A Ã I N T R O D U C T I O N T O

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ABORIGINAL, PROGRAMS

An overview of major programs available to Rotary clubs across Australia,

How Rotary is Organised. Rotary in Australia has approximately 2000 clubs cirganised-into 21 Districts. " There are 3 Districts in Sydney co-ordinating around 200 clubs.

! There are around seven Districts in NSW that cover allNSWs Rotary clubs and Rotarians. Rotarians meet weekly inrestaurants, hotel and motel rooms and serviceclubs sometimes for breakfast, sometimes for lunch, sometimes for dinner. In Mexico they meet afterthe nightclub act at 11pm and in Derby WA they meet pre-dawn at 6.30 am. I've been there and someride their horses to this meeting. These rooms aren't conducive to managing , promoting and co-ordinating major new national Rotary involvement initiatives and so you find most Rotary club activities are done on an ad hoc, club by club, out of the brief case, basis. Since joiningRotary and learning its constraints Fm working to change that Rotarians in one District rarely know Rotarians in another District and often don't know Rotarians from Club to Club . There is no Australian National Rotary Conference. Only an annual WorldConference and separate District Conferences. - what it has done for ~b~ri~inal^.i--- J. For the past 50 years Rotary has done little to help Aboriginal people or communities. However recently, in a few clubs across Australia, it can be seen Rotarians are becoming increasingly, interested, and involved, in assisting Aboriginal commdty and individ&.any way they can conceive. Examples of these initiatives are detailed on the next sheets.

Rotary is becoming increasingly involved in Aboriginal community,development, health and other social support works.

To January, 2004 this is what we know Australian Rotarians and their clubs have beendoing. Its likely there have been other Aboriginal initiatives since few Rotary Clubs tellother clubs about the good works they arc doing in their communities.

1. Rotary Club of Sydney CBD. Assists develop Rotarian Jack Beetson's " LingaLonga", Aboriginal Philosophy Farm at Wauchope in NSw.Approximate funds donated $100,000 plus supply of professional labourProject in pmgess. As reponed in RDU Magazine June, 2003

2. Rotary Club of Warnanbool, Victoria attended Elcho island and Yolgnu peoplefor seven days. Did 7 days business and health services support works.Pmjecr complered. As reponed in RDU Magalne MaJch.2003

3. Australian Rotary Health Fund, ARllF, funds a WA health worker to invesdgateremote area Aboriginal youth h€alth problems.Prcject completed. As reported in RDU MagazineMay,2jl2.

4. The PAX Chdstie Intemational Peace Prize was awarded to Aboriginal RotarianEddie Kneebone of Wodonga Club.Project completed. As reported in RDU Magazine Dec, 2001

5. North Sydney Rotary Club funds Abodginal Youth to attend EngineeringWorkshops.Project ongoing. As reported in RDU Magazine Ap l, 2002

6. Aus!alian Rotary Down Under Magazine partners with Fred Hollows Foundationto assistraise funds to alleviate avoidable blindness in Aboriginal people.Project ongoing. As reported in RDU Magazine. Feb, 2004.

7. Keilor, Victoria, Rotary Club builds a new school for Donydji remote Aboriginalcommunity.Project completed. As rcported in RDU Magazine, Feb, 2004

8. Mitchum , SA , Rotary Club establishes an Indigenous Medical Scholanhip Fundand is sponsoring Aboriginals to become medical and health workerc.Project ongoing. As reported in RDU Magazine Sep, 2001

9. District 9750 establishes a "District Indigenous Aust alians Goodwill Committee"that motivates incrcased Rotary participation in Aboriginal projects. Nov, 1999.Proiect ongoing.

10. Sydney Inner West Rotary Club has recently encouraged a rural NSW RotaryClub to build toilets for an Abodginal cemetery in a NW NSW Town. Sep, 2003.Project in progress.

I l. Sydney Inner West Rotary Club supplies building labour to ass ist completebuilLling works on Aboriginal Linga t-onga Philosophy Farm. Nov.2003Proiect in orcgaess.

12. Sydney Inner West Rotary Club establishes a " Rotadans for AboriginalCommunity Progress Committee". January, 2004.Prqiect ongoing.

INDIGENOUS

ROTARY DISTRICT 9750

AUSTRATIANS COODWIII COMMITTEE

n.""**?Ti:l|ff[:"*o,%

CHAIR: JOAN RICHARDS

LESTEY DAREBARNEY KOOMIKE MELDRUM

'JOHN MCBEATHANGUS ROBINSON

CONSULTANTS: JACK BEETSON

PH(O2l 9181 1827 FX(02)9181 3128E!'IAIL: joanrBtig-com-au ..

B(02' 9533 4411 H(O2r 954A 2469(M) 0418972 555 H(02)9979 5168B(O242' 235LLA E(O242t 9736A6B(O2t 9236 6431 H(O2)9237 soslB(O2l 9209 4141 H(02)9489 4819& YVONNE .-]ACKSON - TRANBY COLLEGE

THE COMMITTEE WELCOMES YOU

We take this opportunity to intoduce you to the concept " TNTERNATIONALLTNDERSTANDING BEGINS AT HOME". Our Indig€nous Australians arc the oldest livrngculture on this planct today, and yet how many ofus have everl met or spok€n with anAboriginal or Tones Strait Islander? Malte this is because ofthe fa.rlure ofour ftrms ofcommunication to recognise and mderstand tndigenous Aushalia.ns' thought proccsses andmethod of colrlmunicatron,

When we first b€came invotved with our Indigenous pcople tlEough the Rotary Club ofSydney CBD - Red Cross First Aid Abodginal Health project, we came 10 leam a little ofthisvery rich culture. Having been rewarded with a greater urderstanding and appreciation ofth€t culturq traditions and natural digtrity, it is oul pleasure to sbare these expedences withall Rotarians, fimilies and friends.

Since this District Committee came into existence last year mary of you havc experiencedsome ofthe ricbness that the indigenous culture has to offer- Thos€ present at last year'sDistrict Conference will long remember the Traditional Welcome given by the NAISDAhdigenous Dance Group and the l[digenous Workshop.

Many Rotarians in Disttict 9750 have €njoyed the Indigenous Guest Spcaker programwhereby this Commilte€ organise an indige[ous guest speaker to attend Club meetings andaddiess the members and guests on indigenous mattcrs

RYPEN, CSE Toan6 (inDoming alld outgoi4/ .r.l Yo":'.h Excha,ge(inconilg and orlgoing)have attended, throughout tie year, Cultural Awareness courses orga.Dised by the Coinmiltee

'We werc very encouraged by the la4e attendance of Rotarians al the lndigenous AustaliansGoodv/ill Committee Workhop we conducted at District Conference last year.

t alrt overjoyed to advise that 2 other Districts, one in Queensland ard one in NSW have nowformed Indigenous Australian Goodwill Committees. It is good to see that otier Districtshave laken the initiatrve and subscribe to the idea that "INTERNATIONALLINDERSTANDING, BEGINS AT HOME" and in so doing; firlfill the fouth Object ofRotary

We hope to encourage you tojoin us cm a joumey of ihscovering firther, the fascinatrng,wa.rm and wonderful wortd ofour fust Ausaalians. Contect Jorn Richards for GuestSpeaken, Educational, Cultual and Recreational Activities and Workshops.

