Our guest speaker on 6 September was Alison Cook who gave a terrific by sobering talk about the situation facing people seeking refuge from wars, famine, political oppression, and other disasters.  She works for Red Cross who provide a range of services to refugees and asylum seekers.  She provided many facts about just how many people who are either on the move, or who are trapped in impossible situations.  According the Red Cross website (see https://www.redcross.org.au/act/help-refugees/refugee-facts/),  In the past decade, the number of people displaced from their home has doubled, from 41 million to 82.4 million. Red Cross and Red Crescent works with these people all over the world: in the places they flee from, the places they pass through, and the places they arrive. 

Alison dispelled a lot of myths about asylum seekers and refugees and noted that it is not illegal for a person to arrive in Australia by any means and seek asylum.  Compared to many countries, Australia is hosting relatively few refugees.  For example, throughout 2020, Bangladesh continued to host 854,782 people in a refugee-like situation from Myanmar and in 2018 Turkey granted temporary protection to 397,600 refugees from Syria.  In 2019-20, Australia granted refugee status to 14,993 people, either through resettlement from other countries or granting protection to people who had applied for asylum in Australia. 

In Red Cross’ experience, the majority of people seeking asylum living in the community do so with access to limited formal supports and resources.  They want to work and be self-reliant, but often find it difficult, due to a combination of factors, which is where Red Cross valuable support.

 

 

 

The ‘Eye Contact’ exhibition is in Canberra, and was to be exhibited in Parliament House on Monday 12 September.  However, the passing of HM The Queen has meant that Parliament is not sitting, and so the exhibition has been postponed.  It is hoped that it will be exhibited on 21 November, after which the Exhibition will return to Perth.  Unfortunately, this will mean that bookings planned at John Septimus Roe School and the City of Canning will have to be cancelled, and rescheduled for a future date.  Ken Mullin will provide a further update at our next meeting.

 

 

At the last Board Meeting, it was agreed that the Club donate $500 to the 2022 ‘Socks in the City’ campaign, which will be used to purchase socks or underwear depending upon what is needed by the homeless support agencies we work with.

 

 

Last Saturday, Allan McLean and his granddaughter Bella along with Jim attended the Girrawheen HS  Performing Arts stage show called "Orbit". It was an extremely clever and enjoyable dance show with a theme of a solar system search for a habitable planet to replace the one we're making such a mess of. One particularly enjoyable feature was a big screen at the back of the stage showing various video of rocket launches and interplanetary travel of two young Girrawheen lads hamming it up with humorous sequences of events going wrong. The show was absolutely marvelous and the dancing surprisingly good so please, when the event happens next year, make an effort to go because it is free and a really excellent night. Not only that but Heirisson Rotary members get VIP seating!

 

 

Richard Nolan is organising the judging for applicants for the January 2023 National Youth Science Forum.  Please let Richard (0450 193 102) know if you are able to help out.  This is always an excellent activity, an if you get involved, you will meet some truly inspiring young people (Year 11) who are keen to pursue their passions in STEM areas.  And, there will be a good morning tea!

 

 

 

We have been in discussions with Lesley Warren and Neil Harvey from the East Perth Community Group and we will be joining with them in participating in this year’s ‘Brass on the Grass’  Festival, which will be held on Wednesday 7 December.  Nothing is planned yesterday, but if you have ideas about what we can provide in the way of food, and also if you want to be involved, please put the date in your diary.  Let us just hope it is not as hot as it was last year! (see photo attached)

 

 

Although a long way off (April 2023), we will need to start getting serious about planning this event, which will again be held in partnership with the Rotary Club of Mill Point.  What we need is someone from Heirisson who is prepared to locate other community organisations – termed beneficiaries – who are prepared to promote the event, and sell tickets in return for a share of the returns.  If you are that person, please let Don Burnside know.