Bulletin

Environment Director Dawn Palm reported that Kay has discovered a recycling company, which provides boxes for various materials, which cost over $200 each. However, Dawn's local pharmacy is recycling blister packs at no cost, so she has made a recycling box, which will attend each meeting and she will deliver it to the pharmacy. Other recycling options are available at St Nicolas Church in Duncraig on the third Saturday of each month.

This week marked Giving Tuesday, when Rotary members around the globe give gifts of all sizes to make a big impact. Rotary members can do good in the world together because donors, play an active part in creating lasting change. Just US$20 protects up to six children from the paralysing threat of polio for a lifetime. A gift of US$50 can support a sustainable economic development project. Making a gift of any size is also a wonderful way to celebrate November as Rotary Foundation Month. If you missed Giving Tuesday, it is not too late, you can still donate today.

Dawn Palm introduced Shayde Douglas, seen here being greeted by President Kay. Shayde describes herself as an educator, librarian, social worker and activist. She loves to do research and became interested in 'Memento Mori', which is literally an artistic or symbolic trope serving as a reminder of the inevitability of death. However, Shayde prefers the expression 'Pieces of the People We Love'. She focussed her presentation on hair, explaining that people have been giving and receiving locks of hair as keepsakes and expressions of love for centuries. She shared some of her research into this aspect of the history of hair.

Known as the father of The Rotary Foundation, Arch C. Klumph was elected to serve as Rotary’s sixth president for the 1916-17 year. Towards the end of his term, at the Rotary Convention in 1917, he stated: ‘It seems eminently proper that we should accept endowments for the purpose of doing good in the world.’ From this simple yet profound statement, the fund, now known as The Rotary Foundation, was born. From humble beginnings, it has now become one of the largest and most prestigious international fellowship programs in the world.

Disease prevention and treatment is one of the Rotary Foundation's Areas of Focus and one in which many of us would be aware of the numerous projects around the world supported by clubs and the Foundation. The world relies on Rotary to tackle these global challenges and to set an example for others to follow.

This month we examine our role in promoting improved health at home and abroad and supporting these vital programs that contribute not only to healthy communities but peaceful communities.

For many years, Karrinyup Rotary has supported ShelterBox Australia, with a budget allocation for disaster relief annually. ShelterBox teams work with disaster-hit families, offering emergency shelter and other essential items to support them in rebuilding their lives. This committment has earned Karrinyup Rotary a Shelterbox Bronze Champion Award for 2022-2023. These awards are accorded to Rotary clubs that have committed to making an ongoing impact in worldwide disaster response by supporting ShelterBox annually for three consecutive financial years.

Give A ;Feed, which started in 2011, is an initiative of the Rotary Club of Heirisson. With generous support from the WA community, the goal in 2023 is to provide over 3,000 Give A Feed Festive Hampers to West Australian families in need.

The hampers are packed by volunteers and distributed by Foodbank WA to ensure they reach the most vulnerable in our community.​ At giveafeed.com.au anyone can donate a Christmas hamper so a family can celebrate Christmas and not go hungry. Hampers cost $30 each (tax deductible) but, thanks to Foodbank’s buying power, are packed with food worth more than twice that value. You can also donate a hamper on behalf of that special someone, who has everything.

On 22 November, nine Club members, including our exchange student Karolina, visited the InfraBuild facility in Forrestfield. They learned how coils of steel wire and reinforcement rods are converted into the intricate configurations and shapes necessary for the construction of the reinforced concrete buildings and bridges we see around us every day. InfraBuild is part of the GFG Liberty alliance which, among other entities, owns and operates the Whyalla steel electric arc furnace (EAF) works in South Australia. The group found the visit most interesting and educational.

Visitors are always welcome at our meetings and International Director Sandra McGuire was delighted to make very welcome this week's visitor Challis Wilson. As a previous stallholder at our Stirling Farmers Market, Challis is known to many of our long term members and is herself quite familiar with the fundraising aspect of our club. Attending on the evening of the the Annual General Meeting and project update gave her another insight into our club. She enjoyed the evening.

On Sunday 26 November, we recognized twelve years of operation of the Stirling Farmers Market. As always, we celebrated the birthday in style with a bumper market, full of all the favourite produce and with special activities for the kids (music, face-painting, faeries and pony rides). This year it also incorporated the City of Stirling's spectacular Trackless Tram Trial and the City also added giant games and a huge bouncy castle to the mix! It was quite a show but let us look back to when it all began.

As advertised, the 2023 AGM was conducted on 21 November at the Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club. Members in attendance, together with proxies received, made up a quorum and the required number of votes. Past President Jenni Wilke advised the 2022 - 2023 Annual Report would be circulated in the near future. The Treasurer's report was presented and accepted. The auditor was re appointed for the 2023 - 2024 year. Nominations for Board positions for the 2024 - 2025 Rotary year were received and these duly elected. 

In her update this week, Karolina related that she had her final surf lesson at which she was the photographer. She enjoyed the day at the beach. At school, she completed sewing an amazing dark blue dress. School is now finished for the summer. A highlight was an excursion to Northam with Kay to help with the hands on community service project. On the way home, she visited an op shop, where she bought several pairs of shoes. She has moved to her second host family in Gwellup and has more time for outings with club members.

It was lovely to have Rotarian partner Marilyn Woodland join us for our meeting this week. Marilyn came along especially to hear the guest speaker Don Woodland, who just happens to be her brother-in-law. Marilyn is seen here with President Kay, who warmly welcomed her to the meeting. Members are always encouraged to bring partners, visitors and guests to our club meetings.

