Australian Rotary Health Spring Update 2020

SPRING UPDATE 2020

Australian Rotary Health Districts of Australia

Research

Scholarships

Education

Awareness

Chairman’s Report COVID-19 and Financial Challenges This has not been a year for the fainthearted, with this coronavirus outbreak causing mayhem worldwide. For those who call Melbourne home, the situation has been unbearable. COVID-19 in Victoria has resulted in hundreds of deaths and untold damage to the lives of Gregory Ross families and businesses. Fortunately, the rest of Australia has been spared such despair and we can all look forward to 2021 with greater optimism.

Australian Rotary Health, our longest serving national Rotary project, relies heavily on Rotary club and member support for our extensive research and scholarship programs. Fundraising everywhere has been affected significantly over the past year.

Already facing challenges after giving generous fire and drought aid, Rotary clubs have less funds to distribute while more and more good causes are asking for a slice of that diminished pie.

Fortunately, ARH has a very well-managed corpus which provides short term stability and allows us to guarantee our current research funding. We employ a small financial planning company based in Hobart, Unica Wealth. CEO Joy Gillett OAM is in constant contact with advisors Dominic Mulcahy (Mg Dir) and Luke Roberts, and all meet regularly with the ARH Executive. Dom and Luke also personally attend two Board meetings each year.

Our Lift the Lid on Mental Illness campaign has been widely embraced by Rotarians over the past three years and it is a source of satisfaction that Australian Rotary Health continues to fund ground-breaking new research. We are the best in selecting and backing local researchers. However, this can only continue with ongoing Rotary support within Australia.

Research Success • Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)... first created by health education nurse Betty Kitchener AM and literacy Professor Tony Jorm. Now adopted in over 25 countries with over a million people trained.

• Suicide Prevention... Professor Jane Pirkis has shown that more balanced media reporting of suicide can reduce

L-R: ARH chairman Greg Ross, Dr Laura Hart & Professor Eóin Killackey

‘copycat’ behaviours.

• Cool Kids... created by Professor Ron Rapee. Within six months of the program starting, three out of four anxious young people were completely free of their anxiety disorder.

Now used in around 25 countries.

• Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA)... Drs Laura Hart and Claire Kelly have developed a safe and effective program for students to support their peers facing mental health problems, with a trusted adult involved. Now with worldwide support, including Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ Foundation.

• Food & Mood... Professor Felice Jacka was the first to demonstrate the link of diet to mental disorders and bipolar.

Now recognised as a world leader in the field of Nutritional Psychiatry research.

• Brain Training... Dr Louise Mewton has shown that brain games/training strengthens areas of the brain associated with mental illness. Especially effective for young people experiencing cognitive difficulties.

These are just half a dozen of the many research projects initially funded by ARH. Three of the researchers, Professors Pirkis, Jorm and Rapee are current members of our national honorary Research Committee.

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Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • admin@arh.org.au

ARH UPDATE

Chairman’s Report

Continued from cover

To the members of that Research Committee, currently chaired by Professor Jane Pirkis, thank you for your diligence and generosity. Also for your talent in selecting from hundreds of research submissions the very best for our funding. It’s an exhaustive and impressive selection process and the results are equally impressive. Your service to ARH and mental health generally should be celebrated by Rotarians everywhere.

On the Move During the next nine months, ARH will be moving from its long-time location in Parramatta. Now with a new owner, the ageing building will be demolished and so, along with RDU, we will need to find new premises. CEO Joy is currently looking at possible options, varying in location and ease of transport, and will bring a recommendation to the Board meeting in December.

Indigenous ‘Plus Four’ Our Indigenous Health Scholarship program continues most successfully.

Importantly, the worth of our Indigenous involvement, managed so effectively by Cheryl Deguara, has now been further recognised by the federal government.

Instead of us having to apply for funding each year, the government has now given ARH a four year commitment. This is a ringing endorsement of the quality of our Indigenous scholar program.

Corporate Governance Through a sub-committee headed by Director Stephen Humphries and with professional advice from Greg Hudson, SCA Marketing, ARH has updated all areas of its governance.

Additionally, Chairman Elect Kevin Shadbolt and CEO Joy have spent considerable time in business and strategic planning which has now been taken to the Board. This will ensure that ARH is in the best possible position for the next decade and beyond.

The New Board In December, two Directors will join me in retiring from the Board. Brian Beesley from NSW who has added life and a real

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Aussie perspective, and Barbara Wheatcroft whom we farewelled last year but who returned to represent South Australia in 2020.

Thank you Bees and Barb for your contribution, support and commitment to ARH.

Retiring Board Member Barbara Wheatcroft and new Board Member David Jones, who has been out and about in this brand new Mazda promoting Rotary and ARH

2020 marked the first year of having DGs, DGsE and DGsN joining the Board and it has been most successful.

