Ange’s Chat
Last Thursday we celebrated Hat Day for World Mental Health. It was an important reminder of the prevalence of mental health issues in our community; the figure quoted is 1 in 5 Australians suffer some form of mental illness each year.
Australian Rotary Health (ARH) is one of the largest independent funders of mental health research within Australia. Last week I outlined several programmes funded by ARH including the ‘Cool Kids Program’ and the ‘Teen Mental Health First Aid program’ which covers problems such as anxiety and depression, eating disorders and crisis situations like suicidal thoughts and behaviours. One Indigenous research project funded currently is the ‘Longitudinal study of wellbeing and quality of life in remote Indigenous youth’. ARH also funds Indigenous Health Scholarships.
Our guest speakers from Katungul gave us an excellent insight into Katungul’s role in mental health and its range of programmes. Our guests were Clinical Nurse Consultant Manager Ann Kelly, NDIS Coordinator Kate Rotumah, and Alcohol and Drug Caseworker Damian Rotumah. They explained the importance of providing holistic and culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal people.
Kate also chose the winner of the best hat and it really was no surprise that she selected Sandra Doyle’s very creative hat covered in beautiful butterflies.
THIS WEEK:
This week promises to be another remarkable evening with noted guest speaker John James who will talk on ‘the importance of community leadership in a too-hot world’. John has had an extraordinary career as an architect, historian, psychologist and publisher. He edits a weekly email newsletter and has often been called to talk on public radio in Australia, the UK and the US. He believes the south coast is one of the few parts of Australia that can escape the worst predictions of climate change for the future. Since 2015 he and his wife Hillary have lived at Brogo.
Please note: Charmaine continues as the person to contact if you are bringing guests so please contact her by Tuesday afternoon with any additional guests.
THE WEEK THAT WAS
As Charmaine outlined, last week we supported Australian Rotary Health (ARH) on World Mental Health Day by hosting a Hat Day as part of ARH’s national ‘Lift the Lid on Mental Illness’ fundraising campaign. The ARH is one of the largest independent funders of mental health research in Australia. Mental health is one of ARH’s four focus areas; ARH funds mental health research in three ways: research grants, Ian Scott PhD Scholarships, and Postdoctoral Scholarships.
A few points from Katungul’s presentation:
- Katungul staff do a lot of travelling. Centres in Batemans Bay, Narooma and Bega/Eden, but cover from just north of Batemans Bay to the Victorian border
- They have about 200 clients on their books; about 110 would be active
- Drug/ alcohol addiction often go hand in hand with mental health issues
- .Ann Kelley said she is very impressed with the Aboriginal Medical Service model
- Family violence issues lead to accommodation crisis
- It’s only when the client is ready to help themselves is any progress made
- Successful men’s group
- Katungul’s goal is for anyone with alcohol or drug addiction and associated mental health issues to have access to culturally safe, timely and quality care and advice.
(Not the) International Toast:
In fitting with Hat Day last week, Charmaine White instead to toast Australian Rotary Health and the tremendous work they do, including supporting research into mental health.
OUT AND ABOUT
We sponsor Narooma High robotics team
Our Board last week voted $500 towards the sponsorship of Narooma High’s Robotics team for team shirts and publicity material for 2020.
Bay Rotary and ‘Lift their lids’ plus poems
Batemans Bay Rotarians have their Hat Night for Australian Rotary Health this Thursday when they will be joined by the Rotary Caravanners at the Soldiers Club. They’e expecting about 110 for dinner, including partners and friends. The Rotary Caravanners, more formally known as the Recreational Vehicle Fellowship of Rotarians (Aust) Inc, are having a muster this week for their National AGM.at the Big 4 Caravan Park at Nelligen.
Organisers say Hats at the Bay can be ‘Foreign, Fashion or Fun’ and there will be a gold coin donation to enter. Participants are also asked to take along poems to entertain the throng. Should be a good night.
NEXT WEEK:
World Polio Day on Thursday 24 October
Narooma is one of many Rotary clubs around the world hosting events to celebrate World Polio Day. We will host the Narooma premiere of ‘Ride Like a Girl’. So let’s fill the Kinema and encourage everyone to dress up as if they were going to the races, with a prize for ‘Fashions on the Field’.
Chris O’Brien has kindly offered to source drinks and nibbles from Dalmeny IGA, while others will add sandwiches, dips and sweets to our offering. David and Rachel McInnes are organising the raffle; could everyone please contribute a prize for the raffle; a variety of gifts adds to the fun. Please bring raffle prizes this week.
The Polio pullup banner will be prominent near the door and the 10 minute Youtube clip about the history of Polio will screen before ‘Ride Like a Girl’. What a great night!