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President's Message
Ben Featherston
President's Report No 16
How inspiring was the presentation from Geelong Youth Engagement’s (GYE) Kelly Taylor and student and program “graduate” Deb last Monday night. The GYE Kokoda program addresses such a need in our community, and we must continue to support such programs where we can. Thanks to Amanda Hough for chairing the night, and please see her report later in the bulletin.
We had a very productive Board Meeting on Monday night also. Thanks to the Chairs and Director’s for their updates on club committee work, discussions and efficient decision making with many things active in the club at present. Members, please see Secretary Allan’s summary points from the meeting later in this bulletin
Well done to Mick Reed for organising the Pop-Up Book Fair and all club members who assisted on the day (rain, hail or shine!). We are hoping there may be more opportunities for such “Pop-Up” events, along with the normal Book Fair the club runs later in the Rotary year.
Members will be well aware of communities in our state that are currently being affected by flooding. Our Rotary District have advised that they are collating requests for assistance from any Rotarians in our District that may need it, and they will publish this regularly. They will then be able to put Rotarians who can assist, in contact with those that need it. Members, please keep an eye on this space over coming weeks, and we will endeavour to assist where we can if required.
This Monday’s meeting is at Kithbrooke Park, face-to-face, where the club has the pleasure of hosting guest speakers from Commerce Torquay, as we look towards some productive collaboration with them regarding expanding the reach and recognition of the local Torquay Business Excellence Awards. Unfortunately I will be absent due to work commitments interstate, but I look forward to hearing about the evening and helping our Vocational Committee progress links between our club and business members of Commerce Torquay.
We had the pleasure of hearing from Kelly Taylor, Program Manager of GYE (Geelong Youth Engagement) and her sidekick Year 10 student Deb Talbot to tell us what they do, and Deb's experience with their Kokoda project.
GYE was the brainchild of Policeman Andy Brittain as a means of supporting and creating resilience for teenagers who are subjected to Family Violence, Drug & Alcohol dependency & Mental Health issues. Lately those "kids" who are affected by disconnection due to the Covid19 Lockdowns have also been included. Although the project was interrupted by the pandemic, they are back at work and this year there will be 2 Kokoda track journeys.
GYE is the umbrella organisation covering The Geelong Kokoda Youth Program, and for those "who miss the cut" for Kokoda - Strive a weekly program run on Thursday afternoons, and Spring Back a program for year 10 students 2 days a week providing Vocational Training and resilience development.
Each Geelong School can nominate 3 students, and in Deb's case, 2 from her school were selected. GYE want to offer the experience to young people who are "ready to take the next step, and create a positive change, but don't know where to begin".
Candidates participate in 20 weeks of physical training supported by program mentors from local business and government organisations. The full cost of preparation, training and travel for each student is $7000.
Both Kelly and Deb were very passionate about their track experience and Deb said it's easier going up than walking back down, but it’s beautiful and a great achievement when completed. She is a different person now as compared to before her adventure.
"The PNG people were so welcoming. Dealing with my Mental Health was the biggest challenge, and facing, then working through my Anxiety." If I hadn't gone I think I would be stuck with no direction, and still coping in a negative sense. My support network is now great".
Deb plans to begin her VCAL studies in Personal Training whilst still at School, and then ultimately join the Police force.
Deb spoke of the awesome jungle and the clarity of mind as she put one foot in front of the other on the narrow track. She also enjoyed the freedom of not being subject to the demands of a mobile phone. She also described the honour and respect she had for the Australian soldiers who suffered or died on the Track, something that she had not learnt of at school. They completed their journey at the Australian War Cemetery on the 80th anniversary of Battle of Kokoda where casualties were 23 Australians killed and 17 wounded.
GYE is a Not For Profit organisation, relying wholly on charitable and personal donations, and do not enjoy any government support. Donations are Tax Deductible and have DGR1 Status.
Click on the above image to view a video provided by Kelly to show us the trials and tribulations of their adventure.
The Club's first Pop-up Book Sale was held today at Arthur Reed Photos in Grovedale with some 140 boxes of books being sold and approx $1,350 raised for the Club.
Congratulations and a job well done by Michael Reed and all of the volunteers who assisted.
Meet & Greet Mt. Everest Adventurer/Polio Campaigner/Rotarian Ken Hutt & Documentary Filmmaker Joe Carter
October is Polio Awareness Month and a GIANT month on the Rotary calendar. That’s why we’re delighted to announce on behalf of the Rotary Club of Geelong East and District 9780 a very special event to mark World Polio Day.
From 2pm on Sunday Oct. 23rd at Geelong West Town Hall join us for an exclusive first-time screening of the feature-length documentary film Fly From Everest which follows the first ever attempt to fly a paraglider from Mt Everest in May this year, raising funds for Rotary’s global End Polio Now campaign.
