The Morelander Edition 6 2020-21 - 1 September 2020

Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Moreland

EDITION 6|1 SEPTEMBER 2020

THE MORELANDER

FIONA PATTEN MP

The Member for the Northern Metrpolitan Region talks to our club about current issues in Victoria

Award of Excellence for Club Bulletin 2018-2019

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Moreland Rotary acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we conduct our business. Moreland Rotary respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging. Moreland Rotary also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

Cover photo courtesy of Fiona Patten MP THE MORELANDER

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Fiona Patten MP, Member for Northern Metroplitan, visits our club It proved to be very timely to have our good friend and one of our local members, Fiona Patten MP, Leader of the Reason Party in the Victorian Parliament, visit and address our weekly meeting last Wednesday 26 August. Fiona is well known to Moreland Rotary as an occasional visitor to our weekly meetings and events such as our Australia Day Merri Creek walks. She is an open supporter of Rotary and the work of our club.

The timeliness of Fiona’s visit was due to her role in working with fellow Victorian Upper House crossbench members to seek a compromise with the governing Labor party on legislation giving government powers further emergency powers. As a second termer she has quickly been elevated to being a senior spokesperson for the eleven crossbenchers most of whom are in their first term in parliament.

As a result she has popped up in all forms of media and, as at our meeting, spoke very calmly about the reasoning for a compromise solution.

Fiona spoke of her personal experiences during the lockdown restrictions, which included many phone calls to her electorate office expressing concerns on people who are uncertain of lockdown restrictions single people with loneliness issues people not being able to friends and family Other points noted included – that 500,000 Victorians are not able to receive visitors problems with people not knowing how to continue relationships which is the toughest part Fiona expressed real concerns with mental health issues on which the statistics are telling a sad story. She was surprised to learn of an unprecedented three suicides in the CBD during the previous week – with loneliness and anxiety the principal reasons. Club member Brian Bennett ( a former State manager with funeral services business Invocare) confirmed that former colleagues had observed a significant increase in funerals for suicide victims.

Fiona took some time to explain her position in not supporting the proposed legislation for increased government powers on state of emergency (SOE) extensions.

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She made the following points – Why would business set up in Victoria if there is a long term state of emergency?

Government needs to consider a dedicated SOE oversight committee SOE gives power to CHO, delegate or minister to make the rules Need to be more specific for COVID laws – especially in workplaces etc Infections are mostly in health/aged care - where SOE is not required AMA is calling for changes as well Nurses are most commonly catching COVID Need to consider the fact that police also have carte blanche controls under the state of disaster (SOD) regulations -.

She wanted to see more cooperation on COVID issues, supported by a lot more positive conversation until the COVID recovery and the avoidance of blame games. A no fault approach is needed. She acknowledged that some things will be done differently in the future, hopefully with the benefit of hard lessons learnt.

Fiona expressed deep concern that Parliament needs to recommence as soon as possible even though she has been supportive of the CHO presentations to date.

The meeting concluded with an update of a range of Club projects and activities for which Fiona was incredibly grateful.

The members present expressed congratulations to Fiona for her dedicated work and reminded her that she is always welcome at the club.

Text: Barry Hahn | Images: Morelanrotary.orgd Youth and David Redfearn

Text: Trevor Moyle | Image: courtesy of Fiona Patten MP

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Call us on 0448 852 747 or email us: moreland@rotary9790.org.au

THE MORELANDER

Images and Text: RI and David Redfearn|

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About Rotary District Governor's Newsletter "Bruce's Bulletin" is the monthly newsletter of District Governor Bruce Anderson. There is a lot of information about the many Rotary projects and events across our District.

Simply click here to read the latest edition Members of Rotary are part of a diverse group of community and professional leaders working to address community and international service needs and to promote peace and understanding throughout the world.

Rotary districts are a way of grouping a number of clubs in a particular geographic area. The area covered quite often crosses state and even international boundaries.

