Category Archives: Guest Speakers

Club Meeting 13 September 2017

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Guest Speaker, Jenny Black …… More than ten years ago Chris Thomas watched the uplifting movie ‘Calendar Girls’ and immediately believed that Albury Wodonga could produce its own calendar and in the process raise money to provide extra services and resources for cancer patients in our local region. She invited a talented professional photographer – Suzy Watson and a then Regional Breast Cancer Nurse, Jenny Black, to come on board and live her dream. The overwhelming success of this amazing calendar –‘ Brave Hearts Faces of Love Courage and Support’ saw the birth of Brave Hearts on the Murray Inc. and the beginning of a rewarding journey that has witnessed so many special projects involving an inspiring group of women and men who have been touched by a cancer diagnosis and who very aptly stand by their name – Brave Hearts.

The mission of Brave hearts is …

To provide support to people of our local region who have been touched by a cancer diagnosis

To provide awareness to our community about prevention, early detection, treatment, palliative assistance and research concerning all cancers

To provide assistance with the health, welfare and well-being of individuals and their families affected by cancer in our local region

To provide equipment, facilities, tuition and an overall opportunity for cancer survivors, families and friends to participate in the sport of dragon boating ensuring all aspects of injury prevention strategies and enhancement of physical & mental health are endorsed and emphasised

To achieve the goals and promote the purposes of the group

Jenny Black was a recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship from Albury Hume a few years ago.

Club Meeting 6 September 2017

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Margaret McDonald assisted me in presenting the John McDonald Memorial Scholarship to Carla Hensel. Carla talked very well about her brother’s battle with cancer leading her into a career in medicine – a great inspiration. We wish Carla all the best with her studies and hope she will have a long term relationship with our club.

John McDonald Scholarship  presented for 2017 to Carla Hensel

Carla Hensel, Year III UNSW Growing up in Albury has impacted my journey into medicine in many ways. I have always had an interest in medicine, but having lived in a regional area and witnessed the importance and challenges of rural health, my passion grew. I believe my strengths that enabled me to obtain entry into medicine will also continue to help me succeed in the future. I have excellent communication skills and will continue to show empathy, compassion and integrity towards my patients.I was privileged to be able to move back home to Albury this year to continue my studies at the UNSW Rural Clinical School. I have always admired Albury’s sense of community which I have experienced in many ways through schooling, family and sporting life. I hope to be able to work in the Albury region in the future, giving back to the community which has already given me so much. Dr John McDonald achieved so much in his time and has clearly left an enduring legacy on the local community. This scholarship will allow me to put further time and commitment into my studies without financial stress, enabling me to achieve my best for the benefit of the wider community.

Guest Speaker Peter Cerexhe spoke on the Border Music Camp which exists to alleviate this for students in the Border district, the Riverina and north-east Victoria. Our aim is that these students may play in an ensemble that can challenge them, while being equal to their musical standard.

The Camp is not just for school-age students, with many adults also attending. Nor, for that matter, is it only for locals. Students regularly attend from Melbourne, Sydney and regional centres; we have had Campers from as far away as Hobart, Perth, Alice Springs and Darwin.

Cate Davis, wife of former Albury Hume member, Ian, was appointed Director in 1977 … one final quote from the archives. Cate Davis, writing in 1986: ‘At Border Music Camp we provide the skilled conductors and tutors, the physical space, equipment and sustenance and the musical scores but ultimately it is the enthusiasm of the students that makes the real music come alive’.

Club Meeting 10 May 2017

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Guest Speakers, Louisa Thompson (MHA Palliative Care Supports Coordinator) will lead the information sharing on this occasion supported by Volunteer Advance Care Planning Ambassadors Anne Elston and Mieke Barton.More and more the health system is encouraging and supporting people to openly communicate with their significant others about planning for their future health and personal care wishes. Hence Advance Care Planning (the discussion) and Advance Care Directives/Plan (the documentation of that discussion) came about to support persons, significant others and health professionals to know, and comply with the persons wishes in the event the person was unable to speak for themselves because of illness or injury.

 

Club Meeting 26 April 2017

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Guest Speaker, Captain Amy Sullivan (nee Curtis) grew up in Wodonga, Victoria and  completed high school at The Scots School Albury in 2002. She undertook a Bachelor in Psychology at the Australian National University in Canberra and graduated with honours in 2006. Amy was commissioned into the Australian Army Psychology Corps in January 2007 and completed postings as a Psychology Officer to Canberra, Townsville and Sydney. In 2011 Amy deployed to rural Queensland with Operation Flood Assist providing psychological support to the flood affected community in the Rockhampton region. She deployed again on two occasions to Afghanistan in 2011 providing psychological services to soldiers based in the Middle East Area of Operations. In 2012 Amy was posted to the 2nd Commando Regiment in Sydney as the special forces psychologist. She deployed with the Commando’s to Afghanistan in 2012. She transferred to the Army Reserves in 2013 and continued working with the special forces in Sydney while completing a Masters in Clinical Psychology. Amy moved back to Wodonga in February this year and continues to work with the ADF in NSW and Victoria as an on-base psychologist and remains in the Army Reserves.

Club Meeting 19 April 2017

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Guest Speaker Carl Rogalski attended high school at Catholic College Wodonga and then worked within the hospitality industry in various roles for 10 years. He later attended Latrobe University completing a Bachelor of Arts (Politics/Sociology) and then completed a Masters of Social Work in 2014. He has now returned to Catholic College Wodonga where he is currently employed as a social worker. He is passionate about working with young people and is looking forward to sharing some insights about his work and the challenges facing young people today.