Hybrid Link

Last Week's Meeting

Toast to the Elderly – Jim McKinnon

• 8Jim is 4 years young
• He is a new resident to Emerald Glades last month wife suffered from stroke,she is the light of his life
• Grew up in Mentone
• He was a l eading hand GM in Dandenong and was there 30 years
• Worked as gardener in later years, now misses social interaction that can bring but still loves growing roses
• in his youth he boxed for Mentone Police Boys Club heavy weight competition
• Lived in Springvale South for 50 years, now closer to 2 sons and daughter in the area
• His dream would be to have dinner with Elvis Presley – loves his music and movies and would love to visit Gracelands

Welcome again Carol, now with a badge!!

Guest Speaker – Our very own Emma Clark – Working in Education during COVID

• It is fair to say those in education are a little battle weary to say the least and it has been hard to compartmentalise our own feelings to ensure the resilience of the community.
• The important goal was to maintain relationships by the end of COVID
• So how do you communicate when you can’t do this face to face and create warmth, care and empathy for others? 
• There was plenty of information from the Dept of Education during this time and Emma found the daily press conferences a great source of up-to-date information.  Operation guidelines, some 30 pages long were important to read and digest as they provided a clear framework of rules to build flexibility around.
• A school is a hub in a community as well as churches and sporting clubs and are very important, people turning to school for things they hadn’t before especially during difficult times.
• As with other sectors dealing with COVID was a learning curve to start with – Zoom calls provided teachers hilarious moments with students bringing pets to the camera and giving tours of the house!
• Education since 2019 has been very different, focusing on the science of teaching, best impact, and encourage learning growth.
• Managing teachers timetables, need for access to computers and internet in families homes with multiple siblings and parents at home or in lockdown was a difficult scenario to navigate.   The school even had to lend out their laptops and equipment to assist.
• Performing arts, Japanese, PE and Art – how to teach that remotely? These activities provide connection for children of different capabilities and are still important. 
• Some things worked on line others didn’t and the team at Emerald Primary School quickly adapted and worked through the best way to deliver the breadth of education the children needed.
• The relationship and well-being of everyone in and associated with the school became a major focus and that in itself presented another range of issues and solutions to find.
• During the initial opening up children came baack on site and thee was a need to reconnect and get children comfortable in the learning environment again.  Some did well remotely others didn’t so we had to get all back on track.
• There was protection in place, but asking people to come in every day was challenging and placed staff in danger of contracting COVID despite all the precautions taken.  They were amazing in their commitment.  The education support staff were there day in and day out.
• During term 4 last year we were conducting contact tracing which can take 4-8 hrs – we had 4 cases at school and none of it spread which is a testament to the community as well.
• Now we have a shift in mindset and school has to decide what to do, and how to do it to minimise the number of +ve cases at once.
• The school now has 25 Air purifiers which were delivered last week and indicate the air quality in each classroom
• There is still a lot to do, a lot of conversations about RAT tests, vaccination and of course, there is a range of opinions as in the wider community.
• 60 Prep students have started and there were no tears!
• The school is planning and adapting their events this year in the hope of providing some normality and things to look forward to.

Reports

• Breakfast Club – doing it again this year and not starting til March
  • Woolworths, spoke to Mark – Bread and Milo
• Lyn is running a Roster – 1 hr on Tues, 1 hr on a Fri to assist
• Grant from the Casey Cardinia Foundation – help from members of the club – Kristine Ash and Greg Adams and Day Allen assisted
  • Principal from last year has left, new Principal a year or so ago, need to start the relationship again – need to go back to Johnathon about what doing

• Christmas cards and gifts were distributed to The Glades - they were very grateful, thank you to everyone who helped with the cards
• In regard to the Hills Disaster fund, the Cluster has clubbed together and come a long way – 2 applications totaling $20k have now been approved by District and we can now  purchase items for the SES need and support the book
• More to come on the rescue reflection space in Kalorama
• Storm recovery festival Sunday 27 Feb – Monbulk market, free rides for kids, Rotary Clubs from the flat lands.Book will be launched on that day, more fundraising for SES and CSA
• 12^th February – Emerald Rotary Market - pulling this together over next week takes a good 2 yrs to establish a market
• Emma is hoping to have a party to celebrate her special birthday - more to come!

• You see what Rotary is all about in our neighbourhood and around the world
• $140 to go!!
• Speakers are good, some speakers are world class
• Gala Dinner is brilliant Great idea to stand out from the crowd!!!

• Last Sunday in November  @ Gembrook Station– 27 November been pencilled in a few more updates:
  • Moving Thomas from Gembrook to Lakeside
  • Building project in Gembrook – the station

• 7^th attempt is going ahead – 26 February!! 
• Only the Debs and partners can dance on the floor
• Numbers dropped from 62 – 42 couples approximately
• Attendees 300 odd
• Dance lessons start next Wednesday – will need assistance need to be there from 6.30 as all the guys need to be re-measured in the gym at the high school

Climate and Peace Forum

 

 

Reminder of Road Disruption

 

Next week PBR will be conducting level crossing repairs in Emerald at the Belgrave Gembrook Rd crossing on the 8^th and 9^th and then at the Pakenham Rd Crossing at Cockatoo on the 10^th and 11^th. 

 

As a result, there will be traffic diversions in place and transit times may be affected depending on the time of day.

 

There will also be no trains between Belgrave and Lakeside on the 8^th and 9^th.

 

We apologise for any disruption to people’s travel. Mobile digital message boards have been put up at each location to advise exact times of works and traffic diversions.

 

The works are essential to ensure the rail and road crossings remain fully fit for purpose and will continue to perform safely for more than a decade into the future. People may have seen that the roadway at both locations was becoming very worn and a rough ride as cars went over the tracks.

Polio Video Link

PP PHF Catherine Elfick thought the below may be of interest to club members.

 

https://youtu.be/4hg1K0HD5Xo 

 

Conference 2022