Vol: 36 No: 13

September Theme: Basic Education & Literacy Month

Lookout Reserve Maintenance Roster: planning still in progress.

Report of Meeting: 19/9/2017.

Visitors: Celine Park (Ocean Grove Primary School) visiting to observe for Junior Community Awards. Laura Bevan and Liz Pounder, Guest Speakers.

President: from the Board:

- Lift the Lid for Mental Health will be on 8^th October. A donation of a bottle of wine at  $15-$20 will help recognize this cause John Calnin will accept any donations.

Lynn Carlson has volunteered to organize a roster 10am – 2.00pm (2 hour shifts X 2 per shift) for a “tin rattle” at Bunnings, Leopold on 7^th & 8^th October.

- Defibrillators. The plan is to develop a fridge magnet to identify the locations of ‘Defibs’ in Ocean Grove and to deliver them to households in the area.

- We intend to contact locations of ‘Defibs’ and follow up on maintenance checks.

- The Board has donated, on behalf of the Club, $250 to Barwon Health Patient Transport Fund.

- Members were advised that ‘anti theft’ screws for number plates are available free of charge from the Police station.

Other notes:

- Members are reminded that the Working With Children forms need to be filled in. A reminder has been sent to those who have not completed the form.

- A focus group will be established to determine if there is a need in Ocean Grove to support those people who are involved in domestic violence. It is proposed that the activity may be similar to that established in Maryborough. (See Bulletin June 6^th.)

- A visit to a project on water in Cambodia is being planned early next year. See John Calnin if interested.

Fundraising: Peter Cullen and those who volunteered were thanked for his organization of this very lucrative fundraiser. $4000 was presented to the Club.

Market: The new venue at the Ocean Grove Park (Ingermells Park) is being promoted as widely as possible.  A Roster was circulated and there are some vacancies. Bookings are coming in. (currently 65 are booked)

Health: The death of John Dodgshun, a past member was noted with regret.

Art Show Sub Committee: Please return Raffle Books when completed. Entries are coming in well.

Footy Tipping: Continues for the Finals.

Community: - A strategy plan is to be developed for the management of the Lookout Reserve involving other interested parties in a small working group. Please see the notes in the recent emails.

Youth: Graham Bath Junior Community Awards are progressing with all students having been visited and are well on track to finish.

Youth Exchange: Jacquie Honeywell is enjoying her time in Germany. Her Mother and sisters are there currently on a visit and have met each of the host families. Jacquie has presented to her host club.

Vocational: - Visit to the Waltons Piggery on Sunday 12^th November. Please see the recent email for details. Please note: The bus will only take 52 people plus driver. NO PUBLIC TRANSPORT CAN BE ALLOWED ON THE FARM. Please let your intentions known to Martin Geerings your intention re attendance.

Social: Several events are planned including a visit to a drive in movie, progressive dinner and car rally.

Guest Speakers: Laura Bevan and Liz Pounder. The Mphatso Foundation.

Mphatso is a local foundation that was created by Robyn Casey, a local mother who saw the plight of people in Malawi, Africa. Robyn had visited Malawi with others from her local church (the Wave) in 2004 and subsequently returned to start a nursery school on the shores of Lake Malawi. There are now 12 schools and the Foundation is feeding up to 1,000 children.

Their motto is: Feed the Children; Grow the Community, Impacting the Future.

Both Laura and Liz are members of the local committee and have overseen the sending of $4,000 per month to the area, along with containers of supplies (including infant formula – very necessary in HIV infected mothers). The funds have been used for feeding children, providing education and early childhood schooling, nursing and community education.

Poverty, hunger, HIV and Malaria heavily impact the area. A challenging situation, but the local people ‘smile in the face of adversity.’

The Foundation is currently raising additional funds to buy land and build a Community Centre that will provide education, employment and community learning skills.

At the end of the meeting those who won the raffle donated their wine to an auction that raised $200 to be given straight to the guest speakers for the Foundation.

Many thanks to Rod Greer who took the notes for this edition.

Thank you, AG