Graham reported on the District club presidents' meeting of last week:
- Soon to be announced will be the allocation of schools for clubs to look after, but no restrictions on other clubs befriending
- Volunteer Week is 17 - 23 May and there is to be a celebration of 100 years of Rotary.....a BBQ at The Orphanage is being examined but there is a need for wider sponsorship
- A number of our clubs are experiencing difficulties in retaining members and recruiting volunteers
- A commemorative coin is being struck by the Mint on 10 March, recognising 100 years of Rotary
- International youth exchanges have been suspended until July 2022
- Applications are open for RYPEN and RYLA which will be conducted in April.
A freezer is to be installed at the Thrift Shop to cater for over-orders of BBQ sausages.
Guest Speaker: Anthony Hart - Lifeback Tracker
Chairman David Middleton introduced Anthony who had undergone severe depression and attempted suicide in 2003. He fought back from this experience and launched Invigor Wellbeing with a free App to help people recover from such dire/life threatening situations.
Anthony's story started 17 years ago. He was running a very successful car import business in the UK but was attracted to return to the warmer clime and 'beach BBQs' of Adelaide in March 2003. For 5-6 months he sought work but his tight work experience and lack of formal qualifications prevented him, despite every effort, to obtain a good paying job. Frustration and depression built....sleeping less, consuming more alcohol and becoming angrier. In November he went for a bank training course in Sydney and snapped after being sacked after only 9 days of his 9 weeks assignment. He jumped from the top floor (14th) of a hotel, hit an awning on the 7th floor and survived, but with many broken bones. From Sydney, when well enough, he was transferred to Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre for 6 months This afforded him the time to reflect and discuss a better way forward. From this flowed Invigor Wellbeing (which won the Premier's best start-up company three years ago) and the Lifeback Tracker free App to guide and monitor progress in 4 key (but simple) areas namely Talk, Exercise, Alcohol and Sleep.
It is vital to develop a relationship with someone with whom you can talk openly, and to buddy up with. Seeking professional medical advice is also important.
Exercising vigorously stimulates the body and endorphins, creating a feeling of well-being. Anthony swam to exhaustion during his rehabilitation and recommends half an hour of blood, sweat and tears 4 days a week.
Alcohol is the worst antidote for depression and he refuses to provide assistance to those with a drinking problem who will not reform. Little or no alcohol is essential.
Good sleep is critical to achieving well-being.
The Lifeback Tracker App, constructed in partnership with SAMHRI, records progress in physical and mental wellbeing, thus assisting people to break out of deep depression. Its greatest strengths are - simple to use, effective and free. His company assists firms to create a culture of care by demonstrating ways to identify employee's suffering mental issues....signs include increased emotion, worried, avoiding socialising, sleep deprivation, rarely happy, racing/ragged thoughts, and increasing aggression. Invigor provides advice on how to deal with the problems being faced. In addition to the 4 basic tools already mentioned, other techniques include stories of recovery, bringing in experts and better nutrition.
Anthony was applauded for his contribution
Spots
Stephen Baker urged members who are yet to help in the Thrift Shop to look at opportunities to do so by checking the roster update provided by Pam each month.
Rhonda Hoare explained that the New Generation Committee had embarked on an ambitious program to showcase musical and singing talent among the youth (aged 10-18) of Unley. There had been an issue about paying for copywrite, but this has now been resolved with the help of Brendan Kenny. Attempts to elicit entries of original music and songs had not been fruitful but this may change with the knowledge that the winner of the original works will participate in a renowned musical workshop. We need all hands on deck to inspire more entries through the schools, relatives etc as they close on March 19.
Haythem Raslan is holding an art exhibition 3pm - 6pm next Sunday at the GU Cinema Glenelg.
Rajat Nagpal updated everyone on his daughters progress to enroll in medical school next year, and that his family had bought a house in Tranmere. For boasting rights, he has slimmed his '6 pack' body to a smaller pack by reducing his weight over the last year from 86kg (boxing heavyweight) to 65kg (boxing welterweight) through diet and exercise. David suggested this would only be temporary.
Finale
e are well into this Rotary year and what a year it has been for the Rotary Representatives to the United Nations and other international organizations! As Rotary’s “ambassadors” to 22 UN and key agencies, our work normally is to meet strategic personnel and develop relationships that are conducive to working together on Rotary’s areas of focus. This is not an easy task in the midst of a pandemic. Like all Rotarians, we have had to adapt to doing things differently through virtual meetings – it’s diplomacy via the internet!
