In 2021 Ranch 1.0 was launched to cater for the rough sleeping homeless on the Peninsula in the rundown Ranch Motel. However, this site is set for redevelopment later this year, so the hunt for a replacement was on.  Early this year a set of 7 rundown Units was purchassed by two community Foundations which then leased the Units to the Mornington Community Support Centre on a "peppercorn" annual rent. The Units needed a lot of work which the Rotary Club of Mornington undertook with Rotarian Ross Kilborn the site manager. The number of businesses, vounteers and Rotarians from a number of Clubs involved was huge. Three units have now been refurbished and clients installed with the others coming on line in the near future. 

The night was a celebration of this achievement and was hosted by the Rotary Club of Mornington with over 110 people in attendance. Ben Smith the CEO of the Mornington Community Support Centre was the first Speaker and he outlined the problem of homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula and the deperate need for accommodation and a refuge on the Peninsula. In fact the Peninsula has the highest number of homeless people of any region in Victoria, 100 sleep "rough" every night and another 900 sleep in unsafe housing.  Their are 4000 people on the priority wait list here for public housing who may wait for 9 years to get a place. The big problem is that the cheapest rental property is around $450 per week, the most the government social security payment for housing for a family is $233 per week. Ben's biggest message is that the only solution is local community support. Ben then went about getting the community together to create the Ranch projects which has culminated in Ranch 2.0, the set of units. It cannot be underestimated the work and effort Ben has done to get all this happening and his passion for the project is outstanding. Ranch 2.0 is the only Community based project of this type that has been established with no government support. The most telling statistic is that his project has a 60% success rate of moving people back into the community and off support compared to 30% for other charity organisations/non profit groups. The list of where Ben has gained support from is huge. Basically all the costs of Ranch 2.0 have been donated down to the Shire giving reduced rates. Running costs will be the big challenge for the future.  Ross Kilborn from the Rotary Club of Mornington was the next speaker and he listed and thanked all the businesses, organizations, individuals and Rotary Clubs who helped with labour, expertise, goods and sevices. For instance it is estimated the Rotary Clubs have raised $80,000 through grants and donations for Ranch 2.0. The night was inspiring for us all and reinforced the power of a community working together and the determination to get this project done and others like it established.

  Ben Smith     Ross Kilborn

 

 Frank & Rhonda with the slogan  The crowd

 

VALE  PAUL  HARVEY

 Paul in his role as President

 

Last Tuesday, 69 members and guests gathered at Toorak College for a most enjoable and informative Wine Tasting run by Carl Voss of Patricks Wines, Conawarra, South Australia. Carl supplied 3 Rieslings and 3 Cab Savs made by different techniques ranging from traditional to modern styles for us to compare. In addition, Phil displayed his usual talent at weilding the auctioneers metaphorical hammer to move some rather "special" wines donated by Rowan, and some very good wines from other sources. Put together the fine wines, Carl's excellent explanations, Phils exuberance and fun factor, and Toorak's fine finger food, the buzz in the room was fantastic. I can see a popular annual event evolving.  To top it all off, over $2000 was raised for the Environment committee. On the fund raising, we have enough to purchase and plant 400 trees, donate $500 to the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation Society and give awards to recognise students at our schools for their environmental community efforts. Thanks go to President Jim for his organisation, Cathryn from Fellowship for putting the night together, Carl and Patricks for the wines, Phil for his skills at fundraising, Jo Baker for bidding so well (or being conned by Phil?) and Toorak for the food, staff and venue.  A truly great night of fellowship and Fundraising.

  Carl Voss of Patricks  in wine mode  

 

 The tasting in progress. Jo looking pleased with herself!

 

  Listening hard and studying the notes.

 

 

Paul spoke of his wide ranging and amazing life in the Royal Australian Navy. Some of his roles included: Diplomatic posts around the world, Development of Defence Strategies, Commnader of a number of ships and support for the other arms of the Australian Defence Forces. It was fascinating listening to his experiences liasing with the Airforce, supporting the Army overseas, shadowing other forces, sea rescue, warfare training, ship manouvers, aiding in natural disasters and the general life of a sailer and commander at sea. 

Paul with his powerpoint

 

Cathryn recapped the excellent work the MSO does working with challenged primary age students who would not normally experience classical music and learn what it can offer. The Classics are presented in a light hearted manner and narrated in a way that children can relate to. RCME supports this program to send students from our local schools to this event and will do so again this year. The music will befrom Beethoven's 7th Symphony. Hats off to Kathryn who runs this for us. 

 

   Maurie Selth: Scotland Group Stady Exchange: Maurie led the GSE teamfrom District 9820 to Scotland in 2004. They covered Scotland from the Setlands to Edinburgh. The professional side of things was based around education (three of the party were teachers) and civil works (one member was in waste control at the loacal council level). They were hosted throughout by local Rotaary Clubs and had an extremely busy time experiencing the sights, professional tours and fellowship with the Scottish Clubs. It was a life changing experience for all involved. Of coarse, Maurie couldn't help himself to explore the golf courses at the home of golf ! Maurie reflected that the GSE is no longer such a key part of Rotary.

 

   Bernie Edwards: Model Planes: Who knew Bernie was a masterful creater of 1:144 models of planes and has created perfect replicas of all the planes in service over the years in Australia, both civil and military. This amounts to over 400 models stored in his house a garage. He has models constructed from kits but also others he has built from "scratch" as that was the only way. His story was a real eye opener. I wonder if we may be able to arrange a vocational visit?

   Mark Rodman: Career: Mark is one of our new members and his story on his international career was really informative and fascinating.  His career spanned 45 years in computer Science/technology, from its fledgling years till now. (His graduating class in uni was only 13 people) The demand for his expertise took him all around the world and every continent, including stints in Australia where he became a member of Rotaract. He worked for 3 Silicon Valley companies and worked at the "pointy end" in USA, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia and Africa. On the family front, he has been married twice and a family man. One of his son's was one of the first to recieve a cochlear ear transplant, his kids went to School in part here in Mount Eliza. (a small world fact - I taught a couple!) Mark decide to settle back in Australia after his computer carreer and took up wine making in the Yarra Valley. He spent 5 years doing that and has now moved back here to Mt Eliza and rejoined Rotary. An incredible tale I could not do justice to in this format. 

 

The Hat Night speakers: Maurie, Mark and Bernie with the Chair John

  Hat night for Lift our Lid and the winners are: Carol Allent and Mary with Fellowship Coordinator Cathryn

 

 

 

 

3.  Christmas Farmers Market

19th December

3.00pm - 8.00pm (TBC)

    

 4.   New Year Breakfast Meeting

Details to be Announced