I would like to extend my best wishes for a year that is more peaceful and stable as we serve our communities.
As we start 2021, many of us are meeting face to face in a COVID-safe way, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity of catching up with you in person. It is now the time to consider being bold and creative about embarking on “whole of club” projects. There is no doubt that when every member takes part in a particular special club project, no matter how big or small the participation, the best results are achieved. The camaraderie and unified sense of purpose and achievement gained from giving back to our communities is what binds Rotarians together and cements our commitment to service above self. And don’t forget to involve potential new members, community partners, Friends of Rotary, and of course family members in your “whole of club” projects so that they too can share that unique sense of what being a Rotarian is all about.
We have a great opportunity for our whole Rotary network across Australia to join together on 26th January for Australia Day, as we reflect, respect and celebrate. Please join the festivities being live-streamed at 12.30 pm AEDT by booking online at: https://events.humanitix.com/rotarydownunder_100_national_australia_day_event
With Australia soon to embark on its COVID-19 vaccination program, Rotary has much to offer the effort to stop this virus. Rotary International is encouraging all clubs to use our collective knowledge of vaccine safety and efficacy gained through our polio eradication experience to support vaccination education and outreach in our communities. Clubs are also encouraged to engage with our current polio eradication partners WHO and UNICEF at the country level where applicable to offer Rotary’s support to COVID-19 response activities, and to partner at the local level with health departments and other agencies. You can also let the Rotary world know what your club is doing to support COVID-19 vaccine introduction efforts. Please share your efforts and projects on Rotary Showcase.
Finally, in January, we focus on Vocational Service as the essence of Rotary and the foundation from which we serve our communities around the world.
The importance of placing and maintaining Rotary standards and ideals aloft cannot be overestimated. The star of hope in the Rotary ethical firmament must be high. It is hardly possible for it to be too high. May it be high enough so that there will always be something to strive for.
By Mary Barry, District 9800 Chair Vocational Service
Vocational Service is the essence of Rotary and the foundation from which we serve our communities around the world - a world that has dramatically changed over the past 12 months. We have experienced the first world pandemic in 100 years, lockdowns, job losses and much stress. As we enter 2021, unemployment in Australia is at its highest level in decades and many businesses are either on the brink of closure or already closed. Never has participation in Vocational Service activities been more important for Rotarians.
Through Vocational Service we can assist those most in need at this time, by utilising our unique skills to work with and support communities in need; our wisdom and life experience to train, mentor and develop others; our values to inspire others to act ethically and with integrity at all times.
Over the past 18 months, District 9800 has been focused on Revitalising Vocational Service. With input from over 40 Clubs across the District we have developed the first VS Strategic Plan - a plan that takes a ‘bottom up” approach to better understand what clubs are doing in VS and support them to develop templates/guidelines for programs that are likely to have broader district appeal, to be shared with all Clubs. Four key areas of VS activities have stood out - Mentoring Programs, Schools Programs, Job Ready Support Programs and Business Awards/Partnerships. We are now in the development phase of the templates/guidelines.
The next step in the process is the rolling out of the templates/guidelines. This will be done via Zoom sessions in March. Attendees will include Presidents, Presidents Elect, VS Directors and Rotarians from Clubs across the District interested in knowing more about Vocational Service opportunities in 2021 and beyond. All templates/guidelines will be on the District website following the Zoom sessions. Invitations will be sent to Presidents, President Elects and VS Directors via email. We look forward to seeing you at the Zoom sessions in March!
By Past District Governor Murray Verso, COR & COL Representative District 9800 2020-23
The Council on Resolutions (COR) of Rotary International meets annually online to vote on resolutions proposed by clubs, districts, and the RI Board and on any urgent enactments proposed by the RI Board that will amend the constitutional documents. Resolutions are requests to the Board or the Foundation Trustees to take an action that is outside the purview of the constitutional documents.
Enactments that change Rotary’s constitutional documents and RI Board position statements are voted on at the Council on Legislation (COL) which meets in person, in Chicago, every three years. It last convened in 2019 and will next convene in 2022. Each Rotary District sends a representative to the COL and can participate in the COR.
This year the Council on Resolutions met online from 15 October to 15 November 2020. 30 resolutions and one enactment were considered. The Council adopted 11 resolutions and the enactment.
The following resolutions were adopted, and we now await news from the RI Board and the Foundation Trustees to confirm their approval:
The RI Board to consider ensuring that the powers of the RI Board do not unfairly exceed those of clubs, Rotaract clubs, and districts.
The RI Board to consider making Rotary’s website and email technologies more accessible for those with visual impairments or other disabilities and extending that technology to its clubs.
