Thank you to Ken for taking on the Breakfast Meeting in my absence.
Breakfast Presenters - Colbey Van Leeuwen
Falls and Frailty Prevention Group, Bega 
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury among older Australians, so Rotarians were very interested to hear from Colbey, who runs the Falls and Frailty Prevention Group at South East Regional Hospital.
Colbey explained the many factors that can contribute to falls, and why the risk increases as we age. A key issue is balance, which can be affected by age, medical conditions, strength and mobility, and polypharmacy, or the use of multiple medications. He surprised us by explaining that the balance of a person aged over 70 can be comparable to that of a toddler!
But the good news is that falls are not an inevitable part of ageing. By identifying our individual risk factors and taking practical steps to address them, we can reduce the likelihood of falls and continue to live active and independent lives.
Simple measures can make a big difference. These include removing trip hazards around the home, installing supports where needed, taking time when moving from lying to sitting and then standing, maintaining strength and mobility, and training both our muscles and our brains to react when we lose our balance.
Colbey also runs a free program for older people living at home who are considered to be at moderate risk of falls and frailty. The eight-week program combines practical exercises designed to improve strength, mobility and balance with education about healthy ageing and falls prevention.
Physiotherapist-led groups are held twice a week, with one session at South East Regional Hospital and another at the Uniting Church in Bega.
Colbey is also keen to hear from people interested in being trained to support older adults in their local communities. He is currently training some Merimbula Rotarians to help spread the falls-prevention message beyond the existing groups.
A very informative presentation, with an encouraging message for us all: a few simple changes, together with keeping strong and active, can help us stay safely on our feet for longer. - Deb
I think that we are now in a position to discuss the opportunity for Bega Rotary to assist this vital service in our community.
Second Presenter - Mel Page
L 2 P Mentor Driver Program, Bega Valley
Mel spoke about the free program that matches volunteer mentor drivers with learner drivers to help them obtain their 120 hours of supervised driving. While originally conceived to help young drivers, it is now open to all ages in response to local needs.
The program has linked up with the Grow the Future group and makes deliveries of its produce to cafes and homes as the learner drivers make supervised trips around the district. This also benefits the learner drivers as they gain experience as a volunteer and can add it to their resumes. - Ken
A big thank you to Eric who arranged for Mel to speak to us and continues to volunteer as a mentor in the program.
September dinner - Bega Thai Restaurant
Those of us who were in attendance for dinner, not only enjoyed a very tasty Thai meal, also enjoyed the company of several members of our local Lions clubs.
The Lions members, travelling from Merimbula/Pambula, Tathra and Bemboka expressed their thanks for the invitation and an eagerness to work with Rotary.
We heard about the debating evenings that Merimbula/Pambula club used to conduct at their meetings, also the support of the local pool by the Bemboka club and the ongoing project of the Tathra top to bottom walkway.
A very enjoyable dinner with some very inspiring service club members.
Again, a big thank you to Eric for arranging the Lions invitations and Charlie for providing a ride for Tathra Lions.
