It is truly wonderful to hear the news that the African region has now been certified wild poliovirus-free. All Rotarians should feel so very proud of helping to achieve this amazing milestone. Rotary International President Holger Knaack and Nigeria National PolioPlus Chair Dr Tunji Funsho have extended their congratulations via video. (Click the link above).
We had a number of events held over the last week, starting with last Saturday’s Morning Tea with the DG. Feedback has been fantastic and I would like to thank all those who presented in such an interactive and upbeat way. We had approximately 100 attendees, including new Rotarian Alan McGaughey from Kyneton. Alan exemplifies Rotary’s ideals, wears his badge with such pride, and is fully engaged despite lockdown. A video of the morning tea event can be accessed via the link above.
A seminar with the Centenary Presidents and Assistant Governors was held last Sunday, and I congratulate and thank them all for their involvement, and for simply getting on with the job despite COVID. They are doing amazing things, whilst adhering to current restrictions.
Also held this week was the Business Leaders Breakfast, which had 122 registered attendees. The resounding positive feedback on guest speaker, Michael Byrne’s presentation highlighted how his straight-shooting talk with plenty of take-home value resonated with everyone.
Our next Business Leaders Breakfast will be on 22nd September with Annette Kimmitt, CEO/Managing Partner, Minter Ellison, presenting on leading teams and organisations over the next twelve months.
District 9800 Rotarians have received an amazing gesture from the Rotary Club of Jurong Town, Singapore, to attend a Zoom concert: “Symphony of Motherhood” this Sunday, 30th August. An invitation with further information and the Zoom link is in this edition.
Have a great week everyone…there is so much to enjoy in the world of Rotary!
Rotary District 9800 Governor Philip Archer
Quote for the Week
“We need in this world a more better and clearer understanding of the worth of some things and of the worthlessness of others.”
The Rotarian, February 1915
It has been a delight to work with young people both professionally and through Rotary for many years. I am always impressed by the potential for leadership, and indeed the Rotary Values of Service, Integrity, Diversity, Fellowship that form a framework allowing for some wonderful achievements through the ideas, passion and skills, demonstrated by these young people.
My experience started 19 years ago when Wyndham Rotary chartered Wyndham Rotaract. For nine years, along with other members, I supported their journey and projects that included the initiation of the Great Australian Dunny Race.
In 2012, at the request of then District Governor Dennis Shore, I started an Earlyact Club at Baden Powell College. I did have some reservations as to the impact that Primary School leaders could have, but that changed when a Toilet Block at a school in Bangladesh was built through funds contributed from the Earlyact Club in partnership with Wyndham Rotary and the Cluster group of Clubs.
As the past Earlyact members wanted to continue in a Rotary sponsored Club, an Interact Club was started at the College in 2016. Thanks to Hoppers Crossing Rotary, these young people achieved this dream.
A quote from Kiara, College Captain, Interact Leader and past member of Earlyact: “I am in Rotary!”
So, I guess through my personal experience, I see a genuine opportunity for Rotarians, Rotary Clubs and Cluster Clubs to engage with schools to charter Earlyact and Interact Clubs. This then enables a pathway to Rotaract and Rotary.
In every instance, the satisfaction gained from working with and supporting young leaders is so inspiring! Trust me there are so many “Actors” out there in our schools waiting for Rotary to get in on the Act!
Two programs to recognise club support for The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation has an extensive range of programs to acknowledge the personal contributions of Rotarians and other individual donors. However, in Australia and New Zealand, about half the giving to the Foundation comes from our clubs, and until now, there hasn’t been a good program to recognise clubs for their generosity.
So, we are pleased to announce that from the end of the 2020-2021-year, District 9800 will join with other districts in Australia and New Zealand (i.e. Zone 8) with two new programs to recognise clubs. They will be known as the Club Annual Donor and the Club Major Donor recognitions.
The Club Annual Donor program will recognise club giving over the previous 12 months. To ensure it is open to clubs of all sizes, the program will work on a per-member basis.
Like the Major Donor program for individuals, the Club Major Donor program will be based on all-time giving and will be a way of thanking clubs for their sustained support for our Foundation over many years.
Both programs will offer five levels of recognition.
Both programs will recognise all contributions that a club makes to the Foundation, including to the Annual Fund, Polio Fund, Global Grants, the Endowment and the Disaster Response Fund. They will not include contributions made by individual members of a club.
Clubs that qualify for these recognitions will receive the right to use the above icons in their webpages, social media pages, newsletters etc. They will also receive a certificate that they will be encouraged to display.
Foundation Newsletter
The district Foundation newsletter was recently emailed to Foundation Chairs and is also included below. Please click on the page below to open in PDF.
I have had 44 years at Rotary Melton. I have been club President twice and, during that time, we commenced a charity house on a donated block of land and, with Footscray Tech, we skills-trained a group of apprentices. It was good for the club’s image in the community. We also started Melton Valley Rotary Club and a Probus Men’s and a Probus Ladies’ club.
