Bulletin #35, 21 March 2025

 Presidential Ponderings

Today is harmony day - the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

It’s also World Poetry Day so go home and sing  a sonnet to your loved one.

For tree lovers,  we celebrate International Forrest Day too! Did you know that more than five billion people around the world use forest and non-timber forest products for food, medicine and livelihoods, with over 2 billion people still relying on wood and other traditional fuels for cooking.

And of course the 21 March is the equinox where the sun shines directly on the equator and consequently day and night have an approximate length all over the Earth. 

Guest Speaker - Jill Hannah, Chair of Rotary Youth Exchange

Jill Hanna has been a member of the Rotary Club of Matilda Bay for nearly 14 years and has been on the Rotary Youth Exchange Committee for over 10 years, the last 2.5 years as Chair of the RYE Committee. Jill is passionate about the program and has seen first-hand the impact it has on students, host families and many others.

On a personal level Jill is retired management professional with the last 20 years of her career spent as a senior executive in Aged Care and consulting in that industry, primarily in strategic property matters. She is a Board member of a retirement and aged care organisation.

Jill explained “What is Rotary Youth Exchange?”

• It is a program for 15-18 year olds to “live like a local” in another country for a year and attend secondary school (compulsory)
• RYE started in 1927 in Denmark and 1958 in Australia
• Each student has a Sponsor Club in their home District and a Host Club in their exchange country
• The WA program is organised by the District RYE Committee (most have kid/s who went on exchange

The D9423 RYE Committee comprises twelve hard-working Rotarians from different clubs. Member David Cleary from RC City East has five children and they have all been on a Rotary Exchange! Graeme Fardon (RC Applecross) will be taking over from Jill as RYE Chair on 1^st July.

 

There are about 9,000 RYE students per annum around the world.

 

Inbound students (“Inbounds”) arrive in July each year and a local students (“Outbounds”) will go on exchange the following January. 

In July last year, 23 Inbounds arrived from 14 counties and in January 22 West Australians left for 11 different countries.

 

The typical involvement for Clubs with inbound students involve:

• Providing host families (typically for three months at a time) and a mentor
• Enrolling the student into school and setting up bank accounts and phone
• Welcoming and involving them in their Club
• Paying the student a monthly allowance of $150
• Covering the cost of the student’s attendance at club meetings & events, school costs and uniforms
• Advising district Placement Officer when student is going to change family and ensure travel approvals are gained

 

Two optional trips are organised by District RYE Committee and paid for by student’s families:

• NW Safari in April-May (3 weeks)
• Sydney in November (1 week)

 

The Clubs must adhere to the District Child Protection policies. All members of a host family who are 18+ must have a Working With Children Card (WWC) and have a Rotary Volunteer Declaration clearance.

 

Typical hosts for Exchange students are:

 

• Families not connected to Rotary (statistically 61%) – you may get a new member
• Rotarians (and their adult children)
• Family with small children
• Family with high school aged children
• Retired couples/grandparents
• A single host parent with or without a child a home (no sibling rivalry...)
  

 

There are other ways a Club can be involved:

• Host an activity for Exchange Students
• Contribute financially to a small club that is willing to host
• Help other clubs find host families
• Potentially provide a student mentor for another club
• Consider volunteering to be a chaperone/helper on the NW Safari
• Offer any specific skills you have which may be useful to the Committee
• Promote the program

 

The RYE is a wonderful way to contribute to international goodwill and understanding. Jill related a story of a man from the USA who returned to visit after being an Exchange Student sixty years ago. A family from Jill’s Rotary Club is about to host their 13^th student. Another member and his (late) wife had hosted 20 different students. They have had many overseas visits and attended 8-9 weddings.

The cycle goes around – Jill’s son went on exchange to Arkansas USA, married a local he met in his time there and his son is now enrolled at Murdoch University.

 

Jill thanked the Club for inviting her to speak on RYE.