Those ofyou wishing to del.elop or partic,pate ir a Proiect to benefit IndigenousAustralians or have suggestions to support the cause, please contact Joan Richards.

YOURS IN ROTARY SERI'ICE JOAN RICEARDS . CHAIR

Lesley Dare O.'IiI,nda Daybreak) Shirley Doust (SydnoyCBD) Bamoy Koo(Sydney CBD) Mke Meldrom(Port Kembla) John McBeath (Sydn€yCBD) Angus Robinson (Sytuet) Granam St€er (Sydney CBD)

NEWSLETTER NO,2 15 November 1999

Illnnrlrroxrrr u.rr-nsnxDlilGBEorr|sllr|Olf,E

The Comnittee Ains to:TO PROMOTE TNDERSTANDING BETWEEN TNDIGENOUS AND NON INDIGENOUSAUSTRALIANS, THROUGH INVOLVEMENT IN PROGRAMS OF A NON POLITICAL NAT{JFT.

> TO PRO}'IDE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ISSI,IES OF VTIAL IMPORTANCts TO ALLAUSTRALIANS IN ORDER TI{AT IMORMED JI'DGEMENTS CAN BE MADE BY GIVINGROTARIANS AND TT{E COMMUNITY AT LARGE TIIROUGH RCNARY, THE OPPORTUNIryTO MEET, INIERACT AND LBAIiN THE REAL STORY OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS.

> TO AVAIL ROTARIANS WTTH FIRST HAND KNO\VLEDGE OF INDTGENOUSAUSTRALIANS RA]IIER TIIAN RELI'ING ON OTHER PEOPLE'S \,'IEWS AND OPIMONS.

WIIAT WE HA\.[, TO OFFER

ME COMMITTEE OFFERS FOUR TYPES OF PROGRAMS:EDUCATIONAL - RECREATIONAI - CULTURAL _ VOCANONAL PROGRAMS

GI]EST SPDAKERSThe committee s'ill proyide excellent Indigenons and non Indigenous Gu€st Speskers whowill addr€ss Clubs on a wriety of subjects pertainirxg to the Aboriginal and Torres Stait Islanderculture including, history, kinship, philosophl heahl, reconciliatio4 native title, spiritual beliefs,art, music, mtths & legends.

Spe{kers include: Jack Beetson, Linda Bumey, Rick Fadet David Liddiar{ Bob Morgan,Wendy McCarthy, Paul Knigh! Colin Ma jlam MP, Aden Ridgeway Mp, Marget Calnpbe[Les Ahoy and many others-

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Cou$es arc noj{, set up at Traoby Aboriginal College, Mansfield Street, Glebe so you mayhave tlrc oppodunity of l€aming ihe customs, lraditions, lorc, law, kinship ad cultual beliefsof our indigetrous Austra.lians.The fust ofthese couses commenced June 1999 and take place once a forttright for 5sessions of 3-how duratiod at Tranby. Jack B€etson, the consultanl to this Committee andwell-I3rolrrr educator, leads fhe Cou$e and Rotary mernbers can be assured of an ediehtenedview and insight inro l}e oldest surviving cu-ttrre otr our planet today.

Customised CourseJ and Workshops will be held in your area by request

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN WORKSHOPS (I{atfor FuI Day)WILL BE ORGAMSED FOR::) Group Semina6 ( for goups ofclubs withid Rotary Distdct 9750 - Groups A-H )? Rotaract Interact RYLAs RYPE\ Youth Exchange briefing GSE Teams= Ambassadorial Scholars and for any other District 9750 group_

VOCATIONAL \TSITS BY CLUBS TO TRANBY ABORIGINAL COLLEGE

The Administrators ofTratrby Aboriginal College, 13 Mansfleld Str€et, Glebe in Syalney havegenerously opened the College to any Rotary Club in the District who vrish to inspect thrs uniqueeducational facility. This is Sydlrey's b€st kept secret. Tranby has been io oPeration for 40 yearsard hundreds of ildigenous studeds hav€ gained fifther oducation in many fields.

TRAMY WTLL NOW CATER FOR YOUR MEETINC.A number of Clubs have already visited Tranby and following tie inspection oftlis amazhgtraditionally built structue, held their dirmer meeting in the Didil|g room. An Executive oftheCollege will be the "tour guide" and explain tle many traditional and oiltural aspects ofthebuilding as well as the courses held at the College.We will atso arrange for a Guest sF€€ker on lndigeno[s Culture to address the meetingThis js a very sadsrying exercise for Clubs as i1 €rilightens a,!d fumishes Rotaiians with anotherperspective of Abo.iginal and Torres Strrit culture.

RECREATIONAL/CULTURALWe will provide erciting opportuoities for Rotarians and friends to experience Aborigineland Torres Strait lslander culture in all its many forms by:

Organising half or full day cultoral tours an(yd harbour cruise, escorted by Aboriginal tourhosts ard ahscover the places that werc used for spectacular gatheriDgs ofthe Abodginal nationsEnjoy tnditional hospitality ald service aud culinary delights doveloped from age-old traditioDsand customs.

Indigenolrs Austrslian Art Shows atrd other Cultural cvcnts as required

ABORIGINAI- PHILOSOPHY WEEK 2+29 APRJL 2OOOThs is a unique elTerience whereby both itrdigencls and non indigenous p-'ople com€ togctlerfor five relaxing days on the property "Linga l-onga" at Rorvlands Plairs (beween PortMacquarie and Kernpsey) to share with leading Aboriginal Philosophers, their cultual beliefs ardvalues and philosophies.This ycar will be the INAUGURAL WORLD PHILOSOPIIY WEEK - where indigenous peoplefrom v?ious parts ofthe world will join with our Indigenous people in preserfing their cultures,values and spiritual beliefs-"A most rcwarding elpericnc€ - one, which brings rbout rcal recotrciliatior on r person to personlcvet". (This ryas thc €ryeriedce of r numher of members of the RotarJ Club of Sydney CBD rYhorttended the first g:rtherings). Brochurc ard more can be obtaired from th€ Committee-COME JOIN TEE ROTARY CONTINGENT Tg]S YEAR!

