Terry Kane was chairperson for this week's club meeting at Cilantro. Neville performed invocation and the toast to Rotary and Australia. Guests included Jim Magee and Bert d’Unienville and our two guest speakers from Wheelchairs for Kids - Grant Klaaysen and Russell Hayes.
PRESIDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS - Tim Lynch
Tim referenced the board meeting held on Monday 18/11 and of note were 2 club donations approved by the board for $10,000 for Rotary Foundation and $5,000 for Australian Rotary Health. Both motions will be put to club members for voting at the club meeting on 4 December 2024.
NOMINATIONS FOR BMC OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS - AGM - Wednesday 27 November 2024
Secretary Karin Soster announced the nominations put forward by the nomination committee for the BMC Board for 2025 - 2026. Nominations include officers and 2 directors as follows:
President 2025 - 2026 - Grant Perry
President Elect 2025 - 2026 - is currently open
Immediate Past President - Tim Lynch
Vice President - Linda O'Brien
Treasurer - Neville Kruss
Secretary - Karin Soster
2 directors to serve 2 years 2025 - 2027 - Kellie Carruthers and Larry Green
2 directors to serve out their 2nd year in 2025-2026 are Terry Kane and Julie Reid
The agenda for the AGM will be issued to club members prior to the meeting, and a copy of the audited accounts will be presented at the AGM.
GUEST SPEAKERS - Wheelchairs for Kids - Grant Klaaysen and Russell Hayes
Wheelchairs for Kids is a Volunteer-based Non-profit Organisation providing the transformative gift of mobility to children in impoverished communities around the globe.
The organisation is based in Perth and commenced in 1996 by founder Brother Thomas Oliver (Olly) Pickett AM and the Rotary Club of Scarborough in WA. Their aim is to make a difference in the lives of mobility impaired children of whom there are millions worldwide - each wheelchair changes the world for one person.
Grant Klaaysen's involvement has taken over from his father who was a member of R.C. Casey and heavily involved in the organisation. A video was shown to illustrate the impact of having a wheelchair for a severely impaired child, 9 year old Sam, missing limbs and with poor mobility - what a difference! It makes one's heart reach out.
Since commencement over 60,000 wheelchairs have been distributed worldwide. The organisation has 800 volunteers and distributes to outlets in 90 countries. Each wheelchair costs $275 to make, and is customised and 'grows' for each child. Currently 4,000 chairs are made annually, with an aim to make 6,000 chairs annually. The organisation is supported by Friendship Groups who make rugs and small toys to accompany each wheelchair.
Their ongoing challenge is promoting awareness and raising funds to purchase the material to make the chairs. Their manufacture is free provided by volunteers who meet each day to put them together. They are promoting Wheelathons to be held by schools to increase awareness and raise funds. A short video was shown of a recent Wheelathon run by Grade 6 students in collaboration with staff and teachers at the Albert Street Primary School and who were very successful and raised enough funds for 10 wheelchairs.
Russell Hayes is local and has been involved with Wheelchairs for Kids for quite a number of years. He is keen to promote the organisation and make connection with local schools for similar fund-raising events.
More information is available from their website: https://wheelchairsforkids.org
At the end of the presentation, Terry Kane had the very enjoyable task of presenting on behalf of the RC BMC, a cheque for $2,000 for Wheelchairs for Kids to Grant and Russell.
Thank you Grant and Russell for your very informative and moving presentation.
As a side note, founder "Olly" Pickett was awarded Senior Australian of the Year 2025 in W.A. He will join other nominees for the national Senior Australian of the Year 2025 at the awards ceremony in Canberra on 25 January 2025. He would be a very worthy winner indeed.
To finish the meeting:
ROSTERS - were announced
CLUB SUBSCRIPTIONS - Treasurer Neville Kruss advises there are 9 members yet to pay their annual club subscription. These are due prior to attending the club AGM.
Editor's note:
Just last week the founder of WFK Olly Pickett was honoured with WA Senior Australian of the year 2025. He is soon to go to Canberra for the Senior Australian of the year 2025 selection. The first video is from September this year and is an example for our primary school kids as to how they can help and shows the recipients of the wheelchairs