 

Her presentation can be viewed at:

millpointrotaryclub.org.au>members only (password)> this link>Guest Speaker Presentations>HANNA Jill – Rotary Youth Exchange

 

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• David: There is a Rotary Charity Trust meeting following breakfast.
• Rick: Has been asked by the WA Arts Society Annual Exhibition to sit for his portrait on Saturday 11.00am - 2.00pm - go along and support him. 
• Scott: The Centurion program is coming to an end with close to 50% take up. We only need 5 more members to reach our goal for this year so please consider signing up.
• Gerry: ISS still has many items of linen to be distributed to worthy causes. 4,500 items have already been spoken for so if you know of any organisation, charity etc, who would benefit please give Gerry a call.

Fines - The Procurator of Pennies (Joy)

• Footy season - Pay up all Dockers and Eagles fans 
• Brian J and Warren McC who are moving up in the habitual world, namely the 12 and 19 floors respectively.
• St Patrick Day revellers - Guiness Gobblers and those of Irish descent.
• Petrol heads - Ross S and any other Melbourne Grand Prix fans.
• Alison - For mixing up her months and having MIA President Kelly return to Perth before he left!
• Striped shirts AND checked shirts - always worth a bob or two.
• Lorrie - Back in purple T-Shirt uniform.
• Veronica - Proud mother of the bride.
• Kim P - Give us a twirl and pay up for being so stylish.
• Gorby - Migrated to the top table (Brown-nosing?)
  

 

Winner of Heads and Tails

A Head and a Tail; 2 Tails, another Head and Tail but guest speaker Jill Hanna took the bottle of grog with 2 Heads!

Attendance

39 attendees in all, including guest speaker Jill Hannah (Chair RYE), and visitors Loveness Matemera, Bassem Hellou and Sherrylin Shaw.

 

Bulletin #34 - 14 March 2025

Presidential Ponderings

Whilst the cat's away the feather duster will play - yes President Kelly is sampling the offerings of Adelaide so I'm left to hold the reigns and muster on!

It’s world sleep day today – which may have accounted for our missing members – don’t worry, you can catch up until midnight tonight. If you’re wondering what this is (as I  did when it popped up on my feed) it an initiative to make sleep health a priority and you can actually become a Sleep Delegate to create awareness in your community -  I think I’ll sleep this one out!

Guest Speaker - Gerry McGann Sri Lanka Eye Camp 2025

In January this year, Gerry McGann and his wife, Rona, joined the Eye Camp In Sri Lanka.  

Gerry, a Perth boy, grew up with a love for boats and a fascination with rocks—a passion that led him to pursue geology at UWA. His 45-year career in the oil industry took him to some of the world’s most fascinating and unexpected places, including Libya, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, and even "Trumpland."

Having previously visited Sri Lanka as a tourist, Gerry found this experience with the eye camp to be truly, in his words, "enlightening, sobering, and awakening".    

 

Rona, with her warmth and friendliness (pictured below on the left in her red T-shirt), took to volunteering as a dispenser like a duck takes to water! 

Her genuine care made every interaction with beneficiaries  a pleasure to witness.

 

As the project coordinator, Reggie stated that both Rona and Geerry embraced their roles with enthusiasm and flexibility, switching between tasks—whether giving a TV interview, dispensing glasses, assisting with visual acuity tests, managing crowd control, or even making sandwiches for hundreds with minimal kitchen equipment. Most importantly, Gerry knew how to take orders from Rona and followed them to the letter!

With his adaptability, and willingness to jump in wherever needed, Gerry was a fantastic asset to the team. His contribution, alongside Rona’s, helped make the eye camp a success, and the team were grateful for their dedication to the cause. 

A team of 18 took to the road in Sri Lanka to conduct the 6th Global Hand Charity/Mill Point RC Eye Clinic. There are at least 150 people involved in this project including interpreters, transport, crowd control, optometrists, volunteers, etc.

Most of the recipients live out of town and make special effort to attend the clinics. Five members of Mill Point RC  attendee - Raelene, Astrid, Gerry, Rona, Reggie (and her husband Gordon) as volunteers paying their own way e.g. flights, accommodation, and meals.

