An application for membership in the Rotary Club of Warrnambool has been received from Stephen Giddens with the proposed classification of Fire Services - Operational. Stephen Giddens is an operations officer with the Country Fire Authority. Stephen is a former Vice-president at the Narre Wren Lawn Bowls Club. He has also been Master of Ceremonies for the District Youth Committee. If no objections are received within seven days the induction of Stephen Giddens will proceed at a time convenient to all concerned. Anne Adams, Secretary 03/12/2013
President John Hunt welcomed everyone to the meeting, and especially guest Speaker Toni Jenkins from South West Local Learning and Employment Network (SWLLEN) and visiting Rotarian Ray Henry from Rotary Club of Darwin.
President John was delighted to reveal two anniversaries, a 30 year one dealing with his vocation and a 20 year one marking open heart surgery. He has just successfully completed the first long distance swim of the season.
Donations Received and Promised
The Club’s Camp Quality cabin replacement project has attracted a donation of $1,000 from the Cali Hotel Social Club and a promise of a substantial donation from the RSL.
Members are reminded to be mindful of the Club's process of recording apologies and/or bringing guests which has been slippling lately, with numbers varying significantly EVERY week. This reflects poorly on the Club and members are reminded to contact
David Brown by phone or text on 0438647536 or Email: David@swcredit.com.au no later than 2pm on Monday.
Would non-eaters please re-confirm their status with David, because over time this has changed and could be one of the reasons for the variances.
The Rotary Peace Concert is on again in 2014 at The Lighthouse on Thursday 6 March. If you would like to be part of the Rotary Choir again, please let PP Judy Ross know.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
Applications are invited from employer sponsored young adults to attend this program, and close mid December.
The winning Swindle ticket was claimed by two Rotarians, and President John politely conceded to Rotarian Bunny who picked up a tidy $8. A number of people are “assisting with enquiries” as to how two identical tickets could come from the one raffle book!
Chairman Rotarian Doug MacLean introduced guest speaker Toni Jenkins to inform the membership about South West Local Learning and Employment Network (SWLLEN).
What are Local Learning and Employment Networks?
"Connecting local groups to improve education, training and employment options for 10-19’s. Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) were established in 2001 by the Bracks Government in response to the Ministerial Review of Post Compulsory Education and Training Pathways in Victoria, (also known as the Kirby Report) conducted by the late Peter Kirby. LLENs work particularly to assist young people at risk of making poor transitions from compulsory schooling to the next stage of their lives and careers.
Thirty one networks based on local government areas were developed with a focus on community capacity building. Central to the intent of the LLENs is the passion for the wellbeing and advancement of young people and specifically year 12 completion.
South West LLEN aims to bring together schools, education providers, families, businesses and agencies to enhance education and training provision across our four municipalities, Colac Otway, Corangamite, Moyne and Warrnambool. LLENS focus on both formal and informal education, school and work-place based. Funding comes from the state Department of Education and Early Childhood Education, and runs to around $370,000 per year.
South West LLEN’s goals include, amongst others,
Improving Koorie engagement with schooling: Increasing the number of indigenous young people completing year 12, by engage the schools in South West LLEN region in the process of developing an ‘in-school’ local Koorie based program/curriculum.
Retaining young people who are at risk of disengaging from education/training by working with education and training providers and DEECD to support the broadening of provision and careers transition and pathways in the region.
Re-engaging young people who are disconnected from education, training, meaningful employment and/or the community, by working with education and training providers and DEECD by brokering the development of flexible learning options and solutions that respond to the region-wide needs to re-engage young people not in education, training or employment.
Developing Industry and Education links to improve pathways to further education, training and meaningful employment outcomes.
These goals arise from a recognition that people in the south-west face higher rates of poverty and disadvantage than their city cousins. That is, people in country areas are missing out on adequate health care, education and employment opportunities. People with low levels of education are likely to have less capacity to escape from poverty.
Secondary school completion has become more and more influential in the distribution of the good things in life. How we educate and support our most disadvantaged will shape what kind of society we will have in the near future.
Economic change from manufacturing to service industries, and globalisation further adds to demand to improve our school retention record. Even modest occupations now demand a Year 12 entry level. Our Year 12 or equivalent completion rates are much lower than the state average: that is, young people in rural and remote areas are less likely to complete secondary schooling and less likely to commence higher education. Lower levels of commencement at university in part reflect the additional costs involved in shifting to Melbourne. Many defer studies, hoping to qualify for Youth Allowance or to work and save money for further education. The estimated cost for a young person to live away from home and study at university is $22,000 a year, in addition to fees, books and other charges. For the 2012 year 12 classes, more than half the schools in our region had higher numbers of students defer tertiary studies compared to 2011. Many who defer do not ultimately return to study. There is also a higher drop-out rate amongst rural learners who do begin at university. The development of rural universities has reduced but not eliminated these problems. This is not new, it’s not changing and it’s not getting any cheaper.
