Can logic and creativity be friends?
According to Dr Massimo A. Hilliard they can. The evening of February 7 marked the first of Rotary New Farm’s community dinners superbly catered by the Stratton Bar and Kitchen and attended by a cross-section of the community with the honourable inclusion of beneficiary, the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) and scientist Dr Massimo A. Hilliard as engaging guest speaker. Across share plates of entrée and main meals we acknowledged community service agencies and related organisations. The uniting theme was clear – ‘communities need connections’ and ‘creativity and risky research reaps rewards’.
The event saw a group of like-minded organisations share a brief snapshot of aims around enhancing and extending social networks through health (both mental and physical), public safety, financial literacy, legal advocacy, housing and environmental sustainability. Serving as a key strategy for creating awareness of the varied needs of those who are marginalised with limited social capital and needing support to navigate needs-based solutions.
It’s probably not news that the rates of those experiencing ‘Homelessness’ is up 22 per cent in Queensland, almost three times the national increase. It’s the second highest increase nationally, after Western Australia. Becoming ‘homeless’ is inextricably linked to many reasons and the support of community agencies such as those present at the community networking dinner.
Do you remember learning about Maslow’s needs when you were at school? Maslow’s hierarchy is a motivational theory comprising a five-tiers, often depicted as a pyramid. The levels are needs focussed – physiological (food and shelter), safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation. The theory is that lower-level basic needs like food, water, and safety must be met first before higher needs can be fulfilled. Maslow’s hierarchy is one of the reasons why community networking is important. Agencies provide access to resources and expand ‘social currency’ that could ensure better outcomes in local communities. Brisbane City Council has an excellent agencies and contacts guide here if you’d like to know more.
Dinner attendees included Buddy Up Australia. Davis Every from Buddy Up Australia explained that the aims connect current and former serving military and first responders, and their immediate families to their communities through physical fitness, social activities and purposeful volunteering providing a continued sense of identity, connection and purpose.
ChaplainWatch’s Jesse told us that ChaplainWatch is a community service charity, designed to intentionally intervene where people are in crisis, at risk, and in need. ChaplainWatch has made its home on the streets and in the entertainment precincts of Brisbane, where they strive to achieve the mission, ‘watching out for you when good times go bad’. ChaplainWatch’s approach recognises essential dignity and worth of each person – this guides delivery in each of four project areas: ChaplainWatch, NightWatch, StreetWatch, LifeWatch.
The New Farm State School community garden ‘Little Patch’ staff and volunteers represented the school garden project as an inclusive way to deliver the importance of learning ‘where food comes from and how to grow it’ and a wholistic program for a sustainable future. Valued educator and Principal Sharon Barker of Fortitude Valley Secondary College also leant her support and has been an essential conduit to Rotary’s targeted Youth Services.
We heard from Dashboard Online founders Isabel and Paul who pitched their state-of-the-art digital agency to help bring businesses forward during tough economic times. Dashboard Online (DO) was born out of the frustration felt by almost all businesses during the first lockdowns in Australia. With the focus on the problems of running a business online and the issues of paying for and keeping multiple services running smoothly in sync with remote team members. Built to provide a cost-effective way to manage remote workers while also providing a single subscription service that combines a stack of products to cover the basics every business needs. Based in Brisbane, DO is managed by a team with a blend of technical skills in application development and business management. Isabel calls herself a ‘Rotary kid’ having grown up in the Philippines with Rotarian parents who went afield to remote areas providing dental and health care with her in tow during her childhood.
3rd Space’s representative Carolina spoke of the centre’s work around breaking the cycle of homelessness and the support the day centre offers. 3rd Space is a day-time drop-in centre where people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Brisbane can find support, dignity and hope. In her words, ‘At 3rd Space we form relationships, build trust and provide hope in a place of safety. Every person who comes to the centre has their own set of needs and their own story to tell’.
Andy’s Place linked to the Uniting Church was represented by Jeanette who spoke about the community meals program, explaining that on a Saturday they could receive up to 100 at-risk peoples for Saturday lunch. Community is a vital part of Saint Andrew’s Uniting Church. The church is in the heart of the city where they encounter many vulnerable people and the vision of creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming space has come to life.
