The Rotary National Flood Appeal has been launched to raise funding to provide financial assistance to flood victims in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. Funds donated to Victoria and Border Communities Flood Relief Fund Distribution (Project 31-2022-23 RABS) will go to flood victims in Victoria and Border communities. Donations can be made via the RAWCS website: https://donations.rawcs.com.au/31-2022-23
PDG Bronwyn Stephens, District Service Director Lili Teichman and myself were joined by Peter Mercer from Diversity Works and PDG Edith Chaney (D9920) to discuss what DEI means in the context of Rotary.
The passing of Lawrence Atley OAM was a sad milestone for the Rotary Club of Footscray. Lawrence was a dedicated and passionate Rotarian who enjoyed and valued his time in Rotary and the friends he made there.
Well this is your chance but it will cost you a donation to the Rotary Foundation!
If we reach our target of $500k AUD to the annual fund, DG Amanda Wendt - joined by DGE Ron Payne, DGN Michael Lapina and D9800 Foundation Chair Grant Hocking - will skydive out of a plane.
Want to join us up in the sky? Challenge your club or cluster to your own fundraising goal and help our District meet the target!
The Rotary Club of North Melbourne is assisting the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria, who are running a raffle to support re-settlement of displaced Ukrainians in Victoria.
Clubs selling tickets for the raffle will receive a $5 return per ticket. The raffle, with first prize a $15,000 gift voucher ,will be drawn on 7th January 2023.
For ticket orders contact Ted Dziadkiewicz, RC North Melbourne, via email: tedd@contourstravel.com.au or mob: 0408 106 719
October 8th was a chilly but clear Saturday morning for the opening of the new playground at Victoria Park Kew, and the spirits of club members in attendance for were high. Finally, they got to dedicate the fabulous new BBQ donated to the project as the club’s contribution to all the other projects undertaken by Rotary clubs around Australia to mark the centenary of Rotary in Australia in 2021.
The Year 11-12 Scholarship Grant program for 2022 is now fully subscribed, with all ten available grants snapped up by clubs eager to extend their support for students at local high schools.
Rotary’s Council on Resolutions (COR) and Council on Legislation (COL) give us a voice in how our organisation is governed.
The Council on Resolutions of Rotary International meets online every year to vote on resolutions proposed by clubs, districts, and the RI Board. Resolutions are requests to the Board or the Foundation Trustees to take an action that is outside the purview of the RI constitutional documents.
In July 2022, a shipment of FORaMEAL packs containing 100,000 meals was dispatched to the Philippines. When the shipment arrived, the packs were distributed to five strategically placed Rotary Clubs in the Philippines ready for when they would be needed following disasters such as floods and fire. It wasn’t long before that aid was needed.
Around 30 Rotarians joined together to pack over 4000 meals in one hour as part of the official DG Batman cluster visit. Held in the foyer outside Red Emperor restaurant, it took only moments for 5 random pedestrians to stop, enquire about who we are, what we were doing, pull on gloves and get involved! Hands-on volunteering sells itself and what a wonderful, impactiful introduction to Rotary for these new volunteers!
At the official DG Cluster visit with Calder, Martin and Di Taurins did what they’ve always done, champion the fight against MS. Whilst their incredible donation of $36,000 to Australian Rotary Health was an incredible highlight, it was such an honour to see their work recognised with Royce Abbey awards. A truly inspiring couple, congratulations again Martin and Di!
It only took members of Essendon, Essendon North, Flemington Kensington, Footscray and West Footscray a record 13 mins 41 secs to pack 100 food parcels which were delivered to local food banks, feeding 500 people in need. Gateway East showed what was possible with a strategic production line and a determination to beat the previous record held by Westside at 15 mins.
Rotary’s number one priority remains the worldwide eradication of polio.
The amazing progress made by Rotary and its partners towards eradicating polio is inspirational, but the job is not yet done. Raising the US$50 million each year to obtain the maximum Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 2-to-1 match is a challenge.
The PolioPlus Society is a new fundraising and recognition program that specifically supports PolioPlus. The program began in Oregon, USA in 2012 and is now being used successfully by districts throughout North America, Brazil and The Philippines. Now, Rotary members and others in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands will have the opportunity to participate.
