31 May (Sat) Comet Hill Working Bee Saturday - 9:30am till 11am. Tasks - mow as needed, weed close to the plants, mulch all around including up to the line of the carpark, remove milk cartons (stakes to stay), fertilize, water if no decent rain before then, clear rubbish.
6-9 June Taura Rotary Art Show. (Kings B'day weekend)
14 June (Sat) Pie & Port Night Rochester and Change-Over 6.30 for 7pm start at Heritage Court House
21 June 90th Anniversary celebration Castlemaine ticket purchase closes 13/6/25
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1397069
29 June - Save the Date! Bendigo Sandhurst Rotary changeover lunch at Camp Getaway.
Welcome to Issue 43 (2024-25) of our weekly bulletin. Find out about our upcoming events, our guest speakers, what we covered during the last meeting and more!
Can't make our meeting in person please join us via Zoom:
Opportunities to volunteer -for non-Rotarian friends and volunteers:
* Upcoming BBQs - Contact Kevin - 0428 996 619
Meeting Roster
28-May
4-June
11-June
18- June
Speaker
Bonni Barkmeyer
Regional News Reporter
TBC
TBC
TBC
Meeting Location
Peppergreen Farm
Peppergreen Farm
Peppergreen Farm
Peppergreen Farm
Chair
Rob Rosaia
Doug Lougoon
Stan Hendy
Chris Purton
Computer
Toni Carrington
Cathie Miller
Doug Lougoon
Ted Gretgrix
Set-Up 6.45am & pack up
Stan Hendy
Kevin Dobson
Graeme Lynas
Allie Lyall
Welcome, raffle & roaming microphone
Liz Commadeur
Ted Gretgrix
Kevin Dobson
Phil Harris
Co-Presidents Report
Co-presidents report, 21 May 2025
Our guest speakers this week were 3 members of HeadSpace, who gave us a most interesting insight into the purpose and activities of their organisation. Support, often encompassing youth mental health issues in the wider central Victorian region, are its main focus. Lindsay Rose (Manager), Asher Paton (Youth Ambassador) and Alex Caines (Vocational Peer Support Worker) generously gave us their time to explain HeadSpace’s activities and give us some examples of past successes. See Jim’s notes further in this bulletin for a fuller summary.
Two of our members, Adrian and Stewart, this week attended a Zoom meeting organised by ESRAG (Rotary’s environment and sustainability group). Professor Monica Oliphant AO, from the University of South Australia and a University Fellow at Charles Darwin University, spoke on renewable energy in the energy mix globally and here in Australia. She outlined how Australia, and in particular South Australia, is managing high penetrations of wind and solar in its electricity mix; along with some of the positive and negative issues associated with this situation, and some of the lessons learnt from the recent big blackout in Spain. It was an interesting presentation followed with time for questions and a lively discussion around the complex issue of the capture and deployment of renewable energy. Attendees included Rotary members from NZ and India.
The working bee at Comet Hill Reserve (next to Lightning Reef PS) has been postponed to Saturday morning, 31st May. The idea is to tidy up around the plants and shrubs we planted previously, and to spread mulch that Council has delivered. Wheelbarrows, tubs or buckets will be useful together with a pitchfork, rake and or shovel. Please inform Stewart if you are able to help out that morning.
Our changeover is rapidly approaching, and invitations have now been sent out to all of us. Please put the date, Sunday, 29th June, in your diaries, and RSVP to Kevin Dobson, as soon as you reasonably can, for catering purposes.
We look forward to seeing you all again next week.
Lindsay Rose (Centre Manager), Asher Paton (Youth Ambassador) and Alex Caines (Vocational Support) provided members with a comprehensive overview of the work of Headspace. Headspace is predominantly federally funded and provides free support for youth aged 12 to 25. The Headspace office, located in Pall Mall, services an area extending from the Murray almost to the metropolitan area and west as far as Swan Hill. Headspace draws on a consortia of local agencies including Bendigo Health, Anglicare and Aboriginal groups. Support is offered both physically and mentally as required.
Headspace is very conscious of the importance of young people having fulfilling and financially rewarding employment. This contributes to positive mental health and provides hope in an era of rising prices and the lack of affordable housing. Alex is well aware how meaningful employment provides a safe place for young people having been out of work himself in the past. There are no criteria such as time out of work or qualifications for youth to access vocational support. Fulfilling employment provides youth with a community connection with less reliance on social media.
Asher works in a voluntary capacity as a Youth Ambassador. He provides a voice for young people at the level of governance and he contributes to policy and program development. In this role he constantly explores ways to help young people feel comfortable about accessing the services of the centre. This is especially challenging for males who are less likely to seek support. Some 1,000 young people accessed support last year. There are high numbers of Aboriginal and LGBTQ people seeking support.
Headspace identifies mental health, physical and sexual health, work, school, study, alcohol and other drugs as the key areas where young people are needing support. Support with balancing the great opportunities provided through social media need to be balanced with the damaging aspects. Asher and Alex have a love/ hate relationship with social media. Young people are less likely to gain benefits from extended family as was the case with previous generations. The Headspace presentation provided excellent background for members as the Club further explores opportunities to support the youth in our community. We thank Lindsay, Asher and Alex for their visit and engaging presentation.
