Dear Perth Rotarians,
 
The month of May is a wonderful celebration of Women, starting with Mother’s Day on Sunday 9 May.  At Perth Rotary we combine the month of May with our Path of Hope Gala, to be held Saturday 22 May at The Crown Towers.  The Gala celebrates Women who have experienced Family and Domestic Violence;  Women who have been victorious in overcoming this terrifying and debilitating scourge on our society.  Have you purchased your ticket?  www.pathofhope.org.au is the place to go as tables are selling fast.  Don’t miss out.

 
What of Mother’s Day?  Is it an over-commercialised excuse or do we take the time to celebrate, show our gratitude and honour the women who have nurtured us?  The ancient Greeks held festivals to honour the Mother Goddesses – Rhea and Cybele, the early Christians held a festival known as Mothering Sunday – which coincided with the fourth Sunday of Lent so as to induce the faithful to return to their “Mother Church”.  In the United States Mothers were celebrated in the years prior to the Civil Way with the commencement of Mother’s Day Work Clubs to teach parenting skills.  Post-Civil War, the Mother’s Day Work Clubs evolved into Mother’s Friendship Day where Mothers of Union and Confederate soldiers gathered to promote reconciliation.  History has repeatedly shown that as a society in ancient times and modern, we recognise the valuable contribution that Mothers make in raising happy and secure children to become adults who are able to contribute to our society in a positive manner. 
 
In this same way, Perth Rotary recognises and celebrates the contribution of women and has worked hard to raise funds in support of the Salvation Army’s outreach services in the Family and Domestic Violence sector via Path of Hope and the tremendous work carried out by Rotarians & Path of Hope Board Members, Rebecca Tolstoy AM; John Garland AM; Stephen Inouye; Brendan Watson and Path of Hope WA Chair, Ray Simpson & his committee. 
 
The Path of Hope Gala is a magical evening of celebration made possible by the generous sponsorship of Hancock Prospecting and Roy Hill of which Mrs Rinehart is the chair.  Your support of this event not only enables you to enjoy an evening with friends and Rotarians alike, but allows you to have a positive impact in another person’s life which is generation changing and lifelong. 
 
Path of Hope’s Vision is “to break the Intergenerational cycle of Family and Domestic Violence”.  Path of Hope’s Mission is to “mobilise the organisational capacity of Rotary and its members to support the Salvation Army, agencies and services that provide safety and empowerment to people escaping Family and Domestic Violence (FDV).”  Each year we have the opportunity to support Path of Hope  as they strive towards having a positive impact in the lives of those women and children in our community who most need our support. Don’t underestimate the importance of your support and presence at the Gala. 
 
Every person who is able to attend sends a powerful message to all of those women who have overcome FDV and also to those who are yet to overcome FDV, that our community stands together, united in our belief that there is no place or excuse for violence in our homes, in our society. 
 
 
For more information on Path of Hope, I urge you to take the time and go to their website which has detailed information on Family Domestic Violence, its lifelong effect on families and children and how you can make a difference.  www.pathofhope.org.au
 
In support and to further enlighten members of the work being carried out in this field we have Kristy Staples, State Manager for the Family Domestic Violence Unit at the Salvation Army as our guest speaker this week. Kristy manages The Salvation Army’s response in WA to one of the most challenging social issues of our community. Once buried deep in the conversation, never really talked about, carrying both visible and invisible (to the eyes) scars, the topic of Family Violence must rise and remain at the surface of public discussion to generate real change. A national conversation needs to be led by example at all political levels as well as the need to have active conversations at home. Now is the opportunity and time to influence current and future generations to create change. Changes in attitudes, understanding and behaviours. Kristy brings her experience and skills into building sector leading and innovative services to both Perth and the Pilbara that can provide a therapeutic model of security, care and empowerment.  Please go on line today to pre-purchase your ticket to our business luncheon this week via the following link - https://www.trybooking.com/BQMXL Please note, members must wear a mask to the hotel and remain seated.  Masks may be removed whilst eating and drinking. 
 