My thanks to Michael Buckeridge (QLD), David Jones (SA) and Kay Phipps (WA) respectively. Michael has now finished as DG and so the new Board now has DG David Jones, DGE Kay Phipps with Amanda Wendt (VIC) nominated as the new DGN representative.

To our new Board members from the December 2020 AGM, I wish you a wonderful Rotary experience under the leadership of Kevin Shadbolt OAM, an eminent Tasmanian, all round good bloke and a Rotarian with great understanding of Australia and its people.

ARH... A Great Team To our office staff, congratulations and thank you... the management of ARH is impressive and cohesive. CEO Joy, you serve ARH magnificently and ensure the quality of our wonderful Rotary project is maintained. You lead a team of only five but its effectiveness belies that small number. Jenny Towe, Cheryl Deguara, Jessica Cooper and Maddison Hancock all have their areas of expertise and all serve ARH so well.

Jenny is our Office Manager and is one of the most efficient, obliging and helpful people I have ever worked with.

Bless you Jenny. While our excellent Indigenous Health Scholar program has now been further endorsed by the federal government, well done Cheryl. It has been wonderful through this COVID time to see online interviews with our researchers, inspiring, Jessica. Thanks also to Maddison who has assisted in our office administration for the past five years. While Terry Davies retired as Corporate manager several months ago and, while we haven’t been able to celebrate in person, I thank you again, T2, for your years of service.

ARH is highly valued in Australia’s research community and the fact that 100% of all donated money is used for our research and scholarship programs is very special. We are blessed to have wonderful volunteers but it is the ongoing support from our Rotary base that will ensure we continue to be a leader in mental illness research.

Time’s Up It has been my pleasure, challenge and privilege to serve on the ARH Board for seven years. My thanks go to fellow Board members past and present from all around Australia for their support, particularly during my three years in the Chair. I thank Immediate Past Chairman Jeff Crofts from Far North Queensland for his sage advice and service and thank Vice Chairman Kevin Shadbolt from (Northern) Tasmania for his friendship and loyalty.

Joy, you have seen many chairmen come and go over your long tenure and really you are the constant upon which our reputation has grown. Glad to see the Panthers playing so well ☺ Kevin, my very best to you and Anne, and for continued ARH success under your leadership.

When asked to be MC for the ARH 30th Anniversary Dinner in 2011, I had no idea that I would soon be serving on its Board. To mark the anniversary, I wrote

Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au

and performed a song and, since this is my last Newsletter as Chairman, I include it updated for your enjoyment.

A New Intervention for Youth Depression

Wishing everyone good health, COVID free.

Gregory Ross, Chairman ARH... Nov 2017 - Dec 2020 Australian Rotary Health (Sung to the tune, ‘The Lambeth Walk’)

Back in nineteen eighty-one A health research fund was begun Raising funds to seed Helping parents much in need.

It was Ian Scott in those early days From Mornington he looked at ways To see what could be done To put SIDS in the gun.

Our researcher then was Terry Dwyer A professor who did the world inspire His outcomes became a guide Reducing infant deaths worldwide.

Since then the fund has grown a lot Researching’s moved on from the cot And with mental illness rife We work to give a better life.

Joy Gillett our CEO so strong It’s great that she received a gong For much of what we are She’s been a guiding star.

The most important of them all Are those on whose intellect we call The researchers who prepare And allow us all to dare.

Lift the Lid is now our campaign brand Its logo seen throughout the land Researching outcomes we will share With Australians everywhere.

And so within a vision broad We put mental illness to the sword With support Australia wide And great talent here inside.

Whatever may be our future fate Four decades now we celebrate Of grants we give a wealth At Australian Rotary Health ...

And so let’s drink its health To Australian Rotary Health.

Dr Tegan Cruwys

New research funded by Australian Rotary Health has found that a new intervention called Groups 4 Health is effective in reducing symptoms of depression and loneliness, which can be a risk factor for relapse.

The study, led by Mental Health Research Grant recipient Dr Tegan Cruwys from Australian National University, compared the Groups 4 Health intervention to the gold standard intervention Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).

“We found that Groups 4 Health, an intervention that aims to enhance health by reducing loneliness, to be as effective as cognitive behaviour therapy in treating depression. However, Groups 4 Health was even more effective in reducing loneliness, which is an important risk factor for relapse of depression down the track,” Dr Cruwys said.

Here were some of the main findings from the study: • Young people with depression and loneliness experienced on average, a substantial improvement in their symptoms after participating in the trial.

Both Groups 4 Health and cognitive behaviour therapy were effective treatments.

