Chair: Campbell Chambers
President Elias opened the meeting with an acknowledgement to Country.
Guests: Chanti Bou;
Guest Speakers;
Dr Dein Vindigni and Dr Prasad Podugu. RMIT Bundoora Campus
Topic. “Pathways to Healthy Ageing” [‘PHA’]
Dein outlined the establishing of the PHA project, a multidisciplinary initiative sustained by collaborative partnerships with a range of community organisations. It all began when he visited his grandmother in an aged care facility and she asked him to massage her shoulders during a family visit. Dein, then a practicing chiropractor, was wary of whether he should -he was not an approved provider for that particular institution! It was soon that other residents sought him out and he realised there was a genuine need that was not being met by existing structures. The project was born.
The model draws on skills and knowledge of academics, clinicians and researchers coupled with the reach by community organisations in contact with older adults to facilitate delivery.The multidisciplinary nature involves skills of nursing, psychology, pharmacy, osteopathy, chiropractic and Chinese medicine. The evidence-based approach and unique mix of skills has developed clinical science into developing improved outcomes, often involving less dependency on pharmaceutical remedies. Amongst several examples Dein quoted one of an elderly woman, withdrawn from much of the rest home community found her “Purpose in Life” when given a simple opportunity to grow some vegetables.
Prasad, a psychologist, spoke of Dementia in aged care facilities; the stress it causes and aspects of ‘Quality of Ageing’. The PHA project collaborates with staff of aged care facilities and improves skills in this special aspect that affects many when ageing.
PHA has developed a podcast to facilitate carer’s delivery of remedies to aged people who often, more so in Covid lockdowns, have limited contact with their families. The podcast covers ‘How to manage’ units on loneliness, depression, memory difficulties and pain.
In response to Campbell’s question asking for the one single healthy living recommendation for peeps our age;
Dein stressed the importance of regular walking, at a reasonable pace and distance.
Prasad said from the psychological view he has three recommendations; 1. Physical exercise, 2. Physical exercise, 3. Physical exercise.
The question for us as a club is how we can become one of the community organisations working with PHA, such as we do with Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre.
Our speakers were thanked by Chairman Campbell.
Anniversaries this week:
- Date joined Rotary; Therese 5 years ago.
- Wedding; Adele and Rankin le Roux, 29 years ago.
Announcements:
- Therese spruiked the Rotary Polio fundraising ‘Walk with Us’ month of October. More to come but in meantime refer to web page; https://www.rotarywalkwithus.org/
- Rhys advised our club will have access to the AUSTRALIAN PREMIER of “A Spirited Journey” a video by Steph Woollard. The video is to be launched on 19th October. Cost $25 with all proceeds toward ‘Seven Women”, the topic of Steph’s recent talk to our club. Details by email next few days.
- Allan Driver announced a ‘Lockdown Zoom Dinner’ for Thursday 7th October with food provided and delivered by Fairfeed. Supporting those in the hospitality community and visa holders who have been hit hard owing to Covid 19. Details by email to all members.
- Brett announced an extension of his most popular Inquisition series. The candidate pool amongst members is now dry, and is being opened to Spouses, Partners and family. A terrific opportunity to widen our fellowship and especially with Zoom meetings that have less logistic hurdles to cross.
President’s Announcements:
- Zoom meetings to continue into early November owing to Covid restrictions
- The Board has approved Team budgets with a $23k deficit for the year to 30th June ’22. The view being that the pandemic is a 100yr event which justifies dipping into reserves. A budget deficit was proposed last year however excellent work by the Fundraising Team and response by members has seen a better result. The fund-raising team are now looking at how more funds can be raised from sources external of members.
- District has opened for nominations from Past Presidents volunteering to comprise selection committee for new DG 24-25 year. Contact Elias if wishing to be involved.
- Save the date 30 April – 1 May 2022 for District Conference.
- Elias noted the item in District Networker covering completion of 12 water bores and 12 washrooms project in Cambodia supported by our club. It was a pleasure to note projects being completed notwithstanding the global pandemic. “Rotary changes lives, and this is a life changing event for that community”
Next week’s speaker will be Adj Prof. Nicola Sasanelli, Founder of The Andy Thomas Space Foundation, topic is an Overview of the Australian Space Industry.
The meeting was formally closed and many continued on in fellowship such as we enjoy when meeting face to face.