President David opened the meeting with a toast to King Charles and all Aussies.
President David let us know that he off to Hobart to baby sit two toddlers for a couple of days...brave man
- David also announced that we had issued two Noel Barnes scholarships.
- He also said there is a combined Rotary event for MERV at a Bunnings BBQ on March 17. Kooringal have run this event in the past and are looking for a replacement. Is any member willing to put their hand up to run this. more later
- There is a RAWCS event at The Rules Club on 24 March. John Egan has all the details. it will be 6.30 for 7pm. the CEO of RAWCS will be in attendance. This is an opportunity for all members to get a handle on RAWCS.
Guest Speaker
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Doug Sutton introduced Lani Harris and Ty Byrne-McKenZie from Corella Health with an Acknowledgement of Country.
Lani is a proud Aboriginal woman born and raised in South-west Queensland with family ties to Mandindanji and Kamilaroi country through her mother and Noongar and Yamitji through her father.
Lani relocated to Wagga Wagga in 2019 after being a successful candidate for the NSW Health – Aboriginal Cadetship Program and being offered a position in Mental Health at the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. Lani has witnessed and experienced the health inequalities that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience which led to her pursuing a career in Healthcare and Disability Support.
Lani relocated to Wagga Wagga in 2019 after being a successful candidate for the NSW Health – Aboriginal Cadetship Program and being offered a position in Mental Health at the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. Lani has witnessed and experienced the health inequalities that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience which led to her pursuing a career in Healthcare and Disability Support.
Lani singlehandedly started Corella Health to provide Disability and Aged Care Services primarily to indigenous people but also provides for other members of the community.
Corella Health aims to be an industry leader in providing effective and culturally appropriate care services to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the wider community.
Through the provision of respective and inclusive care services, it is our mission to help both elderly people and those with disabilities to remain at home; to prevent premature admission to residential care and to improve the health outcomes for our community.
With a key focus on helping our community maintain their independence, our services are individually tailored which ensures all care requirements are met on a personal basis.
Corella Health aims to be an industry leader in providing effective and culturally appropriate care services to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the wider community.
Through the provision of respective and inclusive care services, it is our mission to help both elderly people and those with disabilities to remain at home; to prevent premature admission to residential care and to improve the health outcomes for our community.
With a key focus on helping our community maintain their independence, our services are individually tailored which ensures all care requirements are met on a personal basis.
Corella's only source of funding is from the work they provide for the NDIS. All the other services are provided free of charge and don't draw funding. They hope to get grants but there is an administrative difficulty. Because they are registered as a for-profit organisation in order to be able to contract for NDIS, they are unable to get grants which are provided for not-for-profits. The consequence is that they have to try and raise funds from the community to meet their programs.
With the assistance of Local Member Dr Joe McGirr, Lani and her team were able to secure the use of the Kooringal Neigbourhood Community Centre in Wilga St. Kooringal. This facility had been vacant for a number of years, despite the great need for support in this socially disadvantaged area of Wagga. Since taking over the Centre in August 2025 Lani has managed to recruit a well qualified staff and has started a number of programs to assist those in need.
These include a Mothers and Babies Program, Food Bank, A.A. and Recovery programs, Yarning Circle, Staff Training, Drop in Centre.
Lani has connected with a number of other organisations anhd assists with Centrelink and Work programs for those who require assistance.
Lani is a registered nurse and received a Rotary health scholarship of $5000 to assist here in her training. Lani explained that the scholarship was critical in allowing her to take time off work to complete her studies.
Corella has a quality Board of three Directors. There are 15 employees with varying skills form social work to health qualifications. At the Centre they provide meals to needy people. Ty is a trainee administrator and is an excellent Chef. Corella has a partnership with APM, an employment provider. Corella also runs a garden on a community assist basis. They provide outreach services to Coolamon, Culcairn and now Brungle. The area also reaches to Ivanhoe where they have eight clients. They are now hoping to get a medical professional working from the Centre in addition to having Allied Health working from the Centre.
Following a number of questions from members, Greg Conkey moved a vote of thanks to both Lani and Ty.
Look up Corella Health at https://corellahealth.com.au/about-corella-health/
Growers Market
John Flynn was in charge of the farmers HUB on Saturday. They managed to sell 16 sausage sandwiches and 24 bacon & egg rolls. Run off their feat for a profit of $191.We were reminded that a few relatives of members are locked down in the middle East. Peter Croziers family are in Dubai as are the family of Ken Cook. All safe at the moment. Pykies nephew works in Abu Dhabi and have the family in a safe room in their home. They are home schooling as all schools are closed.
Curry Night
Neil Pinto has organized a curry night on March 19 at the Indian Tandoori restaurant . Booking sheet will be attached to an emailMeeting closed to a thunderous rendition of the nation Anthem
This one is for risk takers
If your driving the car and there is advice being offered which appears unnecessary, try the following
Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do I