27th October - Guest Speaker: Peppe Pantano - Diplomat

Peppe spoke glowingly about the opportunities Australia represented to Europeans and was here to study these and what could be done to introduce similar a model back home. He highlighted the many waves of immigration from Europe to Australia that have occurred in the past and the multiple reasons behind this.

He spoke of the values of family apparent within Australia and how this was less prominent within Europe. He highlighted how the size of the family house block gives the opportunity for children to get outside and play rather than stay inside on the computer. General population participation in sport with particular emphasis on children leads to a far healthier population and a flow on to health care costs to the government.

Peppe went on to speak of the various countries he has visited across the world and the doors his Rotary membership has open. He spoke of the values of Rotary and the multitude of benefits arising from the collective worldwide Rotary Organisation. In his own experience his eyes were opened during a visit to Kenya where he observed children eating garbage. He then set about fund raising to address this. Peppe highlighted one of the programs he has set up in Portugal where 10 families are now self sufficient through manufacturing a Lemon Liquor. All kids from the families involved here are attending schools, something we in Australia take for granted. Through his then role as a TV presenter he was able to use cooking classes as a means of communication and fund raising. Peppe has subsequently dedicated his life to raising funds for children with cancer and offered to host a Gala night her in Australia in June / July 2012 featuring Italian Music and chef to raise funds..

27th October

Australian Children's Music Foundation

Our Past District Governor's wife's project for 2010 was the Australian Children's Music Foundation (ACMF), founded in 2002 by legendry songwriter, musician and Playschool performer Don Spencer.

Don has spent more than 45 years in the music industry - an incredible 28 years on Playschool in Australia and some 17 years before that on English Playschool.

In 2007, he was awarded an Order of Australia medal for his services to music and children's music in particular. The ACMF is a not for profit organization that raises money for music programs for disadvantaged and indigenous youth. A team of dedicated, local teachers provide weekly tuition to students in disadvantaged areas, remote locations, for indigenous children as well as youth 'at risk' in juvenile justice centres. The program also funds music instruments. Programs run for a minimum of 12 months. The Foundation currently has 50 programs, is working in every state and there are some 200 schools on the waiting list.

Vicki Fitzgibbon from the Foundation thanked Eltham Rotary and in particular Alan and Dorothy Anderson for their support over the past year. She detailed some of the work being done in bushfire affected communities and especially in local schools Strath Creek, Middle Kinglake, Kinglake West, Yarra Glen and Chum Creek. Much of this work has been supported by fundraising from District 9790.

Don Spencer OAM shared with us some of his passion for spreading the joy of music and of making a difference to the emotional well being of kids at risk. As evidence of the power of the program, he said there was a 96.5% attendance record in the schools in the Northern Territory in which the Foundation was involved.

He then entertained us with some -known Playschool and other songs. He was joined by our own Gina in a rousing rendition of Shake, Rock and Roll.

President Rob presented Don and Vicki with a cheque for $42,000 from District 9790.

27th October

Guest Speaker

Dr Fiona Clay has university qualifications in biology, genetics, epidemiology and biostatistics and has recently completed a PhD in injury epidemiology through the Monash University Accident Research Centre. Fiona is a graduate of the Canadian Institute of Health Research strategic training program in work disability prevention.