Bulletin #007 - 14 August 2026

Guten Morgen!

A meeting with a few twists and turn today and lots of fun as "Mein Herr Gorby" was given a rousing welcome and made the meeting his own!

Herr Gorby welcomed soon-to-be member Eno Budo  and Guest Speaker, Rotarian and District Secretary Dave Taylor 
 
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• Veronica: Applications for District Governor 2028-2029 are open now and will close on 10 October. Forms are on the District Website or ask Veronica and she will supply.
• Angus: Fundraising meeting after breakfast; Peggy has a bag of lemons so help yourself.
• Ian K: Offtraq is on again 22-25 October, starting in Parkerville and traveling through Wagin, Narrogin and ending up in Pinjarra. Entertainers are sought as well as participants.
• Owen: Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? 19 September a great way to attend a mystery feast at a mystery house and have heaps of fun. Scroll down to Events for more details.
• Jenny: Sewing sister have had little communications with PNG and so supplying more locally via intermediaries.140kits completed and sent out in 2 weeks, 25 kits in reserve.
• Gorby: Vocational visit being planned for 25 September to the Perkins Institute 10am. More details to follow. 

One Fine(s) Day

Wayne the Elder took the podium and proceeded to pinch the pennies of quite a few...

• Michael (aka Gorby) First time in the chair - employment tax.
• All melon eaters
• Gorby (again) neither a past, present or incoming President
• Jenny  for having a birthday
• Owen for surviving 50 years of marriage which occured on a wet and windy day (apparently the wettest day in 50 years)
• All those who didn't relish the wonderful afternoon yesterday. 

Winner of Heads and Tails

Our lovely pocket rocket Jenny McLean took home a fabulous bottle of Scuttlebutt Cabernet Sauvignon - thanks to Owen Ferguson for his contribution of the wine each week. 

Attendance

29 attendees in all, including guest speaker Dave Taylor, and soon-to-be Rotarian Eno Budo.

 

Guest Speaker : Dave Taylor - Club Runner Essentials

Dave Taylor is the current District Secretary for D9423.

Dave was born in the UK, migrating to Perth with his father in 1958. He studied Medical Science at WAIT and later completed a degree in Computer Science at Curtin University. 

Dave worked extensively within the State Pathology Service, serving as Director of Operations for PathCentre and later as General Manager of PathWest before retiring in 2011.

Dave joined Scarborough Rotary in 1987, serving twice as President, then transferred to Nedlands Rotary in 2022 and was President in 2024-2025.

He has served as District Secretary on seven occasions and he and wife Marieke have hosted eighteen (18) Rotary Youth Exchange students.

Dave presented an overview and

demonstration of ClubRunner, the membership and communications platform used widely across Rotary districts and clubs. He covered its origins, licensing, integration with Rotary International (RI), security, privacy controls, access levels, district and club website features, membership management workflows, synchronization with RI, and the ClubRunner mobile App.

ClubRunner is the largest provider of software to Rotary worldwide, serving six continents and 5,000 Rotary Clubs. It was the first company to fully integrate with RI, for two-way data exchange and be officially licenced by RI.

Features of ClubRunner: 

• enables storage of member profiles, contact details, classifications, and role definitions
• tracking of new members, terminations, role changes, auto-sync to RI;
• supports transferring members into a club with validation against RI database to prevent duplicate active membership;
• allows honorary membership status where applicable; 
• terminations via 'change status' are a simple, single-click workflow;
• email sending e.g. newsletters, invitations, reminders) with contact lists automatically updated when members leave or transfer; 
• event support including name badge printing;
• online donations capability for public events and donation pages;
• district-level shared directories, newsletters, training materials, conference registration and leadership tracking;
• easy website updates with posts, photo galleries, albums, public events;
• customisable widgets enabling unique site designs per club/district. 

 

Many of these features will be utilised by club executives and transparent to members. The best feature for most members is the free ClubRunner mobile App for IOS/Android users. With this App, members can access details for all clubs and members within their District.

