Community Newsletter February - March 2018
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Community Newsletter February - March 2018 In this issue: Calendar of events 1 Executive 2 Family Services 5 Children’s Services 6 Education 10 Health Services 12 Community Notices 23 Photo: (L-R): Rebecca Casson (CEO—Committee for Geelong), Brian Cooke (CEO—Geelong Cats) , Warren Snowdon MP, Richard Marles MP and Rod Jackson— (FED CATS EVENT—December 2017) Calendar of Events Want to get the February Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Community Newsletter by 13th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL APOLOGY TO THE Page 33 STOLEN GENERATIONS email? 17th-18th Woorrangalook Koori Surf Title Page 30 Send an email to: emma.mcpherson@wathaurong 24th PAKO FESTIVAL Page 35 .org.au March Epilepsy Awareness Month 12th Labour Day Co-operative CLOSED Your details will be added to our email list; and you 15th NATIONAL CLOSE THE GAP DAY 34 will be emailed each new 30th Good Friday Co-operative CLOSED Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative Phone: 03 5277 0044 Lot 62 Morgan Street North Geelong Victoria 3215 Fax: 03 5278 4123 Postal Address: Like us on Facebook E-mail: [email protected] PO Box 402 Wathaurong Aboriginal Co Op Website: www.wathaurong.org.au 1 - North Geelong Victoria 3215 Chief Executive Officer Happy New Year to all our Community Members; in this the 40th year of Wathaurong. If you are interested in joining the 40th Year Celebration Committee, please contact Kym Monohan on 5292 9828. I would like to welcome our newly elected Board Members, Mick Ryan and Craig Edwards; as well as our newly co-opted Board Members, Wendy Brabham and Corrina Eccles. Sharelle McGuirk is interim Chairperson until the first Board Meeting in February 2018. completing a post graduate paper on International Models of Care; and we look forward to working with her; whilst highlighting our own model of care. A reminder that NAIDOC week, this year, runs from July 8th – 15th—I would also like to ask that any Community Members interested in working on the NAIDOC Committee contact Kym Monohan on 5292 9828, as soon as possible. In early January, I was involved in the formal handover of the Disability Units to two of Wathaurong’s Community Elders. Photo (L-R): Kym Monohan, Rod Jackson, Sharelle McGuirk, Angeline Ferdinand (Melb. Uni.), Wendy Brabham and Mick Ryan We were pleased to have Minister Warren Snowdon visit at Morgan Street site, to discuss out programs and services; as well as areas in need of funding. Photo (L-R): Official handover of Disability Units on 5th January 2018, with Rod Jackson and Liz Abrahams , with our Community Elders I would like to express my congratulations to Jill Gallagher AO, in her new role as Victoria’s Treaty Advancement Commissioner. Ian Hamm will be Acting VACCHO CEO, in her absence. I would like also, to sincerely thank Denise McGuiness who attended the last Community meeting and provided a Photo: (L-R): Kerrie Alsop, James Jose, Minister Warren Snowdon MP, Kiralee Hogema, Phillip King fantastic comedy presentation for our Community Members provided called “FLUSHED: A KUNI COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!”, January 15th marked the opening of the Legal Year at the through Cancer Council Victoria. I would like to offer my thanks to Emma McPherson, who Geelong Magistrates Court/ Koori Court , with much organised both the All Staff Christmas Party and coordinated anticipation for continuing with great outcomes for our the our end of year BBQ Celebration. community. For our Family & Children’s Services, we saw the Paediatric I was involved in discussions around our offering of an Submission with four Ministerial representatives. Optometry Service out of our Colac site; in collaboration with We are working closely with the Barwon Hubs Leadership Barwon Health and Colac Area Health; so stand by for more Group towards providing services through a city centre Family details on this. Safety Hub, from around March this year; where victims and We were really thrilled to have funding approved, for the their families can seek advice and support services; with two fantastic Homework Centre, that is run on a weekly basis by Wathaurong roles to be advertised shortly; for an Aboriginal Sandra and Aunty May. Practice Manager and Hub Worker. I would like to welcome Herb Goonan, who has re-joined I am looking forward to working with all of you in what is Wathaurong as Family Services Manager as well as Jacqui shaping up to be a great year! Dawson and Catherine Fletcher who have commenced as Home Care Workers. Rod Jackson We met late in December with Angeline Ferdinand who is 2 Chief Executive Officer Chairperson Happy New Year to all our Community Members; in this the Hello members, 40th year of Wathaurong. If you are interested in joining the Welcome to our first Newsletter for 2018 and I hope that you all enjoyed a safe, happy and relaxing fes- 40th Year Celebration Committee, please