Guest Speaker, Kristy McMahon, spoke about her personal story and of her journey with cancer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. She told us that if there is a history of cancer in your family, it’s best to commence being screened for cancer around 10 years earlier than when your relatives were first diagnosed. After diagnosis, Kristy had hoped to avoid the need for a mastectomy and so went straight to chemotherapy.Unfortunately, this didn’t work, and in the end, she also needed a mastectomy and a lymphadenectomy, which is when the lymph nodes are removed. One thing that Kristy mentioned several times is the need to maintain your sense of humour when going through these treatments. She was very complimentary of the strength of the community at Howlong and was grateful for the support given to her and her family. As soon as Kristy was well enough (2014), she participated in a Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation Walk as a fundraiser for Cancer and raised $10,000. She followed up in 2015 and raised a further $50,000!Unfortunately for Kristy and her family, the cancer journey wasn’t yet done. After her daughter developed a sore leg, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. This is a type of cancer that produces immature bone. It is the most common type of cancer that arises in bones, and it is usually found at the end of long bones, often around the knee. Most people diagnosed with osteosarcoma are under the age of 25. After many operations and chemotherapy, her daughter’s bones are much softer than they would normally be, resulting in many fractures. This hasn’t stopped her from becoming a terrific swimmer and being chosen to compete at Riverina Rep swimming carnivals! What an inspiration Kristy and her daughter are for all of us. The good news for Kristy is that after 5 years, she has been given the all clear.

David Cooke is a member of the Rotary Club of Albury West, so he is certainly very familiar with our venue! He has been a Rotarian for 27 years, has been a member of 3 clubs in 2 districts as well as being a Past District Governor. David spoke about Rotary Foundation. He is the current Chair of Rotary Foundation for District 9790. He is passionate about Rotary Foundation and what it does for health, hunger and humanitarianism around the world. In terms of the receipt of Foundation funding, all districts are independent. When Rotary International sets fees, our District passes these on and then clubs set their own fees as they see fit. In turn, there are District fees that cover expenses for the District Governor, Assistant Governors and District Conference. Rotary Foundation has nothing directly to do with our District; rather, its central role is to raise funds for charities. All money raised is invested for 3 years with the interest then going to projects. In total, Rotary Foundation has spent over $3B on various projects. The original money was sourced from left over money after a conference. The first large donation was $1.3M, which was left to Rotary Foundation in the memory of Paul Harris. Paul Harris Fellowships are awarded to those who give $1,000 USD to Foundation. Anyone can donate to Rotary Foundation and David asked that we all consider giving to it. An advantage of giving to Foundation is that 100% of the donation goes to the cause – nothing goes to administration or any other expenses. Sadly, this isn’t true for most other charities. There will be a major fundraiser for Rotary Foundation at the Wangaratta PAC on 16 March and David asked if our Club can get a table of 10 together for the event. Let’s remember that Rotary Foundation helped us to fund the Brown’s Lagoon Reflection Area and for many years, our excellent River of Stories project. When you are paying your subs, please add $50 as requested and this will be donated to Rotary Foundation in your name.

Guest Speakers Edwina Hayes and Johnson Mangalath  presented information about Regional Development Australia Murray and our Skilled Migration Program. Edwina will give an overview of Regional Economic Development including Government support and priorities, opportunities to be involved with growing business and the needs of the region in terms of workforce availability and capability. Johnson will provide details of our Skilled Migration Program where 489 and 187 Visas are supported, assessed and certified under the Federal Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) that leads to permanent residency in Australia and the NSW Government Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional Visa).Edwina Hayes, Director Regional Development and CEO, Regional Development Australia Murray is a Social Worker with 20 years experience including, executive management, rural and regional community development and mental health and child and family services. Edwina has worked with rural communities across the Murray Region for more than 5 years nurturing extensive agricultural and social networks in the rural communities. https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwina-hayes-86712038/

Johnson Mangalath, Chief Financial Controller and Skilled Migration Program Manager, RDA Murray. Johnson is an Accountant with extensive experience in regional development and skilled migration. Johnson has more than ten years experience leading a regional Skilled Migration Program supporting over one thousand five hundred migrants successfully relocating to the Murray Region.

Guest Speaker, Stuart Ayres MP was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly on June 19, 2010 representing the electorate of Penrith.  Stuart comes from a Defence Force family background which saw him moving around the country until settling in Penrith. He attended school at St Dominic’s College in Kingswood and McCarthy Catholic College in Emu Plains. Stuart graduated in 1999 with a degree in Sports Business from the Australian College of Physical Education. Prior to being elected to the NSW Parliament, Stuart has worked for Austereo, 2DayFM and Triple M radio stations, and the Australian College of Physical Education initially as Student Recruitment Manager and then later as Director of Marketing and Business Development. Stuart has been heavily involved in the administration of local sport in Western Sydney where he has been a Board Member of the Penrith Australian Football Club for 10 years and was also the founding secretary of the Penrith Valley Sports Foundation. In addition to his sports administration, Stuart has played over 200 games in the Sydney AFL competition, is a passionate supporter of the mighty Penrith Panthers and enjoys reading about Australian history. Since his election Stuart has held the positions of Deputy Government Whip, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport & Roads, Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney and was elevated to the NSW Ministry in December 2013 as Minister for Fair Trading and Minister Assisting the Premier on Western Sydney. In April 2014 Stuart was again elevated to Minister for Sport and Recreation before adding Minister for Police and Emergency Services to his portfolio the following month. In January 2017 Stuart was appointed Minister for Western Sydney, Minister for WestConnex, and Minister for Sport.