Guest Speaker – Colin Darts. Colin is currently the President of Albury RSL, Junior Vice President of Albury Legacy and a board member of the SS&A club. (Perhaps that is why we had complimentary cake on the tables this week). He is also a neighbour of the Hodges and commented what a great bloke our late member Alan was. Originally from the UK came to Australia in 1965 under the Big Brother Programme. In 1967 he joined the Army and did his electronics training at Bandiana. Colin gave a very interesting address covering his time in PNG with the Survey corps and the Vietnam war where he served for a year 70-­‐71. Being the 50^th anniversary of that war he gave an overview of the events and casualty figures in which 60000 Australians were involved. He also gave an overview of Legacy’s work and the changes that are happening with time.

Guest Speaker: The Wodonga TAFE story … Tony Brandt

Tony gave us an interesting and informative presentation of the challenges and successful results achieved in many areas throughout 2012 at Wodonga TAFE … here are some highlights … 2012 brought many challenges including significant reductions in funding to the TAFE sector as a result of the Victorian State budget in May, restructuring, strategic partnerships and alliances, successful tender bids, the opening of new campuses, and, of course, the merger of Wodonga TAFE and DECA (Driver Education Centre Australia). Quite a year really!

• in spite of all of the challenges, the Institute ended 2012 ahead of all predicted targets.      Wodonga TAFE is in an excellent position to tackle what will certainly be a difficult year ahead.
• Continuing to develop our partnerships with universities and other organisations.  These partnerships have generated significant grant income and will continue to generate growth      and opportunities for us in the future.
• We will begin the delivery of medic training under our three-year contract with the Department of  Defence in June.

Our organisation is in a very exciting phase. We have successfully navigated the integration of Wodonga TAFE and DECA, and we now begin the next phase of transitioning all functions and activities under the broad banner of Wodonga TAFE. While many of these activities are completed, or nearly completed, there are a range of activities that require longer term planning.

The New Organisation The DECA company will be retained and all driver education from Wodonga TAFE and DECA will be delivered under the DECA brand.  All DECA sites and the Wodonga TAFE Logic campus will continue to deliver driver education and expand into additional areas where appropriate.

• The Institute’s executive team has personally visited every DECA site over the last few weeks and will formally induct staff to the new organisation.

The new project The objectives were to merge the two organisations, achieve a new organisational structure, transfer DECA staff to employees of Wodonga TAFE, and to appoint a new DECA Board.

Governance and Leadership It is intended that DECA would continue as a company but that its governance, leadership, and operations would be integrated with those of Wodonga TAFE.

• · Under a new constitution there will be a Ministerial appointment of Boards on 31/03/13. Michael O’Loughlin has been appointed CEO of both Wodonga TAFE and DECA.

Guest speaker  –  Sergio de Matchi Red Cross Blood Service.

Who can give blood: Most people are able to give blood if they: ▪   are fit, healthy and not suffering from a cold, flu or other illness at the time of donation or in the previous 7 days ▪   are aged between 16-70 years (in QLD and WA 16-17 year olds require parental consent) ▪   weigh more than 45kg ▪   drink up in the 24 hours before donation, especially in warm weather and have at least 3 good-sized glasses of water/juice in the 3 hours before donating. ▪   eat something in the 3 hours before donating ▪   bring at least one form of photo identification ID.  Sergio (pictured left)  gave an excellent summation of the service and all aspects of blood collection. He introduced 3 of our members who are regular donors, with donations in the 100’s and naturally his main message was to seek new donors from within the club.

Albury Wodonga Rural Clinical School

Dr Peter Vine, Director of the Rural Clinical School, based in Albury gave us an up-date on the growth and success of the school in its formative years.  A very satisfying outcome with huge prospects for advancement in the future. Peter mentioned that already a number of original students who have completed their residency and additional studies are working in our area.

The Rural Clinical School Campus The Rural Clinical School Campus at Albury Wodonga started in 2000 when the then Greater Murray Clinical School, the first Rural Clinical School in Australia, was established by the Federal Government Department of Health and Ageing in Wagga Wagga and Albury Wodonga. Since then the School has flourished and two additional campuses were added at the Mid North Coast. Over the years the School has gone from strength to strength and the Campuses are recognised as excellent environments in which to complete the final years of the course. The Clinical School Campus has become the focus of both undergraduate and postgraduate education since it opened and students are invited to participate in all the activities. The Albury Wodonga campus is located at 559 East Street Albury which is adjacent to the Albury Hospital. The campus accepts full time students in Years 4, 5 and 6.

Location Strategically located on the major inland Sydney to Melbourne corridor – the Hume Freeway. With the impending opening of the last bypass, the freeway will be double divided highway from Sydney to Melbourne. – Albury Wodonga is three hours from Melbourne and Canberra and six hours from Sydney by road. Albury Wodonga is on the main rail line between Sydney and Melbourne and Regional Express , Qantaslink and Virgin Australia have ten flights daily to Sydney return and three return flights daily to Melbourne. By air, Sydney is approximately one hour and ten minutes away and Melbourne is 45 minutes.

Medical Education The Albury Wodonga campus offers students access to:•             5 Major hospital facilities•             100 plus GPs with 25 GP clinics in Albury/Wodonga with additional clinics in the outlying areas•             Low student/patient ratio•             More than 90 specialists including: Anaesthetists; ENT Specialists; General Physicians, with interest in Renal Medicine, Cardiology and Gastroenterology; Cardiologists, General Surgeons; Gynaecologists; Reproductive medicine; Medical Oncologists; Neurologists; Obstetricians; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon; Ophthalmologists; Orthopaedic Surgeons; Plastic Surgeon; Paediatricians; Paediatric Surgeon; Pathologists; Psychiatrists; Radiotherapist; Oncologists; Radiologists; and Urologists.

Phase 2 Twelve students per year are allocated to the Campus to do their Clinical Coursework in phase 2. This is the same program as is run in the metropolitan area. The teaching program is run over two semesters and consists of courses in Society and Health, Oncology, Adult 1, Adult 2, Beginnings Growth and Development and Aged Care.With the input of the visiting specialists and the local specialists, the clinical programme of Phase 2 can be provided very successfully at the Albury Wodonga campus.