Hello again everyone, Please see attached information relating to the Apex Victoria & Berowra Apex Club NSW Santa Sleigh events to be held in fire affected areas. The first event is to be held at the Whittlesea Showgrounds on Saturday the 19th December between 3.30pm and 7.30pm. We are expecting between 3000 – 5000 people to attend. We will have jumping castles, train rides, Salvation Army band, CFA & SES demonstrations, free sausage sizzles & drinks as well as Santa handing out gifts to the children and Mrs Claus taking photos of the occasion. We are looking for approx 100 volunteers to assist us at Whittlesea. If you are able to help you need to be at the Whittlesea Showgrounds at 1.30pm to help set up. We are also holding a second event (not as big) at the Dederang Recreation Reserve (near Myrtleford) on the 21st December from 11.30am onwards. Not as many helpers required, but if you can help I’m sure the Myrtleford Club would really appreciate it. So if you are available please let myself or Phil Keily, State Service Director know. Thanks and looking forward to catching up with some of you at Whittlesea.
Regards Melinda Grose Apex Victoria State President 2009-10
Spring has sprung so it must be time to get out and do some service work! (Bad weather can’t really be an excuse for much longer after all!)
Maryborough Apex club is looking at doing a weekend of service work for BlazeAid at Kev’s Wool Shed at Kilmore on the 10th and 11th of October
As every extra pair of hands is greatly appreciated anyone who would like to join us either for the full weekend or just for a day (or even for half a day) would be welcome !
Whilst Black Saturday was months ago there is still a very real need for assistance rebuilding fences, clearing debris or catering for the fencers/clearers. No experience necessary as you can learn as you go from the experienced people already on-site.
If staying for the weekend, accommodation is provided (BYO Sleeping Bag please) but numbers need to be advised in advance so please contact your DG (Sleepy) or Dale Volk ( 54604063 volky@aanet.com.au) by the end of September if you are interested and available.
Transport will be organised once numbers are known. Ask your friends, ask your partner, ask your workmates – just ask someone to help us do what Apex does best – helping the community!
What to bring: Yourself Work clothes and heavy gloves and boots Hat, gloves, waterproof jacket, etc.(warm layers of clothes are a good idea) If you have fencing tools please bring them along. Sleeping Bag Water bottle/ and or thermos for coffee/tea
When: 10th & 11th of October, 2009
Where: Kev’s Wool Shed, 70 Kilmore East Road , Kilmore East
I just wanted to let you know that the Apex Club of Berowra (NSW) have requested to bring their Santa Sleigh to fire affected areas in Victoria in December. The Sleigh is coming from Berowra Apex Club with helpers and will be here from the 17th – 20th December.
What we are offering is:- The Santa sleigh and Santa to visit main relief centres and perhaps other centres that were used after the Black Saturday bushfires; Santa to hand out lollies and talk to children and families; Santa photos for families/groups etc Handing out of presents (depending on funding – negotiations have been held with K-Mart and the like to get soft toys and lollies lower than cost.
The areas they are looking to visit are:- Beechworth / Myrtleford Kilmore / Wondong Kinglake / Flowerdale St Andrews / Strathewen Marysville / Narbethong / Buxton Churchill and if time permits Bendigo.
As it is still in the early planning stages, I don’ t have the full details of what is required, however I do know that we need assistance from Apex clubs in those areas (or nearby) to help with bbq’s and accommodating the Berowra Apexians. If your club can help us it would be greatly appreciated. Andrew Follows (past Apexian from Diamond Valley) who has been very involved with the Bush Fire recovery through Anglicare Victoria is co-ordinating the event in conjunction with Phil Keily (State Service Director). Some of you may know Andrew, if not go check out his website at http://www.webgallery.com.au/afollows/
Once I have further details on what’s required, I’ll send out details. This is just a heads up to see who might be available to assist.
Also a reminder that the State Service Project "The Great Vic Trek" is also on at that time (6th – 27th December) and we will be looking for clubs to assist with that event also. For further details on the Trek please go to http://www.thegreatvictrek.com.au/
Thanks Melinda Grose Apex Victoria State President 2009-10
Here is something which I received from state level if you want I can come along and have a chat about this to you all and also would like to come along to one of your Apex meeting at some stage.
Volunteer Grants 2009 – call for applications now open
Hello everyone, The Commonwealth Government’s Volunteer Grants for 2009 is now open. I would suggest if your club is looking to purchase any small equipment that you put in an application.
Volunteer Grants 2009 – call for applications now open Short Description: Grants and Funding to encourage and support volunteers. Volunteer Grants 2009 provides funding for eligible non-profit organisations to support their volunteers and encourage volunteering by:
purchasing practical and tangible small equipment items to help volunteers; and/or
contributing towards the reimbursement of volunteers’ fuel costs incurred when carrying out their volunteering work, including those who use their cars to transport others to activities, deliver food and assist people in need.
