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President's Message
Ben Featherston
President's Report No 13
Hi all,
Now of course, I need to say Congratulations to the Geelong Football Club for their convincing victory in the AFL Grand Final. I know several of our club members were at the big day and are likely still celebrating as I write this, well done the Cats!
I represented our club at the second Groups 9/10 Club President’s quarterly meeting, online, last Monday evening. There are some great projects/events that our neighboring clubs are organizing, these include:
Just a reminder that the Ngoni's Bantu Festival is on Saturday 8 Oct, 02:00 PM - 07:00 PM. Come along for live music, delicious food, drinks, market stalls, + entertainment. This is a cultural immersion showcasing foods from West Africa, South Africa, Jamaica, Ethiopia, and more. Bringing Geelong, a wide range of Africa’s finest tastes, style, home wares, exceptional talent, and more!
RC Geelong East require Assistance with Hamburger Stand at Royal Geelong Show Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 October 2022, please let me know if you are available to help as they are currently short of volunteers.
Challenge to all Rotary members to Donate Blood
Like many aspects of our lives, COVID has affected blood supplies in the Australian Red Cross Blood Bank. Peter Hawthorne is a long serving Rotary member who heads up a group that works on health-related matters within the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove. Peter has made us aware that following on from the COVID outbreak, there is a real need for blood donations in our region. He urges all Rotary members in the Geelong area to donate blood at: The Lifeblood Geelong Donor Centre, 237 Ryrie St, Geelong VIC 3220. You can get more information (and register) at their website: lifeblood.com.au
As members visit and donate, Peter asks that they mention that they’re representing Rotary and give the name of your club. Peter will follow up periodically to get numbers and we’ll promote these through Rotary publications. Challenge your members, friends and colleagues to roll up their sleeves to donate blood or plasma.
We had a very full and productive Board Meeting, Tuesday fortnight ago. Thank you to all Directors for their input and updates. Please see main summary points from the meeting later in this bulletin. There is plenty happening at present within the club, so all members get involved with activities when you can.
World Polio Day is on October 24th. If any club members want to order “End Polio Now” merchandise to help publicize Rotary’s efforts in eliminating polio, items can be ordered from Rotary Down Under (RDU) supplies. Also, “Team Torquay” Walk with Us, have put on their walking shoes and are pounding the pavement throughout October, to raise vital funds towards initiatives for polio eradication. Please show your support to these members.
I hope those members that went enjoyed the “Elvis” movie, helping to raise funds for The Rotary Foundation. I know the RC of Geelong East, who organized the movie night, will have really appreciated the collaboration from members attending from other clubs in our zone.
Our thoughts go out to all of our members currently dealing with health issues, particularly Peter Bollen and Bruce Smith who have required emergency hospital treatment this past week.
And to all members, please continue to keep an eye on the BBQ roster and volunteer your time when you can.
Just a reminder that Ngoni's Bantu Festival is on Saturday 8 Oct, 02:00 PM - 07:00 PM.
Come along for live music, delicious food, drinks, market stalls, + entertainment. This is a cultural immersion showcasing foods from West Africa, South Africa, Jamaica, Ethiopia, and more.
Bringing Geelong, a wide range of Africa’s finest tastes, style, home wares, exceptional talent, and more!
WHERE:- Barwon Valley Activity Centre. Wadawurrung Country, 1 Barwon Heads Road Geelong,
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.
President Ben's Key Take Home Points from the Board Meeting held 20th Sept. 2022
The most recent Board Meeting was held on Tuesday 20th September. It was a productive meeting with lots of discussion. Some of the topics covered were
Our clubs positive vote of support for the Regionalisation Project Pilot has been submitted to Rotary International
Due to increased costs the cost of meals at upcoming club meetings at Kithbrooke Park will be increased to $30
Rotary Club of Torquay has been allocated a staffing spot at the Anglesea Resale Center at the Angelsea Landfill and Transfer Station. This is a fundraising opportunity for our Club
The “Walk with us to end Polio” October fundraising event was outlined to the Board
The Board agreed to donate $1,000 to Shelterbox to support the flood victims in Pakistan
Briefings were provided on the many Committee meetings which have taken place recently including for next years Motor Show, and the first planning meeting for Lesley Shedden’s District Meeting which will be held in July 2024.
Well look which members and their partners scored tickets to the AFL Grand Final Clinic last weekend
Meanwhile Josie and Tom Fratantaro have been enjoying a wonderful holiday revisiting their origins on the beautiful island of LIPARI, the biggest of the seven AEOLIAN islands.
Last working bee: Revegetation of Coast Beard Heath at end of Domain.
This working bee: Planting out of more Leucopogon – approx. 120-150.
AGM - Early notice
Please put November 2 in your diary for the combined SCEG/JJCA AGM at Bird Rock. Details to come.
Rip Curl Planet Days
Also, is anyone available to assist with the Rip Curl Planet Days working bees on 13 and 14 October? We have 2 groups each day and need people to help lead the Rip Curl staff. They are always fun days and the rip curl staff are great to work with. Thanks in advance.
Gulf Province Women's Chair & House of rep in the Gulf Provincial Govt
Jai with some of the 1,000+ Lese Oalai Students
Lucy Loko is in the second week of her mission to Lese Oalai. She has forwarded photos of her meeting with the Gulf Province women’s chair, and of her son, Jai walking with some of the hundreds of school children who walk two hours to school every day. She is heading out today, along the Bulldog Track (ANZAC supply road, WW2, over the Owen Stanley ranges, 3,000m climb) with some of her volunteers distributing donations. She comes back on Sunday. On Monday she meets with all the different clan leaders from villages in the Lese Oalai area, seeking permission to bring water back via their lands to the school, town, and the other villages in the area, and discussing their other needs. Her visit to Lese Oalai is having an enormous impact up there
Our next chapter meeting will be held on Tuesday 18th October at 6.30pm. We will be joined by Sarah Moran from the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia. Please register at Humanitix
Sarah Moran is the Head of Engagement at the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia. The Electric Vehicle Council is the national body for the electric vehicle industry in Australia. By representing businesses involved in producing, powering and supporting EVs, they aim to accelerate the electrification of road transport for a more sustainable and prosperous Australia. They have a number of research reports, publications, calculators and costs, vehicle range etc. EVC-State-of-EVs-2022.pdf (electricvehiclecouncil.com.au)
The Australia and New Zealand Chapter of Women of EVs is excited to announce today, on World EV Day, the launch of our Speakers Guide. A regional showcase of professional women+ committed to vehicle #electrification in the Southern Hemisphere, the guide is a free digital tool for journalists and conference organisers to encourage greater female presence on panels, noting fewer than 25% of professional #stem roles are held by women+. You can access the guide at www.wevspeakersanz.org
This is relevant to all clubs and districts keen to extend their work on the environment.
Please share with your fellow Rotarians and friends who may be interested.
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.