Books to a new home

As mentioned in previous editions of the Inner City News, Carlton Rotary has been running a Book Fair each December/January and plans are currently being made for the 2022 Fair.

There were quite a few high-quality fiction and non-fiction books left over from the December 2021 Book Fair held at a vacant Lygon St shopfront. Through the efforts of Carlton Rotarian Anne Mitchell, several boxes of books were donated to the Bridge It charity who in turn recommended they be supplied to The Cocoon.

The Cocoon offers safe accommodation in St Kilda for young women from out-of-home care or homelessness. It aims to provide a therapeutic space for the women to recover, stabilise, develop their living skills, and prepare for moving into long-term housing.

Carlton Rotary is prepared to make similar book donations to any worthy cause. Email Keith Ryall at the address below with information on your organisation. All profits from the Book Fair are donated to local, national and international community projects •

For more information: bridgeit.org.au

International Day of Happiness

Carlton Rotary was delighted to take part in an online webinar organised by a great friend of Rotary, Victor Perton from The Centre for Optimism on Sunday, March 20.

Guests in the virtual discussion came from around Australia, as well as North America, the United Kingdom and Europe. One of the keynote speakers was Associate Professor Narelle Lemon from Swinburne University of Technology, who is Chair of Action for Happiness Australia.

In answer to “what makes us happy and leads to greater optimism?” Ms Lemon suggested that gratitude and kindness were even more critical than ever. She went on to say that some of the keys to happiness included giving and direction (a sense of purpose); relating and resilience; exercise and emotion; awareness and acceptance and trying out new things-developing new habits.

Ms Lemon challenged the audience to think about what small changes we can undertake to make happiness and optimism even better •

For more information centreforoptimism.com.au

Image: Jenna (right) was thankful for the books from Carlton Rotary member Anne.