Although the numbers of young people leaving school early to go into jobs looks good at first glance it is also a worrying trend.
Ms Jenkins said that said many of those who went into employment without training would lose their job once they go on to more expensive adult wages.
To change these trends we need to raise aspirations, support disadvantaged groups and invent new ways to keep young people engaged. To achieve this, SW LLEN leads 24 projects, and participates in another 19, with about 430 people involved in their work.
A spirited discussion and question time followed Toni’s address.
Chairman Doug thanked Toni for an excellent presentation on a most challenging and worthwhile topic.
President John seconded his remarks and brought the meeting to a close.
A certain well-known Exchange Student has been seen in between two very large crayfish. He recently mistakenly described himself as “the hot brother” rather than the host brother, in a mini-drama at Swan Hill but has 14 girls going on the mini-safari with him who agree that hot is the correct word! Ian Sadler was caught out pretending to be a 17 year old school leaver when questioning the guest speaker. Rotarian John Nisbet got a bit lost in his reminiscing during the trial interviews at Brauer, and time slipped by, while another interviewer forgot to turn up. President John, 20 years a survivor from open heart surgery, battled the surf in the Hopkins River for 1600 metres. No sharks seen but the odd whale made a splash. Ray Henry is dodging Darwin’s silly season til Feb or March.
Hello, I’m Fabio and for the second time I’ll talk about my life in Australia.
I already have been here for 4 months and the time is just going too fast!
For me looks like I’m still in my first month.
I’m living with the Keoghs until Christmas and I really enjoy it.
The best thing in my exchange life is that I’m learning something new every day. I’m always making new friends and I’ve never felt homesick.
Australia is a beautiful country but I’m looking for the summer weather to get better.
I’ve been in Swan Hill two weeks ago which I met the others exchange students and it was so funny. Probably everybody heard about the “hot brother”.
I’ve been fishing crayfish but just when the weather helps and certainly the best part is to eat them.
I have just one more week at school which is good but I’ll miss some friends during the holidays.
My holidays should be awesome! In January the exchange students of our district and the district 9800 are going to do a Mini Safari. I’m looking for it especially because I’ll meet new friends from district 9800 which 14 are girls. (sorry Terry, I’m just kidding).
I’m very happy here.
Thank you all Rotarians and also my friends for everything!
And sorry for any English mistake.
“Exchange is not a year in your life it is a life in a year”
The Rotary International 2014 Convention is being held in Sydney from 1st to 4th June 2014 and the venue for this event is the Sydney Olympic Centre (the convention centre is being demolished).
Early bird registrations close on 15th December 2013, after this date, registration fees increase the closer to the event.
This is a great opportunity to witness the true internationality of Rotary and to see what Rotary is doing all over the world.
The last time the Convention was in Australia, it was held in Melbourne back in the 1990’s and 15,000 people attended from all over the world, it was held at Rod Laver Area and PP Eric Williams was able to secure for us, accommodation in Swanston Street, within walking distance of the venue.
Sydney is a city known all over the world and is expected to draw as many as the Melbourne held convention. Registrations are beginning to flood in and the demand for accommodation is increasing.
For those who haven’t been to a Rotary International Convention before, it offers an insight into the real world of Rotary and its work all over the world. It will provide the opportunity to meet and mix with people from all over the world as well as key people within the Rotary circles, including RI Directors, past RI Presidents, the General Secretary and Trustees of The Rotary Foundation.
Could I recommend this convention to those who have not attended a convention before, it is a way of learning about the international organisation to which you belong, its work and its many many humanitarian and educational programs as well as enjoying the friendship of Rotarians and spouses of the world?
It is in Sydney and it is on our back door step. You may never have a better opportunity to attend a convention without the expense and trauma of overseas travel.
For those who would like some help with registering, see me at Rotary or call me and I will assist you where I can.
You may never have a better opportunity to attend a truly international event like this again so register early and see Rotary at work.
Shortly after a British Airways flight had reached its cruising altitude, the captain announced: "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain. Welcome to Flight 293, non-stop from London Heathrow to New York . The weather ahead is good, so we should have a smooth uneventful flight. So, sit back, relax, and.........OH... MY GOD!"
Silence followed.
Some moments later, the captain came back on the intercom. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Im sorry if I scared you. While I was talking to you, a flight attendant accidentally spilled coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!"
From the back of the plane, an Irish passenger yelled....... "For the luvva Jaysus......you should see the back of mine!"
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My mom is very possessive. She calls me up and says things like, 'You weren't home last night. Is something gong on?' I say, 'Yeah Mom, I'm cheating on you with another mother'.
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"I love to shop after a bad relationship. I don't know. I buy a new outfit and it makes me feel better. It just does. Sometimes if see a really great outfit, I'll break up with someone on purpose."
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I love to read those advice columns in the newspaper. I read one this morning. It said, "What's the worst thing a wife can get on her twenty fifth wedding anniversary?"
