We gather together on the lands of the traditional custodians, the Wurundjeri 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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Presidential Press
Connecting Communities Australia (CCA)
During the week our Club received an email from a local lad Chris Knight who lives in Mont Albert. Chris is associated with a charity - Connecting Communities Australia who perform disaster recovery work in Australia - flood, fire and drought typically.
CCA have been successful in getting a grant to take a volunteer team into the Shepparton area to help flood impacted households and are now trying to round up about twenty volunteers for this project. I was going to get Chris to speak at our club but our speaker program is quite full and the project takes place from the 1st to 7th October 2024.
I do know that there are some club members and friends interested so additional information is contained in the Club News section of the bulletin.
Fellowship Social Event – Blue Thai Restaurant
One of my requests last year was to have a social event once a month aimed purely at Fellowship. The purpose of these events is get to know not just our members but also their partners. It is great to see it continuing this year and I believe for those who attend it is a really enjoyable and fruitful experience. Some of our members who attended the night are pictured below.
Just a final reminder that the Donations in Kind Open Day is on Saturday 10th August from 11.00am until 3.00pm. I look forward to seeing as many new and not so new Camberwell members and friends as possible at this event.
Let the Magic of Rotary continue to Create Hope in our Communities and the World!
Wednesday 7th August – Weekly Meeting – Speaker Betty Chetcuti
Topic - Betty is a Psychologist and will outline her insightful work and discuss evidence-based data on the positive impact of plant-based eating.
Tuesday 13th August 2024 - Rotary Hawthorn and Balwyn Group Tour of the Australian Jazz Museum
On Tuesday 13th August Rotarians from Balwyn & Hawthorn will enjoy a comprehensive tour of the Australian Jazz Museum. The tour covers what goes on behind the scenes, light refreshments are included, as well as a live jazz performance by a professional band.
The Australian Jazz Museum (AJM) was founded in 1996 at Koomba Park Wantirna. Its mission is to “Proactively Collect, Archive and Disseminate Australian Jazz “. Refer to http://www.ajm.org.au for full details.
The Museum, which is fully staffed by volunteers, has a collection which includes 70,000 audio tracks in a variety of formats, 2,000 videos, 4,600 posters, diaries and books, 2,000 photographs, 600 interviews and 35 instruments including Graeme Bell’s piano and Ade Monsbourgh’s rare, Grafton UK, acrylic saxophone.
There are 12 places available for any members who might like to join.
CCA have been successful in getting a grant to take a volunteer team into the Shepparton area to help flood impacted households and now we are trying to round up more volunteers.
WHY Shepparton? - Greater Shepparton was significantly affected by the floods in October 2022 and some properties within the municipality were also affected in the January 2024 floods. In excess of 1000 properties were heavily impacted and those impacts are still being felt today.
Eighteen months post the October 2022 event, Goulburn Flood Recovery Services are still supporting approximately 180 households and many of those still have substantial need for rehabilitation of land or properties. Typically, after this amount of time the folks needing help are the most vulnerable - elderly, unwell (either mentally or physically), uninsured. For example, one person was insured - totally inundated and found out she had cancer and with all the additional costs through cancer treatments she has lived off the insurance money.
I'll be doing a scoping trip roughly the week beginning 9th September to enable a project plan. That’s when we will really know what we will be doing. But initially, think minor repairs to houses and buildings, some minor fencing, possibly painting/plastering and LOTS of rubbish clearing and removal and cleaning. The project plan is always matched to the capabilities of the volunteers.
Project dates: 1-7 Oct 2024
Accommodation in Tatura Park Showgrounds - camping or some indoor areas you can lay a swag down. WC, showers, kitchen and meeting room are all there.
Meals should all be provided - except breakfast.
No specific skills required - but hardworking and keen and happy to tackle most things. Enjoy a glass of red at the end of the day - close to essential!
Age is unlikely to be an issue! Chris Knight the project lead is 69 and one of his key team is 83!
Chatting with the impacted folk is very important - after this amount of time after the flooding events it is typically the most vulnerable who still need support.
