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President's Message
Michael Reed
President's Report No 38
Our social night at the Torquay Hotel on Monday was fantastic!
It was so nice to see two of our past members Rachel Adami and Brian Mynott join us for the evening.
Seeing everyone relaxing, chatting, and laughing was such a lovely sight.
Walking around the tables briefly catching up with everyone I was enjoying the ‘buzz’ in the room.
A huge thank you to Jan for organising this great night.
Thank you again to all who helped on the Danger 1000 BBQ. We took $945.
Many will recall the Danger 1000 is normally held ‘Mid-January’, when there is a lot more people around, resulting in a lot more sausages sold.
It was good for the Jan Juc Surf Lifesaving Club to be able to hold the event, and for us to support them once again.
Speaking of BBQ’s – Mal is meeting with Rip Curl staff finalising the BBQ for the Easter weekend.
Currently, there is only two people on Sunday 17th April. If we are going to hold the BBQ on this day – there needs to be at least 3 more volunteers. Please contact Mal if you can help.
Thursday was our Strathewen Day. And what a great day it was! Let’s not let a little rain dampen the spirits on these people – yes, we had to contend with a little rain for most of the morning. It was dull all day, until we were packing up ….. then the sun came out!
A big thank you to Alan & Dorothy Anderson along with Gail Chrisfield and Karen Bingham for the planning, organisation, and execution of the day. It was great to see the families, staff, and students once again.
I was really pleased receive a book that was presented to the club in appreciation for all we have done for the the Strathewen community over the years since Black Saturday.
This annual day at the beach still means so much to the whole Strathewin community – and is a highlight of their ‘school year’.
Thank you to all who volunteered today and was there to witness these happy people.
One thing is for sure – After a day at the beach on the sand and in the surf …… the trip home would be a lot quieter than the one to Torquay!
Friday a group of us went to the Business Charity Luncheon hosted by The Belmont Rotary Club. Funds raised from this event go to supporting BCYF’s Social Inclusion Project.
We were treated to some great speakers and entertainment.
With funds raised from Donations, Auctions and Raffles there was a good amount raised to go to the BCYF program Belmont Rotary have been supporting for a few years now.
Back to Kithbrooke Park on Monday, where we will hear from Ben Boxshall talking on Wood4Good. For those who are unable to join us Face 2 Face, this will again be a "Hybrid" live-streamed meeting which can be viewed by following the link below. We will be using the new microphones which should improve the sound quality for those on-line.
Well the weather was not exactly kind to us, with the run of great weather finally coming to an end, forcing us to relocate from Torquay surf beach to Cosy Corner to escape the cold and blustery conditions. Fortunately this did not damper the enthusiasm of the Strathewen students as they donned wetsuits and hit the water for their surfing lessons.
Having missed the last two years it was wonderful to reconnect again with the students, parents and staff of the Strathewen Primary School. In recognition of the great relationship that has been formed between the School and our Club these past 13 years the school captain and School Principal, Jane Hayward, presented a memoir album to Gail Chrisfield and Karen Bingham, who have been the co-ordinators of this event since it's inception.
Thanks to Gail & Karen for again organising the day and Alan Anderson and the team of hardy Rotarians and Partners who braved the conditions to prepare and serve the food on the day.
Trevor Hall has agreed to take on the role of Co-ordinator
We met with Ripcurl on site on Thursday,
They have suggested that they would like us there on the Friday, Saturday till 4 (as they have teams Signing event) and Sunday rather than Saturday, Sunday and Monday
So can you please look at your calendars to see if you are available
This is the current roster
Friday 15th April
need volunteers
Saturday 16thApril (I think a shift from 9.30 till 1.30 should do)
Marg McPherson,John Oswald,Graham and Lois Gill,Daryl Lee,Greg and Gail Birchall , Peter Bollen
Sunday 17th April
John Oswald, Peter Bollen.
would need 3 more
Monday 18 th April
John Oswald,Daryl Lee,Graham and Lois Gill,Gerard Hogan,
Following continued success of the Art Show event with strong entries and attendances over the past eighteen years our Club is once again organising this event which will run on Good Friday 15th April to Easter Sunday 17th April 2022.