Individuals and clubs control what personal data (date of birth, addresses, phone numbers, etc.,) is shared with RI or displayed. Public-facing pages show names only i.e. no personal contact details without login.

Emailing is possible via the system without exposing addresses.

Unique logins and passwords - the same credentials work for club version, district version and the mobile App, which also supports facial recognition.

The default login is name.surname.clubID - Mill Point ID is 8112 - e.g. joe.bloggs.8112. Users can then choose memorable usernames/passwords e.g. sentence-style works best, provided the username is not already in use globally.

Upcoming features due next month will enable sending SMS via ClubRunner to another club or District member. The message will be delivered to the recipient's ClubRunner App.

The more detailed slides on the ClubRunner App, from Dave's presentation can be viewed directly from the link below (copy and paste into your browser).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZmgiZAOgGLXn1Mw4YdX3X3kVa_OvK388/view?usp=drivesdk

  

Herr Gorby's facts for today...

• 1935 the Social security act was signed into Law by U.S. President Franklin D Roosevelt
• 1945 President Harry Truman announced Japan's surrender, effectively ending WWII
• 1947 Pakistan gained independence from British Rule
• 2003 A massive blackout left 55 million people without power across the northeastern United States and parts of China 
• 2010 the inaugural Youth Olympic Games opened in Singapore. 
• 2026 some weirdo got to chair the Mill Point Rotary meeting! 

In closing the meeting Gorby presented his own version of the Rotary Charter.

"As we leave this meeting, this morning, let us always remember the sacrifices made by generations before us, defending and growing our country, and allowing us to enjoy the way of life that we do.

Let us always remember our pledge to practice the principles of Rotary, for the betterment of the community, the nation and all peoples".  

Bulletin #006 - 7 August 2026

Howdy Pardners...

The Duke signed in with his thought for the day based on the 4 Way Test "Is it beneficial to all concerned?" and reminded us that August is Membership and Extension month. With two prospective members in our audience it was most appropriate. However, today in ...

1974 - French Philippe Petit walked a tightrope strung between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City at a height of 1,350 feet (411.5 meters) 

1789 - National Lighthouse Day observed annually to honor the history and heritage of lighthouses and their keepers. The date marks the anniversary of the 1789 signing of the congressional act that established federal oversight of U.S. lighthouses and aids to navigation.
 
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• Ian K: Offtraq is looking for volunteers to assist with lunches, silent auction, etc. 22-24 October. A vocational trip is also planned for the club (scroll down to events for more details)
• Lorrie: Will be raising FUNds again at Offtraq, hosting a BBQ and with 24 cars to date roaming around the South (including Wagin and Narrogin) encourages everyone to join in the FUN! 
• The Duke: Will be away for three weeks and so the Chair will be covered by Gorby, Carole and Garrick. The club Board meeting is deferred to 3 September.

 

Guest Speaker : Cameron Wrathall - Shark Attack Survivor

Cameron recounted his 2021 bull shark attack in the Swan River near Bicton Jetty and the extensive aftermath, including emergency response, hospital treatment, rehabilitation, long-term disability, pain management, and community advocacy.

He emphasized resilience through acceptance, mindfulness for chronic pain, and positive perspectives gained from a near-death experience.

 

The Shark Attack Incident

On 14^th January 2021, a “beautiful summer’s morning”, Cameron was swimming in the Swan River near Bicton Jetty. He regularly swam there and played water polo for Melville Water Polo Club. He and a friend were halfway through the swim when a three-meter bull shark struck from under and behind on Cameron’s left side with an “almighty whack,” likened to being hit by a freight train. The impact was forceful, quick, and did not take him under.

The shark bit from just above the knee up around the buttock and the inside of the leg. The bite penetrated to the bone, severing tissue, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, and snapped the femur in half. Massive blood loss created a “huge cloud of blood.”