The recent decline in new membership interest might be because of weekly commitments and, I didn’t think I would ever say this, but less frequent meetings might be the answer. However, I know some members really enjoy the weekly fellowship. Women joining clubs has meant broader views and activities.
I think a good Rotarian is supportive of other Presidents, gets involved with club activities and attends regularly. Clubs should explain the Rotary acronyms to new members, as well as what the various club committees do, and then keep them informed of activities.
Having cancelled an overseas trip, I’m following the Western Bulldogs AFL team and, prior to the recent new level of restrictions, played golf with fellow Rotarians!
My Rotary hero was Royce Abbey, who was excellent with people and had a high level of personal commitment to others. Royce, of course, became International President and had a long-term commitment to Rotary.
As District Governor (DG), Royce was an hour late for a Melton club meeting because his driver took him past Bacchus Marsh! Some people would have been beside themselves, but Royce apologised and laughed it off.
I also have great respect for PDG Greg Ross, for whom I was a DG’s representative. That was a really enjoyable role. We had seven clubs to look after and, in my view, it was more effective than the current cluster system.
My message to all Rotarians is to keep involved and enjoy Rotary!
Doug had been looking for ways to give back to the community for some time. Until recently, he was retired, although he has now taken on a new work project. Keen to give back to the community, Doug wanted to be involved in social projects and meet new people, so a friend introduced him to the President at Hawthorn Rotary, and Doug was inducted ‘virtually’ on 11th August this year.
Born and raised in rural Ontario, Canada, Doug comes from a small community and grew up on a diary and cropping farm still run by his brothers and nephews. After studying Commerce at McMaster University, he worked as a qualified accountant with PWC in Edmonton, before being transferred to Auckland in 1983. Ten years later, he moved to Melbourne, which he now calls home.
Doug enjoys reading about world politics and he is keen to get involved in projects that will contribute to social good, as well as use his agricultural background and knowledge in relevant Hawthorn Rotary projects.
Passionate about social justice and education, Doug also enjoys a good red wine, supports Melbourne Football Club, and being a proud Father of two grown daughters – one is a Doctor in Melbourne and the other works for Apple in Canada. He has been involved in various volunteer roles in the past including the 4-H Dairy Calf Club in Canada, Cub Scouts as a Leader, Harrow Agricultural Society as a Board Director, and Korowa Girls School (where his daughters attended) where he was Board Chairperson and Director.
Doug believes the biggest challenges we face as Rotarians, are keeping ourselves relevant to members of society, and ensuring we stay current by reinventing and refreshing ourselves, as well as our membership.
Rotarian Malcolm Baird is 72 and a member of Brighton North Rotary. He was a top athlete 50 years ago and says the ethos has been a lifelong benefit. He won Silver in the 110M hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh (1970).
Retired for the past fifteen years, Malcolm’s career had been in general insurance management and director level roles. But he’s been on the international board of Rotary Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS) for two years, and is fund-raising director for Brighton North Rotary. He rides a recumbent bike (in the laundry) to stay somewhat fit.
Malcolm and wife Elizabeth’s retirement delight has been clocking up 60,000 miles across Europe in their German Burstner motor home, driving 2-3 months a year for the last 14 years. Trips took them from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco to the Sahara, to the midnight sun in Norway and following the riders in the Tour de France. Their only scary moment was in Norway’s 24km Laerdals tunnel near Bergen when a section of the tunnel lights failed and they headed at 50kmh into pitch-blackness.
Malcolm says modern slavery, a taboo subject, has 40 million victims globally. It starts with luring and entrapping vulnerable youngsters (often on-line), takes new and different forms in each country, and is almost always hidden. It includes forced factory work, domestic servitude, debt bondage and, in up to a third of cases, sex work.
So what is Rotary Action Group Against Slavery doing? Malcolm’s answer:
“Mainly helping to promote NGOs (non-government organisations) that educate vulnerable kids in schools about how traffickers and recruiting agents trap them. We want to make whole communities informed and opposed to exploitation, including political and business leaders and those responsible for kids. I visualise slavery-prevention education as a big focus for Rotarians, not just because of kids’ lives but because it’s a cause the rising generation can identify with.”
A train ride to Clifton Hill is uneventful until you reach the penultimate station, ‘Victoria Park’ and, directly opposite, the old Collingwood Football Club headquarters. Beyond the magnificently preserved entrance and turnstiles lurk hundreds of footballing stories … glorious for the faithful, often wretched for non-believers. If you’ve attained 50 years (as some Rotarians have), it’s hard to think of ‘Collingwood’ without seeing black and white stripes. The novel ‘Power Without Glory’ also cemented a Collingwood image through its most recognisable era – the early 1900’s to the late 1940’s. And around Johnston Street with a walk past the small cottages and laneways, the sense of Old Collingwood, with its pubs and priests and perpetrators and police, still lingers.
But that’s the old Collingwood…
Today, Collingwood is a heady mix of diverse cultures, trendy pubs, live bands, international cuisine options, high rise public housing, warehouse pads and upward mobility mixed with social despair.
