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Posted by Michael Knight
on Sep 09, 2014
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Rachael Linsell was our Guest Speaker. She was introduced by President John, himself a former Principal at Tolland Public School, so John is well suited to comment on Rachael's background and experience. She is an Assistant Principal at Tolland, responsible for Special Education, and she teaches in the unit. Rachael is a local Wagga Wagga girl, educated at Ashmont and then Mt Austin High School, her teaching degree from CSU and then studies for a Masters degree in Sydney. Postings include schools at Bourke, and at Minto. Rachael was the outreach teacher for students with Autism throughout the Riverina.
Tolland Public School has an enrollment of 270 students, and the support unit for intellectually handicapped children caters for 27, in three classes, each with a teacher and an aide.
A few years ago, Tolland school acquired 25 iPads, after Rachael travelled to Melbourne and saw them being used in special education in a specialist School. The value of these devices was quickly recognised, but within a few weeks of purchase by the school, they were stolen from a classroom during cleaning operations. An Insurance Company declined to settle the claim, so Wollundry Rotary stepped up to the plate, and in PP Andrew Irvines Year, $6000 was provided to purchase 16 new iPads, and the school found money to fund the balance of replacement tablets. A station to synchronize and recharge the iPads was also purchased.
The Special Education support unit caters for students with a moderate to severe disability - catering for Autism, Downs Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy, but kids with mild Autism are catered for within mainstream classes. Rachael told us that Autism includes Asbergers Syndrome, people who have special gifts, often in Mathematics or Musical fields, but that they are rare, and being highly publicized, have a higher profile than their small numbers warrant.
The iPads have allowed further development in the style of teaching. The students are Visual Learners, and the screen displays accentuate this, kids are actively engaged in operating the device and they are exposed to cause and effect. Rachael stressed that the mainstream curriculum is taught to her classes, and that is must be adapted for her students, there is no special curriculum "dumbed down" for slow learners. The limited motor skills of the kids makes holding a pencil and writing too difficult, but they can input data and answers on iPads. Students who cannot communicate verbally have access to an app called "Pro logo to go" and they enjoy much success with this method.
A Question Session followed, and we got onto the topic of where after Tolland. Rachael told us that there was a choice to be made in secondary education, with the three State High schools all offering Special education options, and Willans Hill also available. Where parents sought to have their children integrate into mainstream education and mix with the wider range of students, one of the High Schools would be a logical choice, but for more severe handicaps, the sheltered environment of a specialist unit may appeal. Enrollment to any of these schools is not Zoned for disabled kids.
Rachael then moved on to Autism, which is a specialty of her training. She graduated, worked for the Autism Association which is now known as Aspect. Her first job was at a Base School, looking after 75 severe autistic students, but later moved to a satellite class, at Minto School, where she taught 14 students in a school with over 1000 students on one campus. She taught at a school in Bourke, and then back to Wagga Wagga.
Autism is a lifelong Development Disability, and is not easy to diagnose early. There are no obvious tell tale signs at birth, and in fact, many Autistic kids have symmetrical faces and are considered to be good looking children. It is a dysfunction of the brain and the central nervous system, with possible triggers of the condition being genetic factors, birth trauma, metabolic disorders and Viral infections. The jury is still out on reactions to MMR, the Measles, Mumps and Rubella injection, but Rachael felt that this could be caused by the timing - Diagnosis of Autism is often at 2 years age, coinciding with the age of the vaccination.
Another interesting fact that we learned is that boys are more likely to be Autistic, by four to one, and when Identical Autistic twins are diagnosed, they are not identically afflicted.
Rachael spoke of a triad of impairments in the Autism spectrum - Communication problems, Inappropriate actions, and Repetitive activity. The example given started with Thomas the Tank Engine, an interest in Trains, Fixation with models and Wheel configurations, and ultimately trainspotting. Everybody looked towards the head table. Rachael noted that another trait of Autistic students was that they are not inclined to smile, and class photos can be notorious for grotesque and forced grins - it doesn't come naturally.
Neil Pinto moved a vote of thanks for Rachael, and commended her for her passion in helping Autistic kids. A bottle of Olive Oil was provided.
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Posted by Michael Knight
on Sep 09, 2014
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| A momentary microphone malfunction (say that quickly six times) led to a spontaneous presto ma non troppo rendition of the Rotary Grace, and by the end of the music, the PA system was operational. All the customary formalities were processed - Loyal toast, guests welcomed, guest speaker introduced, and talk of inductions promised in the vague future. We used to be able to get through the process in four weeks, but perhaps the rules have changed. |
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| Mike Merrylees had arranged to cater for breakfast at Lake Albert, in association with the Melbourne Cup Trophy when it came to town. President John thanked those who volunteered to help Michael - Wal Paton, John Ireland, Chris Metcalfe and Frank Fuller. All reports indicate that the team produced "champion" egg and bacon rolls. The club's trailer BBQ had another outing. |
John also expressed gratitude to Ken Taylor for hosting us at Silvertone Electronics last meeting. There was no way that we could have appreciated the scope and interest of the job that Ken does without a visit to his workshop, and some of our members would almost pay to play with Ken's toys!!!!. The Legacy badges being sold at that function raised $170, well done fellows.
President John spoke on behalf of the club to express condolences to Rick Priest, as we were told that his brother, Arthur, had died last Friday.
The Beyond Bank community account function was held on Tuesday night, 9th Sept, and John advised that he, along with PP Phil, Secretary Paul and Treasurer Jim would be attending. A margin, over and above the interest paid to depositors, is provided to community organisations associated with the bank, and was originally set up by Glenn Elliott, while he was a member of Wollundry Rotary, and the CEO of the building society. It is customary for the outgoing President to recommend a recipient of the money.
