District 9800 Response to Catastrophic Bushfires in Tasmania

As we have seen so many times in recent years, our New Year has started with a natural disaster on a large scale.

As news of the catastrophic bushfires in the Tasman Peninsula and Bicheno areas of Tasmania has emerged, we have also seen reports of fires emerging elsewhere across Australia. With the early start to the bushfire risk period this summer and climatic projections dashing hopes of an early respite, the prognosis this summer is presently very pessimistic.

District 9800 has acted to throw our support behind efforts to assist with recovery projects wherever they may be required and as far as our ability to raise funds will permit.

Violence Free Families

Violence Free Families is dedicated to improving the quality of life of families affected in this way. Its fundamental belief is that every person has the right to live in his or her family free of fear and intimidation. A special concern is the protection of children.

30 years of Australian Rotary Health

Mental Health Research Project Grants & Scholarships, Indigenous Health Scholarships, Rural Medical and Nursing Scholarships and Funding Partners in numerous other Health fields have all been a focus for Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.

Pushed into action by the mystery surrounding sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Ian Scott addressed the Rotary Club of Mornington on June 17, 1981, highlighting the need to fund more medical research in order to shed light on the mystery of the syndrome.

After 30 years, Ian Scott’s dream of funding research is still alive with Australian Rotary Health raising close to $27 million for medical research since its origin, $10 million of which contributing to advances in mental health, the main focus of Australian Rotary Health since 2000.

Australian Rotary Health commemorated 30 years of service in August 2011, celebrating three decades of providing funding for medical research and scholarships for healthcare professional.

Have a Heart (HAH) - Organ Donor Awareness

Many lives have been saved through individuals donating their organs. Our program aims to increase the number of donor organs avaliable.

Australian Rotary Health Great Australian Bike Ride

The Great Australian Bike Ride was a nine-stage ride around the country that began in Melbourne on March 21st 2009 and finished back in Melbourne on October 10th 2009. This was a wonderful opportunity to be involved in a healthy challenge for a good cause.

The purpose of the ride was to raise money for mental health research and education programs funded by Australian Rotary Health; the largest non-government funding body of mental health research programs in Australia.

Camp Getaway

Camp Getaway caters for those of all abilities and mobility, provides a meeting place for support groups, and offers those who need it most, a sanctuary away from their daily struggles. Whilst disability and related support groups have priority for booking dates, Camp Getaway welcomes bookings from family groups, church groups, clubs, special functions, business meetings, and recreational groups.

Friedreich Ataxia Dialogue - genetic neurological degenerative condition.

The Rotary Club of Brighton North aims to make a difference in as many ways as possible; to the sufferers, their families, people at risk of developing the disease, and to the doctors and researchers in the hope that they will discover a cure or a drug to slow down the disease.

Friends R 4 - Research into better cancer treatments and their side effects

After several of Ronnie's friends and acquaintances had been diagnosed with various blood, bone marrow and skin cancers - lymphoma, leukaemia, multiple myeloma and melanoma - Ronnie decided to set up Friends-R-4 as a way to fight these cancers.

Know Your Numbers - Stroke and Heart Attack risk - Are you really OK?

The Know Your Numbers Stroke Awareness program is about helping people know their blood pressure and whether they should seek professional advice.

Bushfire Relief - Black Saturday

While nearly 1 million dollars was raised by donation for the cause, this could never be enough to satisfy all genuine needs. Nevertheless, the funds have enabled development of contacts with survivors and their communities and establishment of a high level of trust between them and Rotary.

Partnerships Advancing Community Engagement (PACE)

PACE is Rotary engaging with the community through a process of research, consultation and analysis, developing partnerships, planning, implementing and monitoring to achieve a "hand up" for people in communities.

Probus - Professional and Business

Probus is a Community Service project of Rotary International that had its beginnings in the United Kingdom in 1965-66.

The name PROBUS (from the words PROfessional and BUSiness) was adopted as the new clubs were directed at recruiting retired people from the professional and business world.

Prostate Health

Rotary Clubs support The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) by inviting speakers to their Clubs to raise awareness and work on awareness initiatives together.

Rotarian Action Group of MS Awareness (RAGMSA)

RAGMSA is one of Rotary International's sixteen Action Groups established to promote MS awareness, encourage Rotarians and MS societies to collaborate to contribute via fundraising activities to MS research and provide support for people with MS (pwMS).

Rotary Ovarian Cancer Reseach (RoCan)

This Year more than 1,500 Women will be diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Over 850 will die from this Disease.

This Project became a District 9800 project, supported by many Rotary Clubs with over $370,000 raised for research, to help find a Screening test for all Women in our community.

Rotary Kokoda Project - Connecting the Community

This project is a Victoria Police programme with the support of The Rotary Club of Williamstown, taking youths from the high rises of Flemington to the hills of Kokoda. The program has had a significant impact on disenfranchised youths who have been identified as having low self-esteem, a lack of goals or direction in life or who are at risk of not completing school.

Mental Health Research

Rotary District 9800 raises money for and supports mental Health Research. Williamstown Rotarian Dr. Murray Verso is a General Practitioner with an interest in this subject. He is available to speak to Rotary Clubs about the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and the myths and misconceptions surrounding these disabling conditions.

Second Bite - Delivering fresh food to the people of Melbourne and Hobart

Rotary provides a majority of volunteers who collect much of the food from markets around Melbourne and Hobart for the Second Bite Organisation. This organistaion has now grown to 8 staff, 3 refrigerated vans, premises in Kensington, more than 300 committed volunteers and collections now averaging more than 60 tonnes per month of fresh food. This is enough for 1.4 million nutritious meals supplied by more than 100 recipient organisations.