Great evening spent with the Chirnside cluster clubs as we continued to work together through hands-on volunteering. 50 food packs were given to Afghan refugees and 100 birthing kits are making their way overseas. Thanks to the club presidents Kwabena Larbi, Cheryl Nash, Ian Hovey, Pascal Ochi and Seema Lal for updating everyone on the difference their clubs are making, I'm always blown away by what clubs achieve!
One of our District’s best success stories, For-A-Meal has provided well over 500,000 emergency relief meals for free to for those impacted by natural disasters. It was only natural that we hold a special volunteer with the DG day to support their mission.
Basil's story is a story by numbers: two continents, four Rotary Clubs, 50 Years of Rotary Service - are all an integral part of the Basil Ornellas story
Posted by Lili Teichman Avenues of Service Chair on Oct 27, 2022
In October, under the direction of PDG Ross Butterworth, volunteers rolled up their sleeves for some Hands-on Volunteering with the DG at Western Emergency Relief Network (WERN).
Prof. Janet McCalman, AC, a teacher and researcher in interdisciplinary history at the University of Melbourne
Richard Harrison, Australian author, speaker and cricket umpire.
If you have an interesting speaker at your club that you would recommend to other clubs, please contact Speaker Bank Chair, Jill Weeks (Hawthorn) via the Speakers Bank page: https://rotarydistrict9800.org.au/sitepage/speaker-bank (Available only to members logged on to the District website)
The two-day Global Congress Against Malaria brings respected malaria experts, governments, NGO's, corporates, Rotarians and non-Rotarians together in Melbourne, Australia, to share, educate and discuss how to Finish the Fight Against Malaria.
The Water for Education Project, providing four schools in Siem Reap with water filtration systems, has successfully installed a water filtration system providing one school with delicious clean, clear water. The water is available to both students and the wider community. Rotarians and friends from Australia, Cambodia and Singapore joined together to celebrate this project in action.
The 17th International Tennis Fellowship of Rotarians (ITFR) World Championship will take place in Melbourne Park “The Home of Tennis”, over 4 days from 23-26 May 2023, in the lead up to the RI Convention.
Don’t be put off by the “World Championships” tag, it’s an event for tennis players of all ages and abilities.
The Host Organising Committee (HOC) is looking for Volunteers to assist with the running of the Rotary International Convention in May 2023 in Melbourne (RICON23). Volunteers are required to primarily assist as Welcome Marshalls at the main convention sites ( Melbourne Convention and Entertainment Centre and Rod Laver Arena ) as well as at HOC Events, Major Block Hotels, Tullamarine Airport and Southern Cross Station. Volunteers will also be first-hand providers of information and advice to delegates on a variety of aspects of RICON23.
Bees and other pollinators are essential to maintain production of our food crops and are responsible for one in every three mouthfuls of food we eat! Over recent years there has been an alarming reduction in pollinator populations worldwide. Thanks to this enthusiastic group of bee champions, many more Rotary clubs and communities are actively engaged in fighting the decline of pollinator populations worldwide.
Now in its fourth year, Rotarians for Bees, a project of the Rotary Club of Canterbury, Victoria, is expanding into New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory as a project of the Rotary Club of Castle Hill, NSW.
School Principal (retired) and PDG Julie Mason AM says “It’s never been more important to support and honour teachers for the extraordinary requirements put on them during the Pandemic and its recovery.”
Brighton, Brighton North and Caulfield clubs had a very successful night building new friendships, sharing project wins and discovering ways to collaborate at the official DG Beachside Cluster visit. It was the first time the three clubs have met together and to quote many of the members, 'Let's make sure its's not the last time'!
As soon as the Hobson Bay cluster members saw a table of soup kits waiting to be packed they jumped straight in - we didn’t have to ask! Before the meeting had officially started, 100 food packs were done waiting to be taken by the various clubs to local charities and food banks. It was so much fun to join members in a meaningful, hands-on and convenient project that everyone could get involved in.
DG Amanda Wendt recently joined Woodend Rotarians and friends to celebrate the opening of the club’s Rotary centenary project, Rotary Rocks on Five Mile Creek. The project is the culmination of two years’ work supported by the Rotary Foundation.
Welcome to a special bumper-issue, chock full of news and updates! 
Check out the Dec / Jan edition of Rotary Down Under for a special District 9800 feature.
PDG Bronwyn Stephens, District Service Director Lili Teichman and myself were joined by Peter Mercer from Diversity Works and PDG Edith Chaney (D9920) to discuss what DEI means in the context of Rotary. 