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Posted by Paul Milde
on Sep 09, 2014
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Paul Milde, in his role as Secretary,announced member commitments and Rosters.
Rosters for Meeting 16 Sept:
Fellowship: John Mason
Reception: Peter Mackinnon
Furniture: Col Mercer
Bulletin Editor: Michael Knight.
Sergeant: Michael Georgiou
Guest Speaker: Franzi Treber, Exchange Studentl.
Farmers Markets:13/09/2014. OIC: Wayne Jenkins. Team:Paul Gianniotis, John Gray, Geoff Hamilton, Nick Leywood, Tim Magillycuddy, Phil McIntosh, Col Mercer, Kerry Pascoe, Mark Sayer, Paul Milde.
Sunday Markets: 14/09/2014. OIC: Bob Willis. Team: Michael Georgiou, Gerry Gerlach, Greg O'Hare, Malcolm Robertson, Darren Wallace.
Special Dates: Board Meeting - 11/9/2014. Don't forget to log on www.newchecks.kids.nsw.gov.au and register for Working with Children Check. Sunday Market Summer Times: OIC: 6.30 am, Team: 7.00 am, Finish: 12.00 pm. These times start as at 07 September 2014. Club Subs are now due.
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Posted by Michael Knight
on Sep 09, 2014
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David Benn ran the Sunday market last weekend, and his report reads like evidence to ICAC, along with all the NSW politicians.
* I forgot to pick up the bag after the last meeting.
* I know I had three other opportunities to get the bag.
* When I woke at 5.30am on Sunday, I knew I was OIC, and that I didn't have the bag.
* I phoned President John, and he fixed it up - the bag was at the container at 6.20am
* There were no prohibited donations from developers in the funds collected.
* The money was banked into the correct account, and wasn't channeled through Party headquarters accounts in Canberra.
The team on hand to help David out were: Bruce Spinks, Laurie Blowes, Tim Barter, Doug Conkey and Alan Eldridge.
The financial results fell short of the previous week by $477.85, but David insisted that all the superlatives applied by Neil Pinto were
just as valid for his crew - "Great Team, Great Weather, No Problems"
For the record:
Gate $524.00
Stalls $166.00
Advance $104.00
Trestles $ 14.00
Power $ 10.00
Insurance $ 90.00
Total $908.00
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Posted by Michael Knight
on Sep 09, 2014
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Ken and Cheryl Roberts provided Franzi with a one sided introduction to Australian Football.
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Franzi reported on her activities during the last week, and she packed plenty into the weekend. Ken and Cheryl Roberts took Franzi to Sydney, and after the five hour drive, they headed to Bondi Beach, up to South Head, and then as the rain started, they checked out Luna Park, The Bridge and the Opera House. Dinner followed, and next day it was out to the Olympic Stadium for the Swans - Freemantle game, and the return trip to Wagga Wagga. In a packed weekend, there was also a visit to a farm, rounding up lambs for their big ride in a truck, and meeting the horses on the farm. An eight month old colt was chosen as a favorite, and it will be 18 months old when Franzi has to say Goodbye.
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Posted by Michael Knight
on Sep 10, 2014
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 Laurie got creative with the fines this week - helped by being on the Sunday Market team with David Benn. David's lapses are deal't with in the Market report, but the sergeant was onto the case of Alan Eldridge - half an hour late to set up the market, in Father's Day mode most of the morning, and then he left early - no explanations. Laurie reverted to type at this stage, and launched "media watch", with Andy Irvine photographed enjoying cultural pursuits, Phil Macintosh and Tim Barter in Lycra, Rick Priest in the hearing awareness spotlight, Kerry Pascoe found some trinkets in his office - he should clean up more often, and Mike Merrylees was practising for the Northcott Society's Walk With Me on Baylis Street this Friday.
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Posted by Michael Knight
on Sep 09, 2014
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John Gray presented the Rotary Information segment, and immediately announced that he had both the imprimatur and "Nihil Obstat" of Peter Crozier for the information that he was providing.
He gave us an update on the Polioplus program, and the current catch cry - "we are this close", with two fingers held just millimetres apart. In the last few years, there has been endemic polio in just three countries - all in war or civil unrest zones. John told us that Pakistan had made inroads in Taliban controlled areas of that country, and that 350 000 children have had a first dose of the vaccine, in areas that would not have been acc
essible a few years ago. The Taliban had spread misinformation, alleging that the vaccine was "poison to kill their children" .
There are still occasional cases related to travel outside of these three countries, but the real risk of polio gaining another foothold lies in the war torn areas of the middle east, and northern Africa. There are 200 carriers of the virus for each person who is crippled by the disease.
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Posted by Michael Knight
on Sep 09, 2014
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Attendance
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Visiting Rotarians
None
Visitors
Rob Nicholson.
Greg Goldspink.
Guests
Rachael Linsell, guest Speaker
Franzie Treber Exchange Student
Makeups
Neil Pinto, Sunday Markets 31 Aug 14
Neil Pinto, e club. 9th Sept
Wal Paton. Melb Cup Project. 6th Sept.
Apologies
Tim Barter, Richaed Braid, Craig Bromley, Doug Conkey, Greg Conkey, Ken Cook, Peter Crozier, David Foster, Wayne Jenkins, Nick Leywood, Steven McCoy, Chris Metcalfe, Kevin Moffat, David Pyke, Jeremy Reithmuller, Mark Sayer, Doug Sutton.
Attendance
Eating 34, Bun only 4 N/A, Non Eaters 12, Total 55 members + 2 Guests
Absent without apology – total 6 - Same as last week - Keep working at it.
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