Royal Hutt River Legion - After Action Reports First Quarter 2016

RHRDF
Royal Hutt River
Defence Forces

Royal Hutt River Legion
(Founder & inaugural Hon. Colonel in Chief - Late HRH Princess Shirley)

Hon. Colonel in Chief - HRH Prince Richard

"AFTER ACTION"
First Quarter Reports 2016
January – March 2016

Royal Hutt River Legion - Command HQ Report.
(Nain, PRINCIPALITY of HUTT RIVER)

Headquarters Command in this first quarter of 2016 has once again directed it's time to promoting the RHRL seeking out suitable items for donation to those in need. Items including good quality used clothing and toys have continued to be amongst the main items collected though HQ and now additional energies are being directed towards the areas of information technology where we may be able to offer support to children in need of equipment to help in their education. Items such as s/h computers and peripheral equipment are in demand from families who cannot afford such items and some systems have already been provided to that end.

Some of the actions carried out this quarter have been.

	HQ Command continues to support the efforts of our other members and units in providing service to their areas of concern globally and continues to seek out those who could use the services available from the Royal Hutt River Legion.
	Two s/h computers were obtained and will be refurbished for future donation to families in need for childrens educational support.
	HQ Command continued to collect clothing and similar items for distribution to those in need.
	The Board of Command RHRL continue to call for those interesting in joining the RHRL to come forward so that the support offered by members of the Command can be expanded and therefore able to provide a greater range of support to members local areas. Anyone interested should email phr.rhrl@principality-hutt-river.org to find out more or visit http://www.principality-hutt-river.org/rhrdf/RHRL/

In HRH Service,
Board of Officers - RHRL Command HQ

1^st Barton Platoon
(Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA)

Personnel

Lt. Amanda Casselton

Lt Casselton, who is now studying full time, was awarded the rank of Officer in the Illustrious Order of Merit in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List, a richly deserved recognition of her role in the legion. During the last three months she has provided copies of The Monthly to the Shire of Manjimup Public Library and collected gifts for socially isolated seniors.

Sgt. Lisa “Aliyah” Oliver

Sgt Oliver’s contribution to RHRL was recognized when she was presented with the rank of Companion in the Illustrious Order of Merit as part of the PHR 2016 New Year’s Honours List, a fitting recognition of her work for RHRL. Since the beginning of the year Sgt. Oliver has helped provide English language books to Arabic speakers learning English and prepare gifts for socially isolated seniors.

Ms. Jennifer Jenkins

Ms. Jenkins, a longtime supporter, continued to contribute to our activities. She donated Easter eggs for people staying in Starick Services and Mary Smith woman’s refuges, as well as books which were donated to the Australian Arab Association.

Other Supporters

We would like to acknowledge the support of Royal Hutt River Legion Command HQ, Mr. Mark Chowan and Ms. Roz Italiano.

FIRST QUARTER PRIORITIES

The Platoon entered 2016 with six priorities;

1) Health Support: Manjimup Red Cross via an “in kind” donation.
Donate recent second hand magazines to doctor’s surgeries and hospitals as needed.

2) Health (Mental): Organize talk on mental health.

3) Homeless People: Provide food to homeless people.

4) Libraries: Provide relevant books and magazines to the Shire of Manjimup Public
Library and other libraries and educational facilities as opportunities present themselves.

5) Migrants: Provide English books to the Australia Arab Association.

6) Seniors: Provide gifts to socially isolated seniors at Amaroo Retirement Village.

All except priority three, mental health, which was not achieved due to lack of time, have been achieved.

