Pres Hugo opened the meeting at 6.20 and welcomed members.
Apologies: : Rob Whitney, Patricia Abraham, pp Walter Bock PE Dennise Herrick, pp Irene
Visitors: Janette Weeding
Pres Hugo thanked every one who helped at the BBQ in Burwood Park last Saturday. For
the last two BBQs we have donations of approximately $185.00 and $165.00 He was
unavailable to attend as he had to attend a wedding in Melbourne. We will have another
BBQ for Burwood council on 16 th March.
Tonight we will have a presentation from Simon Fox about CABL
pp John Mansour thanked those who helped at our BBQ for Burwood Council . Thanks to
Janette, Keith Mohan, Alf, Fuad, Maralie, Anna
We were paid for 300 servings to include sausages and drinks. Cooked 287 sausages and
donations in our coin bucket were about $185.00 We have some drinks left over and will
use at our next BBQ.
Pres Hugo introduced Janette Weeding. Pres of BPWB
Business and Professional Woman (BPWS) will celebrate International Women’s Day which is a significant global day. to improve inclusiveness and reduce bias towards Woman.
There will be a Smoking ceremony and the Minister for Women Hon Jodie Harrison MP will be speaking. Janette has sent individual invitation letters to us and she urged us to attend.
There is free parking for 250 cars at the Catholic university Barker Road Strathfield.
Wed 6 th March at 10 sharp to 12:30 Lunch and Campus tours. ACU has said they will
supply this space for free for Burwood Rotary if we want to use it for functions. We can do
evening events and use the cafeteria space to have functions, both inside and outside.
PP Keith has been looking at the Venue and the possibility to use it for our functions There
is a tiered theatre holding 250. We should give serious consideration to using this venue.
ACU appear to be very accommodating
Pres Hugo RYPEN From Rob Whitney District opened applications for 17 to 19 May.
Seeking candidates but we have none so far. It was suggested we should sponsor two
candidate for 100 percent. To be advised by Rob
Pres Hugo introduced Simon. Fox. CEO of Community Action for Better Living ( CABL)
CABL is a new identity for the past year, but has been around for a long time with different
names. It is based in Burwood serving a larger local area than just Burwood. The community
don't really know what CABL does.
They exist in the community but unless you need their services you don’t really know what
they do and the services they offer. Initially they served mainly Burwood but now into the
Inner West of Sydney.
They have a “ no wrong” door policy “ They assist every one that needs help.
The name CABL reflects what they do,. People who come are vulnerable and need help.
CABL wants to focus on those peoples' strengths , and not necessarily only give them
welfare. They decided people may need help in a crisis, but they wanted to focus on building
their strengths in the long run.
Their Umbrella includes Meals on Wheels supplying 300 people in the local community with
up to 80 volunteers who deliver and make contact with our older community. They check on
their well being and report to CABL if they not doling well
Meals come from a range of providers, from other Meals on Wheels who have their own
kitchen and CABL buys those meals.
Other parts of the operations involve assistance for domestic violence victims. If there is an
incident police are notified. CABL can advocate for them in the courts. They have to
decide on the risk to that person, and if at risk have other agencies to call on to help those
victims.
Many women are in refuges while others are in family homes but they may have to leave
their home and their net works of friends and families. CABL is trying to keep the women
and often children safe. They can utilise other agencies for assistance. ,
Family support services needed to be rebuilt. They see families, most with children, who are
survivors of domestic violence. They support with programs for example “ Come and chat”
in the local libraries.
CABL staff are talking to the community, They can supply financial literacy, self care
programs and Child development. They provide a gate way into other services and
parenting programs . CABL is a strength based organisation and help families build on their
own strengths.
They assist vulnerable people with housing when their lives are in disarray. Many can’t
afford to live in this area and the cost of living is a problem and a major issue. They can
often find places for them to live but sometimes a long way away and away from their
support.
Money comes 80 percent from government funding and some from donations
Only about a $3 million dollar service so they are very small
Limited staff but they need to get bigger to expand their services. Maybe they need to look at
partnerships with other organisation. They will probably have to move to Homebush in the
future and leave the Burwood local area,
They appreciate Burwood Council support and future partnerships
For more information see their Annual Report on their web site.
Https: //cabl.org.au/
If you hear of any problems you can refer directly to Simon on his mobile number. All staff
are paid except for volunteers. There are about 22 staff but not all are full time.
Pres Hugo thanked Simon for his presentation.
The Comedy for a Cause event has been cancelled.
Reminders
8 – 10 th March 2024 is District Conference in Wollongong
25 March is joint board meeting. Club Coro needs this room for this date
18 May is District Assembly Board members try and attend.
May is International Conference in Singapore.
15 July is Club changeover
16 March is our next BBQ.
We need to organise POW and we need candidates
Maralie reported that Miriam Scott is joining Walter in the Philippines in March
PRISCA possibly the end of July and event and venue details need to be decided.
Raffle was won by Maralie. (raised $39.00)
Meeting closed at 8.00