PROJECTS -

A nl)n$er of "FAIM type" pro-jects har€ come ro our attention $'hich enl2ils working on a Foje.t withAborigiffl people to hetp them aclieve liei goals.One such project is thc buildirg of an ablutions block at "Linga Longa", x centre for l€aming of theAboriginal and Tores SFait Islander a tues at Rowlands Plains.

First .{id Projcct - Opportunities exist for Clubs to become involved in the iraining ofAboriginal and Tor€s Sfait Islander people in First Aid so that they may rctum to their ownCornmunities to deliver and teach First Aid to their own people. (The Rotary Club of SydneyCBD conducted the first of these programs Iast year)

The donation of First Aid Manikins to Aborigilral and Torres Stait IslanderCommunities so that newly graduated Filst Aid leachers \4ill be able to eff€ctively teach

MENTORJNG PROGRAM FOR CLTIBS - An excellenl opportunity has arisen for Clubs toprovide a MeBtoring service trough their Vocalional Service Committees-

We need Mentors for Indigenous people entering the worldorce in a rumber ofareasthroushout the 9750 District.

LINGA LONGA to haveng-term benefit

9754 tn. l iset lousAust rd Ltuns C ood,r il I D i stict

Connittee Chait Joan Richar.ls, SirWil l ian Deane (a lomet eowmor"seneral o. f

LingaLongN h.N been estxblished to help young indigenouspeople, in particular, "undertake rehabilitation programsbased on the inculcation of app.opriate community valuesincorporat ing an understanding of the phi losophy ofaboriginal culture" .

Jack Beerson, one of only 12 people worldwide recognisedby the Unired Nations as an "unsung hero" ior his lilelongetforts in advancing human rights. came up with the concepiof Linga Longa.

Among the speakers at the opening were representanves ofthe Rotary Districts 9750 in Sydney, N.S.w. and 9650 inNollhern New Sorth wales,.ts well as the Variety Club ofN.S.W.. Hastings Council. Country Energy. Rob Oakelhott,M.P. and N.S.w. Parliamentary Secretary lbr AboriginalAlTairs Col Marknam.

The felationship between Rolary and Linga Longa cameabout with an indigenous fi|st aid project in 1997 and theRotary Distr icr 9750 Indigenous Austral jans Coodwil lDistricl Commillee, chaired by Joan Richards of Sydney, in1998.

This led to Rotary clubs throughout the Sydney andwol longong areas raising money for the project andsupplying work 1eams. The Nofihern N.S.W Rotary District'sco operarion was sought and given and through this theR^rJr) Club of Pon Macqudne becarne inrol \e, I .

Port Macquarie Roiarian Dennis B.lx took charge of theburldin! proleLr. He sa. recognr 'ed J| rhe .pening ceremon)when Rotary Districr 9750 named hin a sapphire pin PaulHarris Fellow.

The Linga Longa site now has a bunkhouse, a kitchenblock which is a nemorial to author Diana Kidd and a toiletand shower block with laundry facililies. It witl be able tohelp more than 500 young people every year.

Sir williarn said the project would undoubtedly have itsfailures, but the mai. th;ng about this project will be iN

He saidr "If it succeeds with even half the people whocome here it will make a vasl impression on not only the localcommunities but all the communities lionl where the People

Ausilalia) dnd Jack Beetson, e\e':utire directot ol Tranb!"Abotiginal Collese at Glebe, N.S.W, at th( olfrcial openingol Linga l^.nsa at Rolla rls Pldins, near Pofi Maqua e,N.S. t4

Grassroots rcconciliation was evidert at Rollands Plains,near Port Macquarie, N.S.W., when fonner Ausrral iangovernor-general Sir William Deane officially opened theLingaLonga facility for "kids at risk".

Before a crowd of 300. Sir wi l l iam said Austral ia sullimate test as a nation was how it rrealed ils disadvanlagedpeople, and Jack Beetson and fr;ends sere maLing a vastlysignifi cani contibution.

"In terms of disadvantage, fie indigenous people are themost disadvantaged section of the Australian communiiy andthe most vulnerable of anl grcup are the young people." Sirwilliam said.

During the ceremony the Varieiy Club of N.S.w'announced an cxlra $A5,000 fbr equipment in fte bunkhouse

Mr. Beerson, who is also executive direc(r of the TranbyAboriginal College at Glebe, N.S.W, dnd a nember of PoriMacquarie Rolary Club. rhanked the mrny people whoworked 1o estabtish Linga Longa.

He said parlicipants in his rehabilitation projects were notsubject to lectures or Fobing quertions, bu1 were helped inthei| genuine wish to start life afresh.

Mr Beetson and his witb Shani conduct Lhe couses on a"not for- profit" basis.

. Furlher dolratiotrs to the project can be sent to JoanRichards, 5/2A wolsel€y St, Drummoyne, N.S.W' 2047'with cheques made to Rotary Linga Longa Pmjecl.

bt GqtttBiiLt

Rota.r CIub oJMitchM, S.LTh. Ifc cx.pecrscy of lndigcnds Ausraliars is ar t6t 20 ycars tcslh. Ila cx.pecrscy of lndigcnds Ausraliars is ar t6t 20 vcars tcss

rhan thar of tha bodJndigcnous poputarion ald dlta from dE iustr-alia,AG.u of Srarirrics_rcve5ls thar 5 t Fr @t of mates &d ,t3 pcr ccnt offematq die b.forc rhe agc or so. ri.y

"rso s,rJ rum di;i; il;

last $w in thc Edinburgh sluns b rhe lgrh c.Dtury witb rtFmatic f.vcrthe high€rt cvcr @orded in the.woild

d.n r.* erut*a *JA..i#- fioriidiaberci ad rE incidcncc of@diaa dis.3se, cancer, circdatory l,Lnd kidney disce, ue aI wcu in

yhil: tlc{makl.uqo.ry.yoFrce ;f rhcpopuratioo--one itr fouriddtdeatns in Australi. is ao AborigiDt child

eumlia is rrr only oerclifi "o-"y

on u W..ra H"a,r, O.g*i""rio,(WHO) 'shame lisr" wherc Aboriginal cbitdr.n arc srjll bl-itrdcd bytacnoma, a Edjly pcrc.rabl. cy. comptaiDr rife anonssr Indigenoui

These sE all heslrh poblems rhar coutd be Drclenr€d in manv cases. orar tq$ rreatcd, if m€drcat, ntrrritrs ed aUr; he2lrh prol",s;n* *.*traincd ro live ald work in rural and Morc areas.

Austr"lia ha5 aroMd 6a,000 ESisrered dcrors. Nor alt &tually ptrriemedrcrm, or Lh-ere eould be orc dero, fo. .very 280 p.oplc. Tieacepte{ Ero or doctors to paricor. i3 otrc dcror for .eh 500 p€oplc inmeoopotrln al6.nd onc dcror for t,5OO ocool. in rurl aEa.

