GUEST SPEAKER - GRAEME BEDFORD

The Chair, Ian Cairns introduced guest speaker Graeme Bedford from Brophy Family and Youth Services. Graham was born in Greensborough, attended Watsonia Tech. and started working life as a cabinet maker. He then moved into management roles before moving to Horsham in 1986. Around 1995 Graham started working with young people and as a result, returned to University to acquire Social Welfare qualifications. His next move was to Nirranda in 2005 with his wife Georgie who originally came from that area. Graham worked in Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation before coming to Brophy in 2008. Five years ago Graham was the instigator of Father of the Year. He said he felt it needed a service club and was pleased to find that one of his fellow workers, Ian Cairns, was a Rotarian. Our club has been involved ever since. Graham is coordinator of the Mens and Family Relationships Program and Co-facilitator of the Men's Behaviour Change Program at Brophy. His powerpoint presentation highlighted the following areas.

Child Abuse: Childhood trauma, abuse and neglect is one of the most significant factors impacting on child health, wellbeing and development. Abuse in childhood can result in a wide range of long and short term consequences. In addition to physical harm, abused children can develop ongoing mental health and behavioural issues. The rate of child abuse for Warrnambool  in young children aged 0-8 years is nearly double the state average.

Family Violence: During 2011-2012 there were 12.2 incidents of family violence per 1000 people in Warrnambool compared with the state average of 9.1 per 1000. 35,720 family violence incidents were recorded in Victoria during 2009-2010. In 40% of cases children under 16 witnessed the violence. 64,000 children accompanied a parent or guardian to a SAAP agency in 2006-2007. These children were either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Family violence has a traumatic affect on the developing child. Children exposed to neglectful, chaotic and terrorizing environments have an increased risk of disadvantage in regard to capabilities for health, happiness, productivity and creativity.

What's most important about having an active father in the picture? Infants who have time alone with their father show richer social and exploratory behaviour than children not exposed to such experiences. One of the mot critical roles that a father plays in the life of his child is during the toddler years age 1½ - 3½ helping the child safely and securely separate from the intense maternal dependency of infancy. Children with involved, responsible fathers tend to have fewer behavioural problems and are much more successful academically and have a higher likelihood of going to university.

Father figure: "A man to whom a person looks up to and whom he treats like a father". He is usually an older man with power and authority. He may be an uncle, grandfather, elder brother or family friend.

President John Hunt thanked Graham for his interesting speech and presented him with a certificate for a mosquito net to be presented to a needy family in Papua New Guinea.