• Groups 4 Health was as effective as cognitive behaviour therapy in reducing symptoms of depression among young people. The benefits of Groups 4 Health for depression were maintained up to one year later.

• Groups 4 Health was more effective than cognitive behaviour therapy in reducing loneliness among young people. The benefits of Groups 4 Health for loneliness were maintained up to one year later.

• Groups 4 Health was also more effective than cognitive behaviour therapy in reducing social anxiety and increasing young people’s feelings of connection with multiple social groups-benefits that were maintained up to one year later.

• Young people reported that both programs were equally enjoyable, interesting, helpful and useful.

You can hear Dr Cruwys talk in more detail by listening to episode 15 of ‘The Research Behind Lift the Lid’ podcast. Available on YouTube, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.

Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au

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ARH UPDATE

RSL and ARH PTSD Program

By Victorian State RSL member Des Callaghan and ARH Ambassador PDG Terry Grant.

This article has been generated to recognise the contributions made to this program over the last 7 years since its inception by both RSL and Rotary personnel, and to thank them for their support in enabling this much needed and worthy research to take place in service for our returned personal and their families.

In this report we would like to formally acknowledge the contributions made by RSL personnel since its inception being: - Major General David McLaughlan - Victoria RSL (retired) - The late Gordon Hastie - Victoria RSL and Rotary - The late Peter McPhee - Victoria RSL - Dr Robert Webster - Victoria RSL State President - Des Callaghan - Victoria RSL From humble beginnings where Rotary representatives ARH CEO Joy Gillett OAM and Ambassador Terry Grant met with David McLaughlin and David offered to be our spokesperson on both the Victorian and National committees; both organisations have worked together to try and raise funds as a combined team to create a better awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) within our returned service personnel.

Webster and the staff at Australian Rotary Health (ARH) we have been successful.

Victoria has started off as ‘the pilot program state’, and that is now able to operate in all Victorian regions after having its start in the Shepparton, Albury region.

To that end, last year ARH was proud to announce that we have a research scholar located within our District within the community of Lancefield, Victoria.

With changes to state regulations this has presented some challenges indeed, and I am pleased to report that between Rob

She is Katrina Streatfeild and her studies are based on the psychological and behavioural features of children of

Funding arrangements require funds raised to stay within the state of origin which presents no issues as there are several researchers operating across the country.

To date ARH has sponsored 3 researchers operating within New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria.

PDG Terry Grant

Australian Defence Force diagnosed with PTSD.

Veterans

Katrina is a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist, member of the Australian Psychological Society and a Fellow of both the APS College of Clinical Psychologists and the APS College of Counselling Psychologists.

Katrina has a special interest in single, cumulative and complex PTSD across the lifespan and the impact of trauma on family, workplaces and wider systems.

This research aims to understand the complexities of how PTSD experienced by ADF parents impacts children in their care and the profile of intervention and support needs in this group.

This knowledge will inform the development of a specifically targeted, internet-based intervention tool, accessible to ADF families across Australia who wish to access education, support and intervention strategies for parents, children and the family.

Katrina gave her first presentation to the Darebin RSL and Rotary Club of Preston in June 2019 with ARH Chairman PDG Greg Ross and PP Rosemary Freeman ARH Chair for Rotary District 9790 in attendance. Upon completion of the address the Rotary Club donated $10,000 and the Darebin RSL sub-branch donated $10,000 to Chairman Greg to assist with the research under the combined Rotary/RSL project The Spirit of ANZAC. I am pleased to report that once again both Darebin RSL and Rotary Club of Preston have supported Katrina with a second years funding – we THANK both these community based organisations for their continued support of this much needed research for our returned service personnel.

Katrina Streatfeild

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Katrina is working with some of the staff at ANZAC House that are assisting her with her research program. Hopefully now more RSL branches and Rotary clubs will become involved with this very worthwhile program that is desperately required to assist the families and especially the children of our wonderful returned service personnel.

Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au

SPRING 2020

Participate in ARH Funded Research Australian Rotary Health Bruce Edwards Postdoctoral Fellowship recipient Dr Louise Birrell is searching for participants for her project: ‘Mind Your Mate: An online peer intervention to prevent mental health and substance use problems in adolescence.’

Louise is looking for students in Year 9 to complete 3 short online surveys, and to use a mobile app for the duration of 1 year. The surveys will take approximately 30 minutes each and all participants will have the option to enter a draw to win a $50 gift voucher.

Have you listened to the new ARH podcast?

On April 21st, ARH was pleased to release episode one of its very first podcast called ‘The Research Behind Lift the Lid’.

The aim of this podcast is to promote the research findings of mental health projects funded by Australian Rotary Health, so that Rotarians and our supporters can see that their generous donations and fundraising efforts have certainly paid off !

