Presidential Ponderings
Co-President David Rowell, AKA P2 and/or Mr February - just many of his alias' - was given a rousing welcome!
Did you know that on this day in...
- 1940 - Waitangi Day in New Zealand - it’s the 185th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
- 1952 - Queen Elizabeth II was crowned (or was that coronated David?)
- 1958 - The Munich air disaster, British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off at Munich-Riem Airport in Munich, West Germany. The aircraft was carrying the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the "Busby Babes", along with supporters and journalists.
- It's Global Compliment Day! So make sure you pay a compliment to everyone you meet today.
David presented Jonas Edner, President of Dalkeith RC with a 'new-look' memento of his visit to our Club.
Guest Speaker : Diane Wilcox - The Magic Coat Foundation
Diane (Di) Wilcox is a highly regarded educator, children and teens coach, key note speaker, women’s mentor and program facilitator with a wealth of experience working with young people and their families to have good mental health.
In 2020, Di won the United Nations WA Human Rights award for the work she is doing for children and families. She has received Momentum’s Most Inspirational Woman of the Year for 2013 and was WA finalist for the 2012 and 2014 Pride of Australia Medal in the Inspiration category.
Di has written a number of books including her latest release, " Parenting Through The Primary Years" as well as "The Magic Coat " series and "Beneath You're Beautiful" which has been successfully released in Australia.
As a dedicated mother to two daughters, Diane is passionate about her mission of empowering young people with the self-confidence and skills they need to reach their fullest potential and to provide parents and those working with children the skill set to successfully raise children.
Di is founder of The Magic Coat Foundation, a program that simplifies cognitive behaviour therapy into an
Each character represents a strategy to manage problems and feelings. Typical characters are Tate the Turtle (courage), Oobi the Octopus (emotional literacy), Bess & the Beluga Whale (disabilities), Sebastian the Sea Detective (thoughts are not facts) and others.
Assisted by her partner Jonas Edner (President Dalkeith Rotary Club), Di showed a pillow case, from the children’s pack, depicting the characters.
The program initially started in Dianne’s classroom and expanded to other schools.
With sponsorship from Justin Langer’s “Make a Difference Foundation,” it was adapted for women’s refuges. It was then introduced into women’s prisons (Bandyup and Boronia), helping inmates learn strategies for themselves and to connect with their children.
A hospital research project was funded created an App with eight videos to prepare children for their hospital journey. The project was highly impactful, reducing anxiety in children and, unexpectedly, in their parents as well. The App, now called “Magic Coat Adventures,” has been enhanced with animated characters and is available for free, thanks to funding from Telethon.
To embed the strategies, the foundation created “hospital packs” containing a tote bag, a book, a special pillowcase with the characters, and a sticker chart. The program is also being extended into Normandy, France and the Ukraine.
Jonas, Di’s partner, initiated a project for Rotary clubs to get involved. Rotary Del Pico (Dalkeith) and its charitable trust have funded 1,250 hospital packs so far. The foundation handles all administration, ensuring donated funds are not used for overheads.
Rotary members can volunteer to pack the bags, helping with member engagement.
A flyer is included in each pack giving parents the opportunity to “Pay It Forward” by purchasing a pack for the next child. This has been successful. The flyer includes a QR code for membership opportunities, connecting interested individuals with a local Rotary club. The model is scalable and can be adopted by any Rotary Club globally.
In Q&A it suggested providing the Magic Coat toddler books to the play area at the Children’s Hospital for parents of very young children (e.g., two-year-olds). Dianne agreed to consider this.
Jenny McLean offered the skills of The Sewing Sisters for projects like making items for the packs. Dianne agreed to think about how they could collaborate.
It was asked about the cost for an outsider to purchase a bag, which was stated to be $40. Host Tricia then encouraged the audience to consider donating.
A PDF version of Di’s presentation can be viewed at:
millpointrotaryclub.org.au>members only (password)> this link>Guest Speaker Presentations>WILCOX Diane – The Magic Coat Foundation.
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
- Joy B: Hyde Park Festival 1 & 2 March - a great opportunity for Mill Point to replicate our success at the Angelo St Markets last May. If you can volunteer a couple of hours please contact Joy.
- Brian J: Club Service Meeting after breakfast.
- Kelly G: REMINDER District Conference 13-15 March, don't miss out, a great line-up of Speakers and our Club is leading the way. Scroll down to Events page to book.
- Jenny McL: The Sewing Sisters are looking for new projects so contact Jenny if you know of any.
- Wayne M: Last week's sundowner at the Reg Willis bench on the foreshore was well attended.
- Angus F: Australia Day parking went well and advertised the Coffee morning on 15 Feb at the John McGrath centre 10am - 12noon. Angus is looking for a coffee machine to borrow for the day.
A Fine(s) start to the day...
In keeping with the 4 Way Test "Is it the Truth?" the lovely Joy turned her wrath to all things sport!
- Tennis Tragics in particular Geoff Longshaw who traveled over East to watch in person.
- Cricket Compulsives - especially Lyn Metcalf who attended the final.
- Croquet Conquerors - pay up Wayne Muller you know what for!
- Gregarious Golfers for telling tales bigger than fishermen and Warren McCamey for considering a sex change because women are closer to the T.
- Gerry McGann posturing as Astrid Mitchell.
- Kelly Gillen returning from being MIA for the last couple of weeks
Winner of Heads and Tails :
Tosser of the week David Tyler made one lucky lady very happy as Tricia Smith grabbed the grog beating Kelly Gillan by a tail!
Attendance : 45 attendees in all, including guest speaker Diane Wilcox, visiting Rotarian Jonas Edner (President Dalkeith RC), Ben Yew (RC of Bunbury) and visitors Katrina Duke, Rhonda Kremmer, Christine Pittman, Rowena Smith and Mandy Sneeuwjagt.
