Julie provided a powerpoint presentation on the history of the Umoja Orphanage in Kenya which is a RAWC project. Julie first went as a volunteer in 2015 with Kate Hodge. Cathy Booth was holidaying in Kenya when she developed the idea of building an orphanage. Julie attended again in 2017 with Steve Mills & Kate Mills to do various jobs including erecting 15 acres of barbed wire around the boundary. It is Cathy’s intention that the project will eventually be self sufficient. They assisted with running a health clinic & assisting at a feeding station which is run by a Hindu family which feeds up to 5000 children weekly. These children often walk up to 15-20km to get the food, when they attended there was only enough food for 4000. Each child received a hot meal & received a bag to take home which contained a bottle of soft drink, banana, big bun & some maise flour & some lollies for the week. Corruption was ripe in Kenya, it is not easy doing business & the Government wants a cut out of all aid work that comes into Kenya. Another tour with volunteers is going over this September. The second house is nearly finished with 12 children currently in the first house. Cathy’s biggest vision is that it is a children’s home until they can go back to their own families if possible, or learn skills rather than being an orphanage. The Government Children’s Department determine which children are placed at the home. An Australian mining company is mining titanium near by & they have made the furniture for the home & have helped with the permaculture courses. The Manager, Patrick, was previously a safari driver & in safari season they hire out their trucks etc for $100 to raise additional funds. All the children are sponsored, cost is $100/month $1200/year.

Another container is nearly ready to be shipped over which is hopefully expected to leave in mid August which holds numerous goods including a tractor, clothing etc.

President Stephen presented Julia Arho a Certificate of Appreciation to the Bendigo Bank for their support in renovating the Community Kiosk.

1 in 2 Australians struggle with mental health, yet half to not seek help.

80% loneliness is increasing, 2/3 felt lonely, 1/2 did not feel need seek help.

Every day 6 suicides plus 30 attempts at suicide.

"Grow" established in 1957 as "Recovery" is a caring abd supportive, community based organisation which has developed a unique program for improving and maintaining mental wellbeing.

Value of peer support to reduce social isolation. Offers hope, collective wisdom, leadership development, affordable and accessible.

4 essential features: 1. 12 step program, 2. Group Method, 3. Caring and sharing community, 4. Organisational structure.

No cost, anonymous with a two hour weekly meeting with 3-15 members per group.

Linda spoke on her experience. Several breakdowns, but proud to have got through it, difficult life but found people understanding and caring in "Grow".

Angel Flight is a charity which coordinates non-emergency flights to assist country people to access specialist medical treatment that would otherwise be unavailable to them because of vast distance and high travel costs. All flights are free and may involve travel to medical facilities anywhere in Australia.

Angel Flight, launched as an Australian charity in April 2003, is the initiative of Bill Bristow AM a successful businessman, experienced pilot and very proud winner of the Australian of the Year Award – Queensland 2005.

A third of population live in rural areas where distance and cost of medical treatment is stressful.

46,000 missions in a year with a staff of 3,000 volunteer pilots and 4,000 volunteer Earth Angels.

85% of funding goes to service with no Government funding, service relies on charitable donations.

Patients are referred by doctors or nurses. Assumed patients come from the "back of Bourke" but service available free of charge to anyone outside of capital cities. 

Grant has been a volunteer pilot with Angel Flights for six years.

Brian from the Rotary Club of Albury West spoke on Rotary Foundation.

The Rotary Foundation transforms gifts into projects that change loves both close to home and around the world.

Donations are invested for three years and the income earned pays for the Foundation's operating and administrative expenses. At the end of three years 100% of every dollar is available for Foundation programs.

$50 - 60,000 available for District Grants.

Examples include Cervical Cancer Vaccination in PNG where 28,000 girls aged 9-13 were vaccinated.

Polio Plus: Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two polio endemic countries - mainly due to tribal customs.

Rosemary Freeman District representative on Australia Rotary Health was guest speaker. 

Australian Rotary Health is governed by a Board of Directors from every District, administered from Paramatta HQ by volunteers.

Aim is to support healthier minds, bodies and communities through research, awareness and education.