Les Woodland introduced his brother Don Woodland, an experienced tandem sky diver and former Australian Parachute Federation examiner. A skydiver for over 40 years, thirty years as an instructor and more than 11,000 jump on his record, his presentation was entitled 'Skydiving for Fun from a Tandem Master.' In 2019, Don was part of the team of record-setting Australians skydiving as a 130-person freefall formation. Members had numerous questions for Don.

Trigg Art club members are holding a one-day sale on Saturday 25th November from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at Trigg Island SLSC, 360 West Coast Drive, Trigg. This is an opportunity for everyone to buy some local art at affordable prices. What could be better as a gift than something produced here in the northern suburbs? Christmas is around the corner and if you can't think of anyone to buy a piece of art for why not come along and treat yourself? All profits after costs will be donated to the Trigg Island SLSC. Come along and support a worthy cause.

We had the opportunity to help a family in need, whose home has recently been destroyed by fire. Six Rotarians from Karrinyup Rotary and Como Rotary together with five members of Western Force descended on the West's house in Northam to help clean up after a fire in July resulted in serious smoke damage to their home. The group emptied the house and cleaned all moveable gear, so that the family can begin renovating. The driving force behind making this happen was President Kay! A heartfelt letter of thanks, has been received from Laura West. That is what Rotary is all about! Many thanks to all concerned.

Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of First World War hostilities and honour all who have died in the line of duty. Our club supported the Rotary Club of Osborne Park, who were joined by the 10th Light Horse Association and the military section of the Veteran & Classic Car Club of WA, for a Memorial Service conducted by the RSLWA Osborne Park Sub Branch in the Rotunda at Lake Gwelup Reserve. DG Ineke Oliver laid a wreath on behalf of Rotary. Karrinyup Rotary supplied morning tea for community members, who stayed to socialise and view the veteran cars.  See more photos.

We are so very proud of our lovely Rotary Youth Exchange student Karolina this week! After school on Tuesday she anticipated that after a long day helping out with the carer project in Northam and then driving back to Perth, her host mum Kay would be quite tired, when she finally arrived home. Karolina took it upon herself to go to Woolworths on her way home from school and shop for all the provisions she would need to make a very special Polish dinner for Kay to sit down to on arrival. Thank you for being so thoughtful, Karolina!

At this year's Rotary Convention, Rotary Club of Karrinyup members made a commitment to send three hundred EndTrachoma bags to the Goldfields. In July we saw the first part of this Convention Commitment Fulfilled, with the first one hundred bags delivered to Kalgoorlie. After a busy bee this week, the second one hundred bags are now ready to transport. Well done, team! Check out the photos of the team hard at work and enjoying a well deserved lunch afterwards.

The Karrinyup Rotary Community Service team again sponsored the City of Stirling Biennial Art Awards with a prize for the local artist. This year the judges selected two winners of the Local Art Award. President Kay Durrant and Community Service Director Mike Murphy attended the official opening on Friday 3 November, where Mike presented the awards. He is seen here with one winner - Marina van Leeuwen. The exhibition is free and open to the public until Sunday 12 November (10am – 5pm daily) so there is still time to visit.

Wheelchairs for Kids, which commenced in 1988, is an amazing initiative of Scarborough Rotary. It is run entirely by volunteers. This initiative has since helped over 54,000 children in some of the poorest countries in the world. Karrinyup Rotary has given substantial financial support to the project over many years. In addition to a wheelchair, each child receives a small blanket (knee rug) and a toy. This week the Karrinyup Rotary international team collected two dozen blankets for the cause, which were supplied by the wonderful Wembley church group knitting ladies.

Karolina updated us on her recent adventures and displayed a number of photos to tell her story. While her surf lessons are ongoing, she still has a lot to learn. Some of her happier adventures included baking pizza, going to the waterpark, her pool party for her birthday (definitely could not do that in Poland), her ice cream cake (first time ever), another party and cake at Rotary and going to yoga with Kay. A definite highlight was cooking kangaroo steaks, which she found quite delicious.

For the benefit of newer members, Russell Stokes introduced Karrinyup Rotary's only remaining Charter Member, Ian McDonagh, affectionately known to all as 'Macca'. Russell told us that Macca has been a member of our club from its earliest days. During the first two years he served as secretary and as president during the 1986-1987 Rotary year. Macca spoke to a fabulous presentation of historical photos and regaled us with interesting and amusing stories from yesteryear. These days he spends most of his time at the beach in Dunsborough.

This week's raffle was conducted separately. Instead of our usual quest for chocolates or a bottle of wine, Rotary Youth Exchange student Karolina organised something quite different. Members needed to have cash and tickets were $2 each or 3 for $5. All purchasers received a chocolate frog with a happy face sticker and went into the draw to win one of the lovely toys Karolina had made in her sewing class. Hilary Thraves and Beth McCormack were the lucky winners. Beth is seen here with Karolina. All proceeds will go to purchase special surprises for children, who are spending Christmas in the refuge.

Abuse and violence between partners and family members has profound impacts upon the victims, those who witness it, and also those who perpetrate it. Rotary in Western Australia is seeking to raise awareness and promote understanding in the community. Join us to say NO to Domestic Violence and YES to Respectful Relationships in a rally on 1 December at Kings Park Rotary Wishing Well.