Organisations can apply for grant funding from a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $5,000. Funding is limited and applications will be assessed and prioritised according to how strongly they meet the selection criteria. The selection criteria, eligibility criteria and other essential information about Volunteer Grants 2009 are provided on the website http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/volunteers/funding/Pages/volunteer_grant09.aspx
Closing Time and Date
Applications close Friday, 25 September 2009 at 5pm AEST. Applications submitted or postmarked after this date may not be accepted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Regards Melinda Grose Apex Victoria State President 2009-10 Web: www.apex.org.auwww.apexvic.org.au
We are all aware of the tragedy that swept though and left its mark on Victoria last weekend, and here is one sample, of Apex Victoria going into action and “Helping to build better communities”
Greater Melbourne District Governor Phil Keily received a call on Monday Night at about 10.00pm, from the Red Cross, requesting assistance from Apex to feed the survivors and the many people already being brought into the area to provide ongoing support. A call was made to Diamond Valley Apex Club and arrangements were made with Andrew Follows and John Franceschini to have the Diamond Valley BBQ delivered into Kinglake by 7.30am on Tuesday morning. John then rallied the clubs resources and arranged for club members, family and friends to man the trailer to prepare and cook food provided by Red Cross for the masses. On Tuesday night it became apparent that this was going to require an effort that was far greater than one club as there was a bare minimum of 8-10 people needed on a daily basis. An email was sent by Phil putting out the call for help via the State Board and all fellow District Governors. The result has been terrific with a roster being put in place from all the volunteers so that there are 8-10 people on the mountain every day, running the BBQ’s from 7.30am-7.30pm daily. To date we have had approximately 60 members, partners, family, friends and work associates assist with the cooking of food at Kinglake with around 720 service hours in 6 days being completed. This figure does not include the travel time to and from Kinglake. For an example of what has been supplied and cooked over the past week here is a glimpse of the supplies utilised on Friday: • 1700 snags • 30 kg of scotch fillet • 30 kg of chicken – legs and breasts • 30 kg of bacon • 25 dozen eggs • 60 kg of onions • 100 loaves of bread • And a pacific ocean of tomato sauce. In addition to this were cakes, corn chips, breakfast cereals, fruit, ice and uncountable quantities of bottled water and soft drinks. An example of people that we are cooking for covers some of the following: • Local residents • Council Employees • CFA Volunteers • New South Wales Fire Service Volunteers • South Australian Fire Service • SES • Police Victoria, Queensland Federal, New Zealand • Victorian Ambulance Service • Red Cross • Department of Health and Community Services • Australian Government Community Recovery from WA, SA, NT, Vic, QLD, NSW ACT and TAS • Service Providers – Telstra, SEC, and contractors • Insurance and Banking company personnel • Gideon Society • Rovers • The Salvos • Red Cross The response that we have had to the call for help has been fantastic but also typical of the Apex spirit. There have been members, family and friends of members from the following clubs: • Diamond Valley Apex Club • Eureka Apex Club • Hoppers Crossing Apex Club • Nunawading Apex Club • Rowville Apex Club • Wendouree Apex Club • Wodonga Apex Club Our efforts are still ongoing, and there will still be a need for sustained efforts over the next few weeks / months, but I would like to say thankyou to all these people for your efforts to date. This has meant a great deal to the survivors and the volunteers in these areas. So many have commented that they cannot quite believe the response to this disaster and what a relief it has been to get a hot meal and a drink in such a time. Many thanks to all Apex Volunteers Phillip Keily DG – Greater Melbourne 2008 / 2009
We are all aware of the devastating bushfires which have claimed more than 130 people and over 750 homes in Victoria over recent days and on behalf of all Apexians I offer my condolences to those that have lost loved ones during this tragic event.
As an organization with a strong community focus we all feel the need “to do something”. After speaking with a number of people and organizations and being mindful of Apex’s abilities and the needs of the affected communities I would urge you all to consider the following personal and club responses to the tragedy.
NOW.
1. Where possible urge ALL club members to donate blood or blood products.
2. Assist your local Red Cross or Salvo’s branch in the collection of donated clothes and furniture (etc) from within your own community.
3. Conduct local fund raising events with the proceeds to be directed to the Red Cross or Commonwealth Bank Bushfire Appeal.
SOON.
Apex Victoria will co-ordinate mass work parties to enter the affected areas to assist with numerous projects, on a needs basis. It is envisaged that we will assist in clearing damaged areas, rebuild fences and community assets and the like. This type of work is what we a great at – and what government and other relief agencies are not so good at!
Look out for projects that we can do to help and pass them on to me.
Past State President Phil Littler, who co-ordinated the Apex fencing project after fires a few years ago, and myself will co-ordinate these events in conjunction with your District Governors.
I would like to thank the myriad Apexians from around the country that have phoned to offer their support and invite them to be part of the Workparty program.
Apex will be there for the long haul!
Please look after yourselves and your families in these trying times.
Please circulate this email to all of those Apexians that you know, to all of your clubs and club members.
