9 minute read
Helping Hands
Above: Debbie Daley (Rotary Club of Fitzroy, and Ann Dwyer, Gordon Luck, Del Rowley and Chris Cunynghame.
It’s not an uncommon occurrence to be walking through the office with a file in one hand and a coffee in the other, when your phone begins to ring. The resultant juggling act we perform in order to answer our phone without spilling coffee often leads us to wish out loud for more than one set of hands. We, who live in developed countries often wish for more than we need and it’s easy to forget the plight of those across the globe who only wish for the things that we take for granted. For Mount Morgan Rotarians, Del Rowley and Ann Dwyer helping people in third-world countries is a passion that has been put on hold due to the global pandemic. Both have joined other Rotarians from throughout Queensland, Australia and the world to build dams and fit “hands” to land mine victims and to administer vaccines. Both are passionate Rotarians who have travelled overseas at their own expense to help those less fortunate. Rotary is a non-profit service club who has not only worked in Mount Morgan, but Australia-wide and across the world. The “Helping Hands” project is one such project whereby Rotarians have built and fitted hands to people in countries such as Cambodia. “Having these hands fitted have allowed people to return to work and be more independent,” Del said. As well as “Helping Hands” Rotary International has conducted a rigorous immunization program reducing the number of countries with high polio victims to one. Rotary teams have frequently travelled to the Solomon Island to help refurbish hospitals at Munda and Seghe and schools have also been suppled with desks and chairs so children didn’t have to sit on the floor. Mount Morgan Rotarians have visited Cambodia, India and the Solomon Islands. Ann and Del were accompanied to the Solomon Islands by two other Mount Morgan volunteers – Gordon Luck and Chris Cunynghame, These trips provide an array of memories, but one in particular remains fresh in Del’s memory.
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Above: Rotarian Del Rowley spends time with a Solomon Island youngster at Seghe Continued on Page11
Lending a helping hand...from Page 10. “I have a unique memory of a boat trip from Seghe to Munda at night. Everything is done on what is called “Sol time”. We were to leave Seghe by plane in the afternoon to move to Munda, but the plane was cancelled. We were to attend a Rotary meeting that night as well. Two of our Solomon Island friends offered two boats to get us the many miles to Munda and we accepted,” Del remembers. “It was a great adventure. Most of us in life jackets were in one boat and our two volunteers were in the second boat with our luggage. Our friends at Munda were quite worried about us as a storm was brewing. We had no problems and a brilliant experience.” For Del and Ann, the best rewards are seeing the happy smiling faces of the recipients and how they help to change their lives for the better. The programs are organized through a Rotary program called Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS). Ann has also travelled twice to Sri Lanka, once to Laos and twice to Cambodia with the “Helping Hands” project. In Sri Lanka, the Rotarians also took second-hand reading glasses with them. Ann has also been involved in feeding children breakfast and lunch five days a week and assisting with schooling in Cambodia through the LRDE Project which also bought a fridge for their vaccines and medication and provided donated clothing for the school. In February 2020, Ann went to India working on a dam building project. Once built, the dams require little or no maintenance or running costs, yet with one masterstroke, they strike at the core facets of social deprivation – sustainable incomes, sanitation, health and education. All Rotarians who travel overseas for these projects, pay their own fares and expenses.
