10th February Meeting - Troy Bailey - Swags for the Homeless

Chair
Ron started the meeting with some stretching exercises for Merv’s sore calf

Visitors
Troy Bailey - to be formally introduced later

Apologies
Heidi, Pam, Norm, Mark, Pauline, Rudy

Makeups
BBQ at the Queen St reservoir

President's Report
Deb, Alan & Jim L did a MoU with CoC for sheds to be pulled down & put up.
Hopefully now is all “set in concrete”
USC BBQs on Mon 23rd & Thurs 25th Feb-
Opps #Error 41# must be Wed 25th or Thurs 27th?
RYDA mid year so won’t clash - lucky cause it would be an #Error 42# perhaps
Grossed approx $400 at Unitywater BBQ plus water bottles

Speaker
Ann introduced Troy
He has a publican background and had the first lease on the Buderim Tavern.

Troy was with Rosies for 17 years including as CEO - Rosies has 900 volunteers and provides coffee for homeless people.

There are 20,000 homeless people in Qld with most numbers in Cairns, followed by the Gold Coast and Brisbane.  People with thongs & tee shirt “fit in” on the Gold Coast and there are plenty of free showers.

Males, 35 years and over can wait for 7-10 years before housing is made available - but they have to be “identified” before starting on the waiting list.  Women with children wait up to two weeks.  Many people sleep in cars.  Most people are six weeks away from being homeless when life disasters happen.

There are 27 food vans in Brisbane.  Troy spoke to “Cowboy” Chris at Rosies - Homeless people want safety, friendship and a bed.  Most only get 4-5 hours sleep a night and are vulnerable to bashings and “move on” orders.  Incidentally, one can legally sleep on a traffic island.  Mental disorders can cause homelessness, and homelessness can cause mental disorders.

Enter Swags for the Homeless.  These are shelter, a bed and backpack in one.
They are “not for resale”, waterproof, 4 seconds fireproof, turn into a tent, come with a mattress, incorporate an insect screen, and can be wiped clean.  $105 cost includes freight to an agency.

Ron thanked Troy for the talk

and related some of his own experiences in the Police Service.  

 

Directors
Helen - Polio Plus Film Night,
& need info re previous Rotary Clubs for rotary.org this week.

Gerry - Golf Day - keep promoting - we need more sponsors & teams

John - USC BBQs - see earlier

Sergeant Ian got the last word again.

Dear club members,
I forgot to mention at this mornings meeting that apart from continuing to seek Sponsors and teams--

WE ARE DESPERATELY SHORT OF PRIZES.

So far we have 2 x 2 vouchers!!!

The banks at this stage have not volunteered anything and they in the past had given us a lot.

So if we don't have prizes donated, we will have to purchase them which will reduce our profit for distribution.

So can you also approach any businesses you frequent with a request for donations of prizes?

I am sending out the following wording to sponsors and anyone I can think of.

You could consider this when approaching any prospective donor.

Without appearing to be too grasping- it is a Charity Golf Day- we are also seeking items which can be used as prizes on the day, so if by chance you have anything suitable, spare, - and preferably in sets of 4- we would appreciate these. We will accept anything of any value- makes the after game function memorable, If you are able to assist, could you please let me know.

We will acknowledge donors of prizes in our program which we print and put in the bag..

Gerry

--
Graham Baker -John Hanley- Gerry Swan
Rotary Club of Caloundra.
Golf Day Committee
P O Box 205,
Caloundra Qld 4551
Phone
Graham 07 54924477 / 0403 138829
John      0408 298 685
Gerry     07 5492 8867 / 0409 480019
email: rotarycaloundragolfday@gmail.com