We gather together on the lands of the traditional custodians, the Wurundjeri and Woi Wurrung people. We pay our respects to all of Melbourne’s First Peoples, to their ancestors and Elders, and to our shared future together.
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This is the last 2022 Bulletin edition. I’m sure you’ll agree this year has flown past at the rate of knots. Our Christmas celebration this year was at Manningham hotel and was enjoyed by all. Highlights of the night were Kristina Nicol’s re-induction; sensational entertainment by David Gould; farewelling Kerry Anne Frost who is returning to Sydney, remembering Frank Leigh’s birthday; lovely food and best of all great company. Thank you to the Fellowship Committee for their hard work achieving such an enjoyable night.
Having crossed the halfway mark of the Rotary year, it’s appropriate to briefly reflect on some of the key members’ achievements. These include (in no particular order):
the positive contribution and engagement of our newly inducted members who have been with the club for less than a year.
the enormous contribution to RIMERN (Rotary Inner Melbourne Emergency Relief Network)
two successful Bunnings sausage sizzles
six monthly well managed and well received Hawthorn Makers Market
the many volunteers rostered for the weekly Camberwell Sunday Market
the solid work achieved by the Community, International, Membership, Fellowship, Club Service, Youth, Vocation and Foundation Committees as well as the ongoing work of the Treasurer and the Secretary
the appointment of an experienced and capable Chair of Camberwell Art Show and its Executive Committee
the timely publication of the informative weekly Bulletin
the consistently constructive work performed by the team running each weekly club meeting such as the management of attendees (and its associated Club Runner management), coordinating guest speakers, the MC, the welcome desk, and running the bar
It’s been a big half year following the disruptions of the pandemic. We are very appreciative for the harmonious, capable and willingness of members who give up their time to contribute to the vitality of our club.
Looking forward, there is more work to be done. Firstly, we still have a number of Board vacancies in 2022-23. Please advise the Secretary if you would like to step up and take the opportunity to serve as the President Nominee (2023-24) or the choice of four committee positions. The club’s board underpins the club’s sustainability and provides leadership and direction for members’ wishes and priorities. Please seriously consider any of these vacant positions. Secondly next year we ask members to also focus of membership growth. At the meeting of the 8 February 2023, members are encouraged to bring a potential member ‘Each one Bring one’.
Thank you to Alan Lorenzini, Justine Paragreen, Brett Campbell and George de Souza for assisting at last week’s Camberwell Sunday market.
We will return for a fellowship dinner at the Box Hill RSL on 18 January 2023. There is no need to RSVP, this is a casual night and members pay for their meals and drinks they consume. Normal meetings resume on 25 January 2023 at Conochie Hall. Look forward to seeing you then.
Until then, I wish you a merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and happy new year.
“ROMP” - successfully tackling cancer in regional Victoria “One Rotary Club at a time... one nurse at a time”
Imagine it! Could one Rotary Club in suburban Melbourne make a meaningful difference in treatment and outcomes for cancer patients in regional Victoria and beyond?
That question has been positively answered recently by “ROMP” - the Rotary Club of Camberwell’s Rotary Outreach Myeloma Program.
On behalf of the Camberwell St Vincent de Paul, we would like to say thank you to Camberwell Rotary Community Service, for the wonderful presents, and shopping vouchers you gave us to hand out to needy people , and families in our area. We give approximately 40 Christmas Hampers/Bags out at this time of the year, mainly food, and you're Gifts, and Shopping Vouchers, are extraordinary icing on the cake, so thank you to all your good people, who give their time during the year. Nadia asked me to give you an idea of what we do during the year. Attached are a few photos of our Hamper/Bags, with some of you’re gifts in the bags, and inside each bag, there is a Shopping Voucher.
The Camberwell St Vincents de Paul Society Conference ask people for support through the year, and in particular at Christmas. While we assist neighbouring Conferences with their work in the inner City areas, funds which our parishioners provide are devoted to those in need in Camberwell and East Hawthorn. Two large public housing complexes in the Auburn area claim much of our attention and resources.
Our mantra is "a hand-up” rather than “a handout”, and we often do support people over a rough time, and never from them again; but we do have some long term clients whom we assist on a fairly regular basis, although we do caution them about the limits on what we can provide. On the other hand, we sometimes experience gratitude from previous clients who inform us that they no longer require assistance, as they are now back on their feet.
Our most expensive outlays are on families who have just moved into public or private rental, and have literally nothing. One year we supplied five fridges, as well as furniture, bedding, and household items to families and individuals in this situation. Recently we have provided a fridge, beds, and furniture for a family who have moved into a private rental property after fleeing domestic violence.
This year so far we have assisted 881 families and individuals, and provided over $6000 in assistance.
Outlay on supermarket food vouchers has been our largest expense item in the past year, reflecting both need and cost of living increases. We are braced for a rise in requests for help with overdue utility bills, which we are no longer able to cover, and are able only to part-pay these accounts in order to avoid households gas and power supplies being cut off.
Our Conference is currently preparing our usual gifts of staple items and more festive fare, to be delivered in Vinnie Bags which will also include supermarket vouchers, and thanks to you," Camberwell Rotary," each bag/hamper will also have a shopping voucher, to help up to 40 of our regular and more recent clients celebrate Christmas. It’s your compassion and support that makes our work possible,
Once again we thank you, our fellow ‘Camberwellins”, { if that is not a word, it is now} for your generous support, God Love you all.
Joe Hastie . [President St Vincent de Paul Camberwell Conference]
In December our volunteers earned $925.51 for the club’s Charity Account, making a total of $12,294.62 so far this Rotary Year
($471.30 from 4 Dec was donated to the Victoria flood appeal).
The Challenge: $25,000+ by 30 June 2023???
You are invited to attend
The Rotary Leadership Institute Program presents a wonderful opportunity for experienced Rotarians, new members and indeed people interested in finding out more about Rotary to take some time to experience the history, current and new initiatives related to this great organisation we call Rotary.
Part 1 and 2: Saturday 4 March at 10am for 90 minutes
Part 3: Saturday 18 March at 10am for one hour
Part 4: Saturday 25 March at 10am for one hour
To register email Jane Pennington
Jane.Pennington@rotary9800.org by 28 February.
There is a limit of 20 people for each program.