The av.rage rn lhc more rcDoG arcas j; nder on. for everv 7.000peoplc.

Whai is rbe solulion? Tle Rotary Club of Mirchaq S.A., believes irha adv.d at a pr&rical solu tioo - encourage bore dcrors .nd rusq !olive and wo* ir remorc @lmuiiiis

As mtrlndigenous medical pcrsonnel mly be relucradt io work iDEmoe ffi5r and $eE afe jusr l? Indit.nous doctoB rhc sotution is tolrnin Indigenous Auslralians lo work with Indigenous p€opL, rhcrebyhctping Aboriginal p.opL 0o help rhcmsely.r.

The project hs made ir clee rhll Aboriginat F.opte prefer to be neredby Aboriginal hcrlrh FEonn t They re us rhar b.itrg abtc to ,peak ro adoclor or hcakh professionat frcm rhcr own cultuc is more lealsurina.

Ir is imponaff lo real,sr rhar $e rainjng of more lndiSenous h;lrhprcr.ss,onais w t ssscr

'n th€ pM.s .nd h<lp communjrics rrle more

conEol of dreir hslth and the way scflices are delive@.OuI solution is to wo.k with rhe Abonginal Sewices Division, in the

Deparhcnt of Human Scrvices and with rhe univ€rsities. !o rarpeteugible IndigenoJs peopl. who have indrcakd a wish lo woA for

-lhe

bette.ment of their p@ple.Mitcham Rorary h6 been givetr a $4100,000 annuat subsidy or a

ercasi <it tr:t cxpcriencta ry *",riag*.* ai,m."tiJl.Idrnadortdity moas arc hilhcr thsn rfi.t of nod-Indigcno{, brhiias ard

" l t is encouraging that al l of thestudents selected have d eclaredtheir intention to work in rural andremote areas. "

dolldr for.louar basis from rhe Soulh Auslrdlian Dopartmcnt of

Human Seniccs. which se use to olTer sclecled students atop up of

then Abstudy (Austudy) SrantTbis Federal Government studv grant p.ortdes a b're suDs'{ercc

amounr which most IndiSenoN sludents lind insufficient to pctrn

them to Ndellake lerythy, dduous ald exPensive periods of sudv

This is esDeciallv true since a large lroponior of them are ot mlture

use. maried and {lth fiinilies to suppon Thev aho do nol ohcn

h;vc the fina.ci.t suppon alailable hon lamilies as manv noi

lndr!enou! AusrLdllan\ doIr-r . .ur cr l . r ief-e h.r 'hr ' 'ddir iun,

\ : L 'u^ ch" ' p ta '

meanr the difdenca beNccn success rnd lailue. as ir remove\ rhe

financial wolrI nrnyofthese students l&eThe sroooir

"r i lo 'crv ha. bcen qsanl) uel . red c 'J rhe

' ' r* . . "* g relul rh l Rora J i P epdr-u r ' o l 'c no' i ' l

,!holc6hro', buradvice and help $hcn needeLl>:ncc rhe prur"n . rn.eprrol 2 morih ' x8o I re \h l r 'h ip '

ha\c been cudd;o r" Judcn . {ud} r f r r s.urh Au'uJl i ' lou ' rcmedical students. tith two studying at Flindes Univesilv and t$o

at the Adelaide UnivesitY.Aleeta Dawes n fiom Darwin, N t..nd sponsored bv Milcha'! nr

Disrlcr 9520. It is hcr intention lo reiurn ro thc Norrhem Terltor) to

work amonS her people in a remoie .omnlnirv Alcelr. a soleParenr

with threchilden, is studvine medlcineon scholaGhlsOlivi! O'Donoghue. liom counLrv South Australia and Alicc

sDn, ' / ' . i ' nun'oEd b' t n le) ' ' D ' r ' 0520 l r ' \ \cr a ab' ro ' '

"ork " , a uir l com.uni l nrererabl) wirh (hr l t len

he Soncrs, a former high s.hool teachef lron Quceisland' n

sDonsorcd by thc Rotary Club of Nerang in DistricL 9630 Joe s

i;fenion is t; *ork in a ruravrchole coDnunitv in Quecnslad and

he is regodatirg $iLh the eldeis of the tribe with which he wishes to

work J;e is nrtried. with two childrcn and on Absiudy plus a

Cli;ton Smvth. spon$red bv rhe Rotary Club ol Edrardstown'

S.A.. is liom solta'eastcrn south Australia Hn rmbilion is to

cotlplcte a speciallst dcgre belbrereturnrng Io work among counuv

Eo;]e in th; soulh-easr' clinLon is the slate representative of the

iustratian hdigenous mcto6 Ass@i.tion rnd worts closelv viih

all Indigenous sludentsBrooke Cox i\ a trlinee nufse in her second vear of tra'niig'

Spoi . . to br ' t Ror", \ c 'ub' r Ln-u, n 'er 84 ard Vr1 { Hrb {

rn D: ' .1.ra520, Brool . prop*e. ro snrr r ' I ur 'c rr c

fuavremo€ communitYludith Shery is r bainec nurse who is studving at Port Lincoln in

"The solut ion is to t ra in IndigenousAustral ians to work wi th Indigenouspeople, thereby helping Aboriginal peopleto help themselves."

SolthAustralia. Hcr sponsof is the Rourv Club ofNodlunsdEast 'nDistrict 9520. She n mlmed witb children snd balance! hq sLddv

dnre sirh bcing a full_tine molher' Hcr ambitio! l\ ro continuc

{orking ii the Pod Llncoh Hospital which hls r larec lndi-qeious

The Rorary Club oiAdelaide Easr in Districl9500 sponsoB Anhr

codbolt vh; is fiom country South Ausiralia Anhr is a ftst vearfaincc norse whose anrbiLion is lo ror l t in a rural / rcnote

ADv K;r is a fainec nrrse sponsored b) rhe Rotary Club oi

Moriila in Dnfict 9520. It is Ant's ambnion n) dlso ${)rk in a

rural/rchole commun{y.Namaaralcc Bnun, a linal )car nnrsi.g sludent, would not have

been in ihe posjtn)n ro comPlere her srudies bur for a rimelv Rotary

8rant. provided b)' a consoiium of si\ Rotar) chrb\ 'iom

both;iqrrici\ 9520 and 9500. NaDllralee s!nL\ Io lork in a rural

hosoital aft.r sradu.hon.I; is c.cou;gine that lll ol rhe students \elecred hale declared

thel inlenrion 10 {ork in .ral and remotc areas Curendl lhere de

ont! sclcn fu l ly l ra ined lndigenou\ tuscs {of t ing nr Soulh

Au;alia and I it hoped fidr the addnional \.hola$hips awarded 10

nainee nubes will almosr double lhat n!'nbe.Solth Australid hospitals have indicaad a willinene$ to enplo)