He struck the shark’s head with both palms, thrusting down hard, likely shocking it. The shark released and disappeared. Being a strong swimmer Cameron swam diagonally to the beach, experiencing only a brief moment of fear midway when wondering where the shark was.

His mate dragged him up the beach and called for help. Two kayakers and a paddle boarder assisted. One made a tourniquet with a shirt and towels were used to apply pressure. Cameron was placed on a paddleboard and carried to the roadside.

Cameron’s heart stopped just as the ambulance arrived. Initial resuscitation failed due to insufficient blood volume. The Paramedics infused manual saline (ambulances do not carry blood) to restore volume and a second resuscitation attempt succeeded.

He was transported to Royal Perth Hospital (major trauma center). Cameron was in ICU for three days, unconscious and underwent multiple surgeries. This was followed by five weeks supine immobilization due to the broken bone and repaired soft tissues, then he was transferred to Fiona Stanley Hospital for five weeks of rehab.

There he progressed through a wheelchair, walking frame, two big crutches, two small crutches, and then relearning to walk.

 

Bull Shark characteristics

Bull sharks grow to a bit over three meters and frequent rivers and estuaries, with increasing human encounters compared to strictly marine sharks. They are unique among sharks in tolerating freshwater, others require saltwater.

Shark attacks are rare relative to population and water usage. The risk is lower than everyday hazards (e.g. crossing roads).

 

Personal Perspective

It took approximately three weeks post-incident before Cameron could conduct a media interview (Channel Seven). He is still struggling due to ICU recovery, surgeries, heavy painkillers, and immobility. Recorded pieces are often edited to sensationalize fear and demonize sharks, which conflicts with his view of the event as a positive learning experience.

 

Cameron cannot walk far or well, still using a wheelchair. Nerve damage has affected his leg muscle engagement.

He is unable to return to prior work requiring mobility and annual qualifications and has been on a disability pension since the incident.

He has benefited from support from his long-term sporting community (Melville Water Polo Club) and learned to access relevant services.

 

Advocacy

Cameron has leveraged his incident to advocate in state parliament for changes to fishing laws to reduce shark–human encounters. He argues that fishing attracts large fish (bait, berley), so separating fishing from recreational swimming areas improves safety.

His initial efforts stalled. After a subsequent fatality (a young girl taken about a year later near his incident site), the state government offered funding for councils to implement protective measures, with councils covering maintenance. The result was a safe enclosure for swimming installed at Bicton Jetty, an outcome Cameron expressed happiness at contributing to.

The Bite Club was started by a surfer in New South Wales after a bull shark encounter to create a space for sharing experiences and medical treatments. It expanded from NSW to Australia-wide online and then globally, including survivors of various animal attacks (lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, bears). It functions as a non-judgmental support group for people coping with severe injuries, limb loss, bereavement, and other consequences.

The two first responders are now friends. They meet annually on the incident day to catch up. One was an ex-SAS serviceman, the other a geologist with mine-site medical training—both had useful medical knowledge that aided Cameron’s survival.

 

Resilience Philosophy

Cameron defines resilience as acceptance and reality: accept changes and circumstances, determine what can be done, and move forward simply and pragmatically.

He regards the experience as ultimately positive, providing profound insights that he would not have otherwise gained.

 
Cutting it Fine(s)...

Madam Lash aka Joy Burnett left no dollar un-turned...

• The Duke - 3 weeks leave = departure tax, one 💵 for each week
• Owen - lunching like a lord at Voyager 🍷
• The Duke (again) - Stealing Joy's thunder ⛈ by mentioning the historical facts for today 
• Sporting Aussies - because we led the tally in the Commonwealth Games. Croquet players are NOT exempt!
•  Beer Guzzlers - it's International Beer  🍺 Day - of great cultural significance to ALL Aussies.
• Aged Care employees - yes it's your day today also so pay up!
• Purple Hearts Day 💜- yes for veterans but Dockers supporters give it a new meaning. 