Sri Lanka is an amazing place - the people are warm and friendly, gentle and dressed beautifully; there are elephants and monkeys at the side of the road and then  there's the exotic food! It's a country that has a whole mixture of cultures, whether it's Buddhist, Christian or Muslim, and with few exceptions they've all got along pretty well over the years. In saying that the place is not governed that well over the years. This is the gross domestic produce per person , there is a lot of food, and they have a universal health system (in theory) that everyone has access to but they just don't have the money to implement it.

Sri Lanka is the size of Tasmania but 25 million people strong so they are crammed in pretty well, and there's really no government program for adults, but there is a school program.

Over the years Global Hand Charity in conjuction with Mill Point RC  set up the Eye Care clinic program and have reached into areas of Sri Lanka where most needed.

The clinic has been held in various places  from Jaffna in the North in 2020 to Batticaloa/Kalumnai in the East, Anuradhapura  in 2018, and Kandy and Matale in 2025.  In 2020 and 2023 the Northern areas were rife with a lot of fighting against the Tamil separatists.

Over 20 years the Sri Lankans are still poor and a lot of evidence  of all that fighting is  still around, so this was a brave project to take onboard.

This year ,the clinic operated in Padala for two days and then in two towns just outside of Kandy, where the tea trade is.

It takes months and months of planning to take a team over and this year there were 18 volunteers in the team.

Every day the volunteers wear their red T-shirts an start work early to get organised on a kind of mass production process.

The work flow was highly structured so that people were seen effectively and efficiently. 

First of all registrants were checked and passed on to the Acuity testers (below), then the auto-refractor, optometrists and finally dispensing.

The 8 optometrists (pictured below)were all second-generation Sri Lankans, each of them giving back to the motherland and whilst all but one were from the Eastern States they got to know each other pretty well and discovered that many of them were related through second cousins.

2,300 people were seen; 3,000+ pairs of spectacles were dispensed (some needed more than one pair, and those who worked outside were given sun-glasses). Some needed special prescriptions and some were referred for cataract surgery.

The cost of such a project is in excess of $20,000 and that does not include the personal expense of each volunteer. The project pays one Sri Lankan optometrist - Krista -who provides one of the auto-refractors - a minimal stipend, plus his accommodation and food. 

It all costs come down to $8 per person - where else can you get such a bang for your buck - in changing the lives of 2,300+ people?

 

The project is planning to return in 2026 and needs help in raising the funds necessary to make a difference.

If you would like to volunteer for the 2026 clinic and/or contribute to this worthwhile project please visit 

https://www.globalhandcharity.org.au/

 

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

David R: The Pines dinner - 3 June, 6.30pm - is coming up again where we recognise and award top hospitality students. Only 40 places so book quickly at https://www.trybooking.com/CZWNG - se events page.

Gerry McG: 15,000 items of bed linen has become available for any charitable organisation including 2,623 doonas! Being stored in Raelene's warehouse so put your thinking caps on as to may benefit from this. (Remember our linen project of 2020?).

Rick S: Community and Fundraising committee meeting after breakfast.

Jenny McL: The Sewing Sisters have sent 184 feminine hygiene packs to PNG - 150 last week an 60 the week before to a second location. All arrived intact - thanks to Australia Post!

Veronica L: Membership Committee meeting after breakfast.

NOTE: Catherine Rousset sent in a note of thanks to the club for the Next Door voucher that she won at the Christmas meeting. She had a lovely night with her boys, Sally and Kate. 

Fine-ally!

The fines master this week rebuked Rotarians for engaging in erroneous activities and many dollars were dished up to Owen the Own-erous!  

• Veronica: Forgot to welcome Wendy Longshaw HUGE fine!
• Geoff L : No longer needing a hair cut.
• All non-attendees at Friday's Birthday celebration.
• Gorby: Who turned up last Friday for breakfast?
• Wayne M :  2 weeks ago  decided to balance the 4 finesmaster - what a sea-saw Owen and Joy on one side; Wayne and Jenny on the other - needs a lesson in metrology.
• David T: Full of gas in Sri Lanka but able to sell it AND appear on TV!
• Gerry: The 'eyes' have it!
• Warren: Moved into his new unit without blinds - hope you're not wandering around au naturelle!
• Lorrie: No purple T-shirt today?
• Mark J: 'Welcome back' and 'Goodbye' as he leaves for another journey en bicyclette!
• Jenny McL: VIP? Yes you are but remember 'Poison' also comes in small packages!
• Brian A: Electoral Official at the weekend - hope you weren't responsible for the 'stuff up'
  

Winner of Heads and Tails

2 x Tails, 2 x heads and Astrid won the coveted grog by a head!

