This will be our first meeting for 2011, and it will be a fellowship meeting.

Sarah Howe (Church of All Nations) Co-ordinator, Carlton Employment Opportunities

Melanie Raymond – Chair of the Opportunities for Carlton Urban Development Project

As well as holding this important position, Melanie has been on the Board of Youth Projects since 1998, she is a Director of the Inner North Committee Foundation, chairs the Liquor Licensing Council for Victoria as well as many other roles. Melanie related that she has a great affinity with Rotary. Her father was a member of the R.C. of Fawkner for many years and a Paul Harris fellow.

Melanie spoke with passion and detailed knowledge about the work of the youth Services Groups. Within the CBD of the City of Melbourne as well as in many suburbs, there are many young people who have several or many of the following conditions: homeless, substance abuse, mental illness and unemployed. In an advanced country like Australia, this is a very distressing situation. Many of these young people find themselves locked into this lifestyle and require multi-faceted and sustained support to help them overcome these debilitating conditions and to turn their lives around.

Youth Services, with minimal government funding, takes on this challenge providing medical services, allied health services, places which they can call their own and know they are accepted for who they are and who they can become with support. Theses services are being provided in a number of outer Melbourne suburbs as well. Members came away with great admiration for the work of the Youth Services Team.

Susanna Bevilacqua (Bendigo Bank Carlton) & Gemma Dwyer (Opportunties for Carlton Project)

Susanna & Gemma did a presentation on a Connected Communities Project, which was in the process of being launched and was one element of the Opportunities for Carlton Project. Susanna and Gemma spoke about “Carlton Connected Communities”, a partnership between the Carlton Community and the Bendigo Bank.  At present, while most of the profits from the 250 Bendigo Community Banks around Australia go back to the community, None presently does from most of the 400 normal Bendigo Bank branches.

The idea for this proposal in Carlton started in March 2009.  A Committee has been formed who will have the responsibility of determining priorities for proposals and distributing funds. This could be to community groups or specific projects.   So far this contains Amy and Gemma from Melbourne City Council (Opportunities for Carlton), and representatives of Melbourne University and the Carlton Residents Association. So far 55 pledges have been made and the aim is to reach 150.

Other new Committee members now need to be identified and the Committee formalised as a separate and independent entity to administer the Fund.  Its profile needs to be raised among businesses and  residents.

Carlton Rotary Club was invited become involved through:

• having a member on this Committee to help manage the funds;
• transferring our funds to Carlton Bendigo Bank as a pledged member; and
• encouraging other networks and individual businesses and residents to get involved

There will be the opportunity to have Rotary projects supported by this fund.

Peter Crouch (Club Member) (Chaired by John Elligate)

Peter Crouch joined the then paper making organisation in Tasmania in 1972 he is now in his 39^th years and has experienced the many changes that have occurred to make Amcor today one of the top 3 packaging companies globally.

Amcor has come a long way to become one of the world's top global packaging companies. Amcor's history dates back to the 1860s when Samuel Ramsden, a young stone mason from Yorkshire, arrived in Australia to seek his fortune in a new land. He established Victoria's first paper mill on the banks of the Yarra River in Melbourne. For most of its life the company was known as APM - Australian Paper Manufacturers and its products even then touched the daily lives of all Australians. In the 1970s and 1980s the company added a range of diverse packaging interests to its traditional papermaking activities. This was achieved through creating new business partnerships and making strategic acquisitions in order to expand and diversify the company’s activities. With the focus gradually changing and as the company moved towards the future. it was decided that the company name should be changed. On May 1, 1986 APM became Amcor Limited, a name that has become increasingly well known throughout the world. World-renowned innovation and customer service has seen Amcor expand from its Australian heritage to now serve markets around the globe. Profitable organic growth and strategic acquisitions and divestments continue to build and change the face of Amcor and reinforce its global leadership position in packaging innovation with 300 sites in 43 countries and sales of AUS$14 billion. The main products include PET plastic containers for beverage applications, flexible packaging for the food and healthcare markets, tobacco packaging, corrugated boxes and a North American distribution business.

Professor Tony Jorm, Professorial Fellow and NHMRC Australia Fellow

Orygen Youth Health Research Centre – RUOK Day 

RUOK Day was founded in 2009 by Barry Larkin whose father had died by suicide. This year it falls on Thursday 7^thOctober.

The idea by RUOK Day is that suicide is a taboo topic. By opening it up, we are able to give support to those in need. RUOK Day encourages the whole community to start a conversation with anyone they are concerned about.

Around 2000 people die by suicide each year. This is greater than the road toll (around 1700). Many more attempt suicide (around 0.4% a year). 3.2% have attempted suicide at some point in their life. Males account for 77% of suicide. The highest risk age groups are males aged 35-39 and over 70 years. About 87% of people who die by suicide have a mental illness. Other high risk groups are Aboriginal people, people in rural and remote areas, people bereaved by suicide. People with good social support are protected from suicide.

People are often reluctant to bring up the topic of suicide because they fear “it will put the idea in the person’s head”. However, research shows that asking about suicide reduces rather than increases risk. Furthermore, people who have been suicidal say that asking is definitely the right thing to do. It is a relief for them to be able to talk. It gives the possibility of support from others, which protects against acting on suicidal thoughts.