Winner of Heads and Tails

Visiting Friend of Rotary, Denny Craig won the wine and was full of smiles as she took possession of a nice bottle of Scuttlebutt Shiraz. Thanks to Owen F for his contribution.

Attendance

37 attendees in all, including guest speaker Cameron Wrathall, visiting Rotarians Jill Matthwin (Kojonup), Geoff Anderson (E-WA club and first host family to Felipé), Lucas Roosendaal (Nedlands), visitors Denny Craig, Eno Budo and Rotary Youth Exchange student Felipé Alves Mizobuchi.

Bulletin #005 - 31 August 2026

Howdy Pardners...

The Duke was given a rousing welcome and pointed out that today's meeting was focused on "Building Goodwill and Better Friendships" as well as reminding us that today in history...

1967 Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of Rolling Stone fame were released after spending one month on remand for drug charges. The Duke observed that whilst they are both still going strong, they are probably still 'Stoned'
 
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• Owen F: Our Scottie is unwell and unable to attend today's meeting, get well soon Scottie, our thoughts are with you.
• DG Veronica: presented a Club Excellence Award to the President on behalf of Rotary International. This is one of the most significant awards a club can achieve, for 2025-26 (Well done Gerry McGann, David Rowell and the board of that year). The club has demonstrated a commitment to set and achieve goals, which ultimately helps strengthen Rotary and shape our Districts future.
• Carole: FREE: the Art of Discovery Exhibition is on 17 - 21 August at the Bayliss Building UWA. Scroll down to events page for further details.
• David R: Felipe has arrived from Brazil and with his host family in Myaree. Any activities you think he would enjoy, please contact David. Makinlay is in the UK enjoying the last of the summer sun, doing well and sending her best wishes to everyone. 

Town Hall - Who Am I? : Sryani de Souza and Jessica Murray.

Sriyani transferred recently from Dalkeith Rotary Club and Jess joined Mill Point Rotary Club in February 2026. Host Brian Johnson interviewed them both in a WAI? session.

Sriyani (L)

Sriyani was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka and grew up in a village where most residents were her relatives, describing it as very close-knit. She reflected on Sri Lanka’s history as a multicultural society that endured political unrest in the 1970s–80s and a three-decade civil war ending in 2009. Today it’s once again a very popular tourist destination.

Her father, a kind and generous businessman, was a big influence in her life. Her English mother was very artistic, passing on some of her creativity. Her two sisters and two brothers are all married, still living in Sri Lanka.

After studying Accounting and Commerce, she became a secretary. She recalled her boss tasking her with translating minutes from Sinhala to English, a challenging assignment that developed her skills. She was eventually promoted to Executive Officer with HR responsibilities. 

Immigrating to Australia in 1991 with her husband and two sons, they set up a medical practice where Sriyani was the Practice Manager. After her husband’s passing, she sold the practice but still assists in its business aspects from time to time. Her two sons and one granddaughter live in Perth.

Sriyanai related an anecdote, from her early days in Perth, of being lost late night driving home from Mandurah. After going through (and passing…) a roadside breathalyser test, the kindly Police took pity and guided her home.

Her late husband had been a member and President of Gosnells Rotary Club. Sriyani would accompany him to hear speakers and that inspired her towards Rotary. Now with more free time, she would like to contribute something to the community, even in a small way.

Jess (Centre)

Jess was born in Singapore to an Australian father (Kalgoorlie) and a Singaporean mother. She attended a local school until age 15, then moved to an international school.

This dual heritage gave her a unique perspective. In Singapore her bi-racial identity was always apparent, whereas in Australia she was often perceived simply as Asian. She values her Singaporean upbringing for its exposure to diverse cultures, races, and religions, highlighting food as a particularly fond memory.

While acknowledging Singapore’s pragmatic and successful economic policies, Jess disagrees with its conservative social values. She points to the lack of progress on LGBTQ+ rights. She believes protecting conservative values can marginalize certain groups.

