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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We celebrated International Women’s Day on 8 March 2023. It’s an important day to reflect on the valuable contribution women make in our community generally and our club in particular. We are fortunate to live in a country where our legal, economic, political and other institutions have wonderful examples of strong women leaders, a great foundation for our future daughters and grand-daughters. Within our club, our women members represent almost 30% of our membership and growing, with high participation in club activities and initiatives.
Last week our guest speaker Andrew Lovitt started off his presentation apologising for taking around 58 years to personally thank the Club for his sponsorship as an exchange student to upstate New York in 1965/66. The story of his student exchange was filled with adventure as he set off on a shipping line which was delayed by over 3 weeks. He finally arrived to his host family after a non-scheduled temporary host by a good Samaritan Rotarian in Boston where the shipping company docked, crippled with further delays. He was accidentally scouted to play gridiron after displaying great natural ball skills. Like in Australia, sports prowess proved a vital passport to much appreciated hospitality and admiration, particularly with the Americans fascination with his Australian accent. In short, it was a rich student exchange experience with an exposure to an American rural small-town lifestyle and lifelong friendships. Andrew’s memories are imbedded in his mind and clearly recounted as if it was only a few years ago. It greatly influenced his life to the extent that all his children followed his footsteps and were all outbound exchange students to various countries.
In spite of its inherent risk of having no assurances of the compatibility of exchange students’ personality, in the main, it nevertheless provides immense value to both incoming and outgoing exchange students learning to appreciate another country’s culture and way of life. Some say it is equivalent to a political ambassadorial delegation. Andrew concluded his presentation with a comment that his wife describes him as a ‘failed retiree’, long may it last.
Both the Hawthorn Makers Market and the 38Mate walk were well supported last weekend. Thank you for making both these events successful. Thank you also to Kristina Nicol, Patty Laufenberg, Jim and Trish O’Hara for assisting at the Camberwell Sunday Market.
10 people will be attending Camp Getaway on the weekend of 17 March. This is always a productive as well as fun weekend and there is still time to join in, if you wish. If so, please contact Gary Goldsmith as soon as possible gary.goldsmith@goldlaw.com.au
A Volunteer Expo will be held on Wednesday 23 March from midday to late afternoon. If you are able to assist, please contact Murray Anderson, murray@capricorngroup.net.au
A For a Meal night is planned on Wednesday 22 March at our usual club venue. This will be a hands-on activity packing food for communities impacted by natural disasters. There are no skills required other than your willingness to be part of the team. Everything will be explained on the night. We will self-cater so please bring a plate to share with everyone. Please register on receipt of your email invitation.
Next week, the guest speaker will be Bernie Capicchiano equipped with keyboard, he will delivering a musical presentation. This has been a light hearted and fun night in the past. I hope you can attend.
Sunday March 4th was a great day for another great Makers’ Market and a perfect starting point
for our club’s successful 2023 “38mate” walk.
Walkers came in all shapes, sizes, ages and mostly in their 38mate T-shirts and caps to walk for the myeloma cause. Our thirty plus walkers included some myeloma patients and their families. Each week in Australia around 38 people are diagnosed with the incurable blood cancer. As the poster says “That’s 38 mate!” . We’d like everyone to know and to support Myeloma Australia – the only myeloma specific charity in Australia.
Ours was one of many similar events across Australia, some big and some small. We managed to contribute around $1000 to support the work of the Myeloma Australia nurses. (Two of them joined us for the walk – Hayley Beer and “CJ” Furphy.) A good fun event enjoyed by everyone.
Once again our resident photographer David Baker captured a highlight when our 38mate leader
Adrian Campbell addressed the troops about to embark on their walk.
Well done everyone!
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The ROMP Forum
Tuesday 14th March
People living with cancer in regional and remote Victoria need and deserve the same treatment and outcomes that are delivered in Melbourne.
FORaMEAL emergency food relief project provides assistance to some of the most disaster prone areas in the world. Each pack contains a nutritious meal for a family
of 5-6 people. Last year over 200,000 meals were distributed overseas to the Philippines and Ukraine. We also distributed to regional areas in Victoria affected by the
floods.
With depleted stocks, your help will enable additional shipments .
Info for
new members. Packing events are
• Fun-filled and meaningful
• Demonstrate “Rotary in Action” to new members
We bring a Share Plate and alternate packing shifts so that there is plenty of time for catch up conversations.
This great day of music, from 1pm to 10pm is happening on 17 March at the Seafarers Mission in Docklands, and Rotarian, Sue Foley's band, Bhan Tre, is performing at 9pm.
The event raises money for Rotary Mental health programs through Australian Rotary Health and Foundation.
If you just can’t get there you may still like to get some raffle tickets or just make a donation to this very worthy cause.
If you have any questions please call Sue on 0418 557 751
Hope to see you there and please share with your friends and family!
District 9800 is offering everyone who donates to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund the chance to secure one of five registrations to Rotary International Convention 2023 Melbourne.
For every AU$20 you donate to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund from 28 February to 27 March 2023, you will receive one chance - donate AU$100, get 5 chances.
Take action
Simply
Donate to The Rotary Foundation from 28 February to 27 March 2023
Rotary Peace Fellows use their training to amplify their work at the local, regional, or global level. Clubs and districts can partner with them on peacebuilding initiatives before, during, and after their fellowships.
But we need your help finding candidates. Rotary and Rotaract members can get involved by:
Taking the All About the Rotary Peace Fellowship course to learn about the qualification criteria, eligibility restrictions, the application process, and more
Forwarding the fellowship announcement to your contacts and including it in club and district communications
Using our referral form to tell us about potential candidates so we can contact them
Sharing a PowerPoint presentation about the fellowships with your club members and community
Candidates have until 15 May to submit applications to The Rotary Foundation.
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ESRAG Environment Action Summit
Pre-Convention May 25 2023
This year ahead of RICON, ESRAG has organised an Environment Action Summit on Thursday, 25 May. This is to be held in the CBD and will feature leading environmental keynote speakers including Professor David Karoly, an internationally recognised expert on climate change and climate variability and Patrick McCafferty, Managing Director of Yarra Valley Water and Chair of the Thriving Communities Partnership. The Summit will also showcase a number of outstanding Rotary environmental projects.
Delegates will be invited to meet in breakout groups to develop practical ideas for Rotary club and district environmental projects. These ideas for projects will be collated into environmental action guides and made available to Rotary clubs and districts worldwide. The summit is not just for overseas delegates to RICON, as we live nearby all Melbourne Rotarians can attend.
Come and learn and share some of the innovative projects of your club and district with other delegates.
You're invited to commemorate a successful Rotary International Convention Melbourne 2023 with Rotary International President Jennifer Jones and Lord Mayor Sally Capp, City of Melbourne, at Rotary Gala Dinner on Thursday 1 June 2023 at the prestigious Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne.
Join over 500 other Rotarians and valued guests in celebrating with dinner and drinks at one of Melbourne's most iconic venues, serenaded by the legendary Jack Jones.
Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate!
