Breeze September 04 2024- Advanced Care Planning (Sep 05, 2024)

Advanced Care Planning with Jim Dillon & Ian (Doc) Taylor

Guest Speakers Jim Dillon and Ian Taylor on Advanced Care Planning.

Jim tells us that 12 million Australians have no estate plans.

Less than one in three women have their estate plans in order.

One in two men have estate plans.

Estate planning will save stress and heartache in the future.

Wills ensure assets are distributed according to your wishes.

End of life planning is also about ensuring the medical care that you want.

It is important to know the legal ramifications of a will e.g. marriage invalidates a will while separation or divorce doesn't.

Medical incapacity prevents the alteration of a will. It also stops a will being validated.

Superannuation and/or life assurance is not covered by a will.

It is important to understand the meaning of Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of Attorney.

Likewise Guardianship and Enduring Power of Guardianship.

Intestacy means that you die without a valid will and the law determines who will receive your assets.

Take home message- Make sure you have an up to date will and an alternate executor who is willing and able to act. Make sure your children have wills

Ian (Doc) Taylor presented Advanced Health Care Planning

An Advance Health Directive (PDF 500KB), also known as an AHD, is a legal document used to record your decisions about the future medical treatment you want or do not want to receive if you become very unwell or injured.

An Advance Health Directive is a legal record of your decisions about treatment(s) you do or do not want to receive if you become unwell or injured in future. It can only be made by a person older than 18 years who is able to make and communicate their own decisions. It is only used if you become unable to make or communicate decisions. If this happens, your Advance Health Directive becomes your ‘voice’. It can only be used if the information in it is relevant to the treatment or care you need.

There is no set “age” when you should consider making one of these. Accidents can have devastating consequences, and we can all become unwell at short notice regardless of age.

Forms can be downloaded from the Healthy WA website and detailed instructions with guides and videos are available.

If you are not sure about what treatments you would like to accept or decline in different circumstances, a good start is to talk with your GP. Doctors can also act as an authorized witness so can act as a “one stop shop” to assist in their completion!

The critical thing is that you must have mental capacity to make informed decisions to be able to make a valid AHCD. This does not mean a diagnosis of early dementia precludes you from making one. Your doctor or specialist geriatrician can assist in this assessment.

And remember, discuss your wishes with your family!! Conflicts can occur if your wishes are not clear, and some family members may be happy to “let you go” while others will want the book thrown at you! In that situation, the Guardianship board may have to intervene, and the Board’s decisions may not align with your wishes.

Once done, keep the card on you with the location of ACHD so it can be accessed when needed. It is also a good idea for your GP and local hospital to have a copy on their files.

The order of priority to give consent or act on behalf of a person (over the age of 18) who is unable to decide on treatment or give consent is as follows:

Enduring Guardian (Appointed by individual)
Guardian (Appointed by Authority)
Spouse/partner
Child
Parent
Sibling
Carer (unpaid)

Thank you, Jim and Ian, an excellent presentation appreciated by everyone.

Guest Speaker - Thomas Wellstead --The 4 Way Test Speaking Competion- August 28

Guest Speaker Thomas Wellstead from Nagle Catholic College;

The Importance of Education

Thomas represented his winning speech from the District Heat. He has been selected to contest the Final of the Four Way Speaking Contest in Perth. Rotarian Clark Scarff (Batavia Coast) has been tutoring Thomas in the finer skills of presentation and it showed magnificently.

Education is it a waste of time? Thomas wove the four Rotary Principles - Is it the truth? Is it fair? Will it build goodwill? Is it beneficial to all concerned? - throughout his presentation. He gave an example of each as it applied to his topic – the main thrust of which is that knowledge is power.

Clark Scarff RC of Batavia Coast) offered a critique after describing Thomas as enthusiastic and smart. He has improved immensely on the presentation he made only a few weeks ago. Congratulations Thomas.

Anyone who can attend the final in Perth on September 5^th at Anzac House is welcome to attend.

Don Rolston provided a copy of “Reflections of HMAS Sydney II Memorial” for Thomas.

Grant Woodhams thanked Thomas for his presentation and gave him a Rotary Certificate indicating we had donated 50 shots of vaccine in his name in our ongoing fight against Polio.

Caption: Clark Scarff, Thomas Wellstead, Vanessa Wellstead

The Magic of Rotary - President Hugh

President's Report - Hugh Lavery:

Apologies for not presenting in person. Thanks for getting zoom working to enable the sharing of the incoming World President Stephanie Urchick's address:

It can be found on the internet here: “The Magic of Rotary”

Short version

Long Version and well worth the 15 minutes.

It is also very rewarding to watch Stephanie Urchick's presentation on making a Rotary Club irresistible.

Hugh's message echoes Stephanie's in making our meetings irresistible and engaging. Have conversation, connect, learn and get involved in the Community. It is important that we become a more diverse membership.

Expand our Reach - Rotary International Action Plan

Rotary International has recently developed an Action Plan for the future and it includes the following

EXPAND OUR REACH

As Rotarians, we’re committed to embracing and exemplifying diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in everything we do at Rotary. We have revised our DEI statement, which now reflects our stronger-than-ever commitment to being an organization that values, respects, and welcomes everyone who interacts with us. Now we’re developing a comprehensive plan of action with achievable, measurable, and meaningful DEI outcomes for Rotary. I strongly encourage you to read and follow Rotary’s new DEI Code of Conduct, which points the way to creating more just, open, and welcoming communities for all people.

Outbound Exchange Student Nesaea Foster

Outbound Exchange Student Nesaea Foster presented to the Club in December and departed for Germany in early January.

Nesaea is going to a small town near Munich in Germany called Dillingen. It is on the Danube River.

Official presentation of Nesaea's Rotary blazer by President Geoff Wood.

Link to Nesaea's Powerpoint Presentation on Youtube

HMAS Sydney II Memorial

“OUR GIFT TO THE COMMUNITY”

In 1998 the Rotary Club of Geraldton (now Greater Geraldton) embarked on an ambitious journey to build a memorial on Mt Scott in Geraldton, dedicated to the 645 sailors lost at sea when the HMAS Sydney II was sunk off the Mid-West coast during World War II. The HMAS Sydney II Memorial is by far the largest and proudest project the RCG has undertaken.

Australia’s worst naval disaster occurred on 19 November 1941 when HMAS Sydney II was lost following a battle with the German raider HSK KORMORAN, in the Indian Ocean off the Western Australian coast. Geraldton was the last port visited prior to her demise. The loss of the SYDNEY with its full war complement of 645 sailors remains etched in the nations psyche. The KORMORAN was also sunk, but 317 of its crew of 397 survived. The fate of the Sydney remained one of Australia’s greatest wartime mysteries until the location of the wreck in 2008.
“LEST WE FORGET”