Presidential Ponderings...
President Kelly was warmly welcomed and in turn welcomed visiting Rotarian Bill Boekman (Wongan Hills), soon-to-be-member Bassem Hellou and past member Jaclyn Harrington who invited everyone to Levy's first birthday on Sunday 13th 2-4pm at Maylands Water Park! Happy Birthday Levy!
Guest Speaker - Charlene Bishop, CEO Pankind (the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation)
Charlene has a diverse professional background in the commercial and community sectors having held roles in legal education, events management, executive search, community engagement, sales and marketing.
Charlene’s academic background is in International Relations having graduated from Keele University (UK) with a Bachelor of Arts in 2002. In 2004, Charlene graduated from the University of London with a Master of Arts in Understanding & Securing Human Rights.
Charlene has served on the Board of Lionheart Camp for Kids, a WA children’s charity, for 5 years and was appointed Board Chair in May 2024. Having experienced the death of her father from pancreatic cancer when she was 5 years old, Charlene is passionate about making sure all children have access to bereavement education and are supported after the loss of a loved one.
Charlene’s community work also extends to advocating for better outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients having lost both her father and mother to the disease. She has been a volunteer and WA ambassador for PanKind since 2017.
Charlene thanked RCMP for the invitation and wonderful breakfast. She noted never having been to a Rotary Club meeting before, however sees that she is surrounded by a community that has a lot of fun and understands the power of taking action.
As a disease, pancreatic cancer has been too long left behind. However change and progress are happening. A special thank you for the support with the PanKind annual walk and BBQ last year that Ian Kremmer ran. This year Rick Sneeuwjagt is leading the BBQ team. It means a lot to have the support of a local community partner.
She recalls the utter disbelief that this disease could plague their family for a second time. Surely, the prognosis and options could be better than back then? Sadly, it wasn’t. Nothing had changed in 25 years!
The time was spent enjoying that precious last 13 months they got to spend together. In the “scheme” of pancreatic cancer, they were lucky to get that long. They were lucky to also have a community palliative care program that allowed her mother to be granted her wish of dying at home. Now, having two energetic boys, the time has never been more right for her to tackle those poor statistics.
Pancreatic cancer is Australia’s deadliest common cancer and yet, it continues to be overlooked and underfunded. Unlike other cancers, pancreatic cancer often goes undetected until it is too late. Early detection and better treatment are urgently needed, it’s the only way to change those survival rates.
Who is Pankind?
They believe pancreatic cancer should no longer be a death sentence. Research is the absolute key to unlocking better treatments and early detection.
PanKind has invested over $14 million across 66 high-calibre research projects. The Grants program is attracting the best brains in Australia to work on the issue.
Relentless advocacy is also part of how this is done. Ensuring that pancreatic cancer is no longer ignored when decisions are made about cancer research and funding.
PanKind was one of the leading organisations that headed to Canberra five years ago to lobby the Health Minister of the time, to put pancreatic cancer on the agenda for Cancer Australia. They were successful…
Thirdly, and importantly to Charlene, is the compassionate support. Recently they have released an online Patient & Carers Hub and there are resource booklets.
How can you help?
- 4th May walk (happening nationally)
- Donate
- Share the message
Charlene penned this famous proverb on a card to her mother in her final days –
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”
On behalf of Pankind, Charlene invited us to join in taking steps towards a future where pancreatic cancer no longer steals lives too soon. Be part of this movement to drive change. The disease is tough, but together we can be tougher.
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
Michelle L :
- Candidates being sought for National Science Youth Forum (NYSF) and Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN). See events page for details.
Brian J :
- Club Service committee meeting after breakfast.
Rick S: Volunteers needed to
- Help sort the mass of linen we have acquired, please see Rick and
- Annual Pankind Walk BBQ on Sunday 4 May.
Gorby :
- Endeavour Awards at the Pines on 2 June - book now as tickets selling fast,
- Pride of Workmanship nominees wanted - have three with possible fourth
Veronica :
- The "Eye, Eye Sri Lanka" truck decorated for the District Conference raised $300 dollars donated to the Rotary Foundation in the Clubs name.
- John McGrath has resigned due to ill health but would love to keep in touch with members
- Metro District Assembly is on Saturday 5 April - valuable for all new members and those who haven't been to one in a while - lots of information to be had on changes in Rotary. If you can't make the Metro one there are others you may wish to attend. Need to book for catering purposes, so see Events page.
Chance Would Be a Fine(s) Thing...
Wayne the Elder took to the podium and welcomed 'Liberation Day' - and proceeded to 'liberate' EVERYONE of a dollar!
- Everyone who remembered Bob Geldoff and BandAid.
- All those who remembers what 'rain' was.
- Owners of bicycles with a chain guard.
- Eagles supporters - keep cheerful ...one day... but pay up now!
- Everyone who did NOT watch an AFL match last weekend.
- Bill Boekman whose number plate reads "Only a Picnic Away".
- Raelene's new money making tickets.
- Howard for having an alarm to 'alarm' him to set his alarm!
Winner of Heads and Tails
Wayne stayed on as Tosser of the Week and threw 2 Tails, 2 Heads, a Head and a Tail, 2 Heads but then Scotty took out the grog with his tail (end).
Attendance
38 attendees in all, including guest speaker Charlene Bishop, Visiting Rotarian Bill Boekman, Jaclyn Harrington and Bassem Hellou.
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