Michael Jackson was a major childhood influence His music videos inspired her to take up dance (ballet and tap) and his later songs sparked her interest in social justice and human rights.

Jess moved to Sydney in 2011, earning a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and worked in healthcare administration, including at a teleradiology company. She moved to Perth in 2022 and recently completed a Master’s in Health Leadership and Management/Global Health.

She is now Operations Manager for a Telehealth start-up. Her role focuses on operations enablement and excellence, ensuring any new partner or service is delivered to the best of her ability.

Jess was introduced to Rotary by Diana Goh. She found the club’s projects, particularly in community service and global health, aligned with her master’s studies and her desire for practical groundwork.

Her mandatory community service at her international school in Singapore had left a void that she felt Rotary could now fill, offering opportunities to act on her interests rather than just study them. She hopes to engage in global health projects, like the Sri Lanka Eye Clinic, and eventually start a project of her own.

As Host Brian remarked early, one of Mill Point’s strengths is its multiculturalism. We are richer with Jess keen on global health projects and Sriyani wishing to give back to the community. 

A Fine(s) Way to Start the Day

Owen the fines fiddler of the week divulged our depravities staring with...

• Mike C : Happy Birthday - it will cost you $1 for every year! 
• Wayne D : Appalling history lesson, more interesting was that today in 1946 Marylin Monroe signed her first contract for $150 a week (how's that for inflation!) and in 1965 JK Rowling was born so all Harry Potter fans can pay up.
• Geoff : for his alleged comings and goings before we started.
• Dockers Fans : Winners.
• Collingwood Fans : Losers.
• Petrol Seekers : anyone who needs petrol this weekend - left it too late there's a price hike so $1 from you before the petrol station gets it.
• Goodies Fans : Bill Oddie passed away at 84.
• All males and those 65+ : because you cause the most motor crashes 
• Jessica : your name means 'To Behold' and 'Gift of God' $1 for not knowing.
• Sryani : your name means 'The Best, Beauty, Radiance and Prosperity' - $1 from you for also not knowing.

Winner of Heads and Tails

To be sure, to be sure - young Shaun won the wine - again - much to the chagrin of Gorby who reckons the first and only time he won it, the wine probably cost him $1500! 

Attendance

32 attendees in all, including visiting Rotarian Bill Boekman (Wongan Hills) and visitor Eno Budo visiting for the second time. 

Bulletin #004 - 24 July

Howdy Pardners...

A rousing welcome to the Duke on this cold and chilly morning, but he warmed us up with some snippets as to what today in history occured...

1934 Australian cricket batting legend Don Bradman completes 304 in drawn 4th Test vs England at Leeds; In 430 minutes he smacked, 43 x fours, 2 x sixes.

1989 British Open Men's Golf, Royal Troon: American Mark Calcavecchia wins his only major title in firsts four-hole aggregate playoff with Australians Greg Norman and Wayne Grady. 

1912 Rotary Anne is an historical term used to describe the wives of male Rotary club members during the decades before women were allowed to join the organization. The name originated when Ann Brunnier traveled on a convention train as the only wife present, earning the affectionate nickname "the Rotarian's Ann." 

 
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• Wayne: Board meeteing next Wednesday at the John McGrath centre
• Brian J: Alan Jamieson being cared for at home by his daughter but still sprightly even though he can no longer get around by himself.
• Kelly : Club Service meeting after breakfast
• David : as mentor for our incoming RYE student Felipe, David (and Garrick) are looking for members who can offer activities, outings etc.

Guest Speaker : Tiffany Kwong - Rossmoyne SHS Interact Club

Host Ian Kremmer introduced Diana Goh’s daughter Tiffany Kwong.

 

Tiffany is a Year 12 student at Rossmoyne Senior High School and is the current president of the Interact Club of RSHS. She has helped raise over $6000 through various events hosted by the Interact Club and has grown the club from 20 to 60 members. She is a MacNeill House Captain at school and a graduate of the 2025 Future Female Leaders Program.

