Well, the “Unite for Good” Rotary theme didn’t work for me this week, as I Croaked at the first hurdle, having to self – Isolate for a week, no Uniting for me! I could not take the Club meeting on Tuesday, however I did hear that Christine Leggett from Family Works provided clear information on Poverty in the Timaru area and the significant issues that our community has, and it’s getting worse!!
An estimate of higher than 1 in 5 people (over 20%) are currently living in financial poverty in Timaru.
Christine spoke of “Invisible Poverty”:-
- Hunger – going without meat, fruit & vegetables,
- Low-income households being hit harder due to rising costs
- Lack of shelter, or appropriate dwellings
- Putting up with feeling cold, due to the lack of wood or being able to pay for electricity
- Being sick and not able to access a GP.
- Not accessing proper education
- Lack of real choices
- No regular income
- Living one day at a time
- Income inequality growing quickly
- Lack of State support
- Complex system to access a benefit, or support
Something as simple as being able to keep a telephone charged as you are waiting for a call from WINZ and don’t want to miss it, but there is no power on! Family Works are providing some advocacy, with a noticeable incline of quite distressed and distressing cases presenting to them. (If any members would like a more in-depth summary, please get back to me and I will send Christine’s full summary).
On another note, the first Emergency Personal Packs have been placed in the Whanau room at the Hospital by Lynette Wilson and Andrea Lord.
Looking ahead, our first club meeting in August is on Tuesday 12th this will be a CLUB FORUM to discuss our draft Action Plan and areas of need for this year, especially the club model constitution!!
However, District Governor Keith McIntosh is holding a combined Rotary meeting in Timaru at the T T&C on Wednesday 6th August, where everyone is invited to attend (there is a separate notice for this meeting in this Bulletin).
Lionel