The RI Board to consider forming committees to nominate regional leader candidates.
The RI Board to consider emphasising the importance of actions based upon Rotary’s ideal of service
The RI Board to consider reintroducing professional development as a value of Rotary.
The RI Board to consider requiring Rotary Youth Exchange organisations to provide annual financial reports
The RI Board to consider reviewing Rotaract’s status within Rotary
The RI Board to consider reintroducing the vocational committee at the district level
The RI Board to consider proposing legislation to limit the term of the general secretary to no more than ten years
The Trustees to consider allowing districts to use their own scholarship criteria when awarding scholarships for which no World Fund matching funds are used
The Trustees to consider including measures for the prevention and elimination of plastic waste and residue.
The Urgent Enactment, which was to restore all members of the RI Board as members of the Council, was also accepted. This reversed a decision at the 2019 COL, which resolved that only the president, president-elect and one other member of the board could speak at future Councils.
More detailed voting results for each of the resolutions and the enactment can be found on My Rotary.
District 9800 voted in favour of two resolutions that were rejected:
With several new clubs in the pipeline, and many established clubs getting smaller, we voted to reduce the number of members needed to sponsor a new club from 20 to 10. Most districts did not agree, possibly concerned about the long-term viability of clubs starting with such a small base.
We have adopted the EarlyAct program in our District, and we voted for it to become an official RI program (like Interact). Other districts use a similar program called Rotary Kids. Previous Councils have rejected similar resolutions proposing clubs for children, and this was again the case in 2020.
Curiously, approximately 90 districts did not vote at all and others abstained from voting on several items. Of the 545 districts in the world, it would seem the maximum number to cast votes was 456. We can only speculate on why so many Districts chose not to have their voice heard.
The deadline for submitting resolutions to the next Council on Resolutions is 30 June 2021.
Last year, many of our new Rotary club members were asked the reason they joined, and the following responses came to light:
Have found they have more time
Wanted to give back to the community
Recently retired or cut back on their work
Wanted to feel more connected with the community
Have been a Friend of Rotary and wanted to convert to membership
Have found that COVID has highlighted the need for connection and community
Various combinations of these factors.
It is likely that other members of the community have similar thoughts and circumstances, but may not be sufficiently aware of Rotary and the full extent of its work. Interestingly, none of the new members mentioned that he or she had joined because of a particular global issue, such as eliminating Polio or malaria, disaster relief, improving lives in lesser-developed communities or for refugees; or for local challenges, such as reducing homelessness, suicide, or family violence.
How should we go about identifying prospective members and familiarise them with what Rotary does for mankind?
One way we could do this is for experienced Rotarians to seek out opportunities to present to community groups such as:
Local Government Councils
Welfare agencies
School communities (especially Parents and Friends Associations)
Sporting Clubs
Traders’ Associations
Church groups
Hospitals
We could also provide Rotary literature to these organisations and place them in the waiting rooms of doctors, dentists and other professional services!
Let’s all get cracking! Past District Governor Julie Mason’s message was “Ask. Ask. Ask”. Perhaps for existing members we should also add “Nurture. Nurture. Nurture.”
All Rotarians should contribute to these efforts…the great work of Rotary depends on it!
Bob joined Rotary Altona in very different times. The club was established for people who were working locally, but living elsewhere, and a dominant force was the local petrochemical complex.
A vet, Bob worked long hours and whilst he was initially interested in joining APEX, they met at an inconvenient time, which made joining Rotary more appealing. He joined in 1975 and has never regretted that decision.
Some of the Club’s early projects were Bingo Nights, an Art Show (still continuing) and, the jewel in the crown, a house-build with the profit from its sale greatly boosting Club coffers. Bob recalled that this particular project involved a Club member in real estate who was able to arrange attractive terms for State Government land; materials being donated; the local TAFE College providing labour; and, a solicitor Club member handling the conveyancing.
Bob was the Club bulletin editor for a number of years, a role he was able to juggle alongside his busy veterinary practice, along with a number of other Club projects. One Bob recalls involved an exchange student from Uganda who became very senior in her national health service, and was able to oversee a valuable Club water supply project.
Bob has seen a lot of change in the Club and the area over his 45-year membership. The inclusion of women has been an important development: “It took too long,” he says. All members now live locally and grandchildren of some of the original members are moving back in a form of urban renewal. There are also many migrants, especially from the Middle East.
