Community
Maintain the garden at King Edward Memorial Hospital
The KEMH Memorial Rose Garden, located on the corner of Barker and Railway Roads in Subiaco, is a unique venue, founded in 1989 in recognition of the impact of pregnancy and infant loss. It now provides a repository for the ashes of more than 40,000 babies plus a place of recognition and acknowledgement for women and their families who have experienced what has been historically, a very unrecognised and diminished grief.
A monthly service at the Garden is open and accessible to parents from any part of the State; it transcends all cultures, religious and spiritual beliefs and is offered to all who request it. The Garden is regularly visited by people on specific anniversary dates and other times important to them, such as Christmas, Easter, Mother’s or Father’s Day. Over a period of more than 30 years, it has become a sacred site for many thousands of bereaved women, their partners and families. Refer to https://www.kemh.health.wa.gov.au/Our-services/Service-directory/Pastoral-Care-Services
The Garden was upgraded in 2009 through the generosity of Lotterywest and Rotary Matilda Bay, whose members continue an active involvement in its upkeep. It is clear that the lack of seating, shelter and basic amenities can detract from its ambience. At present it is neither private, quiet or totally comforting and there is an urgent need for a sympathetic refurbishment and expansion. The Garden requires an upgrade to reflect its significance for those that are grieving and mourning, and to become a significant and permanent place for reflection, reconnection, memory and healing.
Rotary has detailed plans and quantity surveyor estimates at $1.5M for construction and landscaping. Our challenge is to raise funds to commence the project which will have ongoing substantial social and emotional benefit for a large number of Western Australians.
VoiceWorks Plus
VoiceworksPLUS (VW+) is a choir and performing arts group which fosters the talents of people living with disabilities. Some Rotarians drive the young people to and from their weekly rehearsal. The club supports the group financially.
BBQ for Subiaco Citizenship Ceremony
Members provide a BBQ breakfast for the people who became Australian Citizens on Australia Day
Australian Rotary Health Indigenous Scholar
Mental Health Awareness Week Hat Day
Moore Street Homelessness Services
The club volunteers approximately every two months to serve and/ or prepare food for the homeless in Moore street Perth on Tuesday evening. We are now working with other Rotary clubs and the Men’s Shed to spread the load around as each service needs 7 servers , 8 cooks plus delivery or pick up for things. There are other volunteers that help too so it’s a matter of coordinating. We feed around 150 a week currently but expect it to go up again to 250 as winter comes in. Feedback from members of the clubs is anything from the best thing they have done to it is too confronting for me.
Environmental projects
- Members collect bottles for the Containers for Change project
- One member is part of ESRAG - Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group and provides feedback to the club
- Tree planting projects are promoted to club members