 

Through the program, she founded Youth Careers Collective, a non-profit organisation designed to help WA’s youth make decisions on their future careers through snapshots of industry professionals’ careers.

Also in attendance was Barry Berger from Canning River Rotary. Barry has mentored the Rossmoyne Interact Club for over 13 years, consistently attending meetings.

 

Tiffany thanked Mill Point for the invitation and said it was a privilege to address the members. Her message was young people don’t have to wait until they are adults to serve and Interact is often their first taste of volunteering. 

 

Tiffany detailed how she led the club’s significant growth by making it fun, purposeful, and well-marketed. She advocated for creating stronger pathways for young members to transition into Rotary after graduation to ensure the organization’s future, highlighting the desire of Gen Z to be involved in meaningful community work.

 

The Rossmoyne Interact Club’s success is built on three pillars – strong marketing (social media, posters), a fun and inclusive culture (food, friendships), and purposeful, impactful projects.

 

The club meets meet every Thursday at school for about half an hour. During these meetings, they check in with their different groups—advertising, finance, and event planning—to build each event. Their events have included: 

• Club Stall Day (Cancer Council)
• Easter Raffle Bake Sale. 
• Comfy clothes Day. 
• Mother’s Day kits for families at Ronald McDonald house. “Rossmoynes Got Talent” 2025

The school occasionally provides a venue or BBQ, with the main support coming from Canning River Rotary Club. Tiffany is also working with Les Oszdoloay from Como Rotary, to help start an Interact Club at Como Senior High School.

 

Tiffany was candid about the significant gender imbalance in the club (mostly girls) and strategies are needed to attract more boys, such as tech or sports-themed events. The club has implemented a succession plan, with role descriptions and early elections to ensure continuity.

 Barry described attending the Interact meetings for a “recharge” due to the high energy and buzzing atmosphere. He praised Tiffany’s leadership in delegating tasks to specific groups (advertising, finance), which yields impressive results.

 

It is very reassuring to know we have future leaders of Tiffany’s calibre and we wish her the best for her future career and Rotary journey.

The Fine(s) Print...

Wayne the Elder took up the reigns to dish the dirt for a dollar a-piece...

• Michelle - being at the airport at 4am is not a reason to miss a 10am coffee.
• People of Scottish heritage no matter how far back it goes...
• Ian K changing jobs, buying Rhonda a Honda and running past the place he was supposed to meet Wayne. 
• AFL fans - who cares which team you support but no excuse for the wrap up in the paper for a game that hasn't been played yet!
• RPGC member - usually sand traps are below the ground - you have an unfair advantage as these days they are above ground!
• Those Board member(s) who were confused by the date of the meeting 

 Winner of Heads and Tails

Another Wine Win, third time for lucky Diana Goh who beat Dietmar by a tail!

Attendance

33 attendees in all, including guest speaker Tiffany Kwong, visiting Rotarian Barry Berger (Canning River) and Jill Mathwin (Kojonup). 

Bulletin #003 - 17 July 2026

 Howdy Pardners...

President 'Duke' Wayne welcome everyone and announced that this day in history...

1955 Walt Disney opened the original Disneyland in Anneheim, California

17 July is World Emoji Day 👀 
 
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• Angus : Fundraising committee meeting after breakfast
• President Wayne : On behalf of the District Governor Veronica Lawrance. "Although this person could not be with us tonight, they jump in with both feet, every time they are asked, no matter what they are doing, wherever they are, whoever they are with -  and take on the responsibility no matter what you throw at them. In their Club they are known as ‘Maverick’ – not because they are a loose cannon, but in light of their previous occupation as a pilot, their ability to think logically, their dexterity, flexibility and their organisation skills and as a bonus - they are better looking than Tom Cruise! What they do at club level is phenomenal, what they volunteer for is unbelievable and what they did at the District Conference ensuring timeliness, looking out for presenters – like herding cats and jumping in at the last minute with excellent follow up and organisational skills was unimaginable. It gives me great pleasure to celebrate a 3 sapphire PHF to Brian ‘Maverick’ Johnson".
• Brian J: Still recovering from surprise... Kelly ill oday so club Service Committee meeting deferred until next week. More speaker suggestions needed.
•  Rick S: requesting more meals for Perth Inner City Youth Services (PICYS) please.

