Mobile phones saves lives DV connect

 

DV Connect - who knew?

Been a few weeks since DV connect spoke to the club, but great to see that members are still following up and supporting th egreat work that Ashton and his team are doing. Some members have purchased boxes for their work and apartment blocks to continue the recycling of phones and so getting the phones as a lifeline to this women (mostly) affected by DV. You know who you are, well done you. 
 
 
Some members were able to bring along mobile phones, following up on last weeks talk from Ashton at DV connect. Others have got collection boxes or arranged collection boxes for spots around the coast. There have reached out to potential supporters of DV connect  a la organisation who turn over a lot of mobile phones. Well done everyone. 
 
and new member Les, reached out to Apple in Chermside where there's a bit of a relationship and received this promising response. If it happens, great, if not then no matter well done everyone for brining DV connect to the attention of potential suppliers. 
From: Chermside Business <chermsidebusiness@apple.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 2:39 PM
To: Leslie Ross <scmg1@icloud.com>
Cc: Ashton Wood <ashton@dvsafephone.org>; chermside@apple.com
Subject: Re: Business Customer - Sport Career Mentor Group Pty Ltd ( 18000002563851 ) DV Safe Phone Charity
 
Hi Leslie,
 
Thanks for your email.
 
It’s great to hear you took a lot away from Ashton’s presentation around DV Safe Phones - it’s an incredible initiative.
 
While we are limited in our retail business channel to support your query, I’ve reached out to our Business Development Manager so we can get you in touch with the right teams.
 
I will update you once I’ve heard back and pass on your details with the information you’ve provided.
 
Please don’t hesitate to reach out for anything further in the meantime.

Kind regards,
 
Shina Alayon
Business Expert
Apple Chermside 
 
...and here's last weeks article as an aide memoir. (thats French for "knot in handkerchief").smiley
 
 
Our guest speaker is well known to the club, but who knew that starting to clear out your garage would lead to the creation of an extraordinary life saving organisation? For those of us who can remember pre-Covid, we related to Ashton being in lockdown and looking for something to do. That led to a clean out of his garage, and a phone call to community minded Queensland policewomen, Janine Fulton,  which led to the discovery about how important it is for folks (predominately women) needing to have an escape route from domestic violence, in the form of a secret mobile phone. Why? because the mobile phone is often the first thing taken or smashed to prevent a victim calling out for help.
 
The garage in Buderim that started it all..
 
 
 
 
How many phones were needed on the Sunshine Coast? ..he wondered?.... Hundreds and and every month. Stunned, and a bit overwhelmed, Ashton and his volunteer team tackled the huge task, and with the support of King IT and others, including 2 Rotarians on the DV Connect board, they are now a critical and important part of addressing the impacts of domestic violence in the region. How many folks are affected in Australia? Try 2,000,000.
 
 
Where are these victime? Everywhere. We know from several tragic events in our own region, that no one is immune. But did you know that people living in remote areas were 24 TIMES as likely to be hospitalised for domestic violence than folks in major cities. 
 
So how does this all work and how can Rotary help?
 
 
 
 
So next time you see a DV Connect, safe phone donation box, then make a mental note to dig out that old phone (needs to be 4G) and pop it in the box with the cable and charger, and take a note of the address for donations, so that Ashton and his team of volunteers can keep this amazing Sunshine Coast going and spreading the good work. 
 
PS. post the meeting President Tony received this gracious note from Ashton. 
 
From: Ashton Wood <ashton@dvsafephone.org> 
Sent: Thursday, September 7, 2023 11:05 AM
To: Tony Freeman <freemanmarketing@bigpond.com>
Subject: RE: Ashton Wood as potential Guest Speaker
 
Hi Tony,
 
Just a quick note to thank you for inviting me to speak at your Rotary breakfast on Wednesday, I had a great time and met lots of people who were at the original launch in Maroochydore and some new faces too!
 
From Monday the following opportunities have come up.
  1. Phone collection boxes to go in at IFYS (we have been providing safe phones to them for a couple of years already)
  2. Possible connection to Apple for phone donations.
  3. Possible connection to Officeworks for phone collections.
 
Please pass on my thanks to everyone.
 
Thank again!
 
Always in your corner,
 
Ashton
 
Ashton Wood
Founder & CEO, DV Safe Phone
Ph: 1300 151 939