Guest Speaker David Hammersley is a voluntary pilot for Angel Flight. He is based in Khancoban NSW. Angel Flight is a charity which coordinates non-emergency flights to assist country people to access specialist medical treatment that would otherwise be unavailable to them because of vast distance and high travel costs. All flights are free and may involve travel to medical facilities anywhere in Australia. David is a semi-retired  diesel motor mechanic involving fleets of buses and coaches in Sydney, Parkes and the Gold Coast , he spent his younger days as a mechanic  on Rolls Royce Jaguars and Range Rovers vehicles …  David currently lives in  Khancoban with his wife, son and three grandchildren.  My wife and I had a son and daughter … unfortunately our daughter, after fighting cancer for seven years,  did not survive. Their daughter has downs-syndrome and is cared for by our son.  My wife and I are involved with the local community, RFS, the local nursing home and community driving and the local Baptist Church, also doing Scenic flights over the mountains as well Angel Flights.

Guest Speaker Stacey Franklin from Carevan presented us with an ino the superb and extensive programmes of Carevan.  The Carevan Foundation aims to create a sense of identity, a sense of belonging and a sense of achievement in those less advantaged in our society. The Foundation is focused on changing “us” and “them” to become “we”.  The Carevan in Albury Wodonga has become an icon, a symbol that this community cares, and that a community through a strong volunteer network can fight hunger and poverty. “Sometimes a feeling from the heart becomes a jigsaw puzzle that is meant to be put together”.

 Guest Speaker … Chris Pidd from Lifeline Albury Wodonga is proud to participate in Lifeline’s 13 11 14 crisis support service. Our goal is a suicide-free Australia. We aim to help build resilient communities through helping address mental health issues, isolation, stress, anxiety and loneliness within our broader community. Our team of dedicated volunteers answered over 8,000 calls from people in crisis and distress in annually on things such as depression, anxiety, gambling problems, relationship breakdowns, suicidal thoughts and mental health issues.

This Week’s Guest Speaker … Dr. Digby Race topic was….Desert country: outside looking in, inside looking out …

Dr Digby Race had the opportunity to lead a research team exploring climate adaptation options for Central Australia during 2012-14. Much of his time was spent learning from, and working with, the remote Aboriginal communities living in classic desert country. Beginning this period as an ‘outsider’ looking in, time in the desert with local people allowed him to more deeply understand how remote communities see and care for their Country. The key to the research was blending contemporary science with ancient wisdom to create a shared knowledge. Digby disscussed some of the issues and riches found in the Tanami desert (Northern Territory).

Guest Speaker Justin Finlaysonfrom Albury City Council outlined an annual  view of the Council’s budget and future plans for the city. The draft budget reflects community wishes as identified through extensive consultation, including council’s Have-a-Say processes held to gauge residents’ views on projects and developments across the city. The 2018-19 draft budget includes the one-year operational plan, four-year delivery program and long term financial plan.