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BULLETIN 2 June 2019 
ROTARY CLUB OF GAWLER WEEKLY BULLETIN
 
Monday 3rd June 2019 – Meeting 2997  
Guest Speaker
Robin Stecker and Karen McColl
Subject
Suicide Prevention
Chairman
Stan Roulston
Toast
Geoff Benier
Fellowship
Angela Moore
Plaques
Brenton Hill
Induction
Anniversaries
5th / 89 Mark Forgie
Birthdays
8th Mary Hill
10TH JUNE NO MEETING - QUEENS BIRTHDAY
Monday 17th June 2019 – Meeting 2998
Guest Speaker
Mark Smeaton
Subject
Recreational Fellowship in Rotary / Farewell to Ava
Chairman
TBA
Toast
Kathy Heinrich
Fellowship
Trish Williams
Plaques
PP Alan Harris
Monday 24th June 2019 – Meeting 2999
Guest Speaker
VP Steve Barilla
Subject
President Elect Discussion – please no guests
Chairman
PP Lance Hatcher
Toast
PP Patsy Johnson
Fellowship
PP Dave Griffiths
Plaques
Mark Smeaton
 
 
 
Meetings, unless otherwise noted are 6 for 6:30pm at Gawler Sport and Recreation Centre,
Nixon Terrace Gawler.
RSVP by 10am Monday morning by SMS only to 0437 759 256
 
 
FORTHCOMING SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS
 
5 June, 26 June, 3 July, 13 July  Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club Gate
26 June Seven Women Film Evening
1 July President’s Changeover Dinner and 3000th Meeting – Nixon’s Function Centre
 
 
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Guest Speaker – Abby Buckely, Operation Flinders
Ava introduced Abby to the members as tonight’s Guest Speaker.
 
Abby used overheads and short videos to provide members with her involvement with Operation Flinders. She has led 10 groups on the walk in the Flinders Ranges. The following statement was displayed.
“Every young person deserves the opportunity to be the best they can possibly be.”
Tonight, I am here to explore with you how Gawler Rotary can support Operation Flinders to help our local young people get the opportunity to be the best they can possible be.
 
WHO HAS HEARD OF OPERATION FLINDERS?
Operation Flinders Foundation has been around for 28 years. It’s a SA charitable organisation that runs a world leading, evidenced-based, wilderness adventure program for young people at risk. The program takes participants between the age of 14 and 18 on an 8-day adventure in the outback Flinders Ranges, providing an opportunity for participants to break away from their past and grow as valued members of the community.
 
Let’s have a look at a 2-minute video that captures the essence of what Operation Flinders does. March last year, it was a scene like this photo where in the remote Flinders outback I hear an excited, “Hello Abby” I look up to see it’s Colin who I worked with years ago. It was a shock to us both being in new roles.  Each exercise we have a group of about 15 visitors who are either port sponsors or long-term sponsors who we want to thank. The group has an intense life-changing weekend meeting teams in the field and experiencing different activities like abseiling and cultural which is what is happening in the photo. I am sure Colin has shared his experience with you all. It was very kind of him to invite me to speak about being a Team Leader and the effects I have seen the program has on the young people.  In the photo we have Noel, an Elder who shared his Dreamtime stories and songs with the kids and cooks up kangaroo stew and damper hot cakes for them. The kids and adults love this and we learn so much.
 
SLIDE 4
Team of kids are ready to walk. Tonight, I share photos with you from my 1000 km journey. I have completed 10 walks since 2009. Imagine you are one of these young people. You get up early to be on the school bus that leaves at 6am. You drive 700 seemingly endless kms north, changing from city to the Flinders Ranges.  You’re dropped off on the side of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. And it’s so quiet. No people. No cars. No Buildings. Where are we? You have no idea what is about to happen next. We pack our pack, our bus drives away and over the next 8 days we walk, and walk, and walk, about 100 kms.
 
SO WHO AREA THESE YOUNG PEOPLE?
These are kids who have been identified as being at risk – physically/verbally /sexually abused, disengaged from school, getting in trouble with the police, bullied, financially disadvantaged, refugees, self-harming, suicidal ideation, low-esteem.
 
