This week we were the guests of the Ravenswood Child and Family centre. Lyn Whyllie Watkins took us on a tour and explained the many functions of the centre. We were particularly impressed with their launch into Learning program, hopefully this is another area that we might be able to assist, as literacy in the community has been identified as one of our priorities . 
All came away inspired by the work done by the centre and I feel extremely proud that we too can contribute in a small way.
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The count down to December 20th and our Tamar Sunrise Carols in the Park. Danny and his hard working team are developing a fabulous program and I for one can't wait to be a part of it. It is going to be fabulous.
Next week at our meeting we have a New Year on Royal Information Tent briefing. All are welcome to attend.

One of the projects our club has been involved in for some years now is Bowel Scan month.  This year we have been advised that the Bowel Scan Program is being "improved", and new kits will not be available until next year. Screening is recommended at least bi-annually and we will be introducing the new you-beaut kits in 2014. Stocks of the unsold kits purchased this year have been returned to Rotary Health for a full refund.  

Coming up for Community is manning the gate at the Agfest Field Days on Saturday 4th May and the fundraiser BBQ at Bunnings on Saturday 18th May for our Books for Kinder program. I have yet to hear of our success or otherwise of a grant application submitted to the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation for Books for Babies 2013

- Judy (Community Projects Director).

It was a simple yet effective project that not only met the aims of the Club, but Child Health Nurses who distributed the books found it a valuable benefit to them, because it provided - 

*  a positive introduction to the new mothers, who may have been wary of a trip to the Clinic
*  a vehicle to introduce the concept of the importance of reading to very young children, even if you don't use the right words
*  to talk about books, show new mums how to make their own books and that it is even beneficial to read sales catalogues
*  the attention span of a very young child is very short, but they will still look at the pages and by six months will be grabbing for the book
*  once they have got the idea about the importance of reading, it gains momentum.

In 2006 "Books for Babies" was superseded by an alternative program organised by the Centre of Community Child Health, but after funding was withdrawn, we are very pleased to announce that the Rotary Club of Tamar Sunrise Inc., will be re-launching this wonderful program in October 2012.   We are now providing 500 books to Child Health Nurses to enable a book to be presented to every new baby born in the Rocherlea, Invermay, Ravenswood, Mowbray, Mayfield and Waverley areas.