Club members visited the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in Morphett Street in the City, in place of attending our normal Club meeting.
Around twelve members attended and were given a presentation and a walk-through of the facilities by two volunteers from Guide Dogs. We were shown a few video clips of the dogs in action and were given a very interesting history of the organisation and the range of services they offer.
The dogs are, in many instances, bred by the organisation and taken as puppies for the first stage of their training. During this time, the public sees them out and about wearing their yellow vests, indicating that they are on a training run. They are trained to recognize all of the daily hazards and situations that an unsighted person needs to handle. They are also trained to only react to their handler and not to take food or interact with other members of the public when working.
Not all dogs eventually graduate to being a guide dog, as differences in temperament and ability sometimes result in their not being suitable for the task. Some of these dogs are then trained to become companions for autistic children. In those instances, the child is tethered to the dog, and the dog is managed (handled) on a lead by the parent or carer. In instances where the dog is alone with the child, it is trained to drop to the floor if the child suddenly decides to run out into the road.
Most dogs stay on with their ‘families’ when they retire, and for those that are not able to for any reason, some are placed at retirement villages to become companions for the residents in general.
We were shown through the training area, which has mock-ups of street crossings, displays of braille signs, and had an explanation of a number of items taken for granted by sighted people. One example was the ‘bubble’ strip at road crossings or on railway stations, which are there for the unsighted to ‘feel’ with their white canes to warn them that they are at the edge. Another interesting item was the big buttons at the lights at road crossings. Most people would be aware that they make a load noise when it is okay to walk. This is so that unsighted people are made aware that it is safe to walk. However, most of us did not know that if you kept your fingers just touching the button, it vibrates when it is okay to walk. This is so that people who are unsighted and unable to hear sounds, can still cross safely.
All in all, a very interesting and humbling experience when you realize the challenges that some people face each day in their lives.
Many thanks John Wotherspoon for organising the tour.
President’s thought for the week: “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” Scott Hamilton
Broadcast on 1197AM 5RPH Adelaide each Tuesday 7.30-8.00 pm. From each Wednesday the broadcast program can be heard on-line at www.rphadelaide.org.au/Webcast.html
27/9/16 - PP Graham Fussen, Rotary E-Club of Greater South Oz
"Introducing Rotary E-Clubs and the new VoR Website"
2. Training News
(check District website for details)
Want to revitalise your Club; learn about Poll Everywhere and how to use it; engage all of your Club members in a membership drive; or encourage someone in your Club. Come to the next RLI Course on October 22nd & 23rd
3. Service Club Week
(9th - 15th October 2016)
The Association of Community Service Organisations Inc. invites all South Australian Service Clubs to:-
Nominate Projects for the 2016 Premier's Service Club Awards.
Nominate an Outstanding Individual for the Heide Taylor Community Service Medal.
Nominate an Outstanding Young Person for the Allan Sloan Young Citizen Community Service Prize.
Nominate and Participate in the Schools Community Service Award.
Attend the Premier's Awards Presentation Luncheon, to be held on Sunday 9th October from noon at the Glenelg Golf Club. Display your Club Banners and Community Service Projects.
Celebrate Service Club Week by holding a Club Event.
Celebrate in the Mall in that week, more details to follow.
Substantial prize money is made available by a grant from the Premier’s Community Service Awards 2016.
4. Group 5 Movie Night
Sunday 16 October - 6pm
For information and tickets for ‘Inferno’ - buy tickets from the any Group 5 President. Alternatively, Adelaide
Innova has set up an online booking system here is the link:
https://www.trybooking.com/220638
5. World Record Attempt
Jarod Cresp of the Port Adelaide Recreation Centre (Basketball SA) and NWBL referee wrote "I just thought I would send some information concerning the Guinness World Record attempt. On October 22 & 23 our wheelchair basketball players will be trying to break the record for the longest continuous wheelchair basketball game. They will be aiming to play for 32 hours. This will occur at the Titanium Sports Arena, 44a Crittendon Road, Findon. from Saturday 9am until Sunday 5pm.
The purpose of the event is to raise much needed funds and awareness for wheelchair basketball in SA, so it would be great to see as many people there as possible.
Greg Love
Director ShelterBox Australia & Chair SBA d9500/9520 Committee
Member Rotary E-Club of Greater South Oz
National (Aus) Wheelchair basketball Leagues Referees Commissioner
For the benefit of members, we will aim to give the Duty Roster a few weeks ahead - see below.
Responsibility
22 September 2016
29 September 2016
6 October 2016
Chairperson
Carolyn Wigg
David Riggall
Graham Smith
Attendance
Miriam Silva
John Campbell
Deborah Wotherspoon
Attendance
Richard Jarrett
John Wotherspoon
Angus Tuck
Hosting
John Karan
Julie Campbell
Phil Harding
Furniture
Andrew Black
Miriam Silva
John Campbell
Furniture
Angus Tuck
Yvette Reade
Terry Rodoni
Invocation
David Riggall
Graham Smith
David Rowe
Bottles/cans
Rob McLennan
Andrew Black
Dean Sullivan
Rotaract roster
Not required
Not required
10/10 Andrew Black
Bread roster
25/9 David Riggall/
Carolyn Wigg
2/10 David Riggall/
Terry Rodoni
9/10 Richard Jarrett/
Graham Smith
Member's Corner
Chairman: Meet/greet speaker for the meeting; introduce and thank speaker. Preparation:- find details about the speaker prior to the meeting. Attendance: Set up reception table (attendance sheet; members list – re -payments; guest welcome sheet; money; wine raffle sheet); register member payments/ apologies/ guests. Hosting: Set up name badges display; welcome all at the door; ensure speaker and guests are introduced to appropriatepersons. Furniture: Flags; banner display; raffle balls; collection boxes; Rotary theme banner; gong and hammer; lectern position before and returned after the meeting. Computerset up – Connect to projector. Switch on. Hold function key & press F5 twice. Invocation: Recite Rotary or other invocation relating to Rotary and fellowship. Bottles/cans: Collect bags of bottles/cans at meeting and take to recycle centre for refund, pass refund and empty bags to David Rowe at next meeting. Members’ Corner: write for the Newsletter on a topic of your choice, particularly during the 3 weeks you appear here on the roster, but also anytime you have something to say. Rotaract, Church, Bread roster: Roster is for the Sunday/Monday after the meeting date. Rotaract: Meets alternate Mondays at 6pm (for a 630pm start) at the General HavelockHotel in Hutt Street. Church: Sundays, 5.30pm at Pilgrim Uniting Church, 12 Flinders St (Park via boom gate in Flinders St. from 5pm). Bread: Sundays, meet outside Romeo's, North Adelaide at 4:45pm
Members rostered for Thursday morning duty are asked to be in attendance by 6.45am
For good food, for good fellowship and the opportunity to serve through Rotary, we give thanks
Rotary Club of Adelaide Light Mission Statement
To be recognised as the Service Club of Choice in the Eastern Precinct of Adelaide because we are a Friendly Breakfast Club that appeals to a broad range of busy people who want to make a difference to local and international communities.
As I stepped out of the shower, I heard someone in my kitchen downstairs. Knowing that my wife was out, I grabbed my 1903 heirloom rifle—which no longer works—and crept downstairs, forgetting the fact that I was in my birthday suit.
I came around the corner with the gun raised, only to find my wife loading the dishwasher.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I thought I heard an intruder. I came down to scare him.”
Scanning the contours of my doughy, naked body, she mumbled, “You didn’t need the gun.”
