COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT 2015-2016

Committee:
Deputy Chair – PP Harald Bartelt; PP Bill O’Halloran, PP Ron Jenkins, Rona McLaughlan, Peter Little, Merle Maunder, PP Ian Richards, PP Chris Hopkins, PP Ron Turner.

Australian Rotary Health,

Chairman PDG Terry Grant attended the Rotary Hat Day on 8th October 2014. The night was a great success with 75 attending including support from Greensborough and Greensborough Central Clubs and a cheque for ~$750.00 was presented to PDG Terry Grant on behalf of Australian Rotary Health.

Project outcomes:

Alice House ($3,500):
We established a new connection with Alice House, “launched” on 17th October 2014 and the club was represented by four members. A West Heidelberg Community Project – sub projects supported were: a garden project, provision of office supplies and kitchen appliances. These are all proving to be very useful. We support a BBQ at Masters Hardware and will continue to provide a training and confidence building Programme. Money raised will build into an annual donation for Alice House.

Young and Well Co Operative Research Centre ($1,000):
A donation made following an address by Emma Birrell who appeared as a guest speaker at the club.

Books for Babies ($900):
130 children’s picture story books provided for new mums and babies at the Mercy Hospital to celebrate Literacy Month in March.

Open House – Macleod ($1,000):
Following guest speakers Ross Oldmeadow and Glenn Farrington the club provided a donation to buy / build wooden garden boxes for a community vegetable garden. One Working Bee has been held so far and 4 members helped paint the boxes. More work will be planned in 2015 -2016.

The Club donated the BBQ and volunteers to staff it at the special Sunday held at The Greenery in Heidelberg. There was also an Australian Animal Show as well as face painting and icecream. Both children and parents had a delightful visit and in doing so helped The Greenery raise money for Beyond Blue.

Work still in progress:
We are still arranging to take part in the “Community Police Officer of The Year” for 2015-16. A request was made late in the year for further support for Riding for the Disabled.” This has yet to be investigated.

It has been a very busy and rewarding year and thanks is given to all Committee members for their support.

YEVONNE POLLOCK, Chairperson

COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT 2014-2015

Several of these directly related to supporting the disadvantaged in Banyule through Banyule Council programs:

• Supporting Holiday Camps such as “Cottage By The Sea” for disadvantaged children $1,500;
• Supporting “Toys for Tots,” a Christmas appeal with vouchers for older children in need $500;
• Supporting a family program for mothers & children referred to as “in need” to provide support in a communal atmosphere $1,500. The Banyule Staff Officer, Sherryn Prinzi, came to speak to the club about Banyule and Disadvantage.
• A donation was made to the Banyule Housing Support Group to purchase Emergency Kitchen Packs to help those families set up kitchens after moving into new housing. $500.
• A staff member from the Special Olympic Games to be held in Melbourne in October spoke to the club. Her organization will need volunteer helpers. Shelley Calopa, State Fund Raising Manager and a possible competitor will speak to the club on July 15th. (This project will continue into the next Rotary Year.)
• “Books for Babies” last held two years ago was to provide books for newborn babies at the Mercy Hospital during Literacy Week in August. Eight hundred dollars had been allocated for this. Unfortunately the District did not endorse the project for 2013_14. (This project will be considered for the next Rotary year.)
• The decision was made to redirect this money to support Brother Harry’s “Exodus” project in West Heidelberg. A meeting with Brother Harry will identify how we can help – possibly with the Community House.) (This project will continue into the 2014 /2015 Rotary Year.)
• As a Christmas project for the New Year we plan to set up Christmas Hampers / Toys for the Exodus project. (This project will continue into the next Rotary Year.)
• Police Uniforms – This was a joint community project supporting the Rotary Club of Bundoora. Old uniforms were collected following changes to police uniforms. Badges were removed prior to them being donated to several African countries. We collected many boxes of shirts from the R.C, of Bundoora and many members worked diligently on them. In total we completed over 600 shirts – well done!
• Mental Health Day in October was chosen for our “Hat Day” which was celebrated by a hat competition, dinner, and the Wandering Melody Entertainers. A cheque for $1,500 was presented to P.D.G. Alan Anderson for Rotary Mental Health. (This project will continue into the next Rotary Year.)
• A visit is planned to “The Open House” in Watsonia to see how we can help.
• Successful trips were made to: a) the Milk Bank at the Mercy Hospital where we presented our donation of $1,000.00 and saw the extent of this wonderful project; b) Riding For The Disabled in Viewbank to see the mounting ramp donated by the club and to arrange for repairs to a protective awning.

In all it has been a very busy year.

YEVONNE POLLOCK, Chairperson