Inner Wheel members across Lakes Entrance, Bairnsdale and the wider East Gippsland region continue to play a vital role in supporting local causes, raising awareness and contributing to national health initiatives.
The Bairnsdale Inner Wheel Club — which has a strong and active membership across Lakes Entrance — remains dedicated to fundraising for umbilical cord blood research, Inner Wheel Australia’s long-standing national project. Their next community event, a lively Beetle Drive, will be held on Friday, February 27 at 10.30am at the Eagle Point Hub. The day will include morning coffee, Beetle games, lunch and several raffles, with all proceeds helping advance critical cord blood research. Locals are invited to come along, enjoy the fun and support a
meaningful cause. Event details are available on the Inner Wheel Bairnsdale
Facebook page.
Members have also been active in promoting the organisation’s global “Say No to Violence” campaign. Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, local Inner Wheel groups have raised awareness by participating in monthly walks, community coffees and joint activities alongside the East Gippsland Shire and the RSL. Dressed in orange — the international colour of the campaign — members continue to shine a light on the importance of preventing violence and supporting safer communities.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECOGNISES IMPORTANT CORD BLOOD RESEARCH
At the recent Inner Wheel National Conference in Corowa, three significant research grants were awarded to support innovative work in umbilical cord blood science — work made possible in part by the fundraising efforts of clubs like those in East Gippsland.
The grants were presented to Dr Tegan White (Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute, Monash University), Dr Ying Wong (University of Adelaide) and Professor Richard D’Andrea (Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia),
each undertaking research with the potential to deliver meaningful, publishable results within the timeframe of the funding.
Umbilical cord blood, rich in stem cells, has shown remarkable potential in treating conditions such as leukaemia and genetic disorders. One-year-old Sean, diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency, is among the many children whose lives have been transformed through cord blood treatment, enabling him to enjoy a healthy future.