Entries of an extremely high standard are received from all parts of Victoria as well as interstate representation. We are again hopeful of similar participation ensuring that this event continues to grow in reputation. It is well worth a visit to Kerang to witness our wonderful display and we would love to see you and make you feel welcome with traditional Rotary hospitality.
I am writing to you to ask your support for our Rotary Club in this endeavour. I hope you can find time and space within your organization to promote our Art Show to your members & artists. To help you do this we have attached an entry form and tags. Simply print and submit by post or email. Payment can be made by posting a cheque or payment direct online.
To facilitate your members and artists participation in the Art Show there are several delivery & collection depots around the state that they may find useful.
With total prizes available of $7,300.00 our Rotary Club believes that many of your members & artists may well be interested and take the opportunity to participate by showcasing their artwork and hopefully achieving recognition and sales. NB. There are exciting additional categories with limit of 10 entries per artist.
Easter in Kerang and in Gannawarra Shire offers many events and activities including Tri-annual Quilt Show, Kerang Regional parkrun, Horse Races, Markets, Tractor Pull, Tennis, Bowls, Skate Parks, Pools, Forests, Lakes & Waterways & much more.
Entries close on Friday 1st April 2022.
Of course, if there are any questions or areas that need clarification, please contact the Art Show Coordinators as listed on the entry form and below.
Kind regards
Jenny Kelly Art Show Coordinators 2022 Rotary Club of Kerang Inc. Rtn. Jenny Kelly (0400 571 266) Rth. Annette Kelly (0409 183 354) rotarykerangartshow@gmail.com
We have been waiting for the outcome of a special District Board meeting which discussed how best we could support communities affected by the recent QLD & NSW Floods.
The District Board has decided to make a $10,000 donation to the RAWCS appeal. They discussed sending the funds to one of the Districts directly impacted thinking it might get to those who need it quickly or more quickly than through RAWCS. We now know that RAWCS was very quick in distributing the funds to the victims of the Dandenong storms and will be similarly speedy with this one.
As such District is donating to RAWCS, which also means we are supporting more than just one District as many are impacted.
As a Club we will look at doing the same ie. make the donation to the RAWCS appeal. The Board will keep you updated.
President Michael
Australian charity, Rotary Australia World Community Service, announced the creation of a national Flood Relief Appeal for people impacted by the current floods in Queensland and Northern NSW. Australians impacted by the recent floods will be the beneficiaries of money raised by Flood Appeal and will be able to liaise with their local Rotary Club to advise of their needs. The fundraising campaign was launched today to support the communities in need after yet another disaster impacting Australians. “The money raised from the Appeal will go directly and quickly to support those impacted, providing essential items and financial support where Disaster relief and Insurance claims won’t stretch,” said Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd CEO Andrew Woodward. “The number of disasters Australians have endured in the last few years in addition to the pandemic have been significant and left a lot of people in very difficult financial positions,” Mr Woodward said. Rotary Australia World Community Service has previously raised money for Bushfire and Drought affected areas and sees this disaster as just another where the network of Rotarians can step in to assist. Mr Woodward said that he expects the money to help people with the things that insurance or disaster relief funds cannot replace. Whether it be helping farmers build new fences or providing food and clothing to those that have lost everything, the money raised will be crucial in helping families get back on their feet as soon as possible. Rotary Australia World Community Service is a not-for-profit charity that aims to be the leading Australian charitable organization for people’s wellbeing, supporting Rotarians and Rotary Clubs undertaking humanitarian projects in Australia and overseas. Tax Deductible Donations to the appeal can be made on the Rotary Australia World Community Service website athttps://rawcs.org.au
TONGA VOLCANO ERUPTION AND TSUNAMI APPEAL
The effects of the Volcano and Tsunami on January 15th will be far-reaching, impacting the Tonga Community for months, possibly years to come.