contact Kym tive season with family and friends. For those of you who may have lost loved ones uringd this time, on Monohan on 5292 9828. behalf of the Board, we extend our sincere condolences to you. I would like to welcome our newly elected Board Members, As Interim Chairperson, this is my first Chair report, and I look forward the year ahead and the many Mick Ryan and Craig Edwards; as well as our newly co-opted Board Members, Wendy Brabham and Corrina Eccles. Sharelle things the Board, our organisation and our community can achieve throughout 2018. McGuirk is interim Chairperson until the first Board Meeting in There has been considerable change with the Board since our October/ November 17 Newsletter, follow- February 2018. ing our community elections. As was announced at our community meeting, the Board welcomes two completing a post graduate paper on International Models of newly elected members, Mr. Craig Edwards and Mr. Mick (Michael) Ryan who bring considerable commu- Care; and we look forward to working with her; whilst nity experience, knowledge and skills to the table. I look forward to many robust conversations and highlighting our own model of care. working together in the best interests of this community. In welcoming them, we say good bye two proud wise women who have talked, negotiated and advocated tirelessly for this community for A reminder that NAIDOC week, this year, runs from July 8th – many years. On behalf of the Board, I acknowledge and send heartfelt thanks to our former Board members, the previous Chairperson Ms. 15th—I would also like to ask that any Community Members Annette Xiberras and Aunty Colleen Howell. Both Annette and Colleen’s commitment to this community, their guidance, strength, and interested in working on the NAIDOC Committee contact Kym support has been invaluable; and I wish them both the very best in your future endeavors. Monohan on 5292 9828, as soon as possible. During the community Board election process we received two unexpected Board member resignations from Mr. Brian McKinnon and Mr. In early January, I was involved in the formal handover of the Lowell Hunter; which left two additional short term Board vacancies. Again, on behalf of the Board, we thank Brian and Lowell for their Disability Units to two of Wathaurong’s Community Elders. time and commitment during their respective time on the Board. Upon advice from our governance body, we were able to co-opt two new Board members at our first Board meeting following the Novem- Photo (L-R): Kym Monohan, Rod Jackson, Sharelle McGuirk, Angeline ber AGM. With that we welcomed, Ms. Wendy Brabham and Ms. Corrina Eccles onto the Board. Both long term community members, Ferdinand (Melb. Uni.), Wendy Brabham and Mick Ryan Wendy and Corrina bring a wealth of education and community/ family services experience to the Board. Furthermore and perhaps for the first time in Wathaurong’s history, we have two Traditional Owners, Craig and Corrina on the Board We were pleased to have Minister Warren Snowdon visit at which will enrich and enhance all that we do for the organization and community. Morgan Street site, to discuss out programs and services; as At this stage the Board have not elected Office Bearers (Chairperson, and Secretary), although this activity will take place at our first 2018 well as areas in need of funding. Board Meeting in mid February. Community members will be advised as soon as possible following this Board meeting. Yet another thank you to Kym Monohan for Acting CEO at short notice was Rod was on extended leave. It’s always difficult to ‘fill someone else’s shoes’, especially at Executive level where there are so many competing demands for time, resources,nds fu and the like. In closing, I personally, look forward to working with our new Board colleagues Craig, Mick, Wendy and Corrina and I thank the community for their trust and faith (in us as a Board), to lead Wathaurong in 2018. With thanks, Photo (L-R): Official handover of Disability Units on 5th January 2018, with Rod Ms. Sharelle McGuirk Jackson and Liz Abrahams , with our Community Elders Interim Chairperson I would like to express my congratulations to Jill Gallagher AO, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative LTD in her new role as Victoria’s Treaty Advancement – st Commissioner. Ian Hamm will be Acting VACCHO CEO, in her Community Meeting Thursday 1 March 2018 Agenda absence. Commencement: 5:00pm I would like also, to sincerely thank Denise McGuiness who 1. Welcome by Chairperson attended the last Community meeting and provided a 2. Respect Protocol – minutes silence Photo: (L-R): Kerrie Alsop, James Jose, Minister Warren Snowdon MP, Kiralee 3. Apologies Hogema, Phillip King fantastic comedy presentation for our Community Members 4. Previous Minutes called “FLUSHED: A KUNI COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!”, provided th a) 28 August 2017 th January 15th marked the opening of the Legal Year at the through Cancer Council Victoria.