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President's Message
Jan Emmett
President's Report No 40
Bulletin report:
Good Evening Fellow Rotarians and Friends,
Well, what a great night last week was and busy too...! As I mentioned in the last weeks’ bulletin that DG Phil, Judy, Maggie, and myself went to the Star of the Sea nursing home to visit PDG Chris Sims and Chrissy who arrived a bit earlier. Our purpose was to present them both with very prestigious awards. These are only handed out to very special Rotarians and who better to receive them than both Chris and Chrissy. I did a small speech then DG Phil and I presented them with their ‘Honorary Membership’ Certificates, both in lovely frames, many thanks to Maggie.
The evening then went on with the Board catching up with DG Phil who is doing the rounds to each and every club face-to-face before the end of his reign as District Governor for District 9780. It was good to be able to tell him we have survived, despite the lockdowns with no face-to-face meetings until now and we still managed to pull off some remarkable fundraisers during the year. Now we are looking on the other side of Covid and hopefully the year ahead will be a better one as we still have a lot of catching up to do…!
As you were aware the actual meeting was busy, busy, busy. The evening started out with me and DG Phil, inducting Richard Hawker and welcoming his wife, Diane, into our club. Richard, of course comes as a transfer member from the RC of Warrnambool with many years’ experience behind him, don’t miss his ‘Rotarian behind the Badge’ presentation coming up on Monday 3rd May.
But the certificate giving didn’t end there. DG Phil then presented me with a Certificate in Recognition of my Centennial Presidency, which was a lovely surprise to say the least. But, then again, a President is only as good as the team behind them, so I accept this certificate on behalf of you all too, and to think it’ll be another 100 years before a President gets to receive anything like this again…!!
DG Phil took the stand and congratulated the RC of Torquay on our achievements over the past year, especially the increase in membership and we’re still going strong...! His focus for his year has been on the BIG R of Rotary and that is to Invite a sister Club to join a meeting by Zoom, or a club social function - we have close relationships with Grovedale-Waurn Ponds Club and Bellarine North (Drysdale). I believe the following points he highlighted are important.
Mutually support each other through functions, activities and joint projects, social nights, this is with Bayside International Project, social activities with Grovedale-Waurn Ponds
Financially support the Rotary Foundation through Club and personal giving. Current levels of contributions are severely impacting future District Grant and Scholarship funding.
We need to Promote donating to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus and the Centurion program
Focus on Member Welfare and Friendship - Impact of COVID ongoing will impact on members; - Very well done in membership – but we need to keep connected with all members.
We need to review Club Goals for the future
DG Phil asked us to consider a range of possible new & different options that will attract younger members, do we continue to meet weekly, do we meet in a different venue - we need to think about doing things differently into the future.
Since my last Bulletin report the club has been given two very significant donations by members of our community. One was from someone you will already know and that was from Linda Cherubin. She recently held a Garage sale and donated all the takings, $600 (not bad for a garage sale), to the club to use as we wish. The other was from friends of Darrel & Pamela Brewin, who very generously donated two brand new Marquees (only used the once) both measuring 6mts x 6mts and can be joined together. So, once we work out how to assemble them, I’m sure we’ll have plenty of use for them, the Motor Show for one will probably be a good start. Thank You letters have been sent to these very generous people and hopefully, one day soon, we’ll be able to show the results of their generosity.
Chris and Christine, you have both been chosen for the ‘Honorary Membership’ of the Rotary Club of Torquay because our members believe your commitment to this club over the years warrants this recognition.
Chris, this distinction recognises the numerous contributions you have made over many years, with your year as our clubs’ President in 1993-1994, Director of the Rotary Foundation, a Paul Harris Fellow and for the never-ending involvement in all club activities throughout your years as a Rotarian. This distinction also recognises your role as District Governor in 2009-2010. Christine, you have also been chosen to become an ‘Honorary Member’ of the Rotary Club of Torquay in gratitude for all the contributions you have made to the Club and its activities and events. You have been a constant presence not only with our club but have been at Chris’s side throughout the whole time he has served in Rotary.
It is now my pleasure and honour to present you both, Chris, and Christine, with the ‘Honorary Membership Certificates’ and hope you will hang them in prominence somewhere by which your fellow Rotarians and friends will recognise you as Honorary Rotarians.
Congratulations to both of you and we hope you will still thoroughly enjoy your involvement with Rotary for many years to come.
The Rotary Club of Geelong East takes pleasure in inviting you to our first ever FACE TO FACE / Zoom meeting.
Our next meeting on Tuesday April 20th will be very different with an excellent guest speaker, Dr Peter Freckleton, a polio survivor recently interviewed on ABC Radio by Virginia Trioli.
This is an 'IN PERSON' meeting & dinner to be held at the Grovedale Hotel, Torquay Rd., Grovedale from 6pm for sitdown dinner at 6:15pm. It will also be screened live on Zoom.
For those unable to attend IN PERSON you are most welcome to join us via ZOOM. (A Zoom link will be provided later to those interested in attending the meeting via Zoom but you must notify us if you want the exclusive link)
Date/Time: Tuesday April 20th, 2021 - 6 PM for 6:15 start
Dinner: Member's cost a la carte menu with Gluten Free & Vegetarian options available.
RSVP is essential: We must have your response NO LATER THAN Monday Apr 19th - 4pm
Please NOTE: For catering & ZOOM purposes RSVP is mandatory.
Members, their guests and friends are most welcome to attend provided we know you are coming.