Typically, these efforts have a really positive spirit.
We are fully supported by Shepparton Shire Flood Relief team and Goulburn Flood Recovery Services. I can supply letters of support from them if you need them. We need 20 volunteers in total - including myself as Project Leader.
Members can talk with Chris Knight directly, he is happy to answer any queries you may have. Chris’s details are below:
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.
On behalf of Adrian and the Youth and Vocation Committee, I am excited to announce we will be conducting Mock Job Interviews at Camberwell High School this year. This is to prepare Year 9 students for entering the world of work as part of their curriculum.
When: September 4th and 6th, 8.30am-12.00pm: SAVE THE DATE
Where: Camberwell High School, 100A Prospect Road, Canterbury
16 volunteers required on each morning, working in pairs, no experience necessary. I would hope that most volunteers could work both sessions
Rotary members (current and past), partners and friends welcome to volunteer
Working With Children Check essential (Camberwell High requirement)
I will be sending out the Volunteer Signup List by email next week, with information regarding the interview process, OR you can sign up now by clicking HERE.
There will also be further support and guidance during August.
If you have any immediate questions regarding this exciting project, please feel free to contact me by phone or email.
As you all know, volunteering at the Camberwell Sunday Market is an important part of our fundraising, as well as showing support to our Cluster Club the Rotary Club of Balwyn.
We have recently received communication from RC Balwyn outlining a 30% reduction in the gate takings over the last two years. Their report acknowledges that many of the reasons are outside their or our control (eg cost of living increases, cultural issues, younger age of patrons), the one thing we can influence is our engagement while greeting the Market patrons.
So in Balwyn Rotary's communication: The Market Committee requests that all volunteers be more engaging in welcoming patrons to the market and seeking a donation. We are not asking for aggression, be more engaging which encourages patrons to contribute.
Please keep this in mind during your next and subsequent Market Roster sessions.
Have you ever wondered which Sunday you have been allocated to? Can't find the email from Alan?
Then look no further! This new widget has been added to both our website Home Page - it's at the bottom of the right-hand column, right under the 3 most recent Bulletins. And it will be in each Bulletin as well. Just click on the blue "CSM Signup List" link. It's that simple - try it!
Murray Anderson
CAMBERWELL SUNDAY MARKET ROSTER
RC CAMBERWELL
CSM ROSTER ALLOCATIONS
August 2024
Date
0650-1000
0950-1300
4th August
Nav Murinatne/Tim Landsberg
George de Souza/Pierre Kreigler
11th August
David Chu/ Yvonne Wills
Jessica Wat/ Michelle Critchley
18th August
Peter Pratt/ Nadia Hamilton
Fabienne Nichola/ Geoff McCormick
25th August
Gary Goldsmith/Darren Li
Amadini Perera/ David Troon
August 24 – DONATIONS IN KIND OPEN DAY
All Rotarians are invited to attend the Open Day for Rotary Donations in Kind on Saturday 10th August 2024
Donations in Kind West Footscray, is a volunteer-based recycling facility and is part of Rotary’s Donations in Kind Network, a project of Rotary Australia World Community Service, (RAWCS.) It is a specialist operation that focuses on recycling goods with 85% of the goods processed being redeployed and just 11% sent to process recycling.
Donations In Kind processes goods donated by the corporate sector and distributes the goods through Rotary clubs to those in need wherever they are located, both locally and internationally.
We have also developed partnerships with several hospitals, aged care homes, schools and other suppliers who donate new and outdated stock to us. Rotary clubs then use this stock to fulfill projects in developing countries.
We would be delighted to welcome you to the store, participate in a guided tour with one of our senior volunteers, and participate in the formal opening ceremony at 11am.
As we are planning for several forms of catering, we would like everyone to please register through the link below. There is no cost to attend.
Your help is needed! Volunteers are required for the following event. Please check available slots and book yourself directly online.
As you all know, volunteering at the Camberwell Sunday Market is an important part of our fundraising, as well as showing support to our Cluster Club the Rotary Club of Balwyn.
