Club Meeting 4 June 2014

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Moyne Health Services? Leigh Parker and Belinda Westlake with the Gold Award.Guest Speaker, Chief executive officer of the Albury Wodonga Private Hospitals, Doug McRae, presented us with an interesting and informative overview of both hospitals and the supporting Ramsay Foundation established by the late Paul Ramsay. Albury Wodonga Private Hospitals
are one of 151 Hospitals in the world operated by the Ramsay Group, the fifth largest health care provider in the world ! Doug moved to Albury-Wodonga from Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid-north coast, where he was the commercial manager for Ramsay Health Care Baringa Private Hospital.  In relation to the Murray Valley Private in Wodonga rehabilitation is an area that he would like to see grow here … to date the focus has been on oncology, however, he would like to see the focus as much on rehabilitation with a growth to possibly twice what it is now, which will be made possible with the relocation of many services to the new Cancer Centre being built in Albury due to open late in 2015. Albury Wodonga Private Hospitals employ 300 people and have 10.000 admissions annually … Doug outlined the wide range of specialist services available to the region … he mentioned competition was healthy between providers locally and indicated it is still a challenge to encourage doctors/specialists to practice in a regional area. An intake of graduate nursing staff is encouraged. There is also a sound co-operation between public and private hospitals in the border region. In answering a number of questions from members Doug mentioned that superseded equipment from the hospitals is donated to overseas requirements, often through Rotary contacts. Before his move into the health sector, Doug was the general manager of a Coffs Harbour-based construction company, the financial controller of Lindsay Brothers Transport and he has also worked as a financial manager with three New Zealand companies.

 

President’s Message

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Well I can honestly report that last week’s International Convention in Sydney was really first class, very much helped of course by our other Club members who were able to attend with their wives in support. Some of the sessions were really excellent, and for me personally it was a real eye opener to see the different things Rotary are involved in throughout the world e.g The Mercy Ship – an excellent 60 minute video, which clubs can use … for a donation of $250 a club can purchase a brand new wheelchair for a disabled child in Africa … another nearer home was that Rotary has linked up with another association re Stopping Violence against Women etc etc. During the Convention, I had an informal chat to our District DG Elect, Patti Bulluss, and her husband Lance, and I think from our chat that they both are going to be very RI orientated re their respective aims for the District in their year of office. All being well various Club members who attended the Convention will give you are brief run down of events etc when they return for Wednesday’s meeting. Just as an aside, next year’s Convention is being held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Community Service

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New Cubby House 2014STUDENTS at Albury West Preschool will soon be playing in a new cubby house. The Rotary Club of Albury Hume helped build the cubby, which was donated by two families. Preschool director Jennie Kelly said the 130 preschool children were keen to play with the cubby, which just needs a coat of paint. “I’d like to thank the two families that have donated it and the Pierce family who are going to do the painting,” she said. “We got a larger one so we could fit more children into it and more children would have access to it. “They’re loving it so far and they can’t wait to get into it.” Albury Council has undertaken landscaping work at the site and installed a concrete slab. The cubby is expected to open next month. “We’ve got a fantastic playground,” Ms Kelly said. “But we’ve never had a cubby so we think it will add a lot to the children’s play opportunities. “We’re going to have an opening celebration down the track after it’s been painted.”

JUNE

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ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS MONTH . There are many extensive activities of the Rotary Fellowships. You may find that your profession, business or industry area has already established a Fellowship. If not, why not think about starting one yourself! Pastimes, hobbies and sports are made just that much more interesting if you can be involved in an international group. Look through the list of the Recreational Fellowships – is there something there for you? Don’t forget to check out the extensive list of Fellowships already active in District 9790.