 

Guest Speaker :  Mike Dixon - Big Brother, Big Sister.

Mike is a Youth Work and Community Development leader with more than 25 years’ broad sectoral experience working alongside vulnerable children, young people and families.

A man of many hats, Mike is a devoted partner and father, a disability mentor and the CEO of Sudbury Community House in Mirrabooka.

Today he is speaking as the passionate WA State Manager of Big Brothers Big Sisters, a much-needed mentoring service, helping change the lives of less fortunate children and young people.

Mike introduced Tom Oosterhof (Perth WA Chair). 

Tom brought BBBS to Perth. Mike acknowledged NAIDOC Week and paid respects to Aboriginal elders, noting the significance of the Yerrigan.

The Big Brothers movement founded in 1904 in New York City to help boys stay out of trouble.  The BBBS presence in Australia began 1996, with programs in Victoria and New South Wales. It expanded to Western Australia in 2026, focusing on one-to-one mentoring for youth.

The Mission aligns with forming lifelong, meaningful adult-youth connections, similar in spirit to Rotary’s fellowship. It targets youth aged 7–17, emphasizing prevention before

crisis. The program aims to build sustained, supportive relationships that prevent youth from entering the justice, health or child protection systems.

The WA Program Model and Operations involves volunteer-based mentoring: weekly, face-to-face, after school or weekends to avoid disrupting education. The initial commitment is one year, often extending longer. There is comprehensive support from staff to sustain matches and navigate hurdles.

Phase 1: preventive mentoring

Phase 2 (future): services for justice-involved or disengaged youth with strong support or paid professionals.

 

Mentors are screened by a Mentor Coordinator with oversight from Mike. It includes police checks, Working with Children checks, three interview stages and a home visit. Typical screening timeline is about six weeks. Referrals from local Mirrabooka organizations: care schools, Headspace, Department of Education’s home schooling services, and Youth Care (school chaplaincy).

Weekly mentoring for 12 months is highly impactful; even single significant adult contact can be life-changing.

Comparative costs:

• Youth justice involvement exceeds $350,000 per year; hospital costs are higher.
•  Big Brothers Big Sisters annual match cost: $4,800 per young person due to non-institutional model and volunteer base.

 
A Fine(s) Act To Follow...

• Disneyland visitors or watched a Disney movie.
• Tennis Tragics who followed the Wimbledon Ladies and Gentlemans final.
• Golfers who can now watch some golf.
• Travellers who have been away in the last week or planning a getaway.
• President Wayne 3 meetings down and only another 46 to go…
• Cold blooded Rotarians who have put a heater on and only halfway through Winter!
• Toyota or Lexus drivers (Joy just traded hers…) or EV/Hybrid owners.
• Lorrie for leaving her car lights on.
• Theatre-goers attending “Sister Act JR” and had a great night.

Winner of Heads and Tails

Wine of the Week was Won by Warren McCamey - a tasty drop which will go down well!

Attendance : 31 attendees in all, including guest speaker Mike Dixon and Tom Oosterhof, guest Eno Budo and visiting Rotarians Mitch Whalen (Scarborough) and Soovi Sungur (Southern Districts).

Bulletin #002 10 July 2026

Howdy Pardners...

President Wayne 'the Duke' welcomed everyone to his second meeting as President and informed us that today in history...

1940 was the start of the Battle of Britain air campaign

1985 the Greenpeace Warrior was sunk in Auckland harbour.

Wayne reminded attendees of the Four Way Test #2 "Is it fair to all concerned"

New member induction

Alison Thair inducted Sriyani De Souza as a new member of Mill Point. 

