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OUR SUPPORTERS & AWARDS
AWARDS
Dr Justin Chapman is the 2020 recipient of the Australian Rotary Health Mental Health Impact Award. ARH Director Roger Crawfoot (left) made the presentation.
Australian Rotary Health sponsors an annual award for knowledge dissemination through the Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR) to a recipient who has shown outstanding service in the promotion of evidence-based interventions, implementing them into practice or making the public more aware of their existence.
Dr Chapman is a Postdoctoral Research Officer in the Child and Youth Mental Health Research Group at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and his work spans research, mental health service and community sectors including the design, implementation and evaluation of PCYC’s Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds - an exercise and nutrition program for people living with, or recovering from, mental illness.
AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH “MEDAL”
Lyn Jones has been awarded the Australian Rotary Health “Medal” in 2021 for her outstanding fundraising and promotional efforts. Lyn conducted a very effective Partners Program involving all clubs in District D9510. She held several successful fundraising events including an open day in the family’s impressive garden and a very profitable wine sales event. Congratulations Lyn, well deserved.
OUR SUPPORTERS
ROTARY CLUB OF HIGHTON (VIC)
In July 2020, the Rotary Club of Highton (VIC) presented a cheque for $2,178 for Australian Rotary Health during their club Zoom meeting. Some of the money was raised during an online raffle. ARH Director Jane Cox was pleased to accept the cheque on our behalf.
MICHAEL & THE LATE JUANITA WRIGHT (QLD)
In September 2020, Michael and Juanita Wright from North QLD were awarded their Emerald Companion by ARH Director Mark Lean. The pair have donated more than $50,000 to Australian Rotary Health, with the majority of the funds supporting youth suicide research. Juanita sadly passed away early in 2021.
ROTARY CLUB OF TAREE ON MANNING (NSW)
In November 2020, ARH Director Brian Beesley presented a Golden Microscope Award to the Rotary Club of Taree on Manning for their continuous support of Australian Rotary Health.
BARRY THOMPSON, PAST ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR
Barry Thompson (right) from the Rotary Club of Padstow received a Gold Companion Certificate and pin for his long-term support of Australian Rotary Health research in November 2020, by ARH Director Stephen Humphreys.
PAST CHAIRMAN PDG GREGORY ROSS
We would like to thank and acknowledge our past chairman PDG Gregory Ross for his dedication to his role on the Board of Directors for the past three years. Greg was the brains behind our Lift the Lid on Mental Illness campaign, which has become very successful over the years. Greg finished his term as Chairman in December 2020 and was awarded life membership of ARH at the February 2021 board meeting.
JENNIE STEWART
In December 2020, Jennie Stewart was awarded a Gold Companion award from Gregory Ross for her thirty years of service to the District 9810 Ride for Research.
In that time Jennie has been treasurer, secretary, rider, support driver and mentor. She retired from the ride this year.
HADLEIGH FISCHER –RESILIENCE AGENDA
Hadleigh Fischer from the Resilience Agenda generously supported Australian Rotary Health again this year. They offered a discount on their 2021 mental fitness diaries for supporters of ARH. A further contribution of $10,000 was made to mental health research. Check out their mental fitness diaries at: https://www.resilienceagenda.com/
COMMONWEALTH BANK – PARRAMATTA BRANCH
In January 2021, Australian Rotary Health was very grateful to receive a $500 community donation from our local Commonwealth Bank branch in Parramatta.
These funds will help to Lift the Lid on Mental Illness by going directly into research aimed at improving the mental health of young Australians.
Promotions & Mental Health Research Manager Jessica Cooper received the donation on behalf of ARH.
ROTARY CLUB OF GRANVILLE (NSW) – JOSEPHINE & ROSS REDFERN
In March 2021, Australian Rotary Health CEO Joy Gillett OAM attended a meeting at the Rotary Club of Granville to celebrate the lives of the late Josephine and Ross Redfern, who generously bequeathed $1 million to Australian Rotary Health to support research.
PhD Scholar Sophie Russell was also invited to the event to give a talk about her research project, which is supported by the bequest. Her project at the University of Wollongong focusses on family mental health and associations with parent-child conversations.
The generous bequest has allowed for this scholarship to be ongoing. A new scholar will be selected in 2023.
VAL HENRY
In February, 2021, District 9810 ARH representative Glenn Tippett had the pleasure of presenting Val Henry from the Rotary Club of Boronia with a Ruby Companion for her very substantial support of Australian Rotary Health and its projects over many years.
SARAH WALSH
Sarah Walsh from Rotary Club of Glenelg walked the Coast Park Trail (a 70km walk along the beautiful Adelaide Coast line) to raise awareness and funds for Australian Rotary Health mental health research.
LYNNE STRUDWICKE
In April 2021, Lynne Strudwicke from the Rotary Club of Rockingham took on the 1,005km Bibbulmun Track to support Australian Rotary Health mental health research.
Lynne decided to do the walk after a member of her Rotary Club’s son was lost to suicide. She raised $4,635 for research.
LYN JONES
In April 2021, Rotary District 9510 held its annual District Conference and Lyn Jones organised a fundraiser to promote Australian Rotary Health, raising over $7,000! Part of this fundraising initiative included a wine wall and silent auction.
ROTARY PASSPORT CLUB OF SYLVANIA WATERS (NSW)
In May 2021, the Rotary Passport Club of Sylvania Waters presented a cheque for $42,000 at the Australian Rotary Health Parramatta office. This money was raised at a gala dinner and auction and will partially fund a Funding Partner PhD Scholarship project in Multiple Sclerosis.