Rotary District 9790 encompasses the northern Rotary clubs receive a charter suburbs of Melbourne and from the worldwide organisation - stretches north and north east of Rotary International.

Victoria to the Murray River and up into parts of NSW. A Rotarian belongs to a particular Rotary Club often near his/her For more information about home or work or sometimes Rotary District 9790, click here because of the club meeting time.

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Upcoming events and meetings A standing invitation exists for all readers of The Morelander to attend Moreland Rotary Club meetings and some of our other events. Please let us know if you intend to join us by ringing David Redfearn on 0448 852 747 or emailing on dredfearn@vtown.com.au (click on email address).

Upcoming speakers/events 2 September:Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne (via Zoom) Chair: John Hoffmann 9 September: Monthly Board meeting (via Zoom) Chair: President David Redfearn 16 September: Assistant Governor Emma Davis, Behind the Badge (via Zoom) Chair: Trevor Moyle 23 September: Lani Harris, ARH Indigenous Scholar (via Zoom) Chair: Rosemary Freeman Our Guest Speakers Moreland Rotary Club invites speakers to our club both from our local community and further afield. They come from a wide range of backgrounds and are invited because they hopefully inform and stimulate our members and guests. We feel that this is of value in fostering a deeper understanding of our diverse community and even providing guidance as to the types of activites and projects our club may engage in.

However the opinions expressed by our speakers do not necessarily reflect any official viewpoint of Moreland Rotary nor those of individual club members. Irrespective of this we always offer a warm Rotary welcome to all of our speakers.

click here @RotaryMoreland THE MORELANDER

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Rotary Leadership 2020-21

Rotary International: President: Holger Knaack (Susanne) , Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenberg-Mölln (Germany) District Governor: Bruce Anderson (Marilyn), Rotary Club of Strathmore Assistant Governor Group 2: Emma Davis, Rotary Club of Strathmore Rotary Club of Moreland President: David Redfearn (Deanna)

Club Service Roles 2020-21

President Secretary Treasurer Club Service Community Service Vocational Services International Service and Assistant Bulletin Editor Membership and Rotary Foundation Local Environment Youth and Assistant Secretary Club Administration Bulletin Editor Australian Rotary Health Public Relations Club History Valued members Honorary Members

David Redfearn OAM Rosemary Freeman John Hoffmann Brian Bennett David Redfearn OAM Brian Bennett Trevor Moyle Trevor Moyle Jo Connellan Silvana De Pretto Nino Galgano David Redfearn OAM Rosemary Freeman Russell Stuckey Nino Galgano Richard McCarthy, Elly Gardner, Lee Garwood The Hon. Kelvin Thomson, Helen Bailey, John Awler

District 9790 /Multi District Roles 2019-20

District Community Service Chair and Australian Rotary Health District Legal Officer Coordinator Peter Toomey Community Police Award Shine On Awards

Rosemary Freeman Nino Galgano David Redfearn OAM Brian Bennett

WHEN AND WHERE WE MEET: Moreland Rotary Club meets most Wednesdays at 7.30 for a 7.40 am start.

Breakfast meetings tem pora We meet at the Sorrento Bar, 801 Sydney Road, rilyBrunswick, suspen3056 ded

HOW TO GET A COPY OF THE MORELANDER: If you would like to receive our bulletin via email each week, email our editor at: dredfearn@vtown.com.au WHERE TO SEND FORMAL CORRESPONDENCE: Attention: The Secretary, Moreland Rotary Club, PO Box 219, Coburg, Victoria, 3058

Chartered 14 August 1996 - Sponsor Club Coburg Rotary Club | Incorporated 13 August 2019 Designed using Canva - www.canva.com

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Images by David Redfearn and logos from rotary.org unless otherwise specified.

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During the pandemic we are meeting via Zoom on Wednesday mornings from 7.30-8.30 am and we have some great guest speakers.

Why not join us one morning? Simply ring David on 0448 852 747 the day before to RSVP and then go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87077765173 just before the meeting to join in.