Pres Kam kicked off the Meeting, with 31 people all Zooming in, and immediately threw to our Guest Speaker, Nicky Turner, New Communities Liaison Officer South Metropolitan Victoria Police.
Born in New Zealand, Nicky came to Melbourne in 2017. She worked with Australia Post, joined the SES and worked on the Kerang floods.
In her current role, Nicky works with many ethnic groups. She started at St James, where she met Leanne and Colin, and where she helps rough sleepers with food parcels and giving out warm jackets. Some of the points she made were:
- She deals with men’s groups with family violence.
- Afghans – You can’t just tell the women that, in Australia, no-one can do bad to you.
- Tries to engage the African Community in soccer (so do we! Ed.)
- Outreach Group – Put together by Pacific Islander and African Communities. Walks around each Thursday and Friday talking to kids. Kids need to feel included. They need to be taught to behave. 20 – 30 playing sport. The try not to fine youth, instead asking for their compliance. Impresses on them t hat they have a right to feel safe to trust the police (something they can’t do in their homelands) and call for help, if needed.
- Cyber Security program.
- Catchphrase – No money… Plenty of time.
In response to questions, Nicky advised:
- Her beat goes from Port Melbourne to Portsea to Pakenham!!!
- There are only five regions in the State.
- Most of her time is spent in Dandenong, Pakenham and Cardinia.
- The media over-represents the African Community in crime. There are less than 200 offenders, mostly 18 – 19 year olds.
- The Afghans have issues – Religion, family violence and a lack of trust.
- 200 Afghan families moved into Pakenham recently.
- She is based at Dandenong but also works from home.
Paul Morris then spoke about the Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed.
The Men’s Shed was initiated in 2017 by The City of Casey and the Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills. Part of their vision is to contribute to society and social connection. They promote healthy eating and nutrition and improving physical wellbeing with exercise.
The Shed has 42 Members with a proposed cap of 100. Seven Members are also Rotarians from our Club. It is a Registered Charity and will have DGR status by October. John Grennan, Neil Bennett and he are on the Committee.
The Men’s Shed was initiated in 2017 by The City of Casey and the Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills. Part of their vision is to contribute to society and social connection. They promote healthy eating and nutrition and improving physical wellbeing with exercise.
The Shed has 42 Members with a proposed cap of 100. Seven Members are also Rotarians from our Club. It is a Registered Charity and will have DGR status by October. John Grennan, Neil Bennett and he are on the Committee.
They do their own fundraising and receive support from our Club and from Grants. Some of the Projects they have done or are doing are:
- Making furniture for schools and kindergartens.
- Maintaining outdoor furniture and paths – Churchill Park and Cardinia Reservoir.
- DAA – Making smaller demonstration SkyHydrant units.
- Demonstrating the correct use of tools.
- Repairing bikes and computers.
- Building raised veggie gardens at End Hills Police Station (suspended to Covid 19).
Other activities include music, cycling, walking and cooking and workplace visits.
They have a long lease on the new shed and, after installing their machinery, will operate seven days a week. They will also provide vocational training.
They will continue their relationship with the Club and are interested in doing joint Projects, Terry immediately taking him up on that, with the Cornerstone Project in mind! Peter offered his spare tools (of which he has enough to stock a Bunnings Store! Ed.)