Theme: Foundation Month.
Lookout Reserve Maintenance Roster:
25/11/18 – 01/12/18 Alan Keyse.
01/12/18 – 08/12/18 Jim Ricchini.
09/12/18 – 15/12/18 Adrian Schmidt.
Report of Meeting: 20/11/2018.
Guests: Michelle Fox (prospective member)
Speaker: Janette Healey, Robyn Richards.
Fundraising: Car Raffle ticket selling in the Caravan Parks will be on 8/1/19. This will
be followed by a BBQ at Bill Steains. Ladies (or men) are asked to provide a salad or
desert as has been done in previous years.
Health/Family of Rotary: Jo Hawthorne and Pippa Paton have both sustained fractured
wrists! Both are on the mend.
Foundation: Gordon King needs to know the amount contributed by members to
Please donate when you can i.e. before the end of the financial year.
Youth: Judy Greer. The VCE awardees will be featured at next weeks meeting.
Judy reminded the members that the RYLA camp for 18 – 20 year olds lasting for 1 week
in April 2019 would be held.
Market: The roster was circulated for the next market on 2/12/18.
Vocational: Lynne Carlson. Canvassing in the Industrial Estate has commenced for the
Vocational Awards. There has been good response but further assistance would be
appreciated. Please see Lynn.
Community: The Waltons and Gill Morgan visited the new Renal unit in Geelong. They
reported that recognition of our past donation was on show.
Family Violence: Andrea Tierney reminded the members that a BBQ will be held on
Sunday 25 th November from 9.00 -11.00 am. The BBQ is free as the event is being held
to raise community awareness of Family Violence in our community and that Rotary is
supporting care of the persons involved where we can. Flyers are available now, and
orange ribbons and a donation box will be at the event. Helpers are organized.
Guest Speaker: Janette Henley. “Kinship Carers”.
Coral Barker read about this support group from an article in the Drysdale news and
thought this is a local group that may benefit from Club members assistance.
Janette told members that the Kinship Carers are a support group, most of who are
retired, who are caring and rearing their grandchildren. At a meeting in Drysdale the
many people who attended found they were not alone in their caring roles. At at present
there are 63 children in the area being cared for. The oldest carer is 73 years old with a
child of three in care.
Janette’s granddaughter came to her at eight weeks old, she is now 13 and has been joined by her brother. This situation arose because of alcohol and drug abuse by the parents, a common situation. At present there are approximately 4000 children in the State who are in ‘out of home’ care with 70% of these in Kinship care.
Their ages range from 3 weeks to 18 years. Previously many of these children were placed with foster parents but these carers are decreasing and thus the need for the kinship carers and their supporters continues to grow. To gain assistance from the Department of Human Resources carers have to be registered as permanent carers and this is sometimes very
Their ages range from 3 weeks to 18 years. Previously many of these children were placed with foster parents but these carers are decreasing and thus the need for the kinship carers and their supporters continues to grow. To gain assistance from the Department of Human Resources carers have to be registered as permanent carers and this is sometimes very
difficult as is the status of guardianship. Janette has this status jointly with her youngest
son.
The Dept. of Human Services has removed children in care through a court order. No
carers or children are identified because children can be removed unless carers are
registered. The children could also be at risk from parents or other family members.
The group needs support and assistance for carers to enable them to provide for the
children, as many have taken early retirement and are not able to work full time. A carers
allowance is available through Center Link though often with great difficulty and
persistence.
Money cannot be given as the group does not have a Bank Account so the best help is
through donations in kind, especially food or clothing vouchers.
Kinship Carers has had great assistance from the Mirabelle Foundation and are under the
umbrella of Foster Carers Victoria.
Janette’s account appeared to touch many members and the support group needs will be
discussed further.
Thank you: A George.