Whilst we were unable to proceed with our usual Motor Show for 2021 thanks to COVID-19 our decision to hold a "Virtual" Show was made to maintain the connection with our supporters and to continue to promote our Annual Motor Show and the Rotary Brand. Whilst we did not attract a massive number of entries we were able to to run the "Virtual" Show very economically thanks to support from our generous sponsors and the fact that we already had 4 Trophies left over from previous Shows.
Proof that we achieved our goals were reinforced when we received the message below from one of the Class winners this week
You will see that in a very generous gesture Val & Dave Perkins winner of the Muscle Car Class have donated the prize money back to our Club.
To the kind members of the Torquay Motor Show Committee,
I would like to thank you all for the commitment of continuing to offer an online virtual car show during the Covid-19 pandemic. With many events cancelled for the year it was a wonderful opportunity to still be able to showcase our cars via social media and continue to support the Rotary Club by way of cash donations via photo entries for the classes.
I am extremely honoured and excited to win the Muscle Car section and receiving a lovely trophy which is proudly displayed.
I thank the sponsor Bannockburn Panel Beaters for your prize of $100 which I would like to donate back to Rotary Club of Torquay. The Rotary Clubs across our country do a massive job in all ways from community support and projects to volunteering their services for catastrophic events we seem to have so frequently - you are always there to step in when required.
Once again thank you for the great show and we look forward to be at the 2022 Torquay Rotary Motor Show.
The R100 Peace Symposium this year will be in the comfort of your own study! The webinar The future of Peace Leadership is on the afternoon of April 21 and the morning of April 22, and includes speakers from all over the world, including President Holger Knaack, Chair of the Rotary Foundation PRIP Ravi Ravindran, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Dr Jose Ramos-Horta and Prof Tilman Ruff AO etc, etc.
FOR what they have done this we will do — the simple reason all Australians must ensure the legacy of commemoration continues this Anzac Day.
Anzac Day is the most sacred day of commemoration on the Australian calendar and a time for reflection to remember the service and sacrifice of all Australian service personnel who have served the nation for over a century.
Last year, in the face of a global pandemic we found new ways to honour those who serve and have served — driveway vigils at dawn, private floral tributes, and contacting current and former defence personnel to check in and thank them for their service.
Anzac Day is a time for personal reflection, and attending a dawn service or march is just one way we can show our respect, but there are a number of ways Australians can commemorate in the lead-up to, and on, Anzac Day.
No matter which way Australians choose to commemorate the day, it’s important that we all ensure our veterans, current Australian Defence Force members, their families and the thousands of descendants of our veterans know that we value the contribution of those who have served our country.
While the coronavirus pandemic still affects how we do things, there are ways Australians can mark Anzac Day, including:
Tuning in to the ABC to Watch the Dawn Service and National Ceremony live from the Australian War Memorial.
Leaving a poppy and personalised Anzac Day message on the Virtual Poppy Wall at https://lestweforget.gov.au alongside thousands of other Australians.
Taking part in the RSL’s ‘Light up the Dawn’ campaign, which may include standing at the end of your driveway at dawn.
Exploring the Australian War Memorial’s Anzac At Home content online for videos, activities and recipes at www.awm.gov.au/anzacathome
Taking a photo of the local war memorial or honour board and upload it to Places of Pride at www.placesofpride.awm.gov.au to help build the national register of Australian war memorials.
Taking part in their own private commemorations in a respectful, solemn and dignified way.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has also released a digital ‘kitbag’, which has a range of practical resources to help people mark Anzac Day — from families, local community groups right through to someone wanting to hold their own private commemoration.
The kitbag includes posters, sample speeches, orders of service, supporting music, crafts cards on how to make Anzac biscuits, poppies or a wreath and a range of supporting social media assets, including social media banner images.
Everything is free, all in one spot and downloadable, making it simple for all Australians to access and use.
With many options available to commemorate this Anzac Day, as a nation we can all proudly carry on the legacy of acknowledging service and sacrifice on Anzac Day in 2021.
Unfortunately, there will not be an ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Torquay again this year due to the late advice provided by RSL Victoria and the State Government.
A small service will be held at 0700 in the Memorial Garden at the rear of the Torquay Bowls Club for Veteran’s only.
We hope that we can commence planning for the 2022 ANZAC Day Dawn Service in September this year.
I have just received this email from Southern Region RAM Secretary about a recent news item on Channel 10 about malaria research being carried out by University of Queensland. The item runs for about two and a half minutes and is well worth viewing. Please Click the Image above to view.
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.
Rotary International President for 2018-19 is Holger Knaack
Holger Knaack, a member of the Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany, has been selected to serve as president of Rotary International in 2020-21.
A Rotary member since 1992, Knaack has served Rotary as treasurer, director, moderator, member and chair of several committees, representative for the Council on Legislation, zone coordinator, training leader, and district governor. He is an endowment/major gifts adviser and co-chair of the Host Organization Committee for the 2019 Rotary International Convention in Hamburg. Knaack is the CEO of Knaack KG, a real estate company. He was previously a partner and general manager of Knaack Enterprises, a 125-year-old family business. He is a founding member of the Civic Foundation of the City of Ratzeburg and served as president of the Golf-Club Gut Grambek. Knaack is also the founder and chair of the Karl Adam Foundation. Knaack and his wife, Susanne, are Major Donors to The Rotary Foundation and members of the Bequest Society.
To read the DG Phil's latest District 9780 January eNewsletter CLICK HERE
Rotary Down Under April 2021 Edition 637 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.
