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Stories
President Wendy Stirling
 
Welcome to the March/April edition of the Bulletin
SeaFarers'
SEAFARERS’ 100 ANNIVERSAY CELEBRATION
 
Christina Siciliano is to be commended on her forty years’ service to Stella Maris.  It is indeed a remarkable effort and one that will not cease soon. Christina, as we know is a valued member of Port Phillip Rotary.
 
 
Christina said:
“There were many events planned to celebrate the ‘Hundred Years of Caring for Seafarers’ and then Covid hit our shores, and all the celebrations were placed on hold. Covid, however, had a far sinister effect on seafarers.  No government would allow seafarers to disembark. The ships arrived in port and seafarers had to stay on board. They were prisoners on their vessels.
 
I mentioned a few years ago prior to Covid that Stella Maris would be celebrating its centenary in the following year to John Wall, a fellow Rotarian who works at Australia Post, and asked if it would be possible to commemorate the event with a stamp or envelope. John kindly said that he would put me in touch with Cheryl Roy and, the rest is history.  A wonderful envelope was produced and to John, Cheryl and Jane Levin, we thank you for all your work in producing such a fine, artistic envelope promoting the work of Stella Maris, caring for seafarers, who are the lifeblood of our island nation. 
 
 
Without seafarers the global economy would come to a standstill.
 
 
Stella Maris planned to make up care packs to show the seafarers that were being thought about.  Then, as if on cue, Bronwyn Stephens, a former District Governor of Rotary, called to say that Rotary would like to assist with goods to go into care packs. The items flooded in! Following from Bronwyn, Pam Dittmer, President of the Rotary Club of Melbourne South, produced pallet loads of items, and it continues to this day again with Pam, and the present President Wendy Stirling of the Port Phillip Rotary (formerly Melbourne South Rotary) continues to generously support us. I must mention the Rotary club of Wyndham that also has contributed. Another call from another Rotarian, Sylvie Berchick from the Rotary club of Prahran, and now President elect of Elsternwick, gave us access to even more goods.   Sylvie contributed again and again very generous amounts of items.
 
 
 
 
 
Our grateful thanks go to Matt Purcell from the International Transport Federation for his contribution to the care packs, and the very generous contribution from the ITF to renovate the accommodation wing. Thanks to the National Stella Maris Committee for their contribution to the care packs.
 
I think that it would be apt at this point to mention Bob Iverson from the Rotary Club of Melbourne South.  Bob’s efforts to promote the mental health of seafarers has been amazing. He managed to get Beyond Blue on board also.  Pamphlets were printed and placed on ships visiting the port of Melbourne. Today the mental health of seafarers has a much higher profile due to Bob’s efforts.”
 
The following now is an update of what has happened at Stella Maris.
 
  • In April 2020, Fr Wayne Edwards began live-streaming Mass on Sunday for the seafarers. The Mass is popular and averages a few hundred views each week
  • We assisted in supplying seafarers with basic needs. The ship would send an order through, and the staff would purchase the items needed and deliver them to the vessels.
 
  • Seafarers also started running out of vital medications.  With assistance from Dr James Quinn, medications were prescribed, collected and delivered as requested.
 
  • In January 2021, June was contacted by crew from a ship in Spain. They desperately needed help from the ITF as they had not received wages for over 3 months.  Through the ITF, the crew eventually received all back pay owing (around $700,000). June keeps in contact with the crew.
 
  • In March 2021, an estimated 200,000 seafarers remained on board vessels unable to be repatriated.  
 
  • In late February 2022, we received a request to vaccinate 11 crew from a ship berthed at Appleton Dock. This took endless phone calls, involvement with Border Force, DHHS, Ports Victoria, MyGov and Dr James Quinn, but remarkably the operation took place, and the crew were vaccinated. Many thanks to the efforts of Seamus, Lee-Anne and June.
 
  • Monday 14th March, the same gang is headed to Geelong to vaccinate another 12 crew following a request received this week.
 
It is hoped that in 2022 vaccinated seafarers will once again be able to visit the centre and we wait for the Government to allow seafarers the opportunity to meet us face-to-face once more.
 
Sunday 13th March a service was held in the chapel at Stella Maris, officiated by Archbishop Peter Comensoli and Father Tony Cox.  Following the service, Christina gave a wonderful speech and the cutting of the cake was held. After that a light lunch was offered.  It was a very special event for a wonderful program.  It was attended by Lili Teichman, Pam Dittmer and Sophia, John Wall and Sylvie Birchick amongst others.
 