The Rotary Club of Collingwood received its charter in September 1959. Under the leadership of President Bahman Abedi and Secretary Bruce Shaw, the Club has maintained its close engagement with its vibrant community, which boasts a magnificent medley of nationalities and cultures.
Like everyone else in this COVID-19 period, the Club is conducting ZOOM meetings. Post-pandemic, assemblies will resume at the CBD located Kelvin Club, 14-30 Melbourne Place, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month (6 for 6.30pm).
On the local scene the Rotary Club of Collingwood has been a keen sponsor of the junior section of the Yarra Jets Football Club. This sponsorship has been important in helping to maintain the teams, and the footy club, and pivotal to the community and its youth. Assisting with community Christmas hampers to families in the area has been a continuing project, gratefully received.
Internationally, the Club has also continued its encouragement of youth with continuing annual donations to schools in Vietnam and Cambodia. Notably, the Club has been an enthusiastic supporter of the International Homeless World Cup. The event is held every year and Collingwood’s interest is with the Cambodian teams. A number of players from these teams have expanded their skills and are being promoted to higher grades. The accompanying photo shows members of the Cambodian team. You’ll notice the Collingwood Magpie emblem on the left sleeves, but we’re trusting that ‘Good old C…’ is not the national victory song.
The Rotary Club of Collingwood – continuing it 50 year embrace of diversity and connection to the community.
This is a delightful and inspirational Fellowship in which men and women throughout the world produce beautiful and highly useful products.
In 2003, an Honorary Rotarian, Phyllis Giersch in California, highly recognised for her work in quilting, conceived the idea for the Fellowship. Phyllis has conducted quilting classes in the United States, and in Australia Rotarians have been fortunate to also receive her knowledge of quilting at classes in this country.
The goal of this Fellowship is to share ideas, techniques, articles, service projects and stories of interest regarding the fibre arts. The members enjoy each other’s friendship and the Fellowship is represented by Rotarians from 12 different countries. Consequently, this makes for great diversity in artistic talent, inspiration and design.
Apart from quilting, members also knit, crochet, weave and work in a range of other related handcrafts.
As well as the pleasure gained by members from creating a beautiful piece of art, many of their products are given to people who can benefit from them. Tactile quilts are made especially for the vision impaired, warm quilts are given to children in need, and quilts or fabric toys are distributed to children who have experienced war, famine or other disasters. Other items are donated to raise money at charity auctions.
Once a year the Fellowship has a collective project and members donate a block for an item that goes on display at the Rotary International Convention. These items are exchanged for donations contributing to the End Polio challenge with considerablefunds raised over the years.
The Rotarian Fellowship of Quilters and Fibre Artists not only offers friendship to its members worldwide, but it also provides them with an artistic and creative outlet they can share. The other great benefit of this Fellowship is the fundraising through the donation of their art works and the valuable items they provide to benefit people in need.
The position of Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) National Secretary will become vacant on 1st July 2021, and the National Executive is seeking Expressions of Interest for this position.
We would expect the incoming nominee to take the opportunity to be mentored by the existing incumbent, Gloria Hargreaves.
Should you be interested, please contact Gloria (egharg@netspace.net.au) who will then send you the Job Description and Nomination Form.
Rotarians Against Malaria National Manager, Dr Jenny Kerrison
Tip of the week
Make up a one-page chart of the activities and projects your club has. Post it in your locality, publish it in council and community organisations’ newsletters and distribute it to prospective members.
Rotary District 9800 Inc.
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It is truly wonderful to hear the news that the 
By Past District Governor Julie Mason AM
Two programs to recognise club support for The Rotary Foundation
I have had 44 years at Rotary Melton. I have been club President twice and, during that time, we commenced a charity house on a donated block of land and, with Footscray Tech, we skills-trained a group of apprentices. It was good for the club’s image in the community. We also started Melton Valley Rotary Club and a Probus Men’s and a Probus Ladies’ club.
Doug had been looking for ways to give back to the community for some time. Until recently, he was retired, although he has now taken on a new work project. Keen to give back to the community, Doug wanted to be involved in social projects and meet new people, so a friend introduced him to the President at Hawthorn Rotary, and Doug was inducted ‘virtually’ on 11th August this year.
By Tony Thomas, Rotary Central Melbourne
A train ride to Clifton Hill is uneventful until you reach the penultimate station, ‘Victoria Park’ and, directly opposite, the old Collingwood Football Club headquarters. Beyond the magnificently preserved entrance and turnstiles lurk hundreds of footballing stories … glorious for the faithful, often wretched for non-believers. If you’ve attained 50 years (as some Rotarians have), it’s hard to think of ‘Collingwood’ without seeing black and white stripes. The novel ‘Power Without Glory’ also cemented a Collingwood image through its most recognisable era – the early 1900’s to the late 1940’s. And around Johnston Street with a walk past the small cottages and laneways, the sense of Old Collingwood, with its pubs and priests and perpetrators and police, still lingers. 
