A great weekend was had in halls gap with Mary, Askews, Ludermans, Davies’, O’Neills, Jellies, Goodalls, Senior and co all gathering around a fire in what can be described fairly rough weather A visit to the zoo Sunday morning was a highlight. The only reason we were able to get Bruce out of there was that they didn’t have a cage strong enough to keep him in. Mary loved the walk to the pinnacle as the photos will show. See you all Wednesday
Cheers
Tim Goodall
Update on Mary.
Mary had a little deer,
His face was innocent and sweet,
And everything that Mary wore,
The damned thing tried to eat.
He followed her around the zoo one day,
Was it a blessing or a curse?
The one thing we can say for sure,
Is that the dingo’s bite was worse.
Minutes.
30 members plus our Swiss inbound exchange student Mary enjoyed a chicken curry with rice and roast vegetables. Very tasty. Seemed more than 31 in attendance? Maybe Nooka and our trusty waitress Chris both failed maths in year four? Anyway, Taylor and the establishment were both content with the figure, so let’s move on.
Bulletin editor Tony Davies advised that Brendan O’Neill will be helping him with the bulletin, so please help them by continuing to submit items for publication to bulletin.warrnamboolcentral@gmail.com.au
UPCOMING EVENTS are listed each week in the Borden, so please keep yourselves up to date, but be sure to remember the film night James Mepham has organised for 13 November in lieu of our meeting that Wednesday. This would be a great opportunity to bring a friend who may see something of the worth of Rotary.
SWISS FAST FACT...
By the time you are reading this report, Mary’s home town of BASEL will have hosted the final of the Swiss Indoor Tennis Championships between Roger Federer and Alex deMinaur.
Rob Coffey and Shane Keogh were our “guest speakers“ addressing the club as members of the Board of WRAD. Our club has committed $5000 to the building of the residential facility proposed on the outskirts of Dennington, but the Dennington Association have objected, and at a recent VCAT hearing the tribunal found that the planning conditions were complied with, but that the objectors arguments should be upheld in relation to the requirement to staff the facility at the same level over weekends as during the week. This would effectively add 30% to the wages bill, so as to make the operation unviable. WRAD have appealed The tribunal‘s decision, with the appeal hearing set for 27 February 2020.
Rob & Shane provided a measured and thoughtful explanation of the problem, advising that if the building of the residential facility doesn’t get up on this occasion, then this will be the last attempt by those presently on the Board. The meeting unanimously voted that the club forward a letter of support for the project.
Finally, Mary reported that she continues to have great fun with the Goodall family. She recently caught and ate a shark. Members were able to explain to Mary that it usually works the other way round with sharks.
Robbo
Saturday Night.
Letter to Mayor re Lookout.
Rob Coffey kindly sent us a copy of the letter that has been sent;
23 October 2019
Dear Councillor: The Mayor of the City of Warrnambool, Mr Tony Herbert,
The Rotary Club of Warrnambool Central Inc. has pledged an initial $5,000 to WRAD’s residential rehabilitation appeal. We understand that this therapy sets the gold standard with regards to the most successful treatment of drug and alcohol addiction.
We were very disappointed to learn of Council’s opposition to the proposed location at Atkinson’s Lane, perplexed that a majority of Councillors voted against their own professional Planning Officer’s recommendation. VCAT however, ruled that the planning issues which may have prevented the site being suitable could be resolved via a management plan.
We have learned via two of our members, Past President Robert Coffey who is the Secretary of WRAD’s Committee of Management and Shane Keogh who is also a member of the WRAD Committee of Management, that one of the “planning” conditions imposed by VCAT is totally unacceptable .
The “operational” requirement as we see it, rather than a planning requirement, that Warrnambool’s residential rehabilitation facility at Atkinson’s Lane must have staffing levels which exceed by a minimum of thirty percent, every other State funded residential rehabilitation facility in the State of Victoria, is manifestly unfair to the people of south west Victoria who have need of the services of the proposed facility and the community which supports its establishment – evidenced by the $630,000 donated.
It is our understanding that other Victorian residential rehabilitation facilities which operate under “best practice” staffing levels and have done so for thirty years in the case of Odyssey House management, have encountered no Victorian Police call outs or investigations with regards to theft, violence, illicit drug use or trafficking or threatening behaviour to members of the public or other clients and staff.
The facility will not and cannot operate if staffing costs are thirty percent higher than other similar Victorian facilities. WRAD will abandon its mission to create a facility in the South West if this condition is not removed from the VCAT conditions. It will not seek another site. WRAD has been scheduled a hearing at VCAT in February to appeal the imposition of this condition.
The Rotary Club of Warrnambool Central Inc. politely requests that you support WRAD’s appeal at VCAT when Council considers its position. The same staffing conditions that apply to all other State funded residential rehabilitation centres in Victoria should apply to Warrnambool.
Warrnambool and District needs a residential rehabilitation facility. The site has been approved by VCAT. The only thing preventing it from happening is an unfair staffing imposition.
Yours sincerely,
Tim Goodall ( President)
Signed on behalf of the members of the Rotary Club of Warrnambool Central Inc.
