Jane Walker MBE
Jane will make a welcome return to Torquay to update conference on her work in the
Philippines.
Since 2002, Jane has been Chief Executive of the Philippine Community fund and The
Philippine Christian Foundation Inc. She has raised many millions of pesos for her
charitable work helping over 100,000 Filipino children and their families to improve
their lives. Her dream is to eradicate child labour from a vast tip in the centre
of Manila. Children now attend school and the charity feeds the pupils and sends
them home at the end of each week with canned food to feed the family. Parents are
now offered classes in skills such as hairdressing and repairing mobile phones.
Jane was made an MBE in 2008 for services to disadvantaged children in the Philippines.
Richard Stilgoe
The popular entertainer, Richard Stilgoe had a vision of creating a place for young
disabled people to use the performing arts as a vehicle to develop their skills for
independent living. This vision came to life in 1998 and the Orpheus Centre now offers
residential placements and daytime opportunities for 18-25 year olds with a physical
and/or sensory impairment and/or learning disability. The emphasis on performance
is invaluable in helping to build self confidence and self esteem.
Students also learn basic skills such as cookery, healthy eating and money management
so that they are ready to go out into the world and live as independently as possible.
Gervase Phinn
Gervase taught in a range of schools for fourteen years before becoming an education
adviser and school inspector. He is now a freelance lecturer, broadcaster and writer
and holds doctorates from a number of UK universities.
He has published many articles, chapters and books and edited a wide range of poetry
and short story collections. He is probably best known for his best selling autobiographical
novels, including The Other Side of the Dales and Up and Down in the Dales.
Gervase has numerous radio and television credits to his name and appears regularly
on BBC Radio 4 book programmes.
He is an honorary member of Rotary and is a Paul Harris Fellow for his charity work
.
Gervase is one of the most accomplished public speakers of any kind. A natural storyteller,
he combines the timing of a professional comedian with palpable warmth and the ability
to deliver a message that is more than just a series of jokes.
GSE Team
The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.
Martin Edwards
Martin Edwards is Chief Executive of Julia’s House, the Dorset Children’s Hospice, a post he has held since 2005. Founded by a Dorset Rotarian, Mike Wise MBE, Julia’s House cares for children with serious or terminal illness, providing nurses and carers to look after them in the hospice as well as through regular home visits. Families with an extremely ill child are under huge pressure, and regular respite of this nature gives crucial support. Like other children’s hospices in the region, Julia’s House receives very little government funding. The charity has also developed a leading national reputation for its management standards, taking 1st place in the prestigious Sunday Times Top 100 Places To Work In The Public & Charity Sectors.
Wendy Ling
Wendy, from Inner Wheel District 11, is the Senior Vice Chairman 2011/2012. Wendy
was a Founder Member of the Inner Wheel Club of Itchen Valley and has held a number
of Club offices including Secretary, Club Correspondent, and President in 2001/2002
and again in 2009/2010. She was also District 11 Secretary from 2006 to 2009. Wendy,
as a member of Itchen Valley Inner Wheel, has been involved with a number of Charities
over the years, but the Club has developed a special association with Eastleigh Home
Start providing much needed funds and small treats and gifts that can be given to
children and parents facing difficulties and hardship.
Helen Chaloner
Helen Chaloner is the Chief Executive of Farms for City Children, the charity founded by children’s writer Michael Morpurgo and his wife, Clare, in 1976 at Nethercott House in Devon. The charity offers children from towns and cities all over the country the chance to spend seven days living and working together on one of three real farms in the heart of the countryside. Helen is based at Farms for City Children’s head office in Devon. She has worked for the charity since 2003, having previously worked in publishing and for a charity running residential creative writing courses at centres in the countryside.