Ann Dwyer checks stores. Community Advisory Network (CAN) News: Our Introductory Meeting of 2021 was held in late January. During this meeting the members unanimously reelected Wayne Linney as Chairperson for another 3 year term. The CAN also endorsed the Terms of Reference and welcomed the two new members – Michelle Emery and Cheryl McBay. Our first meeting with the full new committee is to be held on 25, February 2021. CAN members are all happy to be contacted by members of the community who may have comments, questions, or concerns regarding our Service. Members may be able to answer queries, or alternatively, be able to direct people to the appropriate personnel who can assist. Current CAN Members are: - Wayne Linney (Chairperson) ph 4912 5333 / 4912 5555, Jean Morgenstern ph 4938 1346, Margaret Pearce ph 4938 1382, Rosemary Hoffman ph 0422 631 516, Noel Barker ph 4934 0023, Garry Turnbull ph 0458 109 635, Leonie Wovat ph 4938 2262, Cheryl McBay ph 4938 2689, Michelle Emery ph 4912 5333, Gordon Luck (Director of Nursing) ph 4912 5100, Daisy Gibson (Indigenous Health Worker) ph 4912 5100 and Jayne Farrell (Secretariat) ph 4912 5100. Cardiac Rehabilitation: A reminder that Cardiac Rehabilitation is available in Mount Morgan. A referral is essential. Please contact the Admin Staff on 4912 5100 for more information. Women’s Health: The Women’s Health practitioner will be visiting Mount Morgan on the following dates: - 18/5/21, 22/6/21, 27/7/21, 24/8/21, 7/9/21, 19/10/21, 16/11/21, 2/12/21. Please phone the Admin Staff on 4912 5100 to make an appointment. Diabetes Education: Our Diabetic Educator, Pam, visits from Rockhampton on the first and third Fridays each month. Continuing clients do not need a referral, however any new clients will require a referral prior to being offered an appointment. Visitors: As we are a multipurpose facility and offer Residential Care, all visitors (Residential area or Acute Wards) to our facility are required to sign in on arrival and have their temperature checked. Visitors should then sign out when departing. If visitors go outside the facility (eg to the outside seating or carpark) then they do not need to be rechecked upon re-entry, however if a visitor leaves the premises, they may need to be checked again upon re-entry. Influenza Vaccine Clinic: Community members wishing to have a flu vaccine should contact the Hospital office to have their name and contact number added to the list. A date for this Clinic is yet to be finalised. Clients will be contacted as soon as our Facility has the vaccines available.
Get your engine revving! Are you a car or motorbike enthusiast? Before you head to Rockynats on 2–4 April have a look at Haynes car and motorbike manuals to get your vehicle in tip-top shape. Haynes Manuals AllAccess repair manuals can be used online with your library card, and best of all, it’s absolutely free. With step-by-step instructions and videos of common tasks, Haynes is a valuable resource for car and bike owners. It is mobile-friendly, printable and accessible via the Rockhampton Regional Libraries website. Pictured right is Madeleine Johnson promoting the Haynes Manuals. A limited range of manuals for older cars, bikes, small motors and tractors can be viewed in the Rockhampton History Centre at the Southside Library. Check out the online library catalogue to see if we hold a manual you need. Great eContent available 24/7. All Rockhampton Regional Libraries will be closed 2–5 April for the Easter Public Holidays. While the library buildings will be closed, all of our online content will continue to be available. eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, children’s content and more are available 24 hours a day through the Rockhampton Regional Libraries website. Ask your local library for more information or assistance in accessing our online services. Chocolate inspired books for Easter Mindfulness for chocolate lovers by Diane Gehart Apparently you can discover how to stress less and savour chocolates which sounds an ideal combination. Increase your daily dose of joy with some simple, effective mindfulness strategies. Rocky Road: the incredible true story of the fractured family behind the Darrell Lea chocolate empire by Robert Wainwright Read the fascinating story of an Australian family who made bitter sacrifices to succeed in the heady world of the candy business. Chocolate every day by Bennet Coffey Can you eat chocolate every day? We think so! This cookbook, from the founders of Not Your Sugar Mamas contains a delectable selection of sweet vegan chocolate treats to help satisfy chocolate cravings. Rockhampton Regional Libraries are located in Mount Morgan, Gracemere, South Rockhampton and North Rockhampton. It is free to become a library member. For more information please call the Mount Morgan Library on 4936 8169 or the Rockhampton Regional Library Administration Office on 4936 8043. The Mount Morgan Library is open Tuesday – Thursday 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm.
Community education, vet partnerships, and pet registrations are just some of the key items outlined in Council’s newly adopted Animal Management Strategy. The strategy was officially endorsed by Council this week and will now set the direction for animal management in the Rockhampton Region until 2023. Councillor for Planning and Regulation, Councillor Ellen Smith, said she was thrilled to see such an important document officially endorsed. “Our Local Laws staff do an incredible job yearround, and this strategy complements the work that has been done up until this point, and the work ahead,” Cr Smith said. “It’s a great public document and shares with the community how we as a Council are working toward improved responsible pet ownership in our Region. “It lists the issues we face in this area at the moment – such as unregistered pets, animal identification, and wandering pets. “What’s more though, is with each issue listed, there are strategic and tangible ways we are working to improve these. “We have some fantastic education campaigns ahead, we’re looking to roll out programs where we continue to partner with agencies and businesses both local and wider, and we even some events planned – so be sure to watch this space for details of these as we move forward.” A sweet addition to the document - Cr Smith said a number of residents may also spot some familiar furred faces in the strategy. “Some time ago, we put a call out on Facebook for residents to share pictures of their dogs with us and we were inundated. We have used many of these photos already in one of our campaigns”
