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The Theme for 2025-2026 is "Unite for Good"
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.
Planning for the Upgrade and Extension to the Memorial Garden at KEMH continues with some progress evident. The State Government has made an announcement of future Capital funding and our Club has agreed to fund a Mural on the water tank at the gardens at a cost of $10,000. Our club also recently shared the costs at $950 of replacing the seating around the old water tank
Marjorie Bird, Ian Birch and David Royal continue to sit on the Garden Management Committee with KEMH and are involved in the planning of the Memorial Services and Capital expenditure programs. The Garden requires a future upgrade to reflect its significance for those that are grieving and mourning, and to become a significant place for reflection, reconnection, memory and healing. It holds significance not only for those with infant ashes interred but will continue to be a sacred place for mothers who will suffer loss in the future. A $2,000 donation was received directly from the proceeds of our Mental Health Awareness Golf Day
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. One member attends the weekly rehearsals and assists with the singing
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
The Club continues to make annual $2500 scholarship donations. Our current scholarship holder, Kirby Hobbs is studying a Bachelor of Medicine course at UWA, with an assured entry into a Doctor of Medicine course.
Australian Rotary Health Research programs: We have donated $2,500 towards Youth Mental Health research programs. Our Hat day breakfast in October also raised another $118 for ARH
Homelessness
Lindsey Francis has been coordinating club volunteers to assist regularly with feeding some homeless in the city. While the Homelessness We Care program has ceased operating, members have collected and/or served food to the homeless at a venue in Moore Street behind RPH. The Men’s Shed in Claremont are also partner in this activity. This project will need regrouping into the new year.
Uni Camp For Kids: We have continued our association with UCFKs, the oldest children’s charity group in Western Australia to help fund their summer camps and picnics for underprivileged children. Our donation this year was $12,000. The volunteers from UCFKs provide great assistance with the running of our golf day and have continued to develop their other sources of donations
GrandCarers WA: This organisation has been established to assist grandparents who have taken on the responsibility of raising their grandchildren. GrandCarers WA became listed recipients of our fundraising Golf Day and our $10,000 donated will be used to provide support services to grandparent carers.
Graylands Hospital Volunteers: A donation of $4,000 was made to support this group of volunteers. Our second year of donation.