the new swimming pool, library, service centre complex. This group has been charged with raising $2.5million towards this project. $40k has just been granted from a community grant for a feasibility study.
Incoming president Stephen Woodhead, thanked Dayle for coming along to speak to the club and thanked her for the amazing work she does in our community and to pass on our thanks to the members of the team.
