Your correspondents will try their best to be more timely with the Heirisson Happenings this year.  So please read on ….

 

Terina gave a very good overview of the activities of the Street Doctor, which thanks to some generous local sponsorship commenced operations in Fremantle, but is now spreading to Bentley and Northbridge.   The Street Doctor operates out of three properly fitted out trucks, with each staffed by three people (doctor, nurse and counsellor).  In total 22 volunteers provide the services.  The service provides a standard GP service, which is bulk-billed.  Terina said the clients initially were mainly older me, but now there is an increasing number of women and youth using the service.  There is a smaller proportion of clients with substance abuse problems that would have been thought.  Across the clients, 98% use Street Doctor as their primary medical service, 66% have two or more chronic health problems, 22% have three or more chronic health problems, 83% have complex mental health problems and more than 35% are homeless.  Terina said funding for the service is a on-going challenge and she expressed her gratitude for the $5,000 provided by Rotary which came from the profits of the 2024 Hyde Park Fair.

 

 

 

 

 

As you know, the City of Perth were not very cooperative in supporting the Australia Day Breakfast, and at his request, an email outlining our concerns (arguments about location of banners, failure of electric power that we had paid for, additional costs not previously charged) has been sent to Cr Clyde Bevan, who will take it up with Council Staff.  Meanwhile someone must have been over-hearing our concerns as we have some of the additional costs refunded. Further, a very generous donation of $1,750 is being sent by Denyse McClements at Australia Day-Auspire.  Together with the refund from the City of Perth, and the modest profit made selling breakfasts, the event has delivered $2,280.53 to our bank balance.

 

 

 

Warwick reports that the 2024 ‘Give a Feed’ campaign achieved its target with just over 3,000 hampers delivered, representing $150,000 to pay for the hampers.  A great result and a lot of hard work for our 2024 Volunteer of the Year Warwick Smith.  Well done Warwick and we look forward to the 2025 campaign

 

 

 

Ken Mullin and his team (David Wee, David Motta, Graham Peden and others) are progress in the ‘Tiny Home’ concept, being where a self-contained small unit is located in a host household’s back garden to provide accommodation for a young person who would be otherwise homeless.  The current priority is the development of contract for use by the host household, the ‘Tiny Hime’ company and the occupant.  This is being done my a lawyer member of the team who is providing his services pro bono.

 

Grady Kneebone has settled into Finland and in the photo attached is shown surrounded by the members of his host club

 

 

Francesco has returned to school, and has also recommenced basketball, which is his passion.  Unfortunately, his team lost by just one point at the game on 9 Feb, which was sad.  He is off to Busselton on 15 and 16 February to help fellow Argentinian RYE student Mine celebrate her birthday, and then is back there the following weekend to take Mine to her School Ball!  This latter event has required Fran to borrow a suit, in which he looks very dapper.

 

Wesley Sim from Perth RC has advised that our services will not be needed at the Gunfire Breakfast this year.  The RSL have decided to deliver the event ‘in-house’.  All of those involved have agreed this is a shame as providing the breakfast to the veterans and their families has been a good service activity, and gave Rotary some profile and recognition in the community.  We shall see if the RSL change their minds for 2026.

 

 

 

Thanks to Justin, our participation in the monthly Classic Cars and Coffee bonanza is adding to our resources.  Since July 2024 (7 months), our assistance with the selling of various foods and drinks has netted the club $1,800, which is very useful indeed.  Thanks Justin!

 

 

Rotary will again be prominent at the 2025 Hyde Park Fair, With Heirisson have a stand highlighting our work in addressing homelessness, including some of the Eye Contact Portraits and a range of handouts and other information.  We will be needing members to staff the stand during the two days.

 

 

 

We have been offered place to run a sausage sizzle at Bunnings, Collier Rd, Bayswater on Sunday 27 April.  These are eagerly sought after slots and is opportunity to make about $2,000 over a day’s selling.  All we need to do is provide food and drinks for sale, and be there cooking and selling from 8 am to 4 pm.  Obviously we will need a team to cover the whole day in shifts and so watch this space!

 

Ready 4 Adventure, once a popular TV series, is now transforming into a live, interactive event where the best in 4WD, caravanning, camping, boating, and fishing comes to life.  The event will be held at Wanneroo Showgrounds.   We hope to engage as many club members and club friends as we can to manage the car parking for the three days, basically the same as we did for Big Boys Toys a few years back. Club members will be paid a fee which can go to the club (that amount and hours etc are still being finalised). Justin anticipates this to be quite the earner for the club. More information to come!