Guest Speaker Maria O’Reilly from Upper Murray Family Care in Wodonga…..Caring for children and supporting local families during times of need are two driving motivations behind Upper Murray Family Care Incorporated …  services include … Out of Home Care: approved and supported home based placements with Foster Care or with family or friends of the child’s family (Kinship Care) Integrated Family Services: a referral and assessment service through Child FIRST for vulnerable children and their families.Children Services: home based child care with approved educators as well as specialist consultation Family Relationship Centre: mediation for separated families as well as information and referral Post Separation Services: a safe contact space for separated parents and their children, as well mediation Community Financial Services: a variety of support including information, referral, advocacy, counselling and other resources Hume Riverina Community Legal  Service: free legal advice, advocacy, information and referral through clinics and telephone. Support Options: Assists carers of people who are aged and/or who have dementia or a disability through information and referral for respite and other support services. Interchange: Supports families and children with a disability through regular respite with approved host carers, after school care, and holiday activities

Guest Speakers, Anne and Chiquita are Co-Managers of Murray Gardens Retirement Village, joining the village in September 2012. They have a wonderful bond, being first cousins, and are enjoying working together as a team. Anne has worked in the retirement village industry for approximately 18 years, and previously managed another Retire Australia village, Riverina Gums Retirement Village. Anne loves driving through the impressive entrance of Murray Gardens and admiring the beautiful gardens. Sharing stories with the wonderful residents and working with Chiquita are Anne’s favourite parts of working at Murray Gardens Retirement Village. In her spare time, Anne enjoys being a Nana to her grandchildren and gardening. Chiquita is new to the retirement village industry, but has vast experience in the aged care industry. A fond memory for Chiquita was the welcoming morning tea at Murray Gardens Retirement Village, meeting the residents and standing up with her cousin Anne as Co-Managers. Chiquita enjoys making a difference in the residents’ lives, sharing their stories and life experiences.  Her favourite part of the village is the kitchen: “Murray Gardens food and hospitality service is very special and most delicious!” In her spare time Chiquita loves spending time with her grandchildren, reading and swimming.

Guest Speaker, Stephen Fuller … Regional Manager (Kiewa) OCTEC Limited … Alb/Wod. Son of Albury Hume member Graham,Steve has worked in Disability Employment Services for the last five  and a half years, in both the Not-for-Profit and Private Sector, managing teams  from Broadford to Parkes and East Gippsland and Latrobe Valley. He currently manages a team in the Kiewa Employment Services Area for OCTEC Limited,which covers offices in Albury, Wodonga, Beechworth and Corryong.  Raised on the border, Steve has an in depth understanding of the needs of clients who need to overcome barriers to gain ongoing employment in this region and the services that are available to them. With an increase of people who are looking to work with diagnosed medical conditions, the Disability Employment Services field is an increasingly complex and challenging world.

Guest Speaker, Bill Williams with Vicki Gray and Stuart Baker who
accepted a cheque … proceeds from Solstice catering in July

Guest Speaker and Albury North Rotarian, Bill Williams, grew up near Barham the son of a rice growing, soldier settler family. His career has included high school teaching, career counselling, banking and organisation design consulting. He worked extensively in Vietnam with Swinburne University between 1997 and 2002. Bill and his wife, Heni, now live at Table Top. They are establishing a not for profit organisation – Giveller (meaning travellers who give) – aimed at assisting Hill Tribes in the north of Vietnam to access basic education. The first Giveller expedition to Vietnam will depart in September this yea,r for “Rotarians and friends”, who will look at and support the work of several Vietnamese charity organisations including a Buddhist Monastery Orphanage and “Only Rice is Not Enough”, a charity working to increase the amount of protein in the diet of poor hill tribe children.