Sriyani had been a member of Nedlands Rotary for five years before transferring to Mill Point. 

President Wayne and Membership Director Ian Kremmer also formally welcomed Sriyani, advising her classification is Artist, and she will join the International Committee.

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• Astrid: Volunteers needed to assist with the Gobal Hand Charity Offtrack event, to run Fun Stops; organise the Silent Auction; and pick up subway lunches to bring to Williams. GHC to cover costs.
• Lorrie: Containers for Change now accepts wine bottles as of 1 July. Happy to collect as main fundraising event. Lorrie's brother from Tanzania will participate this year. using John Tidman's car. The Sewing Sisters produced 900 feminine hygiene pack last year and hope to top that figure this year. 
• Michelle: Will be handling attendance whilst Raelene is away. Fran Muller recently hospitalised is recovering well. Flowers have been sent and Fran sent a thank you card in appreciation.
• Carole: One remaining ticket for "Sister Act" on 15 July.
• Garrick:  Incoming student Felipe is 16 and
  
  from Brazil, enjoys soccer, fishing, tennis and footvolley. Will be arriving 30 July at 6.35pm, be great to have some members meet him. First host family is Jeff and Heather Anderson, then Gorby and Sana. Felipe will attend Kent Street SHS, and mentor will be David Rowell. Plans include inbound camp in October, surfing lessons, a trip in November and NorthWest Safari in 2027. Host families still needed for next year but commitment is reduced due to travel and camps.

   

Guest Speaker : Greg Browne - MV Perth Restoration Project

Greg originally grew up in country Merridin.

After working for Westfarmers and some time in Africa, he now raises Black Angus Cattle in York.

Greg told us about the history and planned restoration project of the 112-year old Motor Vessel (MV) Perth. 

The ferry, originally the steamship SS Perth launched in 1914, serving the Perth to South Perth route for 80 years before being repurposed multiple times as a pleasure cruiser, party boat, and riverboat gambler. 

After sitting neglected at Henderson for 24 years, it was acquired by a not-for-profit organization established by Greg. The restoration project aims to return the vessel to operation as a floating heritage museum, funded by a potential half-million dollar Lotterywest grant and future commercial activities like corporate events and weddings. 

 

The first major refit was in 1946, involving the complete replacement of all wooden planks and addition of some sheltered rooms.

In the 1970s it was converted by the MTT from steam to diesel power, changing its designation to MV Perth (Motor Vessel).

During the America’s Cup (approx. 1980s) it was saved from scrapping by a federal government grant for the America’s Cup, funding a significant restoration.

In 1998 (Markey Shipyards) a revolutionary hull treatment saved the rotting wooden structure by adding a 12mm to 25mm thick structural fibreglass shell with vinyl resin, a method adopted from the Smithsonian Institute. This fibreglass hull keeps the vessel afloat today as the original timbers deteriorate. 

The goal is to have the vessel restored and operational in a 1920s style for the WA bicentenary in 2029, preserving what is described as one of the state’s most significant heritage items.

 

A PDF version of Greg’s presentation can be viewed at:

millpointrotaryclub.org.au>members only (password)> this link>Guest Speaker Presentations>BROWNE Greg – MV Perth Restoration Project

Fine(ally) it's happened to me...

• Dockers supports for recent losses (Gorby that's you for one!)
• Those watching the 'international political, sporting pantomime' 
• Wimbledon watchers or Soccer fans suffering from lack of sleep.
• Tay-Tay fans, after her five costume changes becoming Mrs Kelce. 
• Residents of the City of South Perth after multiple Councillor resignations.
• Wannabee boat builders, cabinet makers or those working with wood.

Winner of Heads and Tails

Past President David Rowell looks awfully pleased with grabbing the grog this week! 

Attendance

35 attendees in all, including guest speaker Greg Browne and visiting Rotarian Barbara Heddle.