Please find a substitute if you cannot fulfil your duty.
Guest Speaker
Today's Guest Speaker was Louise Shedden who told us about the "Back on Track Foundation". The Back on Track Foundation is Western Australia’s only dedicated education recovery program for children who have been through cancer. It provides direct, personalised support to help children and their siblings rebuild their education once treatment ends.
A cancer diagnosis disrupts every aspect of a child’s life, and education is often one of the biggest casualties. Extended hospital stays, treatment side effects, and emotional trauma can make learning difficult. Many children face anxiety about falling behind, losing friendships, or returning to school looking or feeling different. Even years after treatment, some students struggle with the increasing demands of high school as cognitive fatigue, PTSD, or long-term effects of treatment take their toll.
That’s why the Foundation's approach is tailored and child-specific. It recognises that every student’s experience is different, and so is the support they need. Whether a child is newly out of treatment, in the early stages of remission, or facing new challenges years later, the Foundation is there to ensure they feel supported, connected, and capable of continuing their education.
The Foundation is about more than just learning; it supports mental health and wellbeing.
The Foundation supports children and families by offering:
Education Advocacy;
In-Home and Remote Learning Support;
Sibbling Support;
Long Term Support for Survivors; and
Collaboration with Medical Teams.
Louise Shedden (Program Director) presented an overview of “Back on Track”, of its reach from the Perth metro area to the far North of WA and out to the Goldfields, and the issues with funding to keep the organisation delivering its program with children parents and schools.
In 2025 they worked with
145 participants
25 families in regional and remote areas
89 partnering schools across metro and country WA
Supporting 44 siblings
Distributed 65 laptops to participants.
Louise Shedden was thanked on behalf of the Club by Corrin Caine
2 Minute Noodles
Our session today was brief due to time constraints with Elizabeth putting on a short but humorous video.
Announcements
President Tony introduced the following announcements:
Bernie Foley advised us that Hampton SHS was having its graduation on Friday night and that he would represent the club. Bernie also informed us that the School had successfully nominated a student for the Stan Perron Award which he would present on the graduation night.
John Van Vliet provided an update on the OP Shop. They recently had some homeless people purchasing various items - a sign of these difficult times. He also called for contributions to stock up before Xmas.
Kym MacCormac reminded us that the Club would hold an international dinner at CU29 on Friday 13th November and that the Christmas breakfast would be held on the 17th December with a couple from the Salvation Army being guest speakers.
Geoff Hick introduced the topic of a Legacy Project. He told us that our Club has a history to be proud of. Earlier in the week he had been asked to provide some background on the Club's contribution to medical research in preparation for the Doctor's Award in December. He documented a number of significant projects with a lasting impact and thought the Club should be looking for something like that.
Looking to the future and to build the Club we need a plan that includes a Legacy Project. Geoff believes that a plan is a dream with a date on it and some interim goals.
The first step in our plan was the move back into West Perth and that has been successful.
We need to identify with and become part of the West Perth community. We have some members already working on that with the hope of targeting some younger members.
We need to recognise local heroes, get publicity and invite local people to the Club.
As to the Project, we should seek a major project that is not addressing a cause that others have initiated. We have the capital to attract partners such as other Clubs, Perth City Council and Lotterywest. We should preserve our Capital and get the right project to make a difference, preferably a project that can leverage our contribution.
Geoff finished by asking members to think of potential projects and noted that the Board is receptive to any plan so we should not limit our thinking.
Sergeant's Session
Today's meeting was a busy one with plenty of announcements so the Sergeant showed pity on the nervous members and gave us a rain check.
Don't forget Breakfast at our new venue CU29 Restaurant and Bar is $31 per head
1275 Hay Street West Perth (old ANZ Bank location).
The Rotary Club Westpac Bank account details are:
BSB: 036011
Account: 427207
President Tony's Parting Thought for the week
"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows". Epicetus
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- This Bulletin is via the Clubrunner website and it is currently prepared by Ian Hutton in the absence of our Treasurer Geoff Woods. If you would like anything added to the Bulletin please email any photos and a written summary on Word.