Attendance

44 attendees in all, including visitors Mark Jones, Wendy Longshaw, Rona McGann, Catherine Roussett, Justin Madden, Gordon Smith, Loveness Matemera and Nic Coveney.

 

Bulletin #33 - Special Happy Birthday Edition!

"Happy Birthday to us,

Happy Birthday to us,

Happy Birthday to Mill Point.

Happy Birthday to us! "

Yes! Mill Point turned 38 years young on 11 March and we celebrated in style at the Memorial Bench of our beloved Marguerita Pawle on the South Perth Foreshore, Friday 7 March.

BYO food, drink, chairs and tables, we  had a great turnout and lots of chatter with friends, partners and families.

 

If you weren't able to celebrate with us then here are a few photos for you to enjoy.

 

Happy Rotarians enjoying a wine (or two) and each others' company!

 

Well we like to spread ourselves out - somewhat!

 

The inimitable President Kelly reminding us of the occasion and asking Rick S to blow out the candles...

 

..but not before Rick S took the time to remember all those who could not be with us. 

 

Rick S was given the honour of blowing out the candles - all 38 of them? (nah, only 3) and did a fine job leading us into a rendition (not sure who's) of Happy Birthday.

 

President Kelly cuts the cake with assistant BJ looking on.

 

 

The lovely Siew N, Sue R, Rona McG, and of course Brian "Maverick" Johnson - let them eat cake!

 

Great to see Geoff L back on deck and enjoying some yummy birthday cake with Veronica looking on!

 

The dastardly duo! President Kelly and President Elect David R.

 

Oh-ho! What trouble lies a-brewing with these cheeky Rotarians? Scott D, Veronica L, David T and Lewis T.  No doubt something's afoot!

 

Marguerita's bench - she's always with us!

 

The serenity of the lonesome Gondola as it weave its way down the Swan River - bliss!

 

The lovely Katrina D and Wendy L - with the most well behaved pooch I've ever seen!

 

The very talented Sneeuwjagts sharing cake and no doubt plotting their next artistic endeavour!

 

 And as the sun went down and we packed up our goodies, the lonely Gondola weaved his way home.

Happy Birthday Mill Point!

 

 

 

 

 

Bulletin #32 - 28 February 2025

Guest Speakers from Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)

Meg Gibson – RYLA

An intensive eight-day Rotary program designed for 18-28 year olds with leadership potential and a commitment to community service. The program is a unique opportunity aimed to bring participants out of their comfort zone and challenge them to think outside the square while actively using and building on their existing skills and knowledge.

 

Meg is a second-year Chemical Engineering student at Curtin University. She attended Churchlands Senior High School and chose to study Chemical Engineering as a career in which she will be able to bring about meaningful change by engaging in real world problems.

 

Meg is involved in an organisation called Girls in Engineering Tomorrow, running workshops in the school holidays that describe and show exactly what engineering entails. She also helps girls with maths and science homework.

 

When not at Uni, she loves being at the beach, playing netball and travelling.

 

Meg thanked RCMP for sponsoring her through RYLA, which she completed in January 2025 following a friend’s recommendation for the program.

 

She was one of 38 attendees who enjoyed the opportunity to enhance their leadership, confidence and communication skills. They handed in their phones for seven days and embarked on an almost “military” routine – 6 AM wake ups and getting to bed around 11 PM…

 

The workshops and leadership activities would last anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours. One example was being blindfolded and with limited communications whilst untangling a rope. These would be wrapped up at the end by the Facilitators to sum up what you had learned. Some were quite emotionally and physically challenging.