‘Fly From Everest’ tracks the steps of Ken Hutt - Rotarian, Paraglider pilot & former member of the NSW Police Rescue Squad as he takes on a massive task.
Journey with Ken from Berry NSW, through Geelong where he talks about polio with a friend, then see his training via the Great Ocean Road and beyond to Nepal and ‘up that bloody hill’!
See first-hand the dangers of Everest and Ken’s breathtaking toughness. Follow along as this amazing expedition unfolds, thanks to Joe Carter’s brilliant and dramatic film work.
Following the movie, we will have a live streaming Q & A session with Ken Hutt & Joe Carter introduced by polio survivor Gary Newton so come with your questions.
We will also have a special African Afternoon Supper prepared by the Somali & South Sudanese communities.
Please join us to help make this a HUGE afternoon in Geelong for Rotary’s Polio Eradication and Awareness efforts by encouraging all members of your club to book NOW for this event.
Tickets $30 per person (includes an African Afternoon Supper) BOOK TICKETS HERE
At the recent joint meeting with Grovedale/Waurn Ponds we were treated to a captivating presentation by Ken Hutt on his attempt to paraglide from the summit of Mt Everest to raise funds for End Polio.
President Ben's Key Take Home Points from the Board Meeting held 17th Oct. 2022
A successful Board Meeting was held on Monday 17th October. All Board members were present at the meeting. Some of the key topic discussed were.
The date of the 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) was confirmed. This will be held on 21st November at Kithbrooke Park. A formal notice of the meeting will be sent to all members in the coming weeks.
Lorne on the Lawn is a Victorian Student Sustainable Development Goals expo. Rotary Club of Torquay (RCOT) will donate $500 to this event to assist with transport costs for attending students.
RCOT will conduct a BBQ on the Melbourne Cup weekend (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday) at the Rip Curl Blaine’s Crescent Outlet Store.
RCOT successfully applied for a grant from the Small Grants fund of the Surf Coast Shire, and received a grant of $443. These funds will be used to buy equipment for the Club’s BBQ trailer.
Greg Plumridge was congratulated on coordinating the recent articles in the Surf Coast Times on “Walk to end Polio” and the Pop-Up Book Sale.
Land Care was thankful for the support from RCOT members at several recent environmental activities
Monday 31st October CUP EVE - Torquay Hotel 6 for 6.30 start
After a few years, at last we can come together with partners for a fun Cup Eve social night, - Members of the Belmont Rotary Club will also be joining us at the Torquay Hotel
There will be prizes for the best dressed - , sweeps and all the trimmings of a Melbourne Cup celebration
Get you glad rags out, your hats on and have a bit of spare cash for the the Cup Sweep Director Neil Henderson to help organise your bets !
Neil has some fun and frivolity planned, including a Phantom Call of the Cup for us to try and pick the winner of Cup
So here is an opportunity dust off your finest Spring Carnival outfits and to "Frock Up" for the evening
We need to know numbers by 12 noon Thursday 27th October
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we’ve reduced polio cases by 99.9% since our first project in the Philippines in 1979.
Today polio remains endemic in only Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyse as many as 200,000 children per year.
Walk With Us To End Polio
This is an invitation for you to join Team Torquay Rotary as we raise funds to End Polio by walking throughout the month of October.
This October, we are challenging you to walk, run or roll 10, 20 or 50km throughout the month and raise vital funds that will help eradicate and prepare us for a Polio free world.
2. Get a team together – Getting on the journey with friends, family or colleagues will be more fun.
3. Walk with Us! Track your journey goal and aim to get yourself on our leader board.
When and where is Rotary Walk With Us 2022?
Rotary Walk With Us 2022 is an online fitness challenge which runs for one month from 1st October 2021 to 31st October 2022. You decide where and when to complete your challenge.
What do I have to do?
Walk, run or roll 10, 20 or 50km throughout the month and raise vital funds that will help eradicate and prepare us for a Polio free world. Wherever you live, whatever your fitness level, you can decide where, when and how you Walk With Us to end Polio. Setting a challenging personal goal will make it more likely others will sponsor you.
Our combined JJCA & SCEG AGM & Presentation will be held on Wednesday November 2nd, 2022, at 6.15pmat The Birdrock Jan Juc, 2 Princes TerraceJanJuc, VIC.
Dinner to follow
and...
Our next Working Bee is Sunday 6th November details to come
In May 2023, Rotary in Geelong is mounting the Geelong Drone Expo (the week before the International Conference in Melbourne). The Expo brings together business, the arts and community into an inspirational family day.
The attached brochure outlines the promotional opportunitites, with the Supporter category being developed particularly with Rotarians in mind. Contact details are in the brochure.