The host of the podcast, Jessica Cooper from the ARH office, interviews researchers previously funded by Australian Rotary Health.

We have now released more than 20 episodes with guests including Dr Louise Mewton, Professor Tony Jorm, Professor Ron Rapee, Professor Jane Pirkis, Dr Laura Hart and more.

Sign up or get more information by emailing louise.birrell@sydney.edu.au.

Please share if you think anyone might be interested!

To watch the podcast interviews, www.youtube.com/AusRotaryHealth The podcast is also available on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts. Just search: “The Research Behind Lift the Lid”.

Please continue supporting research that makes a difference by donating on the Australian Rotary Health website.

A Rotary Event to Uplift the Soul As a gift of music to our fellow Rotarians, families and communities please join us on Sunday, October 11 at 3pm.

In this year 2020 when many have found themselves in trying times, the value of the enjoyment of music on one's mental health has prompted a group of District 9800 Rotarians to gather vocalists and musicians together for an afternoon concert to uplift the soul. This concert is free but you are encouraged to donate to Australian Rotary Health.

This is the first of four concerts in October and November being presented by District 9800.

Bookings are to be made through: https://trybooking.com/BLRVQ For further information contact Rotarian Anne Peace, 0429 801 3452, fairway@iinet.net.au Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au

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ARH UPDATE

Dr Laura Hart

Professor Tracey Wade and Dr Simon Wilksch from her research team at Flinders University

Indigenous Scholar Spotlight: Ryan Pieters Ryan Pieters is an Indigenous Health Scholarship recipient supported by Australian Rotary Health, the Rotary Club of Upper North Beaches, NSW and the Commonwealth Government.

Dr Nicole Reilly

Mental Health Research Snapshots • A new study co-authored by Mental Health Research Grant recipient Professor Tracey Wade and others from her research team at Flinders University, has found that using social media may be leading young adolescents towards body image issues and eating disorder behaviours. In a recent article published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, a team of researchers at Flinders University found that out of 996 adolescents in Year 7 and Year 8, 51.7% of girls and 45% of boys had engaged in disordered eating behaviours such as skipping meals, binge eating, and strict exercise. The more time spent using image-based platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat was also associated with significantly higher disordered eating behaviours, and this risk increased when a young person had multiple social media accounts.

• During her Postdoctoral

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Fellowship, funded by Australian Rotary Health, Dr Laura Hart found that her Confident Body, Confident Child program for parents has a positive impact on children's negative attitudes towards body weight and positive impact on girl's self-esteem.

The program is now delivered to organisations in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Norway, and may have future positive implications for preventing eating and weight disorders in children as they grow up.

• In a recent study co-authored by Australian Rotary Health Postdoctoral Fellowship recipient Dr Nicole Reilly, it has been highlighted that while there have been some improvements over time, perinatal mental health screening is not yet universal. One-in-five women are not screened both antenatally and postnatally, including women in high-risk populations such as those who have reported emotional distress.

Ryan studies medicine at the University of New South Wales and is passionate about taking interventions that are seen to be effective in research and practically translating them into communities in a culturally safe manner.

So far, Ryan has completed elective placements at the South East Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit, Sydney Children’s Hospital, and St George Hospital. There he has been busy conveying negative COVID-19 results to individuals in an outpatient setting, working in paediatric infection diseases, and doing rotations in orthopaedic surgery, emergency and respiratory.

“From broken hips to chronic lung diseases, this year has been quite the learning curve!” Ryan said.

“I am very excited to have been offered an internship at Prince of Wales Hospital after this year! So, all of the hard work over the years has finally paid off! With the end in sight, it has given me a chance to reflect as to how far I have come. And it would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the help and support from the Australian Rotary Health and sponsoring Rotary Clubs! This money has enabled me to focus on my studies and not be distracted from the financial pressures of being a modern-day student.”

Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au

SPRING 2020

The Rotary Club of Highton Taking Initiative The Rotary Club of Highton (Vic) is one club who doesn’t let COVID-19 halt their fundraising efforts!

Recently they presented a ‘virtual’ cheque of $2,178 to Australian Rotary Health Director Jane Cox over Zoom, after raising money through an online raffle. They are also one of the clubs partnering with the Clue Detective Puzzle Agency, which supports our Lift the Lid on Mental Illness initiative.

Well done to the Rotary Club of Highton for their initiative. We are extremely appreciative of their support during these tough times.

PhD Scholar Findings - Oxytocin Nasal Spray and Its Effects on Patients with Anorexia A new study by Australian Rotary Health Rotary District 9690 PhD Scholarship recipient Rachel Brownlow has found both positive and negative outcomes when using oxytocin nasal spray to treat hospital patients with Anorexia Nervosa.