They arrive disconnected from, and have low respect, for themselves, others, nature. Right now they are feeling very vulnerable.
  • Risks, - challenges Physical, mental, emotional and social.
  • Uncertainty.
  • Emotionally exposed – no where to hide.
This is Bush Adventure Therapy at work – taking small groups out in nature to be challenged.  And we walk and walk. But there is so much more than just the walk. As people’s comfort zones are reached we get emotional outbursts and sometimes sitters and runners. But there is nowhere to go and they eventually come back and off we go again.
Feet become an issue – here are my boots after a few exercises where the sole is starting to come away – so I duct taped it together. It’s tough country out there.
 
SLIDE 10 BLISTER CARE OF FEET
Caring for kid’s feet provides the opportunity for so many wonderful moments of connection – physical, mental, emotional, social. Many people find this a yucky job to do but I love it for the many opportunities for connection it provides early in the walk. Often within the first hour when the hotspots start to appear. They have to ask for help, Touch, Serve, Alleviate pain, Care, Chat, ask questions, laugh.
 
TAPED FEET
Badge of honour for home. Start to care for others and for team members. There is a mascot with a name.
 
SLIDE 13 MY FIRST WALK
Caring for other team members and leaders – we are all struggling and vulnerable out there.
Then followed some 15 slides of scenery, team photos, abseiling, birdlife and one of a birthday cake celebration for a lad who had never had one in his life. Many questions followed. It was a very fluent and well-presented address on a program was which started here in Gawler by a High School teacher named Pam Murray-White. It was further revealed that several District Rotary Groups along with the SA Government and a variety of funds provided funding of $3300 per team.
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ROTARY’S VISION
 
“Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in our lives.”

Weekly EMAIL DIGEST

From other clubs
 
 
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“A shoplifter seems to think the best things in life are free.”
 
“Experience is a matter of knowing how much is too much.”
 
“Public opinion is what people think other people think>”
 
“Never tell your friends anything you don’t want your enemies to know.”
 
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow – it only saps today of its joy.”
 
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2020 District Conference - 3-5 April 2020, Middleback Arts Theatre, Whyalla
 
Earlybird conference registration and accommodation packages now available - visit the conference website : http://whyalla2020.org.au/
 
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Meeting Report - Monday 27th May 2019 – Meeting 2996

 
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER – A STUDENT EXCHANGE STUDENT WAS THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE NIGHT. Welcome Ava and well done.
 
Ava introduced Guest Speaker Operations Flinders Leader Abby Buckley and her husband, also a Flinders Leader. She welcomed Honorary Member John Ward, Marg Ahrens and Harrison.
 
The volunteer hours to date was indicated on the screen as 4153 hours.
 
Almoner PP Mike Williams announced Judy Clinch has had her second knee operation and is about to return home.  Also PP Ron Sanders returned home but is now back in hospital (Calvary) with a specialist to undertake further tests.
 
Kathy Heinrich reported that Ava’s farewell will be on 17th June and she requires a special Dress Hanger for the evening. She will be collecting payments for the Changeover Dinner after the meeting.
 
PP Patsy requested used stamps as often as possible.
 
Sergeant-at-Arms P Barry Stewart had been busy cutting out photographs of members appearing in the Bunyip and using them for opening fines, followed up by other allegations, then sought assistance from members.
 
President Jacqui, with the aid of overheads, acquainted members with details of the Birthing Kit evening held last Wednesday. 40 community volunteers attended to produce 400 kits. Jacqui thanked members for the provision of supper for the event.  The volunteer hours schedule was circulated for members to update.
 
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THE RSB GUIDE DOG PROGRAM
The program was started in 2008.  The breeding program currently includes 9 females and 32 males. We partner with other Guide and Assistance Dog agencies throughout Australia and internationally. We use Labradors and Golden Retrievers or a mix of both as these breeds have a proven track record as Guide and Assistance Dogs. We currently produce up to 6 litters in a year resulting in approximately 42 pups. Currently 35 pups (8weeks – 14 months) are in Puppy Education. And 10 RSB Guide Dogs are in formal training. RSB provides over 80% of Guide Dogs in SA. 71 Clients have an RSB Guide Dog. There are 389 Volunteer Puppy Raisers.
 
 
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