Drouin Rotary answer the call
Legacy Widows
About 40 widows and legatees met in December for lunch at the Warragul Sporting and Social Club.
The committee of Central Gippsland Legacy hosted the lunch.
An enjoyable time was had by all and new members Pat and Joan were welcomed to the club. Peter and Alan provided entertainment.
The first meeting for 2017 will be held on Thursday at the Warragul RSL clubrooms. A special morning tea will precede the meeting at 10.30am.
Transport will leave Bunyip and Trafalgar at usual times.
Warragul Stroke Support Group
The first meeting for 2017 will be held next Tuesday February 14 from 1pm until 3pm at the Community House, 138 Normandy St, Warragul.
Those who have not attended before will be made very welcome. Cost is $ 2 for a cuppa. The group look forward to getting together with members they have not seen since Christmas.
The group will be talking about activities for this year and members are encouraged to get their thinking caps on.
Joanne Watt and other guest speakers will feature throughout the year.
For more information phone president Jean 0400. 342 291 or secretary Anne 0409 564 857
Warragul Ranges Probus
At the January meeting of the Warragul Ranges Probus Club, president Pat McPhie presented Evelyn Christie ad Colleen Tatnell with their OBE’s.
The club made front page of the NovemberDecember 2016 Victorian Probian with a photograph of the three Vegemites at the 10th anniversary celebration.
There was also a write-up and photos on page three.
Our guest speaker was Ficifolia chairman Vin Bibby, who spoke on the history of the festival, which was a spin-off of the bi-centennial festival 29 years ago.
The name ficiolia was inspired by the avenue of honour trees in Drouin.
There have been various themes over the years including an art show, sporting events, party in the park, fireworks, music for the people and this year has a many and varied interests including an all abilities disco, golf, croquet, bowls, BMX, music, a church service at the soundshell, the film “Sing” and many other activities.
Vin, who has been and is a stalwart and spirit of the community, also spoke of his time doing voluntary work for six months a time at four different communities in the Kimberleys.
He was doing handyman jobs when requested and also sporting activities for the aboriginal community.
Ralph Chesterfield then told members about his activities as chairman of the Aberfeldy Cemetery Trust.
He and friends maintain the Aberfeldy and Toombon cemeteries and also the Edward Reef and Store Point burial grounds.
There is one grave, Christina Shaw, whose headstone has survived bush fires and recently her surviving family put a plaque on the grave.
About 50 people attended and had a gettogether afterwards.
On Australia Day, the club had a wellattended trivia night, which was a great success.
The club thanked hostess Joy Ryrie, Ian and Sue Ferris, Margaret Gleeson, Beth Sibson, the two chefs and all involved.
The annual Picnic in the Park organised by Val Hardy was well attended and enjoyed by all.
As this is Val’s last year on committee, the club thank her very much for her expertise and diligence over 10 years of working for the club.
All groups are back into their various activities.
Committee nominations are being received by the secretary with some club stalwarts retiring.
The next meeting is on Thursday, February 23 at the Warragul Country Club at 10 am.
Warragul Parkinson’s Support and Carers Group
The next meeting will be held on Monday February 13 from 1.30pm at the Pettit Centre of West Gippsland Healthcare Group, 31 - 35 Gladstone St Warragul.
The group will start with a sharing and caring session for a post-Christmas catch up, so bring along a Christmas photo and tell your story.
The guest speaker will be Elke Williams from the Baw Baw Shire Disability Group, informing of the support, activites and events they are able to offer group members.
Following the group will enjoy some afternoon tea. Come along and join us, meet the friendly members in our Peer Support Group.
For more information regarding the group phone Lisa Kimmitt 0407 221 779.
Any questions regarding Parkinson’s, phone Parkinson’s Victoria 1800 644 189.
WIGS
The first Wiggs Support Group meeting for this year will be held on Thursday at The Warragul Golf Club at noon. Family and friends are most welcome. Contact Irene on 0407 538 702 by February 7 so final numbers can be given to the club.
The club look forward to seeing you there.
How do you go getting everyone through the bathroom in the morning out the door on time and ready for their day?
We all know that days can crumble before they begin.
When things go wrong, most of us can recover after our first coffee with little damage done, but it’s not nearly that easy for everyone.
For some people with severe disability, breakdowns in routine can trigger anxiety and personal breakdowns that are much harder to recover from.
The Drouin Rotary Club has answered a call from The Tipping Foundation to help one local household start each day well, by helping to fund a new bathroom.
The construction has been completed in time for the household to begin a new year when they return from their Christmas break this week.
The house is shared by six wonderful people, three women and three men, with intellectual disability and acquired brain injury.
It is one of two Tipping Foundation houses in Drouin providing specialist disability accommodation. It was opened in 1976 and in the 40 years since it has been home for more than 20 people with disability who require support to live each day.
The Tipping Foundation’s general manager community relations Jane Emery, underlined the importance of the refurbishment when accepting the Rotary Club’s cheque for $8000.
“There are more than 520,000 carers in Australia who are over 65 years of age, and more than 1500 people with disability on the waiting list for housing in Victoria”, she said.
“Lack of supported housing in Victoria is a harsh reality for many people with disability and a looming crisis for ageing parents who want to ensure their son or daughter will have a supportive home when they’re gone.”
The Rotary Club’s community projects director Kevin Roberts said the Club had been delighted to help such a worthwhile local project.
He thanked everyone who had taken part in its fundraising program in 2016, including the Motorfest, the Swap Meet and the monthly produce and craft markets.
“We understand the urgent need of families, especially in regional Victoria, for safe, secure and well equipped housing for their loved ones with disability”, Mr Roberts said.
Ms Emery thanked the Drouin Rotary Club and also thanked the William Angliss Foundation, AMC Cleaning, Karawah Inc women’s association, and the Warragul and Drouin Gazette for their contributions and support.