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
Don Jago – 35 year Legacy of Service and Leadership
Rotary International celebrated its 120th Birthday on 23rd February 2025. On 28th February 1990, Don Jago was inducted into the Rotary Club of Camberwell and has chalked up 35 years of membership. His Rotary Biography is impressive and reads as follows:
Club President: 1996 – 1997
Committee Chair or on the committee of Fellowship, International, Vocational, Community Service, Club Service, Foundation, Art Show and more recently Rotary Outreach Myeloma Program (ROMP).
Rotary District
• District Director, Community Service, 1999-2000.
• District Governor, 2003-2004.
• District Rotary Foundation Chair, 2004-2006.
• Regional Foundation Coordinator, 2006-2009.
• Founder and Chair, Boroondara Cares Foundation, 2007-2013.
• District Chair, End Polio Now, 2009-2017.
• Representative, International Council of Legislation, 2010, 2013
• Volunteer, Royce and Jean Abbey - Vocational Scholarship Program, 2010-2018.
• Involved with Donations in Kind, since 2000
Because of his service to the community, Don received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019.
Our Guest Speaker for the evening was member Adrian Campbell and he took us on a journey from Adelaide to the Northern Territory via a motor home, a trip he did in 2022. We also viewed a video put together by his son Louis of the trip. A fond reminder for many and I as I also did this trip in 2022 with AAT Kings Outback Safari.
International Women’s Day is being celebrated Saturday 8th March. We were reminded about this as our member David Chu’s son who attends Scotch College is participating in a hike to raise funds to help marginalised women and children break the cycle of poverty.
You can simply donate or find Tommy Chu and register the donation against his name. Last year Tommy hiked 72 Kilometres in 24 hours.
I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 12th March back at Conochie Hall when Dhaya Govender will be our guest speaker, and present to us as the Member Behind the Badge!
Let the Magic of Rotary continue to Create Hope in our Communities and the World!
February has been a busy month for the Committee. You will have seen in the 12/2/25 Bulletin the formal opening of the new toilet facilities at the Kampong Thom High School in Cambodia. Whilst the project works are complete, we are compiling the Foundation Grant project report to close out the grant funding application. We have also been supporting an early learning centre in Aubedon in Timor Leste run by the Global Vaddo Charitable Trust. Through Donations In Kind, we have been able to supply a range of goods (tables, chairs, stationary, etc) that have been packed into a container for shipment to Dili which the Club has provided the shipping costs. The Trust has worked previously with the Rotary Club of Dili who will help them with collection of the goods in Dili.
In Cambodia, our student at the Cambodian Rural Students Trust, Sreypeou Mao, has been as busy as always. In addition to her studies, she has been working on their Project Trees for Life where they are providing fruit trees in the Run Ta Ek area which has been extensively cleared. She has also been working on their own WASH project providing hygiene and nutrition education at schools. She has also been involved in a Village Street Library in the Bataysrei district. This was a project developed directly by the CRST members, who had to liaise with the village chief and school director, as well as finding an ambassador to maintain the library. They then constructed the library and installed it, and then provided new books and reading material for the villages. They hope to build more of these libraries in rural areas as there are very limited opportunities for children and students to access books.
The Committee has also supported the application for a further Scoping Visit grant to the Baucau District in Timor Leste. This WASH project opportunity has arisen out of the current WASH project being undertaken. The Club will provide the matching contribution to fund the scoping trip should the grant application be accepted by Foundation. This project is likely to result in a Global Grant and a major project in due course.
Following on from the well at Plei Rolong village funded by the club last year, Sue Gray has identified another remote village in central Vietnam that does not have access to clean water. The Committee will be reviewing this potential project in the coming weeks.
The Onto Conference Committee is organising a pre-conference trip to Adelaide starting on Monday 12 May and arriving in Adelaide on Friday 16 May.
We intend to stay at Lorne, Port Fairy, My Gambier and Robe on the way.
Members and partners are welcome to join us at any time during the trip.
We intend to stay in Adelaide at the Adelaide Stamford Grand Hotel Glenelg, which is close to the Morphettville Racetrack, where the Convention is being held.
We will also be arranging a Club Dinner on the Friday night.
These Onto Conference Trips were a feature of our Club activities in the past and are a great way to get to know your fellow members and partners.
We will be arranging overnight accommodation and activities during the day, for the duration of the trip.
If you have any ideas of things to see and do on the way, please feel free to let me know.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact Geoff Heath on 0417 857 196 or email gjheath@bigpond.net.au
We guarantee you will have a Great Time.
If you have not registered for the Conference, it is not too late. Just go online to Rotary District 9800 website.
The middle of Wednesday the 27th of February found Bev and I lunching at our favourite deli – Croutons in Glenferrie Road Kooyong. Chances are you already know the place. If not, we recommend it as special.
After lunch, our day went down-hill suddenly when we returned to my much-loved Citroen C5. It was badly damaged by an out-of-control Toyota Camry, now lying on its side on the other side of the road. The driver was okay, and we did the usual exchange of information.
Then we began to slowly drive the two of us and the badly wounded C5 slowly towards home. That plan was interrupted by police who spotted us “crab-walking” the car up Mont Albert Road. (The steering too was damaged). After a lengthy interview we were permitted to complete our trip safely to home.
For the benefit of those who are not Citroen afficionados (most of you?), I point out that mine (R-0001) is no ordinary veteran. It is one of the last to be fitted with the legendary Citroen “Goddess” suspension and it is maintained to the proud level that it deserves. It is the fifth and best Citroen that we have owned. Three of those are still within the family.
The challenge now is to restore R-0001 to its former fine state. It is the least to be done for an old and trusted friend.
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 our website Home Page - it's in the right-hand column, right under the 3 most recent Bulletins. And it will be published in each Bulletin as well. Just click on the blue "CSM Signup List" link. It's quick, simple and if Alan has to make changes during the month, it's "live" so always up to date. Try it!
Rotary International Golf Fellowship 6th-11th April 2025
This is for golfing Rotarians. There are a few spots available for the event at South Lakes Golf Club, Goolwa, South Australia.
Please complete the entry form if you wish to attend. There are also can also opportunity to play or participate in the tours organised for partners of Rotarians.
To connect with Rotarians and Rotaractors from Districts 9800 and 9510.
To share ideas and stories of our collective impact.
To learn from each other.
https://www.rotaryimpactsummit.org/about
VALUE – Why you should go:
Conference Registration and all events separately priced for all budgets (club members generally attend both the Friday night cocktail event and the Saturday night gala event).
An investment in you and your club.
Establish relationships.
Networking across Districts.
Sharing of tools to achieve impactful community outcomes.
Enjoy the club’s ‘On to Conference’ tour – details to be advised separately
Important dates 28 February 2025: Early bird registration closes (save $50 pp)
30 April 2025: Last day for registration Register early to take advantage of discounted rates.
Registration costs
Early bird - Attendance for 2-day summit program: $200pp
Standard cost - Attendance for 2-day summit program: $250pp
Friday night cocktail function: $55pp (not included in summit program above)
Saturday Gala evening: $95pp (not included in summit program above)
Sunday Foundation Breakfast: $45pp (not included in summit program above)
Saturday afternoon 'Hands on Project': $FREE
Sunday morning 'End Polio' Walk: $FREE
REGISTRATION – please register before 28 February to save $50
