Guest Speakers 4

GUEST SPEAKERS
Central Blue Mountains Rotary are fortunate to have hosted many interesting Guest Speakers over recent months.  We thank them for their time and effort in contributing to the overall success of our club meetings.
 
Wednesday February 14th 2018
Bruce Manefield ("Gunawirra")
Bruce Manefield ("Gunawirra")
 
Bruce Is A Business And Leadership Coach And Trainer For Rapport Leadership.  Having Worked For Both Corporate And Fast Growth SME Companies, Bruce Brings A Wealth Of Experience To Assist Organisations Wanting To Transition Through Change.  His Passion In Life Is Educating People And Organisations To Improve Capability And Performance.
 
With a diverse career, Bruce started his working life as a business analyst and has held senior management roles including General Manager of the Value Group, CEO of Redicar, Executive Officer of Childcare NSW, Board Chair of KU Childrens Services and most recently, Board Chair of Gunawirra.
 
Bruce understands SME businesses and the unique challenges they face having previously been a business owner himself. His collaborative leadership style and interpersonal skills gives him the ability to build rapport and trust allows him to engage employees at all levels within a business.  Bruce holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Statistics and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Gunawirra
In Aboriginal mythology Gunawirra means the invisible seed of all creation.
 
'Gunawirra', a not-for-profit PBI organisation made up of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal professionals working side by side for fundamental improvements in the life of Aboriginal families, their infants and children.
 
Gunawirra’s primary role is to create models of excellence by designing unique, innovative and transformational programs that are fully evaluated.  These unique models of excellence allows Gunawirra’s work to be replicated in widening community circles of effectiveness.
 
We empower young Aboriginal parents with babies and young children to intervene in their own lives.
 
 Main Gunawirra Projects:  
Gunawirra wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Owners & Elders,
past and present, of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.
 
 
Wednesday February 7th 2018
Chris Compton (Rotaract Ambassador)
Chris Compton, Rotaract Ambassador
This remarkable young community minded Rotaractor spoke about his early life and how he became involved as a member of The Hills Rotaract Club and his progression into the Rotaract District.  With his District involvement he spoke of his passion for growing the Rotaract Clubs and exploring ways of converting Rotaractors to Rorarians.
 
In addition to being a Rotaractor, Chris is also involved in many other community organisations such as the Rural Fire Service.  He spoke about his recent exchange trip to assist with fighting 'wildfires' in Canada and his close-up encounters with 5 brown bears who were also out there in the 'wildfires'. 
Wednesday January 31st 2018
Robyn Capp OAM (CEO Huntington's NSW)
Robyn Capp OAM
 
Ms Robyn Capp OAM , Executive Officer of Huntington's NSW and herFundraising & Marketing Director Pauline Keyvar talked in great details about Huntington's Disease and how it affects both those who are unfortunate enough to be suffering from the disease and their families and loved ones.
 
What is Huntington's Disease ?
It is usually characterised by involuntary movement and intellectual, emotional and behavioural problems.
 
In most cases HD is a "late" onset disease and symptoms generally appear when a person reaches their mid thirties or forties. In rare cases HD may develop in childhood or as late as seventy years of age.
 
Treatment of HD and research into its causes has greatly improved in recent years. The HD gene was isolated in 1993 but there is still no cure for the disease.
 
What Causes Huntington's Disease?
Huntington's Disease (HD) is caused by a defective gene which results in the gradual destruction of neurons (brain cells), particularly in those parts of the brain known as the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex.
 
The defective gene can be passed from one generation to the next. If a parent has the gene, each child has a 50/50 chance of either inheriting or escaping it.
 
If a person inherits the defective gene it will eventually become active and brain cells in the body's central nervous system will start to die. This is when a person begins to develop the symptoms of HD.