So April marks the start of the final quarter of the Rotary Year and my countdown to the end of my year as DG. And while this is the run home there is still plenty to be done and places to go.I kicked off the month with a 24 hour visit up to Bendigo which took in the Annual Easter Art Show run by Bendigo, the Hole in One competition run by Kangaroo Flat and the sights, sounds, smells and fun of the Easter Festival where Bendigo Sandhurst organized the market stalls and ran a BBQ, Eaglehawk took their book shop to the people and Bendigo south also showed off their BBQing skills. But the Festival is that and much more as you will see in another article in this bulletin.
I completed my club visits when I caught up with Brunswick/Tullamarine and ticked off visit No 61, I also got to see Werribee induct a new member, once again got to wish Bon Voyage to a group of young adults willing to give up their phones and 4 days away from family to live in cramped conditions while learning to sail, then went along to Hawthorn for their now annual Service to Seniors Award Lunch and travelled to Bendigo yet again to go to Camp Getaway and attend the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) camp and be well fed and entertained at the Saturday night Dinner organized by the attendees, which was well done.
Then on Sunday I went out to Wyndham Harbour where a car show with stalls and food and entertainment was being run by Werribee supported by Wyndham Harbour and others to raise funds for Rotary Safe Families. The weather was great and the attendance was strong and so were the funds raised. All in all, a great day and probably a new annual tradition.
Once again I had the honour and privilege to be part of the interview panel to select this years Global Scholar. My thanks to DGE Graeme, PDGs Julie & Keith, Global Scholar Alumni Cat, and panel leader the passionate and organized David Gorman. As always it was a difficult choice but we found a worthy recipient in Metta Chalapati.
I got to finish the month and thus move closer to the end of my year as DG by attending the celebration Dinner for the RoCan Bike Riders who rode to Horsham and raised $90,000 towards both Cancer Research and a Wellness Centre.
I am looking forward to May when I will attend President’s Elect Learning and Development weekend in my future role as a Community Leader and still have a number of club events and follow up visits to make. As my year eases to an end, I ask you all to get behind DGE Graeme and his team and not just continue on from this year but get ready to grow and thrive and take on new challenges, hopefully having learnt and experienced good things this year.
Unite for Good
Peter Shepheard