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President's Message
Ben Featherston
President's Report No 6
Hi all,
It was a terrific evening last Monday with District Governor, Kathy Rivett, visiting the club. Kathy is certainly very keen for clubs to be vibrant and successful in their endeavors and wants to let clubs know that help and resources are available at District level to assist.
Thank-you to those who completed the pink and green sticky notes that Kathy circulated regarding what we “Imagine” Rotary can be and “Best projects/activities” that members have been involved with in the past. I have collated these responses and sent to Kathy.
Member feedback is important, to know what individuals want and enjoy, from their club experience. This month is “Membership Month”, and many of our activities have been focused on getting to know fellow members and their needs better. We will hear from some more of our members over the next few weeks, so please make time to attend upcoming meetings and social opportunities, to support our colleagues and learn some interesting things about each other.
I look forward to seeing everyone online this Monday, where we have a mix of interesting presentations and discussions arranged.
Please get involved, and take advantage of being an active Rotarian, in any service projects that are coming up, they really are a great way for us to make a positive difference in our local community.
Our condolences go out to club members Geoff Dawson and Amanda Hough. Amanda’s brother and Geoff’s mother, both passed in the last week. I wish Geoff and Amanda our best wishes and know that we are here to support you at this difficult time.
Our thoughts are also with the Rotary Club of Grovedale/Waurn Ponds, who lost long-standing Rotarian Joe Cordone. I know Joe was much loved by their club members, and I have spoken to President Gary Clark, passing on our condolences and best wishes to their club.
Interplast has provided their latest report (below). Please pay attention to the last slide which gives some indication of the enormity of what Interplast will achieve in the near future.
They will achieve these amazing ambitions not only for patients who need care, but for medical and nursing practitioners and for health services who deliver that care.
Interplast seems to be forgotten in our area, but it is by far the most significant supplier of support for development of health services in the Pacific.
Interplast was developed by Rotary in the early 1980’s, is recognised by the Australian Government as a significant developer of health services (ANCP funding) and receives a significant degree of support from Rotary Australia and NZ.
An aim of any development program is to develop an aid project and then to get governments/private entities to take them over (viz the Twinning Program between Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa and St John of God Hospital, Ballarat).
Interplast is a standout achiever! It deserves our support.
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
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 join us for our next chapter meeting to be held on Tuesday 16 August 6.30pm with PDG David Brawn. using this link. JOIN MEETING
NOTE the earlier start time. This is to help our colleagues in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
At this month's meeting PDG David Brawn will share with us his success in developing a strong Environment & Sustainability team in his district. He will discuss the Environmental Envoys who support clubs and share some of the resources he has developed.
This is applicable 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.
CLICK HERE for the latest ESRAG July Newsletter (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group)
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.
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Trevor Hall 5 years - Joined Torquay Rotary ,2017