Indieenous nuses !) rssist in the proli\bn ofqurlill heahh scrlices

thar meet rhe culluralexpccLrtions ol the clrentslhere are cu.rcnt ly 23 I .d igerous l ra incc nrrses in d!s \ t r te

providing the oPPrtunity tur Roory Lo award ftuthcr $hohrships

There are dlso l l j Indtgcfotrsstudent do.tors in Souih Aul l ra lu

and at le.s1 60 nationally. so again

there ls anPle scoPe to suPPof lIndigenous Ausftalian\ wift funher

Tnere is nos considcrable lntcresl

bcing shori b) RokrY.lubs in othef

!r .1c\ . nor.bl) in Quccn\ laod and

New South W.lc\ . In both stales

appro&hes !.c beiig mude to ften

eorernmcnLs to of ler a subsidysimllar to lhat pn)lided b) rhe South

Au\LrJLan ( i^vernm.nr. Hos c\er.

deslib Lhrs inte.esr. thcrc h * b*' l:f:;82:;:,ti,'#' "'Lrmrted.cnvtry. aLeersland, is sponsoted byThis project dcserves lo be tentet the Rataty Ctub ol Ne6ns in

viih nalional pride, a problcm thal orsturr9630Rot.ry cM solvc ii onLY we just Put

In South Austalia il costs a RolarYclub $A2.500 a lear to Pn)vide a $5 000 a ved schoh6hip' Il other

srates 1blb{ ou lcad and obtain a similar subsidv dEv trill bc able

i . " . ,un. nor ac e " orr . r a t r , \ h. , t . t r . f lp le R l r^ . l h n '

Mitcham will accept gratelolly anv donartun. pla'e'1 In a securc

lcconnl. thar sill bc used as parr ofa conbincd schold\hip grant. rs

was done to assist Nan.aralee

!'urthcr Dcttils: Secrctrrr, Rotlr! Chb of Mitchttn.P.(). Box 7, Nlil.ham Shopping Centre' Torrens P{rk,

S.A.50:12. Ielephon€: (08) 8379 2?41

R.tul Dosn Under scPlemb.r 1001 37

f ofo f 'frs '

three year-old with spina bifida. Thefund will allow her to afiord nobilityaids.

The experience gained from thecombination of work and participationin communi ly act iv i t ies provided achance to l ive and understand anintr icate cul ture and lef t al l of theparticipants grateful for the opponunity.

Afler six full days, seven culturallyenlightened adventurers farewelled theGaliwinku commurity, heading to Govein East Arnhem Land and the niningtown of Nhulunbuy ro be enteftained bythe Rotary Club of Nhulunbuy.

The ir teract ion between the twolocal i t ies leaves only opt imist icoudooks for the future.

* Author of this anicle, Asnes Cajewsta, isundertsting hedi! and cultural studies at lheMequarie Univesnt Stdner, N.S,w

THE ROTARY CLUB OF WARRNAMBOOL DAYBREAKSTRENGTHENS ITS LINKS WITH THE YOLGNU PEOPLE

Seven eager, helpful and exci tedRotar ians from ihe Rotary Club ofWarrnambool Daybreak, Vic., havebeen on a mission of cul turalenlightenment and community serviceat Ienote Galiwintu.

On Elcho Island off the coast ofArnhern Land. Gal iwinku has apopulation of 1.500 Aborigines (theYolgnu people) who abide by disiincrand unique traditions ,ffith Little westeminfluence.

The project was taken up through ahelpful contact in Cherryl wirtanen, ahealth care worker there.

The Rotary Club of warrnamboolDaybreak previously had helped ahealth care worker in Galiwinku whowas constrained by his rnanualwheelchair. Warrnambool Daybreak,with Northern Teffitory clubs, fundedthe purchase of a four-wheel-dr ivemotor ised wheelchair over eightmonths.

The added mobiLity provided by ihisenabled John Patrick to make housecalls tothose who needed him.

The airn of this project was to helpthe community, as well as to learn andl ive within a new and fascinat ingenvironment and further the associationa.d friendship with Galiwintu.

On arr ival the Rotar ians werewelcomed rvith aloof interest, but aftertwo or thrce days were genenlly trustedand felt accepted and comfortable.

Through their part ic ipat ion indifferent activities, the Rotarians wereable to make observations about theway of life in Galiwinku.

Their conclusions were that it wasruled by traditions and values. The focalfactor of society was not t ime anddocumeniat ion as i t seems to be inurbanised environments, but ratherfamily ties, which took precedence overeverything including work.

Tradjtions werc strongly adhered toand respected. During a graduat ionceremony Rotfiians attended, the leaderwho was present ing the cert i f icates.could only award certain students andnot others. due to the tribes to whichfiey belonged.

This select ive segregat ion wasevident not only on ceremoniousoccasions bul witbin rhe whole

In their interacl ion with tbe local

school the Rotar ians noted a clashbetween strong cultural traditions andmodern western ideology. ln thetaditional indigenous environment it isnot required for chi ldren to attendschool, as it is seen as unnecessary withmost people spending their entjre liveson the island, and only occasionallytravel l ing to the Gove Peninsula orDa {in to seek medical help.

The level of attendance is low as aresult. creating a generation exclusively

Chris Beks sorted out computerproblems. Andrew Suggett worked inimproving the garden and with helpcleaned three Health Centre houses.Michael Skepper made contact with the

Chris Preston made windows for amarure-age woman wno was rn awheelchair fol lowing a stroke andneed€d befter access to her fanily. Adonation of $A1,000 was also made bythe Rotarians to a tund assisting Lisa, a

ctub of

DaJbrcahwc.,

Territory.

lsland visit developscultural awakening

bound to their community. Rorariansalso had the privilege of attending thefuneral of a young woman andwitnessed a procession of s inging,dancing, weeping and wailing.

In a society where women take therole of the gatherers, Rotarians had thegood fotune to b€ taken on a bush tdp,a four-wheel-drive ride 10 tols kmsfrom the town. They swam in ivers andate freshly-cooked mud crabs,rnangrove worms. goanna. f ish anddamper The two brave souls who triedtbe rnangrove worms reported the tastea-s resembling that of oysters.

The club menbers functioned withinthe community, sprcading goodwil andhelp.

Di Byron and Cheryl Bel lmanorganised more than 9,000 rccords intonumerical order and Carolyn Monaghancleaned out the pharmacy.