Member Denise discussing ARAFMI’s quality support and education services to people with mental health support needs, their families and carers was much appreciated. Denise explained whether you need help navigating the NDIS, looking for support services for yourself, family member, or loved one or simply need someone you can talk to who understands ARAFMI may be the answer.
We then wrapped up the short talks and become engrossed by the passion and intellect of guest speaker Dr Massimo A. Hilliard from the Queensland Brain Institute. Einstein and Dr Hilliard have much in common as they have both agree, “A great scientist is also an artist”. Einstein believed science needs logic and creativity, that science is a playful and curious pursuit that involves imagination, wonder, and pushing the boundaries of knowledge – and that research can be ‘bold and risky’.
Dr Massimo A. Hilliard’s discoveries in molecular and cellular neurobiology as ‘science considered an art form’ requires both creativity and technical expertise. He received his PhD in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Biology in 2001 from the University of Naples, Italy. The Hilliard laboratory at QBI is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate neuronal development, maintenance and repair, using C. elegans as a model system. The group’s current research goals are: how the axon, which is the longest of the neuronal processes, is subdivided into structurally and functionally different compartments, how the axon maintains its structure and function over the lifetime of the organism, and how the axon can be repaired when severing damage occurs. From September 2007, Dr Hilliard has been engaged at the Queensland Brain Institute where he has established an independent laboratory.
Dr Massimo implored how high-stakes research was often poorly funded and Rotary New Farm appreciated the generosity of the dinner audience donating to the ‘Queensland Rotary Centenary Chair’ for the Queensland Brain Institute appeal, a sum of $1400. Thank you to all those who donated, donated raffles, bought raffles and to Denise our auctioneer, who put her champion Toastmasters skills to the test conducting the auction with such vigour!
We then inducted a new Rotary New Farm member, Cavell. District Governor Nominee Mark William warmly and expertly welcomed our newest member. Cavell’s professional and personal credentials include that he is known for his energy, infectious smile and his honest direct approach to his work-related clients, achieving outstanding results throughout his real estate journey. We know he’ll bring this to Rotary New Farm!
Rotary New Farm’s President Monica presented a Paul Harris Fellow award this month to Matthew Sorbello. The Paul Harris Fellow award recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to Rotary.
Save the date! What’s happening?
At this week’s members and friends meeting our own Rotarian Gary was the guest speaker around his programs in mental health for teachers and others.
Gary’s Going Beyond Results program aims to produce positive outcomes through academic coaching, life coaching, ‘mental health first aid’ training and personal development programs. Gary’s clients embrace the personal development programs that focus on developing techniques, shaping attitudes, building skills and knowledge that will serve them now and into their future.
‘Meals with Rotary New Farm’ will be popping up outside the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre will on 2nd March and 23rd March at 7am. All visitors to the NFNC and supporters are welcome. Volunteers are always welcome, too.
Feeling social? Join us! We’ve got a ‘Social Night’ coming up on 6th March. We’ll be at The Fox’s Hollow, 1 Newstead Tce, Newstead at 6pm. Join us! Let our President know by emailing (see address below).
For all Rotarians and Friends there’s the District Conference scheduled 8-10 March, please consider going and please buy raffle tickets! You can buy tickets for either here.
We are sizzling again at Bunnings Newstead holding a fund-raising sausage sizzle on 17th March! Please volunteer to help us out! This is an excellent opportunity to put something back into a local community and we allocate the monies to local needs around 3rd Space and the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre or like. We need more people on the later shift around 11am onwards. Once again – email President Monica.
A reminder! Would you like to join our RNF life? We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday mornings at 6.45am for 7:00am at St Michaels and All Angels,
655 Brunswick St., New Farm Q 4005 .
Would you like to make a difference? Would you like to contribute to supporting social injustice in the areas around New Farm, Fortitude Valley and Teneriffe? Learn lots of new things? There’s rich rewards for you that money cannot buy. At our morning meetings we alternatively discuss our projects, discuss our RNF club business or host an interesting and topical presenter. Come along as a guest!
Email President Monica – president.newfarm@rotary9620.org