On Monday 9 March 2020 we had a very special meeting the main focus of which was to recognise the Willetton Senior High School (WSHS) Head Boy, Jack Killoh; Head Girl, Deidre Godin: and the WSHS Interact Club President Talisha (Portia) Jayarangsri (all three pictured at right); plus Portia's leadership team comprising: Vice President Talisha Jayarangsri; Joint Secretaries Emily Ong and Mehvish Mehboob; Joint Treasurers Min-Eet Seet and Samendra De Silva; and Joint Publicity Officers Monique Mather, Samuel Sundararajan and Shemonti Noor.  All are pictured below (with me and Club Director of Youth Service, Simon Cubitt) proudly displaying their certificates 

There to witness the presentation were many proud parents and friends; assistant attendance officer Winston; City of Canning Councillor, Yaso Ponnuthurai; WSHS Executive Officer, Helen Wong and the other very important teachers and volunteers  Cheryl Venter, Jan Kulasekera, Mita Munshi, Pip Peake and Sue Thorp, who aid, assist, mentor and facilitate the WSHS Interact Club activities.

Interact is for twelve (12) to eighteen (18) year olds. The WSHS Club has been running since 2012, is a community based club strongly supported by the Rotary Club of Willetton and was officially chartered in July 2015, coming under the umbrella of Rotary International.  

Through projects, Club members can develop a network of friendships with local and overseas Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs. They can also develop leadership and communication skills and learn the value of serving the greater community through hard work; and have the opportunity to participate in the Rotary Youth Programme Of Enrichment (RYPEN) and many other youth based Rotary programs including Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) and the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF). Also active participation in Interact is recognised by the Duke of Edinburgh's International Awards program.

The club supports two service projects a year, one that aids a local cause and one that promotes international goodwill and understanding. These have included the Leukaemia Foundation, Medecins Sans Frontieres, Mercy Ships, Water for Africa and Compassion Australia.  

In addition, members are involved in community service projects such as volunteering at the annual Willetton Rotary Community Fair and assisting the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare (SERCUL) with tree planting.

2019 was another great year. The Club had eighty (80) members, planted four thousand (4000) trees; raised and donated over $3,000 to charity (bringing total money raised since inception to well over $40,000) and won the 2019 Seven West Media Youth Group Achievement Award. All of which and more they are planning to replicate in 2020. To read President Portia's speech of recognition and thanks Click here.              

We also recognised and expressed our appreciation for the twenty (20) years of continuous, loyal and dedicated service in the "True Spirit of Rotary" given by Stuart Diggins and Leigh Thorp respectively; and the thirty (30) years given by David Honeychurch.

And after the jam packed meeting on 9 March, we took a break on 16 March to visit the Canning Community Men's Shed organised by Club Director for Vocational Service, Kevin Baruffi.  Shed President Steve Pusey gave us a tour and filled us in on its short but eventful history. And afterwards we dined at the Foo Wah Seafood Chinese restaurant with our RYE student, Johanna, and partners, Dave Henderson, Maureen Webster, Liz Doerksen and several of their friends.   

There are no Glenn's Gems for this edition (Glenn was off having fun elsewhere); but do not despair: Sergeant-At-Arms, Lethal Leigh Thorp was on hand to make us laugh (and pay ED!) with his True Love Story. So to get a delicious dose of humour, Click here.