ROTARIANS DOWN UNDER ANDTHE FRED HOLLOWS FOUNDATION

Working together on literacyand avoidable blindness

br Ros BftdlerConmrni\ Relations Co,ordinatot

The Fred Hollotrs Fo ndatbtl

We are delighred that intelesr in rhe joinr program ofTheFred Hollou" roundadon and RoraJ) Doln Under is grow.ing. Both oqanisarions share coDcems abour avoidabtebli(ldn€ss and Literacy fof Life amongsi Indigeoous mm-munities in Ausaalia.

Recer ly I visiFd The Fred Hollows Foutrdcrion'sIndigenous ProSEm in the Nnhem T€rirory ad sarx rhehuge discrepancy berween non Indigerous ard Indigenouspopulations in rheir healrh profiles and lifesryl€s.

Our mulri fa€eted lndigenous Heatth Progam is aimed atimprovios nutrition md health. Poor nutdrion leads ro towbinh weights and a failue io ihrive as children. whichcontribut€s to clnmic illnesse,s such as diab€tes ed tteartdisease later io life. Tt|e Frcglarn has several conponenBincluding focuses or rutririon and literacy.

A k€y elemenr of rhe nurition program is rhe CornmuniryStoEs program. It js usoa y rhe or y ptat€ wherE essennarfood it€ns can be bought, so it is ffitical thar locai peopleha!€ ac!€ss to qualiiy goods ar affordable prices.

Woolwoihs js a panne. in the Corxnunity Srms pro,gran, secondine a store manage. who acts ar both men(orand adyiser The marager has f?citilated store cotrDDueesto regdn mamgelnent €ontrol of the sror€s, rumed debrround and €nsured that stores now s€tt a wid€ vaiiew oflresh anJ he.lri) food\ ar loqer prie: When W@twonhsCbjef Executive Officer Roger Corberi vjsiied the pruFarn

tn JUU 2003, he said: "It's one of ihe rnost rbriiling ftingsI have sen in my wo*ing life- ICs a gleat achievenent."

The Frcd Holows FoundanorlRotary Dorn Under p tt,nership also supports th€ Lireraey for Life progmm. t{oware iiteracy and healrh lirted? Research shows thar p€oplewho do not complere ecotrdary school bav€ higher levets ofunemployment, povedy and cbronic health problems.

Literacy for Life is a pilot progan run by The FredHotlows Founda.ion and tbe Jawoyn Assoliation, based inard around Katherine, Northem TeEitory. lt ains toffiprove the very poor healft of Jawoyfl l€ople rhroughjrnproved literacy.

The groglEm is likely to becone a model for orher litency plograms in Northem Territory commurities and willhave long-ienn ed Fofound eff€cts for the heal$ and eco-nomic dei?lopment of Abodgioal people and eonnudriesir the Nortlem Teritory. Ar Feserr only four per cent ofYear 5 studetrts in remote area schaols itr fte NorrtemTeritory med qarional reading benchmarkr. One reason r\thc inadequacy of pE school cducation as we knon it . . .m bookr, !o libranes, playgrounds or €quipresr to helppepare cbil&€n for school oi for l€,rning E glish, a fo.-eign lang nge. Fo( this reeron. the fiIst srage of ftis projectwill focus on young rnolhers and pl€,school cbildren.

We rced fsnds ro dev€lop this program and would grear-ly appreciate Ausimlisn/New Zealand Rorary clubsdonating $A1,00O towdd our join! coffems of avoidablebtindness and Liiemcy for Lif€.

Very simple prc.edurss are nor in plee ro encoruageRotary club suppon of dris partnership initiativ€- Tfiere isJust one small coupon for details, not endless forms and

For more hfomation on rhe above pmgram or on avoid-able blindness, please visit www.hollows.org or conlact RosBradley if you would like a sp€aker on rhese issues.

. The Foundation row h6s rcpnsentatiy€s in Vlctoria8nd Queensland, Emsll rlrraalley@hollov.s.org or forcopies of th€ brochurc on the joint prrtmrship contactRotary Do*n Undar, P.O, Box T9, Psrramaata, N.S.W.2124 or efiail enquiries @downunderxo,au

X ^iiilf,X#i#2i",f,;ii#l

at'c' EdtlE Kn'bn' E rhd whnq or 66

n|oTOGFAP* Coun.t, a.nli M.ll nd.Fpf,'

Letter nonchalanceturns to Prize elation

WH.1).,'8ii; 5ii,:i."i"';":'"i::r .ceived t let ter wi lh a window herhousht it was anoth.r bill to PaY

S;h€ Dut it to one side fd a day orrwo. Wh.;n he did oFn th€ letl,er hc leadthal he was tbc winnet of thc PaxChrirti€ Internatio al Annual PeacePriu for 2ml H. wd elat d

Eddi. Knabone did nor kn@ he hadb.€n nomimied for thc a{ard $'hich was

Drcs€nt€d to hin in Pattaya CitY,Thailtnd, in lal Ocl,ober'

An iddiqenous anis! he is drist'in_rcsidene ;t dE wodonga TAFE dd hAsuch a h'gh local Proftl. ftat *hen lhe,oid". MaiJ |wtpaPer l€porto nls wnth€ hEadmq camcd his suman.

A Rot;r ian s ince 1997. EddieKneebone is currendY the club's

' H€ has serv.d as Roraracr lirison'

envrrotrment of f icer, i r lercul turalt'aison, sergernt_at-arms club ramc

administ.ator, international servic€dirccior and club scrvice dit€tor.

Eddie Knc€bone Prcmotesrcconciliatiou ard leacles Abongrnalh€rilase. Las! Year he was Sulde lor avisid; Grouo srudy ExchanS' (GSE)

telm Fon Cmbria lo the Mount Pilorar€r rcar B€echwonh Vic . which is

dch in AbonSinal h.nh8eTh. club hd applied to s.rve tn tn's

way again wh€. a GSE team conesfiom Some$.t in 2m2.

It ,s belieled that he *a5 nomrnal€df6r the award afler he toured lrelatrdspeakinS on AboriSinel herihge .

Par Chr ist ie lnt . rbalronal rs '

Catholic Deec motem.trl *hich be8d,n Franc; at the end of World wd ll'With 60,000 m€tnbers il focuses onp€a. lhmugh demilihrisation. {4nry;nd adt !'ade, d.rtlopment and numanrichls and €cologY.

-Austlalia is onc of 30 @untna wh'r'

Plx Cldsde Intemadonal is lctiv€

WHAT IS THE INDICf NOUSMEDICAT SCHOLARSHIP PROJECT?The Indigenous Medical Scholarships Project is aiointly funded initiative between Rotary and theSouth Austral ian Depa rtment of H u ma n Serv ices. Theaim of the project is to establish a scho arship tundthat can be used for the pupose of assistingInd igenous students study ing med icine.

WHY THE FOCUS ONINDICENOUS DOCTORS?