Research projects include SIDS, Mental Health, Bowl Cancer, Ross River Fever.

In 1985 $45M granted to research and education programs unique to Australia. 

Major program "Lift the Lid" with 1 in 5 Australians suffer a mental illness every year. $1.7M spent on Mental Health Research.

Small and large grants given to research projects, Mental Health of Young Australians, PTSD PhD Scholarship, Rural Medical Scholarships, Rural and Indigenous Nursing Scholarships, Indigenous Health Scholarships with $2.6M ranted in 2018.

Rosemary spoke at a special meting with The Ride to Conference riders ans support.

Liam grew up at Pakenham on a hobby farm, developing interest in animals. As a child watched nature documentaries on television.

Graduated with a science degree in animal science and became a part time zoo keeper at Gumbuya zoo and park. Experienced raising baby animals. After renovations at Gumbuya World became full time zoo keeper specialising in training, display and programs for school children.

Now working with Government department in Agricultural Science with focus on sheep and cattle.

Liam illustrated his enthusiastic and passionate presentation with a power point display.

Maryanne Black Rural Financial Counsellor spoke on the plight of farmers in the district.

Very dry Autumn resulted in farmers having to purchase hay, followed by a dry Spring putting pressure on water market.

With increase in hay, water and grain prices farmers culled milking cows to reduce herd numbers.

Farmers have access to Household Allowance and increase their borrowings.

Milk production decreased by 23%

Future strategy: further culling and cut feeding to milking herd.

Now focussed on Autumn break, a week by week scenario. Lots of exits with 3,000 stock sold in one week, with farms selling at reduced price.

Support available is Household Allowance, Regional Investment Loans, and some lump-sum payments from charities.

Bridgette and Bronte students from St Mary of the Angels participated in the Sandhurst Diocese Alternate Schoolies Trip, a once in a lifetime experience.

Arrived in Cebu in the Philippines and met by University of San Carlos students who acted as guides.

First day were tourists as they toured and shown the sights.

The following day community work began with a visit to a dump site, where locals scavenged through waste for a living.

Next day visited a housing community where up to 400 families housed in a small one room houses for shelter. Families engaged in crafts.

This was followed by a visit to a cemetery where families lived seeking shelter among the tombstones.

Another day was spent visiting sick orphans.

Also accompanied Brother Paul who at night visits the street workers providing food, medicine and counselling.

During the trip the students were encouraged to see the beauty as well as the poverty.

The $14,000 raised by the students, which included a donation from the Rotary Club of Numurkah, was divided between communities visited.

Both Bridgette and Bronte said they will never forget this lifechanging experience.

Carl Walters from CMA was guest speaker and tour guide at a walk through Kinnaird Wetland.

Kinnairds Wetland is part of a larger natural wetland covering an area of nearly 100 hectares of natural and constructed wetland designed to provide major regional benefits for land in the Muckatah Surface Water Management Scheme beginning in Yarrawonga.

In 1992 GMW proposal had 187 objections, consultation with community resulted in change to the design to improve water quality and flows, and included replacement of 10 weirs on the Broken Creek. Approval was gained and project has won environmental awards.

The natural and constructed areas of the wetland act as  a retarding basin which aids in filtering sediment and minimises the rate of flows entering the Broken Creek which eventually flows into the Murray River at Barmah.

The diverse area provide habitat for a variety of wildlife including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

Jade Connolly currently studying for a degree in Veterinary Science attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a 7 day experienced based conference for young adults aged 18-30 to further develop character and leadership skills, empowering young people to lead.

RYLA aims to:

·         Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth;

·         Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders;

·         Encourage leadership of youth by youth;

·         Recognise publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities.

Every RYLA program covers the following core topics:^[1]

·         Fundamentals of leadership

·         Ethics of positive leadership

·         Importance of communication skills in effective leadership

·         Problem-solving and conflict management

·         Rotary's purpose and service to the community

·         Building self-confidence and self-esteem

·         Elements of community and global citizenship

Leaders are persons who guides or directs not dictates. Learnt to be part of the solution not part of the problem in teamwork.

Discovered self by portraying positive emotions,. Must believe in yourself.

Jade concluded by screening a short video of the conference.