What a buzz there was in the room on Wednesday night. Yes, we know, the topic of Youth Protection is quite confronting, but also something that needs to be at the forefront of all that we do. All members and guests present have now had the official District training by Ken Mirams, Youth Protection District Chair, who has been visiting Clubs to ensure we are all compliant.
Our Club Protection officer, Di Scheepers, is doing such a great job, continually working behind the scenes making sure WWC cards of members and volunteers are current and that any work we do has the approval of District. Di is forever completing and sending off details about any projects we plan to do, to the District Insurance officer, in order to make sure all members and volunteers are covered should something go awry.
If you look on ClubRunner, you will see that your WWC Card information has been entered, so that at a glance, we know that anyone volunteering with children under the age of 18 holds the necessary documentation needed by the Victorian Child Safe Standards, which have been in place for all volunteer organisations working with youth since 2016.
If you would like to explore what District 9815 has in place, all their Child Safe policies can be found on our District website at https://rotary9815.org.au/sitepage/forms-and-policies/child-safe-policies-for-rotarians
Ken also pointed out that there is an online certificated course, that takes about 20 minutes to complete, called ‘Protect Youth Program Participants 2026-27’, which you can find at https://my.rotary.org/knowledge-and-resources/resources-and-reference/youth-protection
Once again, Sergeant Eric Boon had us all in stitches and worked the floor gleaning money from everyone in the room. As a few newer members realised, the sergeant never lets the truth get in the way of a good story! There was lots of laughter, which is always a great way to end a meeting.
A few other things to note:
A huge thank you to Penny Williams, PP Isobel and PP Mark Caulfield and PP Geoff Double, who cooked up a storm at the BBQ for Casey Council’s Tree Planting day last Sunday in Cranbourne. I’m not sure about the Plant based burgers, but the snags were delicious.
Another member working behind the scenes is PP Isobel Caulfield, who has visited our uniform supplier and is arranging that over the next few weeks we will be able to put in orders for some new uniforms, such as jackets, polos and hats, etc. Keep an eye out for an email with all the details.
PP Jack Kraan, lour BBQ coordinator, also announced that we will be starting the BBQ at The Berwick Farmers’ Market, which take place on the second Saturday of each month at the Old Cheese Factory, on 12th September. Also keep an eye out for a roster for this, as is would be great to ensure that we share the load here, so that it is not the same 6-8 people doing it each month.
A call to arms has also gone out to all members to put their name on the Art Screen roster, as the Art Screen hiring season, kicks off again. Please volunteer where you can, and if you have a friend or two who would like to lend a hand, please let us know, as more hands make lighter work for the rest of us.
I was also very happy to share an update about one of our BlazeAid trailers, which we gave to BlazeAid back in 2020. You will find all the details, about our trailers, and about the work that BlazeAid do, in next week’s bulletin.
I have also been chasing up some information about where the Birthing Kits we packed back in May went and this morning I received a message that they were sent to the We Yone Child Foundation in Sierra Leone.
This Sunday we have our Tree Planting project taking place in Cranbourne. As there will be no Club meeting next Wednesday, you will hear all about the day, which I am sure, under Wendy Moseley and PP Jen Marshall’s coordination will be a great success, in next week’s bulletin.
The following Saturday there will be a small working bee at SJOG hospital, where the planter boxes which Eric Boon has been making will be placed in the Maternity Ward garden. A few plants will also be added to the café garden and, weather permitting, the pond in the chapel garden will be sealed (fingers crossed the weather is kind to us).
There are lots of things happening in the club at the moment, so I hope to see you at one of these events soon.
Have a lovely week.
Cheers!
Di
Di