Oxytocin is a naturally occurring hormone in body, which promotes social behaviour and a sense of wellbeing. Oxytocin nasal spray, intranasal oxytocin (IN-OXT) has been shown to reduce anxiety and increase trust, and has been trialled in other mental illnesses.

In this study, Rachel examined the use of IN-OXT for four weeks compared to placebo (a salt spray) in patients with Anorexia Nervosa undergoing refeeding in hospital. Patients were tested on a range of measures before and after treatment, and 6 months later (at 6 months patients were also interviewed).

Here were some of the findings: • This research showed that compared to placebo (salt spray), four weeks of oxytocin nasal spray did help to reduce some concern patients with anorexia nervosa feel about their weight (e.g. worrying or thinking about their weight a lot). However, this did not appear to translate into an improvement in their eating disorder overall, as patients who took oxytocin nasal spray did not gain more weight at end of treatment compared to placebo.

• Unexpectedly, oxytocin nasal spray actually increased patients’ distress around problems in their relationships with friends

Rachel Brownlow

and family, compared to placebo, when patients were seen 6-months after the study finished. This was a surprise because oxytocin is often linked to feeling more social with others, and more trusting and comfortable. This finding suggests that there could be other factors about eating disorders (such as how secure they may feel in relationships) that influenced this result. This unusual effect of oxytocin has been shown in other research, however this is the first finding of this sort in patients with anorexia nervosa.

• This research clearly showed that the overall symptoms of anorexia nervosa (e.g. thinking about food a lot, trying to avoid eating) do get significantly better when patients have four weeks in hospital and are able to gain some weight back that they have lost. This was the case across the group of patients in the whole study, regardless of whether they had placebo or oxytocin. The difficulty is in patients being able to maintain the positive changes made when in hospital, once they are discharged.

• Interestingly, when patients were interviewed about their experience of

taking oxytocin or placebo, those who took oxytocin said that they felt more open with others, and also more flexible in their thinking and behaviours. It also seemed that patients who had been unwell with anorexia for a longer period of time, were more likely to report helpful changes.

There were only a small number of patients interviewed, so it is difficult to know whether oxytocin produced similar effects across the entire group.

This study involved screening approximately 600 patients in 5 hospitals in Australia, and used very specific criteria in order for patients to be involved in the study. Only 64 patients were eligible for the study, which may limit the conclusions that can be drawn about oxytocin in anorexia nervosa. Future work may benefit from selecting a broader group of patients in which to test oxytocin.

“This research is the first of its kind to show that IN-OXT may produce unexpected social effects in patients with anorexia nervosa. We did not expect that IN-OXT would increase patient’s distress about their relationships, as IN-OXT is usually associated with feeling more positive within relationships. This research is important, as it highlights that caution should be applied with using IN-OXT in particular groups of patients, as it may make things worse. More research is needed to map out these mechanisms,” Rachel said.

Rachel submitted her thesis this year and has plans to publish three journal articles as a result of this research.

Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au

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ARH UPDATE

Breaking the Man Code Expands

A project funded by Australian Rotary Health which aims to prevent suicide among boys and men, has recently grown bigger after receiving further funding from the Australian Government.

“The funding from Australian Rotary Health is vital to help us understand the impact of their workshops and how they can be maximised to bring down the rate of male suicide in Australia,” Dr King said.

industry organisations, all of whom are passionate about reducing the male suicide rate.

With an ARH Mental Health Research Grant, Dr Kylie King at Monash University is working with Tomorrow Man, to conduct a randomised controlled trial of the workshops in Victoria.

After submitting an evaluation, the project is now also receiving funding from the Australian Government under the Medical Research Futures Fund Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission.

Dr King says Tomorrow Man are doing incredible work to create a mentally healthy future for our boys.

This new project, led by Professor Jane Pirkis (Chair of our Research Committee), involves people from five universities and 14 community or

“It will allow us to trial a range of suicide prevention interventions that are offered to boys and men where they work, live and play. In addition to expanding the evaluation of ‘Breaking the Man Code’, which is delivered in schools, we will test interventions delivered in sporting clubs, on construction sites, in Men’s Sheds, via multi-media channels, through crisis lines, and by psychologists,” Professor Pirkis said.

Professor Pirkis says the team are so delighted that this project has been funded.

“We think this project could be a real game-changer in terms of reducing the male suicide rate.”

Dr King says that the extra funding for the evaluation of the ‘Breaking the Man Code’ workshops will allow her and her team to expand the original project to include more boys across Australia to look at the community-wide and economic impacts of Tomorrow Man’s work.

Mental Health Research Grant recipient Dr Kylie King (left) and ARH Chair Professor Jane Pirkis (right) are conducting research that could help reduce the male suicide rate

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“The support of Australian Rotary Health created an exciting opportunity for researchers to partner with a community organisation who are at the coalface of boys and men’s suicide prevention, and now this extra funding means that our research can have an even bigger impact,” she said.

Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parra-

SPRING 2020

2020 EVENTS

CALENDAR

Upcoming Australian Rotary Health fundraising events can be found at: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/events

OCT 10 - HAT DAY 2020 You can help ARH to Lift the Lid on Mental Illness by hosting a Hat Day event on World Mental Health Dayor anytime during Mental Health Month in October.

Register at: hatday.com.au

Puzzles Taking the Place of Rotary BBQs COVID-19 has certainly forced us to adapt to new ways of thinking, and for the Rotary Club of Torquay, Victoria online puzzles are now taking the place of Rotary BBQs! They have joined up with the Clue Detective Puzzle Agency, founded by Rotarian Catherine Eagleson from the Rotary Club of Drysdale, Victoria.

Clue Detective is encouraging Rotary Clubs to set up a page on their website, for a contact-free way to fundraise.

For every $59.95 Clue Detective puzzle membership sold, $24 goes back to your Rotary Club and $12 is allocated to Australian Rotary Health’s Lift the Lid on Mental Illness campaign, supporting mental health research.

Rotary Club of Torquay President Jan Emmett says it is a great initiative.

“Rotary Clubs and all voluntary groups are struggling to raise funds during the COVID crisis and the puzzles are a new and innovative way of raising funds for the Club and for Australian Rotary Health,” President Emmett said.

“Rotarians can sell puzzle subscriptions to their family and friends, all can be done online, via members' homes, perhaps even setting up a Rotary Puzzle Club via Zoom!”

Here are a list of Rotary Clubs teaming up with Clue Detective Puzzle Agency so far: Rotary Club of Baldivis (WA) Rotary Club of Bayside Geelong (Vic) Rotary Club of Canberra Weston Creek (ACT) Rotary Club of Drysdale (Vic) Rotary Club of Geelong East (Vic) Rotary Club of Highton (Vic) Rotary Club of Torquay (Vic) Want to get your club involved?

Visit www.cluedetectivepuzzleagency.com/puzzling-rotaryclubs/ for more information.

OCT 10 - LIFT THE LID AFTERNOON TEA WITH PROF FELICE JACKA Rotary District 9820 is supporting Lift the Lid on Mental Illness on October 10 - World Mental Health Day. You're invited to join their webinar with Professor Felice Jacka, who will talk about diet and mental health.

Visit the ARH events page for how to register.

OCT 11 - LIFT THE LID WALK FOR MENTAL HEALTH MOOLOOLABA LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health will get you walking and get us all talking while we raise vital funds for Australian Rotary Health. Join the event in Mooloolaba on October 11.

Find more events: www.liftthelidwalk.com.au OCT 11 - ROTARY IN HARMONY CONCERT On Sunday October 11, a group of Rotarians from District 9800 invite you to Rotary in Harmony, a free classical afternoon concert to uplift the soul. Bookings are to be made through: https://trybooking.com/BLRVQ OCT 17 - LIFT THE LID GALA The Rotary Club of Brisbane Mid-City invite the community to join them at the annual Lift the Lid Gala, raising funds for mental health research through Australian Rotary Health.

Visit the ARH events page to find tickets.

OCT 1 - 31 - LIFT THE LID WALK FOR MENTAL HEALTH - HAMPTON VICTORIA All members of the Rotary Club of Hampton, Victoria are challenging themselves and have set a goal of reaching a combined total of 2,000,000 steps during the month of October and to raise a total of $5,000 towards funding vital mental health research. More info on the ARH events page.

NOV 6 - 2020 HEALTH AND WELLBEING EXPO The Rotary Club of Ulverstone West, Rotaract Club of Central Coast and Australian Rotary Health invite you to attend the 2020 Health & Wellbeing Expo on Friday November 6 at Gnomon Pavilion. More info on the ARH events page.

NOV 15 - LIFT THE LID WALK FOR MENTAL HEALTH - KIPPA RING-NORTH LAKES & PINE RIVERS LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health will get you walking and get us all talking while we raise vital funds for Australian Rotary Health.

Join the event in North Lakes on November 15.

Find more events: www.liftthelidwalk.com.au NOV 22 - LIFT THE LID WALK FOR MENTAL HEALTH BRIBIE ISLAND LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health will get you walking and get us all talking while we raise vital funds for Australian Rotary Health. Join the event in Bribie Island on November 22.

Find more events: www.liftthelidwalk.com.au

Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au

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ARH UPDATE

Introducing a New Event – The LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health The original “WALK FOR MENTAL HEALTH” was the brainchild of passionate mental health advocate Vicki Stewart, Past President and long-time member of the Rotary Club of Mooloolaba (QLD). After three successful years holding the event and raising much needed funds for Australian Rotary Health, we are delighted to share its evolution in 2020 into the “LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health.”

