Welcome to the Rotary Club of Camberwell

Are you a person who wants to make positive changes in your community, regional Australia and the world? Our club members are fun, dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group of friendly people who share your drive to give back.
Club News
Box Hill Institute Centenary
 
On Wednesday 4 September 2024, the Box Hill Institute (BHI) celebrated its Centenary. Due to our long-standing relationship underpinned by providing multiple Bert Stevens Apprentice Awards over decades, Rotary Camberwell Michael Blood and Fabienne Nichola, were amongst over 350 guests which included past students, staff and government representatives. 
Distinguished BHI speakers covered many milestones of the past 100 years following the modest beginning as a Technical School for girls and women in 1924.
The recurring theme was the remarkable impact BHI provided and continues to provide young students a pathway to successful and diverse careers, in an environment where trade-based apprentices and related further studies, was very limited.
Rotary Camberwell is proud to have supported BHI students with multiple Bert Stevens Apprentice Award over many years.
 
Youth Homelessness Morning Tea
On Friday 30 August 2024, a morning tea for youth homelessness was held at Verona Café in Kew sponsored by Australian Asian Business Women’s association.
 
The focus was on the work of Concern Australia - Steps Outreach Service https://www.concernaustralia.org.au/steps/. 
 
Program Manager Anne Mitchell (pictured with Kim Wren - Rotary Kew) has provided around 20 years of support and advocacy to young people experiencing homelessness. She leads a team who engage with young men and women on the ground, wherever they are located and provides caring and practical support.

The highlight was hearing the inspirational and moving stories from people who have experienced homelessness and have transformed their lives with the dedication, encouragement, advocacy and guidance of the Steps Outreach Service workers.

 
Rotary Camberwell supports 'Off Your Back' Winter Coat Drive
At short notice on 21 August, 2024 Rotary Camberwell members were asked to donate a pre-loved coat to support the work of the ‘Off Your Back’ winter coat drive to distribute to homeless Victorians. After a long spell of chilly weather, it was gratifying to have the generous response of over 45 coats to help keep a homeless person warm. Our thanks to Andy Chappell for coordinating. https://offyourback.com.au/
DONATIONS in KIND - transforming lives
Club members attended the Donations in Kind (DIK) open day on 10 August in West Footscray. A non-descript grey warehouse building indistinguishable from other warehouses on the site, identified only by a relatively small Rotary wheel at its from entrance. Visitors were greeted with the enticing smell of a sausage sizzle.
 
From there, a number of tours were busy explaining its purpose walking along what appeared to be a never-ending row of racks, labelled with each carefully stacked with the largest variety of donated goods (as pictured) for Rotary clubs for their local and international projects.
 
 
 
Read more...
CLUB DINNER - President Presentation 31 July 2024
 
Members enjoyed a social gathering recently. To support one of our local businesses, the dinner was held at Blue River Thai restaurant. 
 
 
 
One of the highlights of the night was awarding President George de Souza with a silver plaque recognising his presidency of 2023-2024. This presidential recognition is a long-standing tradition of the club.
Stung Sen High School Update
Progress is well underway, reports Susie Lachal from the Running Water Project in Cambodia. https://www.runningwaterproject.org/

The mid-July 2024 update includes progress with the construction of new toilets at the Stung Sen High School, Cambodia. The school has 1,450 students and staff but only 18 toilets and 3 urinals. Rotary Camberwell is helping fund 4 new menstrual health management toilets and 3 urinals, as part of a larger project.
Hearing and Beyond 
Tears as Deaf Girl Enters Mainstream School - Letter from Mai McCann, July 2024 - Founding Director Hearing and Beyond in Vietnam:
‘Dear friends…. A bittersweet moment as we farewelled a much-loved student, Kim Ngân. There were tears and happiness all around. What an amazing achievement for Kim Ngân. She is our seventh child to attend mainstream schooling! (after attending Hearing and Beyond)’. Mai McCann, Founder https://hearingandbeyondinvietnam.org/
 
Below is a link to a TV documentary covering her initiative to construct of a new school for deaf children in Vietnam: https://youtu.be/rvDkJs4pKk8?si=tY0mkooNkQWlV-kr
President's Message

George de Souza

member photo

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Camberwell.

The Camberwell Rotary Club has been proudly serving the community since 1956.
Our members are all volunteers who willingly give their time and effort to serve our locality, municipality and internationally with a range of programs. Members enjoy strong friendships whilst in the pursuit of these activities.
 
