On advice from the our Occupational Health & Safety consultant, the board has decided to close both the Op Shop and the Fit4 Use Store until further notice. This is to ensure a safe workplace for Sam and Lorry and our volunteers. Whilst this will result in a loss of income for the club, we felt that it was better to err on the safe side.
We have also ceased our fortnightly meetings at Crown Street Stables until further notice. I have notified our prospective guest speakers of the cancellations and will re-engage them later in the year.
After discussions with Choir Mistress Ruth Kennedy, Anne McMahon and Rachel at 18 Anthony Street, we have pressed "pause" on the Intergenerational/Multicultural Choir. This choir has proved a great hit with our senior Chinese participants, the children and staff from the Kensington Children's Co-Op and Gregory Lodge residents but considering the age groups involved, once again safety first.
I encourage all members to keep in touch by phone, email of Facebook as your choice of communication. If there is a interest, we could arrange a "Zoom" meeting at an agreed time. For those of you still working and in regular face to face contact, be aware and stay healthy.
I am sure you will have heard by now of a raft of event cancellations which include the District Conference which was to be held in Bendigo March 27-29th. This was cancelled some weeks ago on advice to restrict gatherings of over 500 people. Sincere thanks to all those people who put so much time and effort into the planning for and organising of this conference. Commiserations to District Governor Grant Hocking and his club.
The Rotary International Convention scheduled for early June in Honolulu has also been cancelled.
Kensington Festival scheduled for 29th March has been cancelled.
Flemington Traders Cultural Event planned for March 28th has been cancelled. Please continue to support our local businesses and the Flemington Traders who support our club. https://www.facebook.com/FlemingtonTraders/
Moonee Valley Art Show presented by the Rotary Clubs of East Keilor and Essendon and planned for April has been cancelled.
RMIT University Health Transformation Lab deputy director Matiu Bush founded One Good Street and recommends seeking out established organisations to offer help. "Many people are motivated to form collectives at the moment, but my advice is to be collaborative and respectful to groups who have been working in this space for years," he says. "Groups like Rotary, the Red Cross, volunteer home visitor schemes, are all parts of society that are already working to reduce isolation and loneliness in older people. "We can share resources and tap into those groups because they have the smarts on how to do this well."
And when the pandemic passes? Mr Bush says the best thing we can do, is keep checking in on our neighbours. "What everyone should be working towards is a deeper connection and more meaningful connection after the pandemic is over," Mr Bush says. "That's important because you don't want to introduce a whole lot of new people to someone in their 80s or 90s and then for all of those people to vanish afterwards, because that's introducing more loss into those people's lives. "There will be other challenges for communities and the idea is to forge connections that will last that are based on respect, understanding and the importance and value of older people in our community."
Could all members please read this as soon as possible and provide any feedback to the President by email.
Peter and Bev Cribb have returned early from their European adventure. Peter has written a report for us - Diary of an accelerating implosion, detailing how just 10 days in the life of experienced travellers can turn to -- -- ? Read more
Planning for this year's Art Show continues. John Elston has set up a Zoom Meeting for this coming Saturday. If you would like to join us, contact Anne Heyes for the details.
You need to download the Zoom APP to your computer or device beforehand.
Go to https://zoom.us/download and from the Download Center, click on the Download button under “Zoom Client For Meetings”.
RMIT University Health Transformation Lab deputy director Matiu Bush founded One Good Street and recommends seeking out established organisations to offer help. "Many people are motivated to form collectives at the moment, but my advice is to be collaborative and respectful to groups who have been working in this space for years," he says. "Groups like Rotary, the Red Cross, volunteer home visitor schemes, are all parts of society that are already working to reduce isolation and loneliness in older people. "We can share resources and tap into those groups because they have the smarts on how to do this well." 