 
  • Tuesday 4 May | Rotary Means Business Insight Series with David Reed AO as the guest speaker.  David is currently the non-executive Director, Neometals Ltd, former chair of Titan Resources Ltd, Noble Resources Ltd and Reed Resources Ltd.  Past Chairman of Eyres Reed Ltd and CIBC Australia.  Co-founder of Diggers & Dealers Forum in Kalgoorlie and Chair of Fundraising for the Australian Prospectors & Miners Hall of Fame – Rotarians and guests are invited to join us at the Duxton Hotel, 1 St Georges Terrace. 5.30pm – 7pm.  $15/pp bar snacks and happy hour drinks.  www.trybooking.com/BQOPZ
  • Friday 14 May | Dr Jemma Green, Director, Power Ledger – Dr Green will be talking on the topic of “All Things Crypto”.  After completing a business degree majoring in finance at Murdoch University, Perth, Jemma joined J.P. Morgan in London. One of the biggest challenges at the time was the explosion in exotic and hybrid equity derivatives which was bringing in $700 million profit annually for the bank. This scalability challenge demanded an automated systems response, and Jemma oversaw a large software development project to achieve this. Developing, delivering and implementing the project with a 25 strong team across different time zones became a norm and a decade, the system is essentially the same and still performing. Looking for a fresh challenge, Jemma got involved with setting up the new Global Environmental Risk function at JPMorgan. This was something that investors were increasingly demanding and the new function launched in 2007.  During that time she also completed two post grad diplomas in sustainability with a Masters at Cambridge University. She returned to Perth in 2013 to do a PhD in electricity market disruption at Curtin University.  This PhD was in effect an embryonic Power Ledger project, and she and her co-founders set up the new venture on a commercial footing. Since then, Jemma has overseen the development of numerous software projects that integrate blockchain technology with transactive and market layers.  Bookings are via trybooking - https://www.trybooking.com/BQNCS
  • Friday 21 May | Gerry Georgotas, National Coordinator for the National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project. 
  • Thursday 27 May | Joint Meeting with the UNAAWA.  Reconciliation Week. 
  • Friday 11 June | Whole Club Photo, all members are requested to be at the Parmelia Hilton by 12 noon so we can capture a photo of the Perth Rotary Club Membership in Rotary Australia’s Centennial year.  The photo session will be strictly between 12 noon – 12.30pm.  Mr Richard Court AC, former Premier of Western Australia and Businessman will be our guest speaker.  Those who are able to stay on for lunch are requested to go pre-book via the link https://www.trybooking.com/BRCDL  More details will be forthcoming, however, please save the date in your diaries. 
  • Friday 18 June | Club Changeover Dinner – Please SAVE THE DATE.  The Fellowship Committee will update members. 
Please take care in these unusual times we find ourselves in.  Remember to do the 3, wash your hands, be aware of your social distancing requirements and check in with the Safe WA APP when visiting a premises.  Wishing all the Mums & Families a wonderful day on Sunday and every day.  
 
PERTH ROTARY 2020/21 BOARD EMAIL - Our Next Board Meeting – Monday 5 July 2021
President:   Rev Dr John Shepherd AM    president@rotaryperth.org.au ;  john.h.shepherd@bigpond.com
Past President:         Jill Dawson               jill@quairadingearthmoving.com.au
President Elect:        Maree Gooch           maree@valuecreators.com.au 
Treasurer:                  Joseph Wambua      treasurer@rotaryperth.org.au
Secretary:                  Jacques Phillips      secretary@rotaryperth.org.au
Rotary Foundation  Emma Cork               emma@oneenergyfps.com.au
Club Service:           Darren Perera           clubservice@rotaryperth.org.au
Fellowship Chair:    Jo Morris                    fellowship@rotaryperth.org.au     
Media Chair              Barry Thornton         barrythornton@hotmail.com
Speaker Program     Nicola Johnston       programmechair@rotaryperth.org.au
Membership              Ashley Whitworth    membership@rotaryperth.org.au
Vocational                 Jonas Edner             vocational@rotaryperth.org.au
Community               David Wee                community@rotaryperth.org.au
International             Wesley Sim               international@rotaryperth.org.au
Youth                                                          youth@rotaryperth.org.au