We know irom what IndigenoLrs people have told usthat beinS abe to talk to a doctor or healthprofessional f rom their own culture is less daunt ingand more reassuring lhan is contact with non-Indigenous medical and health professionals.

Indigenous people may be reluctant to use theservices of non Indigenous doctors ind healthworkers result ing in medical condit ions not beingdr-8no.Fd Jnr i l rh.) drc \cr) . i , l and requir .hospital care. Lack of cul tural knowledge andawareness aretwo reasons lorthis.

IndiSenous doctors can and do make a di f lerenceand help improve the health natus of their people.For exampie, research carr ied oul aI InalaCommunity Health Centre in Brisbane, found thatwith an Indigenous Health Team ( including anIndigenous doctor) more Indigenous peopleattended for consultat ions. The pat ients found that

the Indigenous Henlth Team understood lheirneeds better and overal l heal ih improved

The purposei i

rs Medical ScholarshipProiect is to increase the number of Indigenousdoctors and by so doing improve the heath ofAboriginal people, pa( icu ar ly in remote areas ofSouth Australia where access to basic preventativemedical treatment is olten difficuh.

IS THERT A NEED FORMORE IND!GENOIJS DOCTORS?

There is certainly a need for more doctors,Indigenous and non-lndigenous, who are preparedto work in Australia's rural and remote areas.

Of the 150 remote AboriSina communit iessurveyed nat ional ly only 22 had resident medicalofficers. Some communities have never had a

There are only 35 Indigenous doctoE in Austral iawith a futher 60 Indigenous students in medicalschools across the country, Compare this to theUniversiiy of Nolth Dakota which has Sraduatedover I00 nat iveAmericandoctorswi lhlhesuppo(of the Indian Into Medicine prosram.

a result- In New Zealand anased number of Maori andif ic ls land medical graduates

as led to an increase in accesstoalth care by 'underserviced'

Maon and Prc f ic ls land

igenous dociors are importanirole models for other lndigenous

peop e consider|ng careeropportunit ies in health. Ihey also

provide community advoc acy andIeadership in other related areas such as housing,educat ion and community seruices,

r l t is also importantto real ise thai the i raining ofmoreIndiSenous doctors wi l l assist in the process ofIndrtennu. peopl" and , unmun l iF, takirg nor.,onl 'o l o i their hpdl th drd Ih" t^d) . . ' \ i ,e. dredel ivered.

WHAT CAN ROTARYOT FT R?

overseas couniries in iirnes ofneed, especial y fromdeve oping coLrniries seeking humanitarian aid.

I However, Aboriginal and Torres Stralt lslanderpeople on all health indicators have the pooresthealth in Australia. I 4o,oo0 Indigenous Austra+iansive in remote communities and lack prlmary health

care. We can do our bit to change this situation bysupportinS selecled Indigenous sludents in rheir

r Rotary has proven through the Polio Plus programand through the Mental Health proSram that ll canachieve its goals. IndiSenous medical studenrs needio be adequately supported l inancial y,educationally and personally.

HOW CAN T{/E SUPPORT THEPROIECT AND WHAT'S INVOLV

We ofter scholaBhips lo selected students in. on.ul ldl ion ! \ ' rh rhe Abo- Sindl \e1 , e\ Di\ Finnin the Departmenr of Human Services and theUniversities.

The amount of the scholarship ls $5,000 per year!r i rh lhF Jf luJl , . . r In tpon\^r inF t lJh. heinF$2,s00 peryear.

Medicine is an expensive/ enSlhy and arduouscourse. The scholarship can make allthe difierenc€to a struggling student, especially since indigenousstudents are often oi rnature age with a family tosuppon. We encourage sponsorship clubs to treattheir studenis much ike exchanSe studenis wlthoccasional invi tat ions to meetinss and th€knowledge that members ofthe club are there as a.uur 'c ul cn, oL'dLenFrr dnd ad\ i 'F. Thisapproach has been greatly appreciated by

WILT THE SA COVERNMENTMAKE A CONTRIBUTION?r Yes. The Department of Human Services, in i ts

Statement of Reconciliation beMeen Aboriginaand non Aboriginal South Australians, has madenine comrnitments to improve the health andwel lbeing of lndigenous people in this State.Among these is the commitmeni io increase thenumber of Indigenous people employedthrouBhout theport tol io.

r The Ministef for Human Services, the Hon. DeanBrown, has enthusiastica ly endorsed the RotaryScholarship Program in Distr ict 9520 and sees i t asan imponanl stralegy in increasing the number ofIndigenous doctors in South Austral ia.

r The Min

THE NIXT STEPI The Rotary Indigenous Medical scholarship

Project is yet another wodhwhi le humanitar ianproject which Austral ian Rotar ians shouldembrace. $2,-500 per year is a very small price topayto help improvethe health andwel lbeingoiAustral iat Indigenous people. Our involvementwi l l assist in the process oi Reconci l iat ion andshow that Rotarians really do care.

I Australian Rotarians have aproud record of Eivin8 Seneroussupport to requests ior assistance from

and the Depanmenr of

JINAL HEALTH STATISTICS TELL US

k y Aboriginal Medical Service was'quoted in the 99) as saying "by most measures of Indigenous

Dr Richard Murray 61 we

South China Morning Post health Australia ranks last in

enous Australians hav Indigenous.

1999Australian Bureau of 5 the age of 50.

Indigenous men are four tir counterparts, of whom only

The Infant mortality rate in non-Indigenous Australians

One in four Indigenous adu

Indigenous Australians slums in the 19th centurywi

Trachoma is a readily preb more Indigenouschildren i r

Australia is the only develol countries where children ar

The incidence of circulati experienced by the rest rl^

All these complaints are medical care.

can help make Scholarship Project.

! expectancy approximately 20 years less than non-

shows 53% of males and 41 % of females die before

50 than their non- Indigenous

nous children is between two and four times that of

st seen in the Edinburgh tever recorded in the world.

ause blindness. It affects

th Organisation "shame list" of

ey disease and cancer are far in excess of that

Ie, and preventable with reasonable and regular

nce by contributing to the Indigenous Medical

healthy sub-population in Australia, and there is Indigenous and non-Indigenous health, at least

of real improvement in with the situation among

he United States. The success that effective action in . Achievement of these

socio-economic aspects)

mary healthcare services

Indigenous people remain me evidence that the disparity heà measured by mortality, has Indigenous mortality in t Indigenous people in Neb achieved in those countries Australia will produce subs changes will require progre'

..-a-infrastructure (incluh self-determination of access to a network Q

an adequate level of i a skilled workforce ?

I

Redfem Aboriginal Corporation, and Colin McCartney and Jean-Pierre Maury, of 'the Rotary Club of Sydney CBD.

