Chair PP Marie-louise Lees welcomed guests: Marj Ahrens (guest of Bob), Grace Barilla (Steve), Karen Redman (Honorary member and guest speaker). PP Patsy was welcomed back.
PP Barry Stewart reported the purchase of a Donut making machine. Not all parts are available yet but its on the way.
PP Colin Bazeley advised members of the help needed on Friday 1st November to load equipment for the Village Fair on Saturday. All hands needed for the set up and clean up on Saturday.
PP Lance Hatcher advised members that Steve McLachlan from the RC Gawler Light was losing his beard on Tuesday 22nd to raise money for the Leukaemia foundation.
Guest Speaker Mayor Karen Redman - Council Boundary Reform
Karen addressed the members on the current thinking of the Gawler Council with regard to boundary reform in the local district. The council have been working on a report to investigate the need and practicalities of boundary reform as a first step in putting an application before the authorities.
The intention of the changes is to consolidate the community currently served by the local council to eliminate the pockets of population now part of adjoining councils who see themselves as Gawler locals.
A map of current and proposed boundaries was presented as well as copies of the current report from the council team.
This report is available for further scrutiny for anyone wishing to investigate further. The mayor and her council are very enthusiastic to see changes but realise it will be a slow process and the topic of intense discussion from all sectors of the community. This is a controversial proposal which will make for much discussion over the coming months and years.
Thanks to Karen for her talk. A donation to End Polio will be made in recognition of her contribution to the meeting.
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SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR HEALTH IN THE FUTURE - Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
Have you ever considered a world where a simple scratch could lead to death? The rise of antimicrobial resistance means this is a very real possibility in the future.
The Rotary Club of Mandurah District, WA in partnership with AMR Aware Inc. recently held a Super bug Seminar aimed at addressing the growing health concern of drug-resistant infections. Many of the 100 delegates in attendance were surprised to learn about antimicrobial resistance (AMI) and how it already affects community health all over the world. It occurs when micro-organisms in our system evolve to become resistant to antibiotics.
Most of the antibiotics we have in our systems come from food we eat. However, the increase of people taking antibiotics for the wrong reasons, primarily for viral infections, is an increasing cause for concern. Australia is the 11th highest user of antibiotics in OECD countries.
Dr. Mark Schipp, Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer and member of the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise ACT, presented an alarming insight into the potential challenges facing Australia through imported food, as well as the importance of maintaining strict surveillance on our own food production.
By 2050 10 million people a year will die from infections that cannot be cured by antibiotics. This will be a huge cost to the world economy.
Antibiotics have only been with us since the 1940s, but since that time millions of humans and animal lives have been saved through their use.
They have also enabled huge advances to be made in medicine including complicated surgeries and treatments, and have contributed to livestock, food and agricultural production.
Within 2 years of penicillin being produced the first reports of bacterial resistance to drugs began to occur. This pattern continued as each new antibiotic was put on the market. Today we see bacteria produce multiple resistants to almost all antibiotics. It is now one of the most important global threats to human and animal health. There is an urgent need to increase public awareness about this threat and ways to control this resistance in the community.
The Rotary Club of Mandurah has commenced a WASH YOUR HANDS project, placing signs in public areas and schools. By reducing infection, we can reduce the need for antibiotics.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a widely accepted label for an ever expanding global health problem. A more relatable term is drug resistant infection, otherwise known as “super bugs”. It means that certain microbes develop protection from chemical agents, such as antibiotics. This allows infection in humans and animals to establish and flourish.
We are well into a disturbing era where antibiotics are losing their effectiveness because of rapid super bug microbial resistance.
Australian Rotary Health (ARH), the Rotary Club of Applecross, WA and other Rotary Clubs recently awarded a PhD Scholarship to Aaron Alejandro at Murdoch University through ARH funding program, to continue research in this area. Aaron is available to speak at Rotary Clubs
WHAT WE CAN DO –
Wash hands regularly.
Keep up with vaccinations.
Prevent food-borne infections by washing food properly and cooking food properly.
Antibiotics only work against bacteria – not colds, flu and virus.
Seek other remedies to relieve symptoms rather than antibiotics.
Only take antibiotics when prescribed and don’t share with others.
Follow your health professional’s instructions when you are prescribed antibiotics.