If you could add this to your facebook or website we would be mighty grateful!! The Expo will have a Rotary display area where visitors can see the great work we do. We hope also to attract some of the international Rotarians coming early to visit our great state.
Following the wonderful reception from Orange Sky for the Coats and winter clothing donated by Rotarians last year, and the chilly winter that we are experiencing we have been asked to continue collecting for them again this winter.
Please note that all the people receiving the coats are currently homeless and many have asked if there are any thermal pants or skivvies.
So please check your wardrobes and donate any warm skivvies or pants as well as coats which are always in demand.
I will do regular pickups from our central collection point in Torquay which the Birchalls have kindly agreed to do.
Please click on the above image to read the article from the latest edition of Rotary Down Under for details of how you can assist the citizens of Ukraine through the Rotary network.
Delegate registration cost for RICON23 in Melbourne changes depending on when you register. The earlier you register the more economical the price.
During Houston Convention timing (June 4th -8th ) if you register and pay for attending RICON23 you shall receive the maximum discount. From June 9th , the cost increases by $50. There is also a further increase after December 15th and then greater increases after March and April 2023.
Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends can obtain the maximum discount to attend RICON23. Registration and Accommodation Bookings are now available through the RI website on this link
The Rotary Australia World Community Service website at https://directory.rawcs.com.au/41-2021-22 is our donor page, still being worked on, but with the completion of the business case, we will start our fundraising from March 1.
As an aside, Lucy received the following message re our project from the Governor of the Gulf Province Chris Haiveta
Thank you, Sis, for your tireless efforts to Assist our village over the years through the foundation.
I am committed to supporting you and the foundation as you prepare to widen your coverage on critical issues.
We are working with a couple NGOs in the Province already and can provide you the letter of support.
I suggest that we formalize the support and collaboration through an MOU.
In the meantime it would be much better to send a profile and EOI from the foundation to me aa head of the Provincial Government so that we can commence to formalize the relationship.
WHAT WE ARE COLLECTING AND WHERE TO DROP OFF ITEMS
Bottle Top Lids
Cause:- Lids4Kids is a nationwide 100% volunteer project to rescue plastic bottle lids
from landfill to benefit the environment and kids. Lids4Kids hopes to rescue eligible lids from landfill for projects that benefit all Australian kids in need.
So if you could collect milk bottle tops for recycling to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill., you will contribute to Torquay Rotary’s Environment Project
Just remove the yellow, blue or red plastic top from milk bottles, wash clean & pop into a container .
Maggie Isom will let us know when we can drop off to a bin at Coles Supermarket 41 Bristol Rd Torquay
Cause :- Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs, who collect them, sell them to recyclers and turn the cash into wheelchairs for people who can’t afford them.
Cause :- Recycle for Sight Australia a joint effort with Torquay Lions Club to send old prescription glasses to overseas communities where people cannot afford them.
Cause :- A Rotary "Donations in Kind" joint exercise with the Rotary Club of Boroko to disperse to needing schools in PNG. They need books that are used in Australian schools from Grades Prep to 8. Plus story books for younger children for grades Prep to 3.
2022-23 President Jennifer Jones is eager to advance Rotary’s narrative. To learn more of our RI President's vision and listen to her podcast follow this link RI President Jennifer Jones LINK
District 9780 Governor for 2021-22 is Kathy Rivett from RC of Alfredton
Kathy currently works in the travel industry and previously held positions in the Federal public service.
Kathy is married to David Rivett.
Kathy served as President of the Rotary Club of Wendouree in 2007-08 and worked with PDG Ken Broadbent in 2010 to set up the then Alfredton Satellite Club. With Kathy's support, Alfredton went on to charter in 2013, the first one to convert to a full Club. Kathy is a proud member of the Alfredton Rotary Club.
Kathy has been involved in a wide range of Rotary activities over the years including:
as a Youth Exchange Counsellor
serving on two District Conference Committees
as an RLI Trainer
working on FAIM Projects in Samoa, Cook Islands and Bali.
Kathy's particular love is Event Co-ordination, being a key player in organising Rotary activities including competitions, community events, concerts, expos etc.
LATEST PUBLICATIONS
To read the DG Kathy's latest District 9780 July 22 eNewsletter CLICK HERE
Rotary Down Under 2022 October Edition 654 CLICK HERE
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 2023
Melbourne has been announced as the host city for the 2023 Rotary International Convention, the largest conference secured this century for Victoria.
Melbourne is a Big Events City! Set to deliver over $88 million to the Victorian economy, the Convention is the most valuable conference ever won for the state, with the four-day event anticipated to attract more than 20,000 Rotarians from around the world. The global spotlight will be on Melbourne and how we present ourselves to the world.
The Convention will take place 27-31 May 2023 using Rod Laver Arena and the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre for functions.
Watch this Space for further news as it comes to hand.
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