Congratulations to Pam Dittmer for her foresight and grant writing skills.  As you know our club has been proactive in its relationship with BackPacks4VicKids organisation, after having Sally Beard as a guest speaker at our club meeting earlier this year. Sally is the founder of BackPacks4VicKids.

 

There are 45,000 Australian children are in an out of home care placement such as foster care yearly. There are around 4000 new placements each year in Victoria alone.
 

Often children are placed quickly into foster care, kinship care or emergency accommodation without much more than what they are wearing at the time. BP4VKs provide them with a few essential items to ease feelings of loss and to help with their relocation.

 

All the backpack items are sourced through donations, grants, sponsorships, and fundraising. The estimated cost of a pack is $75 which is an increase of $25 per ME (My Essentials) Pack due to COVID19, saving agencies and carers, time, and money. To date Backpacks 4 VIC Kids has delivered more than $4M worth of material relief to local children. 

 

There is a site down on the docks waiting for a 20-foot shipping container, which then needs to be fitted out so that the packs can be stored in there to cater for the needs of the children in the Bayside area and beyond. The cost of the container is around $6000 and the fitting out will cost around the same.

 

Pam put in an application to the South Melbourne Community Chest (SMCC) for a 2022 community grant. They received many submissions, covering a wide range of very creative and worthwhile projects and activities. Pam received this excerpt from the South Melbourne Community Chest.

 

Donations in Kind is always proactive.  I have included a shortened version of  David Dippie’s report for you.  The opportunities to support are endless!

 

'As reported previously, shipping worldwide continues to be a challenge – both cost and availability.   Clubs need to understand that while this is the present norm, there are signs that this might be easing once the busy Christmas season for shipping passes.   We also need to work with RAWCS and the District International Chairs to highlight that international borders are beginning to open, and it is time to restore support.

 

A new positive is the support that we have provided for Ukraine.  So far, we have supplied 12 pallets of medical goods that were flown by Qantas to London and last week 35 pallets of medical supplies and warm clothing, transported by ADF contractors to the Amberley Air Base in Queensland.  A majority of this came from DIK stocks supported by some of our regular donors. It will be shipped from there with the Bushmasters being supplied by the Australian Government.  The local Ukrainian Community and supporters have been heavily involved and we know that they are keen for this to continue. 

 

Marketing It was pleasing to see RAWCS, DIK and the District Environmental Committee promotion at some District Assemblies. 

 

Zoom also provides with an opportunity to provide information to the four Districts in an easy way.  We could run four sessions.  They could be recorded and made easy to access.

Donation of School Consumables   We need to get Clubs more involved.  

 

Collecting surplus reusable items for schools is a cheap and easy project that any Club could support.  It could involve the Youth, International or Environmental Committees.   

 

Early in January school consumables are often on special.  We can encourage Clubs and Members to collect them.  We could also give them the alternative to make a modest donation and we could make a bulk purchase on their behalf.'

 

Thank you to David who has given us much to think about and act upon.

We were indeed fortunate to have Peter Bellion at our club meeting, Tuesday 18^th October.  Peter outlined the important work the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club does in protecting Melbournians and tourists from the potential dangers of Port Phillip Bay, including swimming in unpredictable weather, watercraft and other hazards. Peter is Club President and works tirelessly with his team of volunteers to protect all. List the club site and see where and how action can assist their efforts

 

Contacts at the PPLSC can be found at: https://www.portmelblsc.com.au/