Our Last Meeting - Shayne from the Kokoda Youth Foundation

Our chair was Deborah, and is that a special crown she's wearing?

Compliments of Oaks perhaps

 

James is not well, so Deborah is standing in as President

Our guest speaker is Shayne from the Kokoda Youth Foundation, & we also welcome guests Bob Ainsworth, and Paul’s son Keanon

 

Welcome to the Zoomers

 

Apologies from John, Alan, and Ian A. who has had a knee replacement and some other problems. Ian B is Zooming in.

 

This was Bob‘s second meeting, with the first being on Zoom. He was born in England, but migrated to New Zealand in 1974, and has been there except for brief stints in Sydney and Brisbane. He originally was a pharmacist, but later moved over to food technology. His only son has moved from Melbourne to Brisbane. He has been in Pelican Waters two months now.

 

The International Toast was proposed to New Zealand - didn’t catch it, but one of the Clubs on the mainland I think.

 

Special welcome to Gordon and Richard, who both have been experiencing negative medical episodes.

 

Deborah delivered the President Report

The District Conference in Caloundra is of course the big news – rosters come out next week - packing of bags 9:00am Wednesday at the Salvation Army.

 

Stewart introduced Shayne from the Kokoda Youth Foundation. She is known to Rotary through her seven year involvement with RYDA, which has been “quite a journey”.

 

She has had 15 years working with youth, in custodial settings. Unfortunately it is a bit of a revolving door. On one occasion she was stabbed with a pen in the shoulder. The perpetrator had stabbed herself in the left leg first.

She has been doing community based work in Melbourne, the US, the SS Coast, as well as bringing up three children.

 

Things have changed today. Mental health a major challenge. There are a number of different problems. People need to know they are not alone.

 

Fitness is a big part of her life.  She's in a group called the 606ers.   They might not be at the gym at 6:00, or 6:02 or 6:03 but definitely there by 6:06.

 

She almost lost her husband seven years ago with PSTD related issues.  They have three boys.

 

She is 45 on Thursday and about to embark on a 48 km trip, To raise funds for the Kokoda Youth Foundation - there will be some uphill walking too, with a 450 meter elevation hill being one of three.

 

The foundation was started in 2004. 25,000 youths have been helped, and they are in the 15–17 year old bracket

 

The spirit of Kokoda embodies:

“Choices Matter”

 

There is a fundraiser on 20 March

 

In question time Debra asked how we can support the Foundation?
There is a fundraising link on the web site

The SS Coast walk will start at the Kenilworth School

 

Deborah thanked Shayne for the talk

 

Merv had a triple report:

Shayne noted that with the young people she worked with, about 90% have done RYDA and they “all remember something“

 

Merv reported that in 2022, we expect 14 schools to be involved in 10 days of the course. $5000 a day to run. Volunteers are needed between 8:00 till 2:30 and RC Caloundra is expected to have 5 to 7 volunteers. The funding arrangements are changed and we are waiting with interest to see how that goes. Funding is by the state but now it is being handled more centrally. They need support from the Club, we are indebted to Neville Woodford, but we need a succession plan for him.

 

Kath reported on the planning for the Joint Meeting raffle. Jim has a cunning plan to get the Men’s Shed to fabricate something through a Council grant. They can make stuff and donate to Rotary.

 

Kath also reported on the Interact Club at the Caloundra Private School.

 

Sergeant Jim had a bottle of French wine for the winner of Heads & Tales.

 

We will be away next week - camping at Byron (taking snorkels)

Apologies for the Meeting, and no Reel next week

Cheers