banner
2019-20 Issue 31   Meeting No. 3214
13 February 2020
The news journal of the Barossa Valley Rotary Club
Club Information
Every Thursday at 6.00 PM for 6.30 Start
The Clubhouse
45 Macdonnell St
Tanunda, SA  5352
Australia
Phone:
0418 856 569
Email:
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map
 
Invocation:
Oh lord and giver of all good, we praise thee for our daily food.
May Rotary Friends and Rotary ways help us to serve thee all our days.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADVISE MARIE ROTHE OF APOLOGIES (MEMBERS) AND ATTENDANCES (FRIENDS/PARTNERS) EACH WEEK
(Ph:  8563-2156 Mob:  0411 524 156)
                Suicide Prevention
 
  
The Hon John Dawkins MLC,  Premier's Advocate for Suicide Prevention, pictured here with Rotarian Pru Maitland
 
Once upon a time talking about suicide was taboo.  People didn't want to acknowledge the mere fact of it so strong was the stigma and shame.  Churches considered it a sin and wouldn't allow people who suicided to be buried on sacred ground leaving grieving families with nowhere to mourn and visit to reflect.  These days we are a more enlightened society and, hopefully, more understanding on issues of mental health.  The stigma has been lifted to an extent but more work needs to be done was the message I got from last night's presentation by John Dawkins, Premier's Advocate for Suicide Prevention.
 
Gawler born and bred, John gave a rather short history of his earlier life and it occurred to me his history makes him perfect for his current role.  He was a primary producer before entering parliament; has worked for the CFS including fighting two of the Ash Wednesday fires and; has a 30 year history with Rotary, 20 years as a member until parliamentary duties got in the way and then 10 years as an honourary member.
 
John has now been involved in suicide prevention work for 17 years working especially with young families and farmers.  He told us about a farmer in the Riverland who suicided over a $20,000 debt, he was too ashamed to talk to his bank manager, GP, priest or family and ask for help.  John said as there was no money allocated in early days so he went to the service clubs for assistance.   The 'S' word meant clubs would run a mile and weren't initially interested but eventually came on board and John was able to put programs in Eyre Peninsula and the Riverland which has changed lives.
 
After the 2010 election he worked alongside Rachael Sanderson and together they put in strategies and local networks in rural areas.  Now 13 people sit on the Suicide Prevention Council and, with other organisations such as Silent Ripple, work with veterans, gay and Indigenous communities.  The Issues Group, which sits as a tier underneath the Council and has 40 networks across Australia, has every government department represented and, whilst government wheels are slow to turn, John said significant change is now occurring.  On a topical note, they are assisting people who have lost homes and livelihoods due to fires.  But, they also work with first responders who deal with the most horrendous things on a daily basis, including being called out to suicides. 
 
John says that, interestingly, suicide stats for country areas is down although post fires this could change.  He puts this down to not only a new awareness regarding mental health but also country areas have more of a sense of community than metropolitan areas.  You can be really lonely in a huge crowd.
                               Announcements
 
          Tanunda Show Gate Roster for 2020
 
                                  Bilyara Road Gate
 
7 A.M. - 10 A.M  Mark Graetz, Sue Graetz. Phile Graetz
10 A.M. - 1 P.M. John Monfries, Peter Fraser, Mary Martin
1 P.M. - 4 P.M.   David West, Geoff Zerk 
 
                   Elizabeth Street - Playground Gate
 
10 A.M. - 1 P.M.  Peter Canning, Peter Flaherty, Geoff Zerk
1 P.M. - 4 P.M.    Keith Millington, Ray Fiebiger
 
                     Elizabeth Street - Show Hall Gate
 
6.30 A.M. - 10 A.M. Peter Sich, Peter Perkins, Peter Thomas,                                 Bryce Lillecrapp
10 A.M. - 1 P.M.   Bill Simons, Sandie Simons, Don Farley
1 P.M. - 4 P.M.     Marie Rothe, John Tunnicliff, Anne Tunnicliff  
 
Birthdays  
 
None                  
Anniversaries
 
Pru Maitland - 15 February 2015
(5 years)
 
Attendance Report 19 December 2019
 
Total Club Members Attending  36   
Total Friends Attending              5
Partners Attending                     0
Visiting Rotarians                       0
Guests Attending                       2
Apologies/Leave of absence      13
 
NO ROTARY INFORMATION THIS WEEK!
Duty Roster
3215
20 February 2020
Venue: The Clubhouse   
3216    27 February 2020                        Venue: Rehn's Brewery         
Invocation
Ray Fiebiger
Brian Forgan
Loyal Toast
David Adams
Keith Adams
Sergeant
Bill Simons
 
Chairperson
      David West
David West
Speaker
Kym & Steve Brown
 
Subject
      Get Away SA Tours                    
Bulletin
Roxane Canning
Roxane Canning
Setting Up
Robert Brookes
away meeting
Cashiers
Marie Rothe
         Bev Stephenson                           
Marie Rothe
Bev Stephenson
Clothing Bins
Angaston
Nuriootpa
Tanunda
 20 Feb - 5 March
P. Graetz
M. Rasus
D. Farley
20 Feb - 5 March
P. Graetz
M. Rasmus
D. Farley
 
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started ."
Mark Twain
ClubRunner Mobile