Overview of the Rotary Australia Day BBQ – Victoria Park, Kew 26 January 2022
Six members of the Camberwell Rotary Club worked tirelessly since the end of November 2021 to coordinate the Australia Day event. They are President Patrick Docherty, David Baker, Murray Anderson, George de Souza, Alan Lorenzini, Teresa Molella and I. The lead team was well supported on the day by Michael Blood, Phil Young, Michelle Critchley, David Troon, Joanne Tamlyn, Greg Watson, Maria Wiechers, Kerry Anne Frost, Andrew Hunter, Lyndon Joss and Sandi Fulcher. Together they all contributed to a successful Australia Day celebration. ADG Casey Tan is acknowledged for his guidance to the organising team.
The Rotary Club of Kew was participated in the Australia Day Grant and held a separate event distributing a BBQ lunch to four community housing venues run by Servants and Ivy Grange.
Although one of the concerns was the possibility of rain, the main weather-related element was the challenging intense heat which peaked around to between 35-36 degrees at 3:00 pm. In retrospect it was a major factor keeping people from attending.
The two food vans provided delicious BBQ meats and salads by Spit Roast and vegetarian Indian food by Sikh Volunteers Australia. Estimates are they each provide between 130-140 meals. Crowds came in waves and at any point in time there could have been around 30-40 people. The coffee cart was also most welcomed with the most popular request being iced coffee.
Highlights of the day were:
- Saxophone player King Casey played some uplifting popular tunes signalling the start of impending festivities while children had their faces painted with the most popular request being the Australian flag.
- A traditional Aboriginal Smoking ceremony by Wurundjeri Man, Alex Kerr. Alex gave a short explanation of the significance of the ceremony and invited us to go through the smoke which is symbolic of a welcome to country and bonding with the Aboriginal community.
- Mayor Jane Addis formally opened the Australia Day BBQ event and acknowledged Camberwell Rotary, the National Australia Day Council, the first responders etc
- DG Dale Hoy followed Councillor Jane’s presentation briefing all about the role of Rotary in the community, acknowledging first responders’ community support and thanking all attendees.
- A great representation from our local first responders. In full uniform, two groups of Vic Police officers both from the Camberwell and Kew Police stations attended and two groups of fire fighters kept the children entertained showing off the fire truck and gifting toys to the children.
- The final act was the climax of the day with a great performance by Greg Champion. His humour and musical talents entertained those who were a little more resilient to the heat and stayed till the end. He certainly put a smile on our face. Greg expressed his enjoyment of being back live ‘on the road’.
Although the heat dampened the numbers, it was great for the Camberwell Rotary Club to be present in the community, dedicating the day to our local first responders and other community groups. Those who attended showed their appreciation (thank you notes just received on our website).
Sincere thanks to the organising team who with only around 8 weeks lead time and with Christmas/New Year in between, stepped up to assist with making this event happen. Every single member gave up their holiday time and went beyond the call of duty. I am very grateful and proud for achieving this important event. Some of the tasks undertaken were personally inviting the first responders and community groups, dropping off leaflets to the local residents, ensuring commitments from all food and entertainment providers, setting up a fabulous sound system, involving the Boroondara Mayor and councillor Di Gillies, sourcing lamingtons to share with the crowd, the provision of Covid safety protocols, setting up 3 marquis one of which to promote the club, printing of and putting up Rotary and Australia Day banners, having the event videoed and photographed, attending multiple Zoom meetings and much more. Special mentions to Alan Lorenzini who took on the enormous role of operations management spanning over 3 days from 25 to 27 January, PP Murray Anderson who remotely attended to all the Boroondara Council requirements while holidaying on the Gold Coast and PP David Baker who delivered the entire marketing plan and locked in the main act due to an existing personal relationship with Greg Champion.
A well delivered event by a great team.
Fabienne Nichola
