A hot weekend resulted in the cancellation of the Perth Makers Market. While I was relieved to stay out of the heat, this represents a loss of income of about $3800 which unfortunately cannot be passed on to our many worthy community partners. I welcome any community fundraising ideas that may make up this shortfall to ensure we can continue to deliver for our community.
The board of Applecross Rotary met in the last week, with further commitments made to the community which will be detailed at our next breakfast meeting. It continues to be extremely satisfying to notify community organisations of our support, which in many cases can make or break a key community project. We welcome the opportunity for further collaborations that create strong local impact."
Visitors at last meeting included Sara David AM, Founder of Living Child Inc, a wonderful charity supported by our Club. Sara brought along one of her volunteers, Deborah Badger from Lake Grace. Deb is interested in learning more about Rotary and hopefully will join us when she moves to Perth. Sara was also congratulated on her recent graduation with a Master’s degree, based on her research with training midwives in isolated communities in PNG.
RYE outbound applications close 31 March and the District Committee (which now includes Graeme Fardon) will begin reviewing these on 30 April. The selected Outbound RYEs will head overseas in January 2025.
When Helen and I moved to WA in 1969 we often drove past a set of buildings in Thomas Street Subiaco, opposite King’s Park, signed as “Homes of Peace”. This was in fact the first nursing home of what was later to become Brightwater Care Group. The number of nursing homes expanded and in the 1980s, the services and structure of the ‘Homes of Peace’ evolved further. A unit was established at each home to develop age-appropriate services for young people with acquired disability.
The ‘Homes of Peace’ was originally established in 1901 and changed its name to Brightwater Care Group in 1997 to reflect the new and dynamic nature of the organisation.
Brightwater cares for people with neurological disability, injury or illness, and people who are ageing. With 22 locations between Joondalup and Mandurah, Brightwater cares for people of all ages and abilities, including clients living with dementia, Huntington’s disease and acquired brain injury. Home care is also part of Brightwater’s portfolio.
However, it was Huntington's disease that was the focus of the presentation by Nicola Bedwood, supported by Adriana Filippou and Janet Wagland.
So, here are the results of my survey about Huntington’s disease (where n=1=me!)
Have you heard of this disease before today Yes=100% Is it always fatal No=0%
Well then, here’s a summary from the Mayo Clinic:
Huntington's disease is a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington's disease has a wide impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, thinking (cognitive) and psychiatric disorders. Huntington's disease symptoms can develop at any time, but they often first appear when people are in their 30s or 40s. When Huntington's develops earlier than this, symptoms are somewhat different and the disease may progress faster. Medications are available to help manage the symptoms of Huntington's disease. But treatments can't prevent the physical, mental and behavioural decline associated with the condition.
The fatality rate is 100% Not surprisingly, suicide is common. Voluntary Assisted Dying is now legal everywhere in Australia. Is that something that should be raised when a person is diagnosed, while they are still legally capable of making decisions about themselves? At the very least they should be encouraged to make an Advanced Health Directive. I have made one, and so should everyone, in my opinion.
The inherited nature of the disease is simply this: if you have Huntington’s disease it is quite likely one of your children will also acquire the disease. A simple gene test will determine this. The thing is that it is possible the person diagnosed with the disease already has children and that’s where the conversation becomes more difficult. Your can test a foetus - then what? You can test your kids - then what?
So many ethical questions need to be discussed.
The reality is that Huntington’s disease is part of our community and as a key organisation that works in the local community, Rotary is in a position to provide support. I’m told that the Southern Districts Rotary Club has been doing this for quite a while. The particular assistance currently being requested is to help Brightwater complete the community of houses being constructed at Piara Waters, for people living with Huntington’s disease. Stay tuned!
At our local cluster meeting last week, there was quite a discussion around reducing the direct costs to members… who are ALL volunteers, of being part of their local Rotary club. This year, the District and International dues will come in at just under $300, made up of a number of components. District Insurance makes up $51.50 of the total and this can be charged to the Service/Activities Account as it is a direct cost of the role we play.
If you wish to further reduce the costs, it is perfectly legal and acceptable to CLEARLY ADVISE/ADVERTISE to/the public, when fund raising, that ALL or PART of the funds raised will ‘go towards growing and developing Rotary in our local area’. I am advised that this is a growing trend and that there have been no questions arising from the public. For a club of 25 members, to reduce the costs by a further $100 per member, would mean retaining $2,500 from funds which would otherwise be given back to our community.
Of course, there are other ways to further reduce the direct costs -
* Many clubs are reducing the regularity of ‘meal’ included meetings.
* Many clubs are meeting at venues where the cost of a meal is optional, or perhaps just a tea or coffee. Dome has become a great option, where available.
This is a good discussion to be had at club level if it is seen as a deterrent to gaining or holding club members.
2. Rotary Vic Park, a great little club! Checkout their bully "The Victoria Spark", click here
3. UPCOMING EVENTS
The Rotary year gets very cluttered in the lead up to June!
However:
Don’t miss Melville Rotary Paul Harris Birthday social get-together for our clubs this Friday, 23rd, at Tompkins Park, just off Canning Highway. Pay your own for drinks and eats, and enjoy the great views across the Swan, to the city. 5.30 pm and later.
Rotary Western Australia Action Day, 13th of April, at Maylands ‘The Rise’. Full day of activities.
LOOKING FORWARD TO AN UPDATE AT THIS WEEK'S BREAKFAST MEETING
Our Exchange student has decided he wants to walk part of the Bibbulmun Track for his birthday (on 6 April) but his cruel hearted Mentor has told him he can’t unless:
He is accompanied by a member of Applecross Rotary
He has the written approval of President Tom
He has the written approval of his father or mother.
His response has been to get some of the other inbound Exchange students to join him on the trek and advise them of the conditions (see above bullet points).
The current plan is a walk of two to three days during the school holidays after Easter, finishing in Albany in time to go to the weekly dinner meeting of the Rotary Club of Albany Port.
So if you’d like to help him meet the first criterion, please contact Ian “Cruel Heart” Fairnie <ianfairnie@gmail.com> or our very determined Exchange Student from Bavaria! <valentin@vorholz.de>
A couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a check-up, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing thingsdown to help them remember...
Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair 'Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?' he asks.
'Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?'
'Sure.'
'Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?' she asks.
'No, I can remember it.'
'Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so as not to forget it?'
He says, 'I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.'
'I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?' she asks.
Irritated, he says, 'I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness' sake!'
Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment.
Applecross Rotarian Tim Inglis is a medical microbiologist who has been working on sepsis and its diognosis since the 1980s1. Tim is an Associate Professor with the School of Pathology Medice UWA and a consultant microbiologist with PathWest Laboratory Medicine's North Metro Network. Tim heads a translational research group with interests in antimicrobial resistant sepsis and other emerging infectious diseases2.
When Helen and I moved to WA in 1969 we often drove past a set of buildings in Thomas Street Subiaco, opposite King’s Park, signed as “Homes of Peace”. This was in fact the first nursing home of what was later to become Brightwater Care Group. The number of nursing homes expanded and in the 1980s, the services and structure of the ‘Homes of Peace’ evolved further. A unit was established at each home to develop age-appropriate services for young people with acquired disability.
