Feature Articles Right Image (Jan 15, 2023)

Julian Badenach

Julian reminded everyone that this is the first formal Club meeting of the year,

Further points to be noted are:

Since our last meeting we have donated $2000 to assist flood affected Australian families. The funding is being administered through RAWCS. (Rotary Aust World Community Service). Project No: 31 2022-23 Victoria and Border communities flood relief fund distribution (RABS)
Our Club has also donated $1000 towards funding Rotaractors attend District Conference. Alice Terrill co-president of Whitehorse Rotaract and also District Rotaract rep says the funds will mainly go towards assisting Whitehorse Rotaractors with ticket purchasing and also accommodation She also gave us an undertaking, members of her club would be encouraged to come and speak at our club after the conference to share their DC experience.
Following on from the Board meeting , the Club has begun a process of spending some of the money accumulated in the Farmers Market kitty. The first donation will be going to EERN. They had needed funding to buy a new truck however the Lions Club have delivered much of the funds needed for this and our money will go towards obtaining necessary appliances such as vacuum cleaners and microwaved for families in need. Over the next few months, The Board hopes to select other worthwhile charities around Whitehorse and provide funding relief where we can. A few suggestions are presently under review.
Farmers Market was held on 8th January. Thanks to all the volunteers who came along.
The Rotary Recycle Treasurer needs a laptop. If anyone has plans to upgrade a home or office laptop computer, please talk to Greg if the old one is still operational. It may suit their requirements.

Julian

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Chair: Robyn Stokes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and acknowledged that the meeting was being held on the lands of the traditional custodians, the Wurundjeri-Woiwurrung People of the Kulin Nation, and paid respect to their elders, past, present and emerging. Robyn also wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year for 22 January, the Year of the Rabbit in China, Taiwan, Malaysia and others) or Year of the Cat (Vietnam). She then handed the microphone on to Julian who welcomed all of those in the room (15) and on the zoom screen 1) to the meeting.

Effectiveness of Assistance Dogs with PTSD

Guest Speaker – Dr Tiffani Howell, Senior Research Fellow in the School of Psychology and Public Health at La Trobe University.

Tiffini recently completed a four year study funded by the Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs, to understand the effectiveness of assistance dogs as an adjunct to treatment for veterans with PTSD.

Tiffani began by clarifying the definition of an assistance animal (usually a dog...there is one assistance cat on the books in Queensland!)