The walk and talk format is deliberately not a race, but an opportunity to get your locals together to raise awareness of the serious mental health issues we face in all areas of our communities, schools, homes and workplaces. Now more than ever, we need to break down the stigma that continues to plague our society so that people are more comfortable to discuss and seek help for their mental health issues. As the sole benefactor, 100% of funds raised from the LIFT THE LID WALKS will go to supporting vital Australian Rotary Health research.

Over the past few months, a dedicated steering committee chaired by IPP Paul Robins, and comprising ARH representatives and Mooloolaba members with vast local walk event experience, have been hard at work creating this new look event format.

To start proceedings, the committee recently conducted a series of Zoom presentations to clubs focussed within the Queensland borders, and a couple of welcomed interstate guests. The enthusiasm towards this initiative and the early commitment from clubs to get on board and host an event has been outstanding.

The following dates have been confirmed: • October 11, 2020 - Rotary Club of Mooloolaba, QLD • October 1-31, 2020 – Rotary Club of Hampton, Victoria • November 15, 2020 - Rotary Club of Pine Rivers Daybreak, QLD & Rotary Club of Kipparing-North Lakes, QLD • November 22, 2020 - Rotary Club of Bribie Island, QLD 5 other Queensland locations are confirmed along with Darwin (NT) and Sorrento in Victoria, all yet to announce dates.

Locations are: • Mackay • Townsville • Cairns Keep informed by visiting the • Woollongabba Lift the Lid Walk website or • Kingaroy following our Lift the Lid on • Sorrento Mental Illness Facebook page.

• Darwin www.liftthelidwalk.com.au/

The Bowden Brothers Support Indigenous Scholar Four Indigenous brothers with a passion for music and a desire to give back have raised $5,000 on the road to support an Australian Rotary Health (ARH) Indigenous Health Scholarship.

The Bowden Brothers – comprising of Phil, Grant, Matthew, and Murray – released their album ‘Steady and Strong’ last year and spent time touring through Gloucester (NSW), Tenant Creek (NT), Lightning Ridge (NSW), Mt Isa (QLD) and Longreach (QLD), raising money for ARH along the way.

The funds have supported Indigenous Scholar Demi Cheetham, who is studying medicine at the University of Newcastle.

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ARH Director Brian Beesley who has a long standing relationship with the Bowden Brothers though his club the Rotary Club of Gloucester (NSW), says the brothers have never taken their music on the road before, and wanted to do it with a purpose.

“It’s not what you’ve got that counts, it’s what you stand for,” Brian said.

On Wednesday September 23rd, Brian presented Grant, the second eldest brother, with a pin to recognise his contribution to Australian Rotary Health. The other brothers have been presented their pins on other occasions.

We thank the Bowden Brothers for their incredible support.

(Right) ARH Director Brian Beesley presenting Bowden Brother Grant (left) with a pin of acknowledgement

Buy their album here: www.amazon.com/Steady-StrongBowden-Brothers/dp/B07XXBCZMB

Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au

SPRING 2020

COVID-19 Safe Ways to Get Involved this Hat Day As you may be aware, Australian Rotary Health celebrates its national mental health research fundraising event, Hat Day, every year on World Mental Health Day (October 10).

We encourage Rotarians and the public to celebrate with us anytime during Mental Health Month in October, but appreciate that this year it may be a bit difficult with COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

If you would like to support Hat Day this year, we have come up with a list of ideas for a COVID-safe Hat Day. If you have any others, please let us know!

You could get involved in one of the following ways: • Host an online trivia/raffle session • Sign up for a Clue Detective Puzzle Agency subscription - get together on Zoom to solve puzzles!

• Have a hat-themed meeting on Zoom (contact news@arh.org.au to organise an expert speaker)

• Bake some hat-themed treats to deliver to Hat Day supporters (remember to wear gloves) • Decorate your own hats at home with a small group (depending on restrictions in your area)

Trees for Life Project South Bunbury Rotary, WA are supporting Australian Rotary Health through their Trees for Life Project.

Sponsor a tree of remembrance or a tree of new life in support of mental health. Details above.

Register at: www.hatday.com.au or email news@arh.org.au for further information.

PhD Scholar Launches Book on Suicide & Grief On World Suicide Prevention Day, our PhD Scholar Tara Lal launched her new book on Zoom called 'Standing On My Brother's Shoulders: Making Peace with Grief and Suicide’.

The book was written about Tara’s older brother Adam, who took his own life at 20 years old. Tara writes about her search for understanding and a powerful dialogue with Adam and how she moved past this to build a life of compassion, meaning and purpose.