Sunday morning.
Lew and James reports on RSL active.
On Saturday night Diana and I represented Warrnambool Central at a dinner hosted by the current group undertaking the Great South Coast Leadership program. You may recall a presentation to us a few months ago by Adam Kent from RSL Active who proposed a veterans retreat in Warrnambool. Our Club contributed $500 to help meet the cost of events associated with the retreat.
The retreat involved 10 veteran couples and culminated in a dinner on Saturday night with our very own James (Dicky Knee, Radar) in charge of all things technology! The group procured some great speakers including Harry Moffitt ex SAS who told it how is was and how his focus now is on mental health issues being faced by military veterans. A greater focus is also being placed on transition programs before serving members leave the military.
The evening was well attended, well run and our contribution was acknowledged - a very worthwhile investment.
Lew Officer
P Lew and Di Officer (member of Legacy) attended the Leadership Great South Coast Veterans Retreat Dinner on behalf of the club at the Warrnambool RSL on Saturday.
James and friend of club, Adam Kent, were thrilled to have Lew and Di’s support, and the 20 veterans visiting our region on the retreat had a fantastic experience at Tower Hill thanks to the $500 grant given by the club. They reported back that it’s possible the guide could have partaken in some local Tower Hill Happy Weed prior to their guided walk, which was very entertaining indeed!
Adam Kent with the Leadership Great South Coast Team and Harry Moffitt, former SAS commander, Don Spinks Department of Veterans Affairs Repatriation Commissioner, and Maria Augustus-Dunn author of the Married Quarter.
The visiting veterans had a brilliant stay in Warrnambool and James spent the weekend encouraging them to connect to their local Rotary Clubs and find support for other veteran wellness activities in their home towns. Ex-service people have the community mind which fits with Rotary, and amazing training, but the isolation of military service when transitioning back to civilian life can prevent them from reaching out and getting involved.
James
Delightful country cottage on generous block, needs a little freshen up inside.
Mentoring program.
I believe there is a need for a mentoring program aimed at kids at risk not being captured by the Standing Tall program. I approached Francis Broekman with this and he agreed with me.
Brophy Youth Services appears likely to adopt the “L to P” program from the Warrnambool City Council. We see this as an ideal opportunity to meld the mentoring with the driver training.
Brophy will identify suitable clients for the program. They will have their L plates and will have had some driver training so our instructor roles will not involve the initial driver training.
The board has given its support to this concept and it is anticipated we will launch in mid to late January, depending on completion of training of our volunteers. Brophy will conduct the mentoring training and I will coordinate the driving instructor training.
Francis and I see this as being an ongoing project of great importance. It will have small beginnings but we hope to expand it over time. We need volunteers, male and female. A few members put their hands up at our last meeting. We need 10 volunteers to commence. Please ask your partners or if you are aware of someone you believe would be suitable, please put them forward.
I should point out that we are not taking over the “L to P” program. The existing program will continue with the same volunteers. Our program is aimed at Brophy clients identified as in need of mentoring and/or contact with a potential role model.
If you would like to be a part of this program, or have questions, please contact me either directly at Rotary or on 0419 353 025.
Garry Askew
Charter President remembers his first car.
Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.
Hi there
My family is participating in the Walk for Brain Cancer fund raising event which Matt introduced us to last year. If you are interested in joining us you can click below to join Mattyo's Team using the Register option or donate to help find a cure for brain cancer with the donate option.
It only takes a minute and any money you can give (no matter how large or small) will go a long way to helping them reach our target.
Thank you, I really appreciate your support...
Regards
Brendan O'Neill
Central Rotary, Other Halves
Merry Christmas to all. This year we are going to keep in the Charter of Rotary - strive to make the world a better place through practical efforts.
You are Invited to:
My place, 266 Lava St, Warrnambool
On November 26th at 7pm.
Where we will celebrate Christmas and support “Women in Need in Warrnambool”
What we can do to Help? - A special Xmas Gift
You can donate; A new or good quality used large hand bag that we can fill and $20 or more.
From the donated money I will buy the essentials - pads and/or tampons, shampoo and conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste, soap/body wash, roll on deodorant, ext. I will then deliver the filled bags to Emma House.
Emma House is a local not-for-profit organisation that provides critical support services for women and their children who have, or who are experiencing domestic/family violence. Emma House also provides outreach and court support services, accommodation options, assistance into the private rental market, intensive case management, and supportive counselling to women and children who have suffered domestic violence.
The night will be catered for (finger food and Alcohol) as we all will be busy filling our bags, at a cost of $30.
Could you please give your Donation of Money and $30 through your Husband/Partner to Tim or directly to Me, by the 12th of November. If you are unable to attend but would like to donate a bag and money, please do so.
Merry Christmas,
Di Goodall
0408 621 469
Male puts on a display to impress female.
The peacock in this photo also looks nice.
Lew sends a text.
Swiss fast facts.
Following Robbo's cue, we can report that the Swiss master, Roger Federer was too good for Aussie Alex de Minaur in the Swiss championships in Basel.