Communication remains problematic with international and inter-island call still no possible due to the damage to the undersea cable.
Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) will be working with Rotary New Zealand World Community Service (RNZWCS) and Rotary Club of Nuku’alofa (Tonga) in providing aid and assistance to the affected communities’ and restoring their livelihoods.
RAWCS has registered a Rotary Australia Relief Fund project to seek financial assistance from Rotary Clubs, the public and private sector. Donations to the RAWCS Relief Fund are tax deductible. Donate through https://rawcs.org.au/ Project Tonga Volcano Eruption and Tsunami Disaster https://directory.rawcs.com.au/42-2021-22
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.
As a club president, you play a critical role in keeping members informed about the Rotary Peace Centers programs. Encourage club members to use their professional and social contacts to find potential candidates. They can also support the program by coaching candidates through the application process and connecting them to districts that can endorse their applications, a required step in the application process.
These resources can help you and your members recruit candidates for 2023 Rotary Peace Fellowships:
Take the All About the Rotary Peace Fellowships course to learn about qualification requirements, eligibility restrictions, the application process, and more.
Use our referral form to tell us about potential candidates, and we’ll follow up with them.
As we grow our certificate program, we are particularly seeking qualified candidates for our peace centers at Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) and Makerere University (Uganda). The one-year program is intended for working professionals and requires 11 weeks of on-site participation. We are looking for candidates with a minimum of five years of relevant work experience (the average age for this program is 42). Graduates receive a post-graduate diploma in peace studies upon completion of the program.
Candidates have until 15 May to submit applications to The Rotary Foundation. Trained Rotary endorsers have until 1 July to submit endorsed applications to The Rotary Foundation.
Send any questions about the fellowship program to rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org. Thank you for your dedication to the Rotary Peace Centers and your help educating Rotary members and your community about the fellowships.
Sincerely, Rotary Peace Centers
Rotary Peace Centers are made possible by the generosity of donors.
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.
Here's a challenge for everyone...….in these "different" times in which we are living there are more and more Clubs now holding on-line meetings so now it's easier than it's ever been to do a make-up.
You can do them from the comfort of your own home and you don't even have to get dressed up.
Let's have a club challenge to see who can do a make up form the most interesting city. Be sure to grab a screen shot of your meeting and send to me for the bulletin.
What a great way to meet other Rotarians from around the world and to find out how they are living through the COVID-19 lockdowns.
To make it easy the Rotary Club of Mount Lawley in WA have begun compiling a list of Clubs who are now holding On-Line Meetings to view the list click the link below.
Shekhar and Rashi Mehta at their home in Kolkata. Rashi painted the picture Mother and Child, behind her.
When I met Shekhar almost 20 years ago, he was busily manning a booth at the Rotary International Convention. His enthusiasm and energy in showcasing his club’s projects were infectious. A project man myself, I was inspired by the work exhibited at the booth. That casual encounter developed into a strong friendship.
Shekhar is a visionary leader. He always sees things others can’t. He envisaged a way to eradicate illiteracy in India by 2025 and designed the TEACH program (which stands for Teacher support, E-learning, Adult literacy, Child development, Happy school). He started the Shelter Kit project that now is in the vanguard of disaster relief in India. His Saving Little Hearts project, which provides heart surgeries to thousands of children, along with the more than 15 eye hospitals he helped establish, which have served hundreds of thousands, speaks to the scope of his dreams.
Ravi Vadlamani
Rotary Club of Guntur, India 2001-02 governor of District 3150
He has an exceptional talent for building teams and driving them to achieve their goals. Shekhar’s programs and ideas may seem larger than life, but he always walks the extra mile to make Rotarians feel at home.
His power of dreaming big is backed up by planning, perseverance, and patience. He’s an excellent communicator who connects with his audience instantly and can motivate people to move mountains. He is also a family man, ably supported by his spouse, Rashi.
Shekhar’s X factor as a leader? Nobody is able to say no to him when he asks for something.
District 9780 Governor for 2021-22 is John Clue from Rotary Club of Port Fairy
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.