Rotary helps INDIGENOUS young- toward careers as ENG17NEERS Indigenous people were represented in the engineering profession in proportion to their number in Australia, there would be approximately 3,500. Instead there are five. Several of Australia's business leaders have expressed the need for a greater effort in the education of young Australians. However, the educational disadvantages experienced by Indigenous young Australians and the ongoing impact on their society is of greater

concern. This has been the impetus for the club substantially increasing its funding for the program." FounderDirector of Engineering Aid, Jeff Dobell, expressed his appreciation for the ongoing support of the Rotary Club of North Sydney. He also acknowledged the financial support of .the Rotary Club of Sydney CBD, N.S.W., which joined as a sponsor this year. He said many Rotary clubs from throughout

Australia had helped by nominating students to attend the summer school^ '

Further details: Rotary Club of North Sydney, P.O. Box 674, North Sydney, N.S.W.. 2059. Engineering Aid, P.O. Box 206, St Ives, N.S.W., 2075. Telephone (02) 9449 4353. Facsimile (02) 9449 6665. email ~ ~ o b e l l @ ~ i ~ ~ o n d . n e t . a u

At left: Past President Bruce Cameron, o f the Rotary Club of Keilor East, Vc., and research scholar Heidi Lekmann with members of the Donydji community in the new schoolhouse in the Northern Territory. Pictures at right show the old and the new school- houses.

DONYDJI GETS A SCHOOLHOUSE and keeps its traditions

by Eric Drayton Past President Rotary Club m i l o r East, Vie.

Three years ago, Past President Bruce Cameron, of the Rotary Club of Keilor East, at a meeting with Doctor Neville White and research scholar Heidi Lehmann, discussed the raising of funds to assist Aboriginal communities in North- East Arnhem Land.

Through Latrobe University in Melbourne, Vie., Dr. White had estab- lished a program 30 years ago to help these communities become sustainable and independent.

Later discussions between PP Bruce and Heidi Lehmann led to a project by the Rotary Club of Keilor East to build a schoolhouse/community hall for an isolat-

, ed community at Donydji, which is 650km east of Katherine in the Northern Territory.

Heidi Lehmann had worked for some

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time with this community and had a fond- ness for the people.

The elders are determined to maintain traditional values, to promote education and employment and to avoid large-town harmful effects on their youth.

The community's schoolhouse was a tarpaulin over poles and as such useless in wind and rain

A teacher travels by air from Shepherdson College at Galwinlcu. Elcho Island, once a week.

Northern Territory Government MP Sid Stirling indicated that the government did not have enough money to fund all remote communities, but the government would pay the cost of full-time education there if got a schoolhouse.

Past President Gerard Smith, of the Rotary Club of Keilor East, is an architect- He prepared drawings for a new cyclone- proof building, with input from Dr. White and die local community.

An ultimate quotation was for $A48,000. Bruce developed a business and a timing plan to begin fund raising. Rotary Club donations included Keilor East ($10,000), Melbourne ($5,000) and Moonee Valley ($250). Companies in the Northern Territory and Victoria made donations as did individual Rotarians from Keilor East and friends.

Materials were sent by sea from Darwin to Nhulunbuy and on to Dondyji by semi- trailer through dense bush. A team of vol- unteers to erect the building, composed of Rotarians, partners and friends, was assembled to travel the 4,300km to Dondyji.

Travel, accommodation, food supplies, tools, a generator and other equipment were divided among the four-wheel drive

vehicles. Then disaster struck. Before the team

departed, a helicopter owned by Nabalco flying over Dondyji crashed, killing four people. One was a Dondyji elder and tra- ditional ceremonies were organised by the community.

The team was asked to delay departure for some months. Many of the original volunteers could not re-arrange leave to attend.

Nabalco had supported the project and offered to organise tradespeople to erect the building at its cost. The offer was gratefully accepted, and a re-constituted volunteer team went in three months later to paint the erected building, to install some teaching equipment and officially hand over the building. The project had support from the N.T.

Government, Gove Industrial Supplies, Nabalco, Woodside Energy and N.T. com- munity groups. The Rotary Club of Katherine lent support with ladders and wheelbarrows. The project attracted publicity in the

-7 .,- n.1.

Many Aboriginal communities live in unsatisfactory conditions lacking toilets, water and power.

Fourth Avenue in Motion (FAIM) can- not help because its concern is with coun- tries outside Australia.

Perhaps we need an Australian Rotary body to give support to remote Aboriginal communities who need help?

This project showed that the members of the Rotary Club of Keilor East do care and they have SOWN THE SEEDS OF LOVE, and know how to LEND A HAND. The club is now looking to furnishings and fur- ther teaching aids for the school.

AUsbdIaMm R d a q m&&h - F w d

420,000km2 is Melinda's field research area 1 A young Western Australian researcher has received an

ARHRF Ian Scott Fellowship to investigate the mental health problems of children in remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley region. Melinda Andrews will be working with Aboriginal community leaders and members to examine their per-

:, ceptions of mental health problems in local children and to develop culturally specific prevention strategies for Aboriginal children in the area.

Melinda's research is the first of its kind in Australia. "Never before have childhood mental health problems in remote WA been investigated from an indigenous perspective, with Aboriginal people included in the design and implementation of the research aims, objectives and methodology," said Melinda.

The Kimberley region covers more than 420,000 square kilome- tres, an area three times the size of England, and is home to only 25,000 people. Melinda is now based in Broome, 2,300 kilometres north-east of Perth. Along with her research team she has already begun the lengthy consultation process to ensure her research is guid- ed by members of the local Aboriginal communities, and to guaran- tee that the research has real, practical outcomes for the communities involved.

"It will probably take six to eight months for the consultation, design, and recruitment stages," said Melinda, "with the practical part of the research hopefully completed by the end of 2003.

"My study will be a qualitative one. I hope to recruit at least 80 mothers or carers of Aboriginal children for focus groups where we basically sit and talk about topics and issues developed during the consultation stage.

"Children may or may not be involved - it will depend on what the communities believe is culturally appropriate," Melinda added.

Recent research conducted in the Kilbara region of Western Australia by Tracy Westerman found that up to 68 percent of Aboriginal children and adolescents showed moderate to high levels of risk for anxiety, depression and suicide. Demographic data reveals that some of the highest suicide rates in Australia are record- ed in the Kimberley region, particularly in young people.

In addition to working with local Aboriginal community members, Melinda will liaise closely with health services in the Kimberley such as North West Mental Health and Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council, as well as Perth-based agen- cies like the Kulunga network at the WA Child Health Research Institute and The Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University.

The Ian Scott Fellowship has allowed Melinda to move to Broome to live while she completes her research.

For further information please contact Melinda by e-mail at m.andrews@curtin.edu.au or melinda~andrews@bigpond.com.au