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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Club Assembly Night
Prior to receiving presentations from our Chairs of Community, Youth and Vocation and the Art Show it again was my pleasure to induct a new member into our Club - Clement Fisk.
The two principal areas of his expertise are Mathematics and Economics. He holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in Pure and Applied Maths and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics. Now semi-retired, Clement has had an extensive career as an Economist for over 30 years, working in a number of government departments (trade and Industry, labour, health board) in New Zealand, as an independent consultant for a regional rail system as well as being part of a health reform task force.
Clement has resided in Australia with his wife Margaret and has adult children and grandchildren.
Clement demonstrates service-above-self-values with his ongoing support for the community such as being a long- standing Board Member for 'the Rehabilim Trust' –dedicated to the rehabilitation of disabled children and young adults located in Indonesia.
Service Committee Presentations
I asked and again our committees have or are delivering with funding to our local community projects. Outstanding work by our committees!
Nadia Hamilton on behalf of our Community Service Chair (Andy Chappell holidaying in Sri Lanka) updated us on their activities which are virtually done for the year. They are a little over budget, but I would prefer this to not having spent their allocation.
The funds allocated have been spent across the following causes – Servants Community Housing, St Vincent De Paul Camberwell, You Matter, Camcare, Salvation Army Camberwell, Boroondara Outreach Kew, FORaMEAL, RIMERN, Headspace, Camp Getaway.
Adrian Campbell – Youth and Vocation Chair updated us on their activities which were Mock Job Interview project at Camberwell High, funding contributions to Chances Education, Camberwell High - Scholarships, Welfare Fund, Mental Health Wellness Hub, Box Hill Institute - Bert Stevens Scholarship awards and Academic awards, RYLA, Canterbury Girls Secondary College – Scholarship.
Jon Oppy and committee are meeting every two weeks in preparation for the 60th Camberwell art Show. In order to maintain profitability at last year’s level the committee has tried to maintain the level of income but has reviewed expenses down by around 14%. The cost of entry to the Gala Event has been reduced from $75.00 pp to $55.00 pp in the hope that it will attract more patrons to the Gala Event. The Gala Event is when buyers have first option to view and buy paintings and this is our highest sales day.
Members were also reminded to complete the Art Show rosters and to advise unavailability.
Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday 26th March at the Harp on Erin for another fellowship evening.
Let the Magic of Rotary continue to Create Hope in our Communities and the World!
Wednesday 26th March – Offsite Fellowship Event at the Harp of Erin hotel. Great venue, great food, and “Seniors Prices”
Wednesday 2nd April – Guest Speaker will be Mark Anderson discussing The Rotary Foundation.
SAVE THE DATE – Sunday 4th May - The District Learning and Engagement Forum (formerly District Assembly) will be held on 4th May at Torrens University, Flinders Street, Melbourne. This will run from approx 9am to 1pm. More detail will be provided soon and along with a TryBooking link to register
Wednesday 7th May – Dinner meeting Cancelled
Thursday 8th May – Our Club will celebrate with North Balwyn their 45 Year Anniversary at the Green Acres Golf Club, East Kew. Further details will follow.
By now you would have received a number of Signup Confirmation emails from Alan Lorenzini. Alan has allocated you to these Shifts based on your previous availability and workload.
It's important you record these Volunteer Shifts in your diary/calendar, and if you use a digital calendar, you can click on the "event-details-ics" file at the bottom of the email - this will put the shift straight into your digital diary.
But would you like to see a list of all your Shifts in one place? Of course you would, and it's easily done:
Go to our Club website. Make sure you are logged in
Click on "Member's Services" on the Home Page Menu Line, and select "My ClubRunner"
Select the "Commitments" option, and there are all your Volunteer Tasks listed:
So you now can check and make sure all your Shifts are in your Calendar, either manual or digital. Remember the Art Show does not function efficiently if people do not attend for their allocated Shifts.
It is with great pleasure that I announce the formal appointment of Claire Davison as District Governor for Rotary District 9800 in 2027-2028. Claire’s passion for service, strategic mindset, and dedication to making a lasting impact—both locally and globally—make her an outstanding choice for this role.
A dedicated Rotarian, Claire currently serves as President of the Rotary Club of Richmond and is an active member of our District Board, where she is leading the development of strategies and techniques to measure Rotary’s impact through our beneficiaries. Her work in this space is helping us better understand and communicate the real difference Rotary makes in people’s lives.
Beyond Rotary, Claire is a senior academic and a respected leader in higher education. As Associate Dean in Business Analysis and Technical Management at Torrens Global Education, she has shaped the future of business information systems, business analytics, accounting, and the economics of sustainability. She has successfully led the accreditation of key programs and is committed to creating the industry leaders of tomorrow. Additionally, as the Academic Lead for the Torrens University Social Enterprise Hub, Claire helps students combine employability with social impact, aligning closely with Rotary’s ethos of service above self.
With a deep commitment to education, diversity in STEM, and inter-cultural collaboration, Claire embodies the values of Rotary in every aspect of her work. Her leadership, insight, and ability to drive meaningful change will no doubt strengthen our District as we continue to grow and evolve.
Please join me in congratulating Claire on this well-earned appointment. I have no doubt that under her leadership, the Magic of Rotary will continue to inspire and create lasting change.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Michael J Lapiña
Governor 2024-2025
Past President - Wyndham Rotary Club 2020-2021
Rotary International District 9800
30 April 2025: Last day for registration Register early to take advantage of discounted rates.
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
Registration costs
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)
D9800 proudly participates in a 12-month student exchange involving Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, and France. You are invited to nominate your club as a Host Club for an exceptional international Rotary Youth Exchange student arriving in July 2025.
By supporting the Rotary Youth Exchange, your club invests in the future by fostering world peace, friendship, understanding, and appreciation for cultural experiences and differences.
What does it involve?
The Club will need host families (3 – 4 recommended)
The club incurs some expenses, including student allowances (usually $150 per month), meals for club meetings, school uniforms, books, essential school supplies, and expenses associated with the District Conference.
There are many positives for Host Clubs:
You cultivate lifelong international friendships:
Ignite your Rotary Club with dynamic engagement with young people.
Build meaningful relationships with local schools and Scout groups.
Introduce an enthusiastic young volunteer to invigorate your club’s events and service projects:
Families beyond your Rotary club are potential new Rotarians.
Foster better relationships with your local school.
If you believe this is a good idea for your club and wish to support it, but the cost might be a concern, please consider sharing the student with another club in your Secondary School District.
The District Student Exchange Committee will support the club by providing Rotary training (Child Protection Education) for Club Counsellors, Host Families, and others as needed and help you navigate through the process.
Join Myeloma Australia's 4th national fundraising and awareness walk on Sunday 30 March 2025 at 1:00pm!!
Myeloma Australia Ambassador, Sandy Roberts made finding a cure for myeloma his Greatest Call and now we invite you to join us in My Greatest Walk.
My Greatest Walk is a COMMUNITY EVENT. We are looking for individuals and families - those affected by myeloma and their networks - to come together to raise further funds and awareness to support the 22,000 Australians living with myeloma.
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.