Activities January to March 2016

	Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Western Australians (CaLD) Maj. Barton and Sgt. Oliver donated 99 new and second hand books to the Australian Arab Association, who will utilize these for English classes and in a library they have established for their members. Ms. Jenkins provided a collection of children’s books and Mr. Chowan helped transport books to the AAA office in Thornlie. Maj. Barton and Sgt Oliver posted a link to the University of South Australia’s publication Islamophobia, Social Distance and Fear of Terrorism; A Preliminary Report on the Warren Blackwood Human Services Network. Major Barton forwarded the Ethnic Communities Council of WA newsletter via WBHSN.
	Families The first Barton Platoon forwarded to RHRL Command HQ a request for a letter supporting the allocation of funding to the Manjimup Family Center’s facility “The Meeting Place.” RHRL HQ subsequently provided a letter of support.
	Family and Domestic Violence Maj. Barton and Lt. Casselton donated a copy of Wild About Natives by Beth Baker to the Woman’s Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services for use as a door or raffle prize at their International Woman’s Day High Tea, their principal fundraising activity for the first half of 2016. Maj. Barton and Ms. Jenkins provided a large box of Easter eggs, of varying sizes to Starick Services and Mary Smith Woman’s Refuge; these were donated by staff from the State Library of WA and the State Records Office of WA. The eggs were used in an Easter egg hunt which Starick Services organized for children staying at the two refuges over Easter.
	Health Maj. Barton and Lt Casselton posted a link to information on staying healthy in hot weather on the Healthy WA website on WBHSN. The Platoon was thanked by the manager of the Warren & Blackwood Community Health Unit for posting this information at a time when temperatures were rising to potentially dangerous levels. Maj. Barton and Sgt Oliver donated 26 copies of “The Big Issue,” “The War Cry” and “The Weekend Australian Magazine” to the Manjimup Medical Centre, a bulk billing clinic. Dame Barton delivered the magazines. The Platoon marked Teal Ribbon Day by posting links to the websites of “Ovarian Cancer Australia,” Cancer Council Australia” and “Cancer Australia” on WBHSN and WAIN. Maj. Barton and Sgt. Oliver donated a CD “John Fogerty; Wrote a Song for Everyone” provided by David Whiteford, to Manjimup Branch Red Cross for use as a prize in their regular fundraising raffles. Manjimup Red Cross acknowledged this support with a letter of thanks sent via PHR.
	Homeless Cpt Barton provided food & fruit drinks to 5 homeless people begging in inner city Perth. and Gosnells.
	Information Management Maj. Barton posted information about Data Privacy Protection Day (28^th January) on WAIN and WBHSN.
	Libraries Maj. Barton and Sgt Oliver donated “Foreign Affairs” (March – April 2016), “Policy” (Summer 2015-16), “Quarterly Essay No. 61 Balancing Act and “Skeptical Inquirer” (Jan- Feb 2016) to the Shire of Manjimup Public Library. Lt. Casselton donated “The Monthly” February 2016 to the Shire of Manjimup Public Library. Maj. Barton Discussed, with the librarian, the purchase of new shelves for the Shire of Manjimup Public Library and suggested that crowdfunding might be a possible source of funds. Maj. Barton posted an article "The Researcher's Treasure, Trove, is Under Threat" published in The Australian Friday 11th March 2016. p. 12 on funding cuts to TROVE, a search engine, providing links to digital material, operated by the National Library of Australia on WAIN.
	Rural and Regional Maj. Barton and Lt. Casselton donated a copy of “The Midnight Unicorn” by Neil Reed to a fundraiser organized by the Department of Culture and the Arts to assist Yarloop to rebuild after the recent bushfire.
	Seniors Maj. Barton and Sgt. Oliver provided gifts for nine socially isolated seniors at Amaroo Village Gosnells who celebrated their birthdays in October. These included gifts donated by Ms. Roz Italiano.

	Unemployment The platoon provided a jobseeker, who is preparing an application, with information on addressing selection criteria provided by SEEK.com.au and the University of Melbourne.
	Women’s Issues Maj. Barton and Lt Casselton posted the 2015 Global Gender Gap Report on WBHSN. The Global Gender Gap Report is produced annually by the World Economic Forum and measures levels of equality between men and women. The report focuses on progress in four areas, economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health and survival.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

Health - Support Manjimup Red Cross via an “in kind” donation.
- Donate recent second hand magazines to doctor’s surgeries and hospitals as needed.
- Take part in the 2016 HBF Run for a Reason to raise funds for the Heart Foundation.

Homeless People - provide food to homeless people.
- donate sanitary supplies to homeless women via Terry White Chemists.

Libraries - Provide relevant books and magazines to the Shire of Manjimup Public Library and other libraries and educational facilities as opportunities present themselves.

Returned Service Personnel - Provide ‘in kind’ donations to the RSL / Legacy

Seniors - Provide gifts to socially isolated seniors.

Yours in HRH service.

Maj. Sir Richard Ananda Barton KCOWL, MCM, MIOM, RHRL
1^st Barton Platoon
Royal Hutt River Legion

(Click thumbnails below for larger view)

Maj. Barton & Sgt Oliver with Australian Arab Association president Salim Youssef and colleagues.

Sgt Oliver with Australian Arab Association president Salim Youssef and colleagues.

Ms. Jenny Jenkins donating Easter Eggs for Starick Services and Mary Smith Woman's Refuge

Starick Services and Mary Smith Woman's Refuge staff with Easter gifts donated by RHRL

(CLICK THUMBNAILS ABOVE FOR LARGER VIEW)

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