(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)
President's Message
Ben Featherston
President's Report No 5
Hi everyone,
Last Monday I represented our club at the first President’s meeting of clubs Groups 9 and 10 for the year. It was a very successful night, with clubs well represented to share their plans. There is a real want and need for collaboration across clubs regarding their fundraising activities and projects.
One imminent fundraising activity that I especially hope we can support is the Jazz Swings, In the Mood for Mental Health, being hosted by the RC of Geelong. Please see flyer in this bulletin and keep an eye out for further flyers throughout our weekly bulletins regarding other opportunities that we can support.
I hope everyone is up-to-speed on the proposed Regionalisation Pilot Project. There are many resources available for you to look at regarding the project, so please take the opportunity to become well informed, as we decide as a club how we will vote in September.
An enjoyable night was had on Thursday by our ‘sister’ club, Rizal West, with their Induction/Changeover function, I think Lea may have been still dancing the night away online till early hours of the morning!
I am really looking forward to our club hosting District Governor Kathy Rivett on Monday. This is a great chance for us to outline our clubs needs and wishes and a chance to ask her for any assistance that we need as a club from District level. Kathy has advised that she is keen for this to be a “Q and A” opportunity for our members, so please come prepared with any questions you may have for her, especially regarding any way to improve our club experience.
There are a couple of upcoming important club service opportunities that we need members to assist with:
Science & Engineering Challenge Geelong (see flyer) - Thursday 18th August and Friday 19th August.
BBQ, we are providing lunch for local school children’s Landcare Planting days – Friday 2nd and 9th September.
Regionalisation is the term being used to describe a potential pilot program to look at the structure of Rotary in Zone 8, with a view to providing better support to clubs and members to connect with more volunteers, develop leadership skills and collaborate with one another and our communities to change the world.
Rotary Zone 8 includes 21 Rotary Districts across Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Timor Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu.
President Ben, on our behalf, is required to cast our Club’s vote for or against the pilot proceeding. This vote will take place in September.
These two videos provide the background to the pilot and details about how it will roll out.
You will also find more information, a fact sheet and Frequently asked Questions on the Regionalisation website - https://creatingtomorrowrotary.org/
Monday’s meeting and discussion about Regionalisation was recorded. Here is the link to the full recording of that meeting.
You also have the opportunity to hear the presentations at upcoming regional presentations being held over the coming weeks. Details will be updated in this Bulletin.
The Science and Engineering Challenge is a competition for Year 10 (or 9) students. The activities all involve principles of science, engineering and technology and are designed so that students can start working with a minimum of introduction.
Venue: CADET Building (see map)
Deakin University, Waurn Ponds
Start: 8:30 AM (or earlier to allow time to find a carpark)
Finish: 3:30 PM
Teams
A school team should consist of 16 – 32 Year 10 (or 9) students. The team will be split into eight groups, with a minimum of two students per group.
Activities
Some activities run over a full day while others are half a day. Teams that are allocated to full day activities will stay with that activity the entire day. Teams on half day activities will do one activity in the morning and a different one in the afternoon. Volunteers assist the activity supervisor and help keep students focused and “on track” to finish on time.
On the Day
• Please report to the registration desk, ground floor entrance on the eastern side of Cadet Building on arrival.
• Volunteers will be shown around the site and introduced to the activities.
Food and Drink
Volunteers who are onsite at lunchtime will have lunch provided. Tea and coffee are provided through the day.
Parking
Free parking is available “way up the hill” with a not so short walk to the CADET building. Limited pre-arranged parking in designated spaces can be arranged once you provide your vehicle’s rego number.
Contacts:
RC Geelong East Tony Alsop 0414 324 814 aalsop@iinet.net.au
RC Bellarine Nth Peter Byrne 0419 021 815 peter.byrne88@gmail.com
RC Grovedale WP John McGibbon 0409 512 105 johnmcgibbon47@gmail.com
RC Torquay Vernon D’Souza 0408 331 661 vernon.dsouza@hotmail.com
Sorry I forgot to include the pics from Lesley & Rob Sheddens last week. Make sure you check out the Ginger Fluff....ed
Maggie & John's
President Ben's First Course
Arriving at the Torquay Lions Village was unplanned, but that’s what Bruce and Erika, Gail and Karen managed to do.
Despite plenty of spots to choose from, they parked their cars side-by-side and traipsed along the familiar driveway. At the meeting centre, they turned right instead of left, as was the habit of past Monday nights, and navigated their way past darkened units – the blind leading the blind.
Unit 4 stood out like a beacon, a welcome light outside, windows lit golden from inside. Maggie greeted the four at the front door, admitting them into the cosy warmth of John’s comfortable unit. Delicious food aromas wafted from the kitchen, Christmas music from the stereo in the back room.
Drinks were poured, nibbles served, conversation flowed easily. As the group completed a tour of John’s lovely new abode, the doorbell rang, heralding the arrival of President Ben on the first step of his Fireside Chats Progressive Dinner.
After enjoying a glass of wine, some antipasto and a lively chat with the group, President Ben departed for the next course – one down, three to go.
Maggie then served up a scrumptious roast dinner, with a tasty mushroom risotto for the vegetarian, which everyone tucked into around the Christmas-themed table.
Conversation moved easily through various topics: Rotary obviously, but also theatre, music, how Bruce and Erika met, family and many others. One of the big surprises was discovering some common links between us, proving once again the six degrees of separation theory.
When Maggie brought out dessert, Tiramisu, we all agreed President Ben should have put us last instead of first on his schedule. It was yum! Then, after coffee and tea, it was time to draw the evening to a close with the clock showing a time well after 10pm.
After the group said their farewells, Bruce and Erika, Gail and Karen walked out of the Torquay Lions Village the same way they walked in – together – but with full bellies and happy hearts. A good night was had by all. Thank you, John and Maggie, for your hospitality.
Cheers Gail Chrisfield
Lesley and Rob Sheddens
Charmain and Vernon D'Souza's
A couple of photos from the Fireside Chat we hosted last night. It was a great night. Everyone enjoyed the occasion. Instead of a Christmas in July theme we had a "curry night ". Comforting food on a cold, wet winters night. Charmaine
Mary & Neil Henderson's
Tonight we started with duck pate on toast accompanied with double brie cheese. Main course was Steak Au Poivre. (Prepared in butter, green peppercorns and flambed with brandy.) Dessert was bananas cooked in brown sugar and topped off with a rum flambe. Not exactly Xmas in July but hopefully our guests were satisfied.
A reminder to all clubs that District 9780’s flagship Agricultural Careers and Leadership program – Defying the Drift, will be held again this year at Longerenong College Sept 20-22.
Early bird pricing $250 per student ends 31st July, reverting to $350 after this date, so please contact your local school/s to see if there are Year 10 or 11 students wanting to attend, or if you know of someone who may be interested please contact Youth Director Amanda Hough.
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. From 4 June 2022 registration and Accommodation Bookings will be 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 August Edition 652 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.
....ed
Trevor Hall 5 years - Joined Torquay Rotary ,2017
