Many Members whilst not having RAWCS projects are active "locally"
Look at some of these activities.
Bobby Redman I have volunteered with various organisations since childhood. This year was a special year for me
when I reached the NSW Finals for the Senior Australian of the Year Awards, in recognition of my
work in Dementia Advocacy. This work has been a part of my life for the past 4 years, and consumes
a lot of my time, as I work to increase community awareness and offer support to those with the
diagnosis, alongside organisations such as Dementia Australia, Dementia Alliance International, the
Central Coast Dementia Alliance and Rotary.
My other passion is Red Cross, with whom I have volunteered for close to 60 years. As an Emergency
Service volunteer with the Organisation, one of my most recent tasks has been to provide contact
and support, with a daily phone call, for travellers quarantined in hotel rooms because of COVID-19.
when I reached the NSW Finals for the Senior Australian of the Year Awards, in recognition of my
work in Dementia Advocacy. This work has been a part of my life for the past 4 years, and consumes
a lot of my time, as I work to increase community awareness and offer support to those with the
diagnosis, alongside organisations such as Dementia Australia, Dementia Alliance International, the
Central Coast Dementia Alliance and Rotary.
My other passion is Red Cross, with whom I have volunteered for close to 60 years. As an Emergency
Service volunteer with the Organisation, one of my most recent tasks has been to provide contact
and support, with a daily phone call, for travellers quarantined in hotel rooms because of COVID-19.
David DeanI like to help fellow members of our club and district with their own projects by providing financial support and advice on how to use the Rotary Foundation "to do good in the world." This year, I have helped with projects in India, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, Congo, Kenya, Fiji, and here in Australia. As District Rotary Foundation Grants Chair, I help clubs secure district grants, and provide support for Global Grant applications. I also enjoy the "back office" role as club secretary in support of our club presidents.
Outside of Rotary, I provide scholarship funds to two colleges in the USA for undergraduate and graduate students to pursue international studies, particularly involving the Australasian region and international healthcare system comparisons.
Kian Safaei on average does about 15-20 hours of volunteer work per week divided between multiple organisations.She says:-
My major volunteer work is through Coast shelter, which is the premier organisation on the Central Coast dealing with homelessness, domestic violence and at risk youth. I am a board director of the organisation and also volunteer in the kitchen to cook for the homeless. A job I thoroughly enjoy.
Through my collaboration with Terrigal High School and its P&C about 7 years ago we set up a social justice program for the school, I have been the coordinator of this program since its inception.
The program involves students from both SRC as well as a group of selected students and teachers attending on a monthly roster at the kitchen to prepare and serve food to the homeless.
My role apart from coordinating and liaising the attendance is also to source and cook the food to be served. The sessions are also used to teach the students and even sometimes the teachers about nutrition and food preparation at low costs.
I have managed to fine tune the menus to where it costs less than $2 to feed our clients with a wholesome 2 course meal.
I also keep the menu varied and try to cook meals from around the world to improve not only their diet but expand their palate.
The sessions are used to educate the students on the plight of homeless, discuss all aspect of domestic violence and mental health issues. The discussions are normally directed in a neutral fashion but I am aware from previous discussions with the school that some of the students attending are also at risk.This allows them to gather the information they need and have a safe method of reaching out where they normally would not without feeling singled out or ashamed.
Vincent and I also have always had an open door for at risk youth and tried to help where ever possible. Anything from giving them information required to seek help to housing them.
Marilyn MercerMarilyn is the Rotary Australia representative on the Board of The Science Experience The Science Experience is a fun 3 or 4 days of science activities for Year 9 and 10 students in 2020 program year. a program designed to provide students who have an interest in science with an opportunity to engage in a wide range of fascinating science activities in over thirty-five Australian universities and tertiary institutions.
She also attends the Tea Gardens school as a reading listener/assistant
and has been a judge of the Rotary N.S.W. Police Officer of the Year for 11 years unfortunately postponed by Covid 19
She has just completed writing a section of the book “The Centenary of Rotary in Australia”
Geoff Appleton, one of our more recent members has worked to raise funds for Triple Care Farm, a highly successful program that allows young people to rebuild their lives after drug rehabilitation. TCF is located in the Southern Highlands and is owned by Mission Australia with finance provided by the Sir David Martin Foundation.
Kim Mannion is a "Rosies" team leader.Rosies is a not for profit, non-denominational charity Rosies Video which provides outreach services throughout QLD including a branch at Beenleigh. The Rosies volunteers do a variety of work including outreach support to the homeless, support students attending schoolies to be safe and provide social support at the juvenile courts for young offenders.
My involvement with Rosies has been as Team Leader of the Beenleigh Outreach which operates through a van which we park at Beenleigh railway station every Wednesday and Saturday night and on average provide food and social interaction to 30 to 50 people nightly. These people are of all ages including babies and small children. Some are homeless and others very socially isolated. They readily await the van’s arrival at 7pm and there is always a line-up for food. Some haven’t eaten for 2 days when and some are without shoes or any shelter. We serve hot food we make ourselves, bread donated from a local bakery and hot drinks, soup and spend time talking and listening to them. We sit and play a board game on the footpath with the kids and try to provide an open and enjoyable evening at each Outreach. It is hard to believe that this situation happens to so many people so close to where we live and work. We are fortunate not to be in this situation. Rosies also gives out hygiene items, food, sleeping bags and blankets.
The Logan Rotary club assisted Rosies volunteers to host a wonderful xmas party. Every patron, young and old received a Xmas present from Rotary and brought the food and drinks along to provide an amazing BBQ dinner.
I have also involved the Company I work for, Reward Hospitality, and our employees who have adopted Rosies as our charity. The Company provides items that Rosies need to operate to serve food and drinks to the homeless ie. cups, plastic cutlery, plates, napkins, wipes, garbage bags etc. Better pricing helps the donations Rosies receives stretch further for which they are very appreciative and our employees donate food and hygiene items.
What another remarkable and spectacular year that I have enjoyed as a Rotarian and taking part in activities that improves the quality of life in my community and communities round the world. I am glad that I have in many ways this year through Rotary and through my personal activities shown that Rotary connects the world.
It was good to see that our global grant project in Nigeria was concluded and commissioned to help boost the personal hygiene of school pupils in developing countries. Joining Lucian for our monthly barbecues was also another way that I served this year and raising funds which were used to sponsor projects. Working on the disaster grant project also gave me the opportunity to evaluate my community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.