The passing of Lawrence Atley OAM was a sad milestone for the Rotary Club of Footscray. Lawrence was a dedicated and passionate Rotarian who enjoyed and valued his time in Rotary and the friends he made there. 
Rotary Members are invited to register for the next Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) program in March 2023.
ber 8th was a chilly but clear Saturday morning for the opening of the new playground at Victoria Park Kew, and the spirits of club members in attendance for were high. Finally, they got to dedicate the fabulous new BBQ donated to the project as the club’s contribution to all the other projects undertaken by Rotary clubs around Australia to mark the centenary of Rotary in Australia in 2021. 
Did you hear about the two blood cells that fell in love? Alas, it was all in vein! 
Rotary’s Council on Resolutions (COR) and Council on Legislation (COL) give us a voice in how our organisation is governed. 
ent of FORaMEAL packs containing 100,000 meals was dispatched to the Philippines. When the shipment arrived, the packs were distributed to five strategically placed Rotary Clubs in the Philippines ready for when they would be needed following disasters such as floods and fire. It wasn’t long before that aid was needed. 
Around 30 Rotarians joined together to pack over 4000 meals in one hour as part of the official DG Batman cluster visit. Held in the foyer outside Red Emperor restaurant, it took only moments for 5 random pedestrians to stop, enquire about who we are, what we were doing, pull on gloves and get involved! Hands-on volunteering sells itself and what a wonderful, impactiful introduction to Rotary for these new volunteers! 
At the official DG Cluster visit with Calder, Martin and Di Taurins did what they’ve always done, champion the fight against MS. Whilst their incredible donation of $36,000 to Australian Rotary Health was an incredible highlight, it was such an honour to see their work recognised with Royce Abbey awards. A truly inspiring couple, congratulations again Martin and Di!
It only took members of Essendon, Essendon North, Flemington Kensington, Footscray and West Footscray a record 13 mins 41 secs to pack 100 food parcels which were delivered to local food banks, feeding 500 people in need. Gateway East showed what was possible with a strategic production line and a determination to beat the previous record held by Westside at 15 mins. 
Rotary’s number one priority remains the worldwide eradication of polio. 
One of our District’s best success stories, For-A-Meal has provided well over 500,000 emergency relief meals for free to for those impacted by natural disasters. It was only natural that we hold a special volunteer with the DG day to support their mission. 
Basil's story is a story by numbers: two continents, four Rotary Clubs, 50 Years of Rotary Service - are all an integral part of the Basil Ornellas story 
In October, under the direction of PDG Ross Butterworth, volunteers rolled up their sleeves for some Hands-on Volunteering with the DG at Western Emergency Relief Network (WERN). 
The two-day Global Congress Against Malaria brings respected malaria experts, governments, NGO's, corporates, Rotarians and non-Rotarians together in Melbourne, Australia, to share, educate and discuss how to Finish the Fight Against Malaria. 
The Water for Education Project, providing four schools in Siem Reap with water filtration systems, has successfully installed a water filtration system providing one school with delicious clean, clear water. The water is available to both students and the wider community. Rotarians and friends from Australia, Cambodia and Singapore joined together to celebrate this project in action.
Bees and other pollinators are essential to maintain production of our food crops and are responsible for one in every three mouthfuls of food we eat! Over recent years there has been an alarming reduction in pollinator populations worldwide. Thanks to this enthusiastic group of bee champions, many more Rotary clubs and communities are actively engaged in fighting the decline of pollinator populations worldwide. 
Brighton, Brighton North and Caulfield clubs had a very successful night building new friendships, sharing project wins and discovering ways to collaborate at the official DG Beachside Cluster visit. It was the first time the three clubs have met together and to quote many of the members, 'Let's make sure its's not the last time'! 
As soon as the Hobson Bay cluster members saw a table of soup kits waiting to be packed they jumped straight in - we didn’t have to ask! Before the meeting had officially started, 100 food packs were done waiting to be taken by the various clubs to local charities and food banks. It was so much fun to join members in a meaningful, hands-on and convenient project that everyone could get involved in. 
DG Amanda Wendt recently joined Woodend Rotarians and friends to celebrate the opening of the club’s Rotary centenary project, Rotary Rocks on Five Mile Creek. The project is the culmination of two years’ work supported by the Rotary Foundation.