Youth Report 2020-21
Youth Committee Report 2020-21
Director - Wayne Milnes
New Generations (Youth Committee)
Rotary Opens opportunities was the theme for the 2020-21 Rotary year and I wish to congratulate the Rotary Club of Rockingham Youth Committee for embracing the Theme and Rotary values through out the year.
Our committee consisted of Yvette Cases-Broehmer who commenced as Chair, however due to personal reasons stepped down and continued as a committee member, Paula Bauer, Steph Nicholls, Chris Faassen and Wayne Milnes as Chair.
Although many opportunities were identified and commenced the Youth Committee continued its support and endorsement of many existing Club and District programs. A brief summary of the year that was.
We sponsored two students to the District Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) through the year with Rivanna Kennedy attending in October 2020 and Troy Miller attending in May 2021.
We continued our support of the Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre by sponsoring their 2020 camp.
We also sponsored Makybe Rise Primary School’s camp.
We continued for the 15th year our support of the Cooloongup Primary School Breakfast Club and the good work they do in feeding students who miss out at home.
The support of School Graduations continued with the following Schools receiving funds for awards from the Club: Warnbro Community High School, Safety Bay High School, Rockingham Beach Campus, Singleton Primary School, Warnbro Primary School, Port Kennedy Primary School, Cooloongup Primary School, Waikiki Primary School, Comet Bay Primary School, East Waikiki Primary School, Settler Primary School and Bungaree Primary School. Of course, the awards would not have the same impact if they were not presented at School award days by members of our club and I would like to thank the following members for making time in their busy schedules to present at the schools. Yvette Cases- Broehmer, Linley Lambert, Sara Abbott, Paula Bauer, Allie Humphreys, Lynne Strudwick, Darrel Donovan, Chris Faassen and Wayne Milnes.
We continued to support the Rotary District Rotary Youth Leadership Program (RYLA) by sending two participants Rivanna (Riv) Kennedy (Yes, the same person who attended RYPEN) and Ben Emerick. For members who attended our 3rd May meeting and listened to both Riv and Ben there was not a dry eye in the building as they told their stories and the impact of attending RYLA, had on their lives, from their personal development and the friendships they made. Both Riv and Ben have agreed to be on our mailing list and assist the club in the future. Following RYLA Ben is now a founding member of the Rotaract e-Club that the District is seeking to charter.
We were approached by the Vice President of the Safety Bay Tennis Club to seek assistance for his Grandson who at the age of seven has been selected in the WA State Super under 10’s squad. Although we rarely sponsor individuals this is an opportunity to assist a future champion reach their dream, especially in the current Covid induced climate. We will watch Troy’s progress with interest.
As mentioned previously the theme for this year is Rotary Opens Opportunities and the members of the Rotary Club of Rockingham came forward with several innovative ideas that the committee has run with and the Club board supported, these are:
Rotary Youth Exchange Program has been placed on hold with the current Covid 19 environment making international travel unsafe. Paula Bauer suggested that we should look at a local program to exchange City students with Country Students for a short period of time. This concept was accepted by the Board and at the time of printing, several country clubs have been advised of the program with good feedback and planning is in place for the first exchange to occur in the October 2021 School holidays.
Following a Vocational visit arranged by PP Peter Philipps to the Harry Perkins Institute a proposal was put forward to sponsor school students to attend the Institute for their Educational programs, after consideration the idea was amended to send 8 Teacher to the Harry Perkins Institute for Professional Development with a view that they would then be advocates of the program and help us find interested student from year 6 to 12.
The Development Day is later in the year and we have commenced recruiting 4 High School and 4 Primary School Teachers.
A recent Club Forum brought another excellent idea from PP Darrel Donovan that became reality. With the Government support winding back at the end of March 2021 there are many families in our area who will struggle to supply basis educational needs for their children. A program to empower disadvantaged students was approved by the committee and the Board to provide funds to two schools. These funds will be used to assist student providing item like a school uniform, jumper, attend camp, educational equipment, lunch etc. The program will be reviewed at the end of June with a view to expanding if required.
The committee also introduced guidelines to assist us when we access requests for assistance, these guidelines were approved by the board and adopted by the committee.
I would very much like to thank the members of the Youth Committee for their commitment and dedication to assisting our community and the Rotary Club of Rockingham Board for the support of the many ideas they were presented with.
Bring on 2021- 22.
Wayne Milnes
Youth Director 2020-21
Rotary Club of Rockingham
Rotary Club of Rockingham