 

Meg identified some key “takeaways” from RYLA:

• Leadership is a verb, not a noun. It is not a title of something you get (team captain), it is a mindset that you have to be actively doing.
• How to lead? There are different styles of leadership. Quiet or upfront?
• Vulnerability. Because we were taken out of our comfort zone without a phone to hide behind, there was a real connection all the time. She learned vulnerability is so important in all our relationships in life.
• RYLA was a secure “bubble” supported by RYLA staff. They encouraged participants to give new things a go, make mistakes. Coming out of that was a bit scary, but she hopes to bring that into play in real life.
• Opportunities for Growth. The people you meet at RYLA inspire you and create opportunities for long after the camp ends.

 

In thanking RCMP, Meg said it is not just sending someone to a camp, it is actually an investment in a future leader.

 

Hanna-Grace Tedjasaputra – NYSF

 

A two-week program for students moving into Year 12 who are thinking about a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It is held each January at Universities in either WA, Canberra or Brisbane.

The participants live on campus and are involved in site tours, laboratory activities, workshops, lectures and social events.

 

Hanna-Grace is in Year 12 at Iona Presentation College. She has a great love of the natural environment which started her fascination with biology, chemistry and the importance of dealing with climate change.

 

She enrolled in NYSF in order to interact with leading scientists, engage in hands-on experiments and connect with like-minded peers. Hanna-Grace hopes to enrol in a Bachelor of Science degree at Melbourne University when she finishes school.

 

When not studying, her interests include running, reading, snorkelling, doing jigsaw puzzles and going to the beach.

 

Hanna-Grace thanked RCMP for assisting with her sponsorship to attend NYSF and specifically to Diana Goh for telling her about the program. She had the best time ever!

 

She loves her science, doing three science subjects – Chemistry, Biology and Human Biology.

 

 

The highlights of her NYSF time:

• Flew to Brisbane, where it was hot and humid…but gorgeous with tropical trees.
• The “staffies” who were student leaders and wore red shirts and funny hats, some very cool people.
• Lots of STEM visits, such as the Herbarium.
• Queensland Centre for Advanced Technology (CSIRO).
•  Microscopes, got to see lots of different types.
• Queensland University of Technology (QUT), lots of smart technologies.
• Queensland Public Health Laboratory
• Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA).

There were lots of networking opportunities and career insights as well. 

 

Beyond the science, there was also lots of fun and friendship. Hanna-Grace said the impact of NYSF for her were:

• A life-changing experience.
• Meeting new people.
• Broadening her horizons and realising there are so many opportunities.
  

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

Ian Kremmer 

• 32 people will be attending this afternoon’s Sundowner at the Como Croquet Club, 5pm.   This includes some members from Como Rotary Club.

Astrid Mitchell

• Asked for a show of hands from those members interested in hosting an exchange student for 2026.  Outbound students leave in January 2026 and inbound students arrive in July 2026.   Depending on how many hosts are available, students would live in from 1 to 3 months with their host family.  Students to attend school (organized by Rotary Exchange) but the host family is responsible for the student when staying with them. There was no show of hands. The lack of interest will be referred back to the Board.

Ross Smith

• There are still a few vacancies for Ronald McDonald House, Home for Dinner.  This will take place on Sunday 23^rd March.

Michelle Lovkis 

• John Hardwick is now in a Nursing Home in Como.
• Phil Doyle is getting stronger every day after his recent operation.  Angela can now leave Phil on his own for an hour or so.

Brian Johnson 

• There will be no breakfast meeting next Friday as it is the Club Birthday party being held in the afternoon between 5.30pm and 7.30pm near Marguerite’s bench, South Perth foreshore. 

Rick Sneeuwjagt 

• Requested more PICYS meals be provided.

Gorby 

• The Pines (Bentley) has recently reopened.  There were only 2 nights available.   The function will be Tuesday 3^rd June 2025, and the venue has been booked for 40 people.   David Rowell has offered to host if Geoff Longshaw is not available.

Attendance

36 attendees in all, including guest speakers  Meg and Hannah-Grace, Eunice Sari (Hannah's mum), and drop-in visitor Loveness Metamera.