  
 

 
 
 
As John Wall wrote, “After 2 years, finally able to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Stella Maris with his Excellency Archbishop Comensoli! Australia Post for the envelope, Rotary for the care packs! Christina Siciliano - you are an inspiration ❤️❤️❤️”
A grand raffle
 
 
Tickets 1 for $5, 3 for $10 or 7 for $20
 
Woodend invitation
Bee there
20 May 2022
World Bee Day

Register your World Bee Day event for free before 20 April
to benefit from the national promotional campaign
https://www.worldbeeday.org.au/
Catherine O'Connor
Luxe sale
Aust Rotary Health
AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH
 
Australian Rotary Health is one of the largest independent funders of mental health research within Australia.
Australian Rotary Health provides funding towards research grants, fellowships and PhD scholarships focussed on finding preventative and curative solutions for mental illness in young Australians. From 2022, our funding focus will narrow to the mental health of children aged 0-12.
We also provide funding into a broad range of general health areas, provide scholarships for rural medical and nursing students, as well as Indigenous health students. Australian Rotary Health provides funding into areas of health that do not readily attract funding and promotes findings to the community.
Australian Rotary Health is a project of the Rotary Districts of Australia and is supported by Rotary Clubs.  We have a broad vision to improve the health and wellbeing of all Australians.
 
We have just published our 2022 Facts Booklet! This publication details all the research and programs that we fund and has information about what we do, campaigns, and upcoming events.

Read online or contact the ARH office for a paper copy.
 
Tuesday 15th February was International Childhood Cancer Day and is a global collaborative campaign aimed to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to mark a day of support for all millions whose lives are impacted by cancer.
There are an estimated 750 children aged 0-14 being diagnosed with cancer each year in Australia (Cancer Council, 2022). Raising awareness on childhood cancer can encourage research and early intervention to better help future cancer diagnosis and therapies.
Australian Rotary Health (ARH) funded childhood cancer research in 2013-16, through their Harry Banks Sutherland Rotary PhD Scholarship.
The Let’s Golf to Lift the Lid Golf Tournament will raise funds in support of Australian Rotary Health, one of the largest non-government funders of mental health research in Australia.
Join the Rotary Club of Glenferrie on Tuesday May 24, 2022 for a day of golf, including lunch and a gala dinner, or sponsor a hole and receive widespread exposure for your generous support. Kingston Heath Golf Course is one of Australia’s premier golf courses. This is an experience not to be missed.
Major sponsor Silver Star Motors is offering a chance to WIN 3 Mercedes-Benz cars. All you need is a hole in one!
Entry price is $350 – with all proceeds donated towards mental health research to help Lift the Lid on Mental Illness. For those who do not wish to play golf, come along at 6pm and join in for the Gala Dinner. Have fun, enjoy the atmosphere and help a very important cause.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DEI 
MENTAL HEALTH UNIT’S CARE BAGS
 
 
GIVIT have donated pallets of Bonds clothing and underwear, which has been sorted. Care Bags and goods are delivered weekly to hospitals. MiGoals have renewed their commitment to providing 2,000 journals this year. Cody, the liaison officer at The Alfred said this, “The journals are the most frequently sought after items on the ward. Providing these to patients allows them the opportunity to write down their thoughts and feelings which then can be shared with their treating team to provide better health outcomes.”
 
Port Phillip Rotary will factor in a working bee at DIK Tuesday 2nd August.
 
So simply put:
 
 
DIVERSITY is people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, colour, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
 
 
 
EQUITY is carefully considering how to provide differing levels of support, opportunities, and resources so participants have a welcoming and productive experience.
 
 
 
INCLUSION is creating experiences in which all people are welcomed, respected, and valued.
 
You can support DEI in Rotary by:
 
 
Coming soon
Next Guest Speaker Paul Drake April 5th - World of difference 
 
For details of Guest Speakers go to the home page portphilliprotary.org.au
 
 
RAWCS
In a world that seems full of despair, fear, sadness and hopelessness, are the hands of hope being raised by people and organisations globally.  Rotary is well known for its help and hope.  We now have an opportunity through RAWCS to donate to the Ukranian Relief Aid. 
 
 
 
 
The details are here;
 
Albury Conf