Our signature fund-raising events are the Camberwell Art Show, Hawthorn Makers Market, Camberwell Sunday Market and Bunnings Sausage Sizzles. The funding received enables our members to actively engage in identifying community needs and to respond to these needs with financial, in-kind and hands on support.
 
That’s what being a Rotarian is all about.  It is at the core of our Club’s purpose which is to be of service to others, to take action to create positive change and to promote understanding, goodwill and peace in our community.
 
Camberwell Rotary values diversity, equity and inclusion and has a supportive environment for people of all backgrounds. If you are looking to make a positive difference in the community, the Camberwell Rotary Club welcomes your enquiry – simply click the Contact Us button.
 
George de Souza, President 2024-2025
Member since 2016
Meeting Information
Welcome to Camberwell Rotary
We meet In Person
Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
Canterbury Centre, Conochie Hall
2 Rochester Road
Canterbury, VIC 3126
Australia
We hold our weekly Dinner Meetings at Conochie Centre from 6 pm to 8 pm. We also meet at other interesting locations, please check Upcoming Events list. Visitors and guests are most welcome and are invited to register by the Tuesday beforehand.
Venue Map
The Hawthorn Makers Market (HMM) is a community event of the Rotary Camberwell Club since 1979. It is one of Melbourne’s best known makers markets. HMM is managed by Rotary Camberwell in partnership with the City of Boroondara. https://hawthornmakersmarket.org.au/
The Hawthorn Makers Market is committed to supporting local, independent artists and designers curating the best of Australian handcraft in one central marketplace. Stalls are set up both indoors and outdoors. All proceeds from HMM goes to Rotary Camberwell’s charitable work in the local and wider community.
The HMM monthly market is held at the beautifully restored Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn. It operates each Sunday of the month, March to December inclusive, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. HMM is proud to be family-friendly event.
Links
Upcoming Events
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Speakers
Swinburne Scholarship Recipient
Sep 18, 2024 6:00 PM
Swinburne Scholarships
District Governor - Michael Lapina
Oct 02, 2024 6:00 PM
District Update
Minh Nguen
Oct 16, 2024 6:30 PM
ROMAC - an update
Mai McCann & Lien Dong Thi Nhu
Nov 13, 2024 6:30 PM
Hearing & Beyond in Vietnam
View entire list...
Camberwell Sunday Market - Volunteer Roster
Click here to see the Roster for September 2024: CSM Signup List
The Camberwell Rotarian
 
The annual Camberwell Art Show (CAS) is a signature project of Rotary Camberwell. See the Camberwell Art Show Gala Night 2024. CAS was first held in 1966 https://camberwellartshow.org.au/ Since its inception, CAS has raised over $3M to support local, national and international humanitarian projects.
The show is set up by the members of the Rotary Camberwell and volunteers including Swinburne students, spouses, family and friends. Beyond the artists’ prize money, all funds raised (as with all Rotary fundraising) goes to the club’s charities.
CAS relies on the generous support of sponsors including Swinburne University for providing a magnificent glass façade venue at its Technologies Centre with the benefit of Burwood Road frontage. Other long standing major sponsors are Bendigo Community Bank of Canterbury, Ashburton, Surrey Hills and Balwyn and City of Boroondara. Other sponsors are from many local businesses. Without their support, CAS would not be the success that it has been over many years.
The Rotary Outreach Myeloma Program
The Rotary Outreach Myeloma Program (ROMP), began in 2019 as a special program to mark the Centenary of Rotary in Australia in 2021. Camberwell Rotary Club joined with Myeloma Australia, the only myeloma specific charity in Australia, to build awareness of myeloma and Rotary Club support for myeloma patients and their families living in regional and remote Victorian communities. Today ROMP is supported by up to twenty regional Rotary Clubs across five Rotary Districts and a growing list of cancer treatment centres.
ROMP’s focus is to provide regional nursing scholarships. The scholarship is offered to select registered nurses employed in rural and regional cancer centres or clinics in Victoria to complete a Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing at Melbourne University. The scholarship is funded by participating Rotary clubs, their communities and sponsors. With growing support, the ROMP vision for several more scholarships seem very achievable.
 
What is Myeloma?
Myeloma, also called Multiple Myeloma, is a type of blood cancer that affects the inside of the bone marrow. It attacks the immune system causing fatigue and can lead to frequent infections.  Only half of all people diagnosed with myeloma survive beyond five years. There is no cure for myeloma. ‘We are tackling myeloma - and all cancers - in regional Victoria, one Rotary Club and one nurse at a time.' For more information see the Myeloma Australia website https://myeloma.org.au/