Tara’s book can be purchased on Amazon.

Share this Newsletter with Friends Online We are uploading digital copies of all our publications online now giving you the opportunity to easily share Australian Rotary Health updates with other Rotarians and friends.

Simply head to this link: issuu.com/australianrotaryhealth17/ We also send out an e-newsletter every fortnight. To ensure you don’t miss all the latest news, email news@arh.org.au or call (02) 8837 1900 to be included on the mailing list.

Tara Lal

Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au

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ARH UPDATE

Friends & Companions with Rotary Clubs Emerald Companions - $50,000 Sharon Green Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin, ACT Michael & Juanita Wright Rotary Club of Mackay, Qld. Garry Ernest Fenner Rotary Club of Hamitlon, Qld. Beverley & Graham Webb Rotary Club of Kenthurst, NSW Ruby Companions - $20,000 Dr King Gan Rotary Club of Glen Waverley, Vic. Val Henry Rotary Club of Boronia, Vic. Gold Companions - $10,000 John Boundy Rotary Club of Essendon North, Vic. Don Durie Rotary Club of Lindfield, NSW AHHA Ophthalmic Theatre Nurses Rotary Club of Liverpool West, NSW Margaret Purcell Rotary Club of Mareeba, Qld. Jennie Stewart Rotary Club of Doncaster, Vic. Barry Thompson Rotary Club of Padstow, NSW

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Cumulative donations from March-August 2020

Robert Brookes Rotary Club of Barossa Valley, SA John Agnew Rotary Club of Adelaide, SA Lyn Oliver Rotary Club of Waikerie, SA Rosemary Freeman Rotary Club of Moreland, Vic. Dennis Hickey Rotary Club of Albury Hume, NSW Steven Wong Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains, NSW Betty Kitchener Rotary Club of Carlton, Vic. Platinum Friends - $2,000 Grahame Stelzer Rotary Club of Gloucester, NSW Warren Fricke Rotary Club of Cheltenham, Vic. Neville Gilbertson Rotary Club of Mt Gambier West, SA Alistair Webb Rotary Club of Toowoomba East, Qld.

$

Graeme Howie Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin, ACT Anthony Cooper Rotary Club of Canberra, ACT Silver Friends - $1,000 Heather Leaney Rotary Club of Karrinyup, WA Sarah Walsh Rotary Club of Glenelg, SA John Bested Rotary Club of St Peters, SA Shane Moes Rotary Club of Cairns West, Qld. Marie-louise Lees Rotary Club of Gawler, SA Anne Stone Rotary Club of The Entrance, NSW Neville & Beryl Harris Rotary Club of Euroa, Vic. Peter & Helen Thomson No Club William Chapman Rotary Club of Moorabbin, Vic.

$

$

Australian Rotary Health Donation Form

Companions - $5,000 Dugald McDougall Rotary Club of Hobart, Tas. Jennifer Henshall Rotary Club of Edwardstown, SA David Rands Rotary Club of Beecroft, NSW Ray Reed Rotary Club of Waverley, Vic.

I wish to make a donation. My details are as follows:

Diamond Friends - $2,500 Robin Dyer Rotary Club of Woy Woy, NSW Brian Shackleton Rotary Club of Toowoomba East, Qld. David Reed Rotary Club of Perth, WA Nerida Dean Rotary Club of Mullumbimby, NSW Stephen Humphreys Rotary Club of Camden, NSW Trevor McGilton Rotary Club of Brighton North, Vic. Andrew Geering Rotary Club of Queanbeyan West, NSW Gordon McKern OAM Rotary Club of Eaglehawk, Vic. Veronica Necyporuk Rotary Club of Padstow, NSW John Ranieri Rotary Club of Bridgetown, WA Michael Elligate Rotary Club of Carlton, Vic. Leo Griffiths Rotary Club of Frankston, Vic. Peter Johnston Rotary Club of Cairns West, Qld. Graham Metcalfe Rotary Club of Ryde, NSW

Email: .……………………….......................................................….....................

Name: ………………………………………...………….... Rotarian

(tick if applicable)

Address: ……………………………………………………………………....……...... .................................................................................. P/Code: ……................…

Enclosed is my cheque for $...........................................

Signed:……...……………….........………...………..............................

Please credit the …………..................................... Rotary Club with this donation.

I authorise Australian Rotary Health, as a one-off donation, to deduct $.......................... from my credit card account.

I authorise Australian Rotary Health to deduct a monthly/quarterly/annual donation of $.................. from my credit card.

Visa Mastercard AMEX Card No: ……...………………..………...………………..….....................................

Expiry: …..... / ….......

CVC Number ……….......

Signed:……...………..........….……..………...….......................

Or donate online at: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au

Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au