Number 10 – Volume 27 – 18 November 2019

On behalf of the Committee and myself, we would like to wish you all and your families a very Merry Christmas and good health, love and happiness throughout 2020.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my 2019/2020 committee members and their assistants for their help throughout the year. I look forward to seeing everyone in the New Year.  Thank you, Valerie

Tuesday 3^rd December – Christmas Lunch - 11.30 - 12 noon  at Cuppacumbalong Homestead, Tharwa, $45pp.   At our Meeting on Monday 18th November Members please organize car sharing for those who would rather not drive out there.  You travel out from Tuggeranong on the Tharwa Road, cross the Tharwa Bridge, turn first left before the General Store and 'Cuppacumbalong Homestead' is just up the road with a sign at the gate.  Turn in and follow the track down to the parking area on the left under the pines, before the sheds.  Walk up the road in front of the Accommodation Cottage to the Homestead.

Monday 20th January -  No visit January.

Monday 3rd February  -  TBA

Report for Monday 4th November – 41 Members of our Club, Friends and several Members of other Probus Clubs travelled to Tumut on a day trip.   Our first stop was at the Montreal Theatre where Joy & 'Archie - attired in their 'old world Usher outfits' welcomed us.  Joy gave us a brief description of how the Community bought the Theatre to avoid the possibility of it being pulled down.  Volunteers continue to maintain it and also have it open frequently for functions.  We then were shown Movie snippets from the 30's/40's and 50's.  Onto lunch next at the Bowling Club where Amy and her staff served us with alternate meals of either fish & chips & salad or Thai chicken & rice - tea & coffee.   Our next stop was the Broom Factory where we had a welcome from Geoff, a demonstration first from Robert and then Geoff.  The Millet for the brooms is now purchased from Mexico as the local farm no longer grows it.  Robert explained, the harvesting of Millet can only be done by hand so it's not viable and very time consuming.  There is not - as yet- a means to harvest mechanically.  Several brooms were purchased.

Kel gave us a short drive around Tumut on our way to the African Violet Nursery.  We had a talk by our 'hosts' on the art of growing African Violets, a question and answer session then on to the serious business of buying the plants, pots and fertilisers.  Quite a few boxes of goodies joined the brooms in the storage compartment. A very enjoyable day indeed.

Monday 18^th November – Joan Crook – Christmas Arrangements.

Monday 20^th January 2020 – ‘Getting to Know You’

Monday 17th February  - Dr Sue Packer AM, ACT Senior Citizen of the Year 2019.

Report Monday 21st October - Sandra Goldstraw, a former nurse and midwife and now D9710 Chair of the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) was our guest speaker. Sandra had only just returned from the United Kingdom, so we were very impressed by her commitment to speak to us about her work with this amazing organisation. Since starting 32 years ago in Australia and New Zealand, ROMAC has been instrumental in arranging lifesaving medical treatment not accessible in their home countries for over 500 seriously ill children from more than 20 developing countries. A not-for-profit body relying on donations, ROMAC – with no paid staff, no leased offices – makes this life-saving treatment happen only through the generous donation of time and expertise of eminent surgeons and Rotarians persistent volunteer efforts. In the ACT, since 2007, 30 to 35 children have received life-saving treatment at an annual cost of around $1.3 million.

In countries like Thailand, Vanuatu, Timor Leste, Solomon Islands, a child falls dramatically ill and is taken to the village clinic, but no treatment is available. The child is then sent to the local hospital, but still there’s no treatment. If possible, a referral is made to the ROMAC Medical Team, who then has to consider the urgency of treatment and the likelihood of a hopeful outcome.

Once ROMAC accepts that treatment is possible in Australia without disadvantaging the availability of treatment for an Australian child, establishing the formal identity of the sick child and mother can be fraught with obstacles and delays. All the while the child’s condition is worsening, there’s a scramble to get birth certificates and passports so visas can be granted by the Australian embassy or high commission. In the meantime, ROMAC is considering the cost of the treatment and starting negotiations with hospitals and surgeons in Australia. When all is finally ready, the very ill child and, usually, the mother face the daunting prospect of leaving the village and, for the very first time, flying in a plane to a completely strange, far-away country.

Sandra spoke eloquently of her commitment and dedication to each child and mother. When they arrive in Canberra, she meets then settles them into accommodation, usually with her, arranging for an interpreter if needed. During their stay, she makes sure both the child and mother are as comfortable as possible for as long as the treatment lasts. After its conclusion, and the child is back home, ROMAC continues to provide support to ensure the recovery progresses. Sandra is forever linked with the children and their mothers she has supported and is delighted whenever she receives photos of the now well and healthy children, happily sharing her collection with us.

Thank you for your donations to the St John’s Care Christmas Appeal. They are very grateful for your past and ongoing support.

.  Notice from Treasurer Colleen - If you have your name down for the Christmas Lunch on Tuesday 3rd December payment of $45 needs to be made at the next meeting on 18th November please.

MAHJONG GROUP Meets every second Thursday 11.30 – 4pm at a members home. Contact - 

BOOK SWAP  Members bring a book they enjoyed to our Probus meetings and put it in the box for people to borrow.  Contact -.

Next Meeting: Monday 20^th January 2020 10am Robertson Room, St John’s Church Hall

Next Committee Meeting:  13^th January 2020, 10am  89 Dunstan Street, Curtin