Bob is proud of the strong support Rotary Altona has provided to The Rotary Foundation, and the cliché of ‘punching above its weight’ fits well here. The Club currently assists homeless young people and provides supplies including food and cleaning kits. There have been the ubiquitous Bunnings BBQs and a Kickstart Breakfast project for children in need. Another project instigated by the Club was "Ride to Conference", which has since grown and prospered! Funds raised have been allocated to medical equipment and research.
Bob’s motivation to remain in Rotary has been the enjoyable company at meetings. He has also been motivated by his generation of Australians “being extraordinarily lucky”, and he has felt an obligation to give back.
His message: “keep doing good things and through that practice encourage non-Rotarians to become involved. We need to find willing prospects and invite people who show interest.”
I’ve long admired Rotary’s work and loved helping husband Henry in many varied projects and events during his 30 years of Rotary Hawthorn membership, particularly when he was District Chairman of Youth Exchange for three years and District Secretary during Past District Governor Dennis Shore’s year.
We’ve hosted ten (mainly wonderful) Rotary Youth Exchange Students, led several of their extraordinary under-canvas outback safaris (fabulous fun but with about 40 teenagers they had their moments) and are still Mum and Dad to most of them. We’ve been live-in Auntie and Uncle at the Rotary National Science and Technology Forum for Year 12 students – a privilege to be with such outstanding youngsters.
I’ve been delighted to sometimes use my 40-plus-year career as a book editor (mainly with Penguin) to help with Rotary publications, including Rotary Hawthorn’s history, lots of District Conference material and the two very successful fundraiser Relish cookery books for St Kilda Rotary.
I was very honoured to be recognised with a one-sapphire Paul Harris Fellow and now am very honoured to be a Rotarian.
Our daughter, Mandy, was also deeply involved in Rotary, from Exchange Student to Belgium, heading Rotex (Rotary Youth Exchange Alumni) for a couple of years, helping Exchange Students when she worked in Japan, being a keynote speaker at Past District Governor Jim Studebaker’s District Conference in Launceston and MC at Past District Governor Peter Frueh’s District Conference in Warrnambool.
The passion for travel (sigh) Henry and I share – the more different and exotic the better – has taken us to many countries. It has also made us very aware of how lucky most of us are in Australia and how much Rotary’s invaluable work is needed throughout the world as well as here. I’m excited about contributing to that work whenever possible, and adding to the many greatly valued friendships we’ve made with fascinating and inspiring Rotarians.
At the start of 2020, Rotary North Balwyn’s Vocational Service Committee invited year six students at local primary schools to enter an essay writing competition on the topic ‘If I Could Change One Thing In The World.’ The intent was to encourage and develop the writing skills of the students, as well as promote Rotary to them, their parents and school staff. A positive business relationship was also formed with Officeworks East Kew. While COVID-19 restrictions meant extending the completion date and not being allowed to enter school grounds, all essays were judged by mid-May and prizes presented in early June. Each essay had to be between 300 and 500 words and the entries were judged on the clarity of the writing, the quality of the ideas expressed and the innovative thinking and imagination presented.
Five schools participated and the prizes were substantial. They were:
1st Prize: $1,000 ($500 Officeworks voucher for student, $500 for school)
2nd Prize: $500 ($250 Officeworks voucher for student, $250 for school)
3rd Prize: $300 ($150 Officeworks voucher for student, $150 for school)
Encouragement awards x 5 maximum: $100 Officeworks voucher each
56 students entered and there was considerable variety in the subject matter, reflected in the topics of the eight winners: Reality; Go Vegan; Homelessness; Self Doubt; Plastic; Human Greed; Bullying; Climate Change. The competition was highly successful and, with the support of school staff, the students were enthusiastic with their participation.
By Kevin Ch’ng, Year 6 Balwyn North Primary School - 1st Prize Winner Rotary North Balwyn Essay Competition
Grunting with annoyance, I threw my textbook to the floor. I was annoyed, as even after I had worked for hours, I could not seem to find the perfect answer to the question. Deciding to take a break, I walked outside to play soccer instead.
Looking for the ball, I saw a note on the ground. ‘Taken the ball. HA! Brayden.’
Brayden was the school bully. He had pulled this stunt many times before. And annoyingly, he never returned my ball.
“Can you go to the shops to buy some eggs?” my mum called out to my older sister. Her reply came quickly, so sharp that I could see lines of weariness crease my mother’s face.
“No!” was the reply. So I went instead.
On the way out of the shop, I saw a homeless person begging for money. Everyone walked past him, as if he was not there. I gave him some change, and he looked up at me with thankful eyes. In contrast, everyone else looked down at me as if I had grown a third eye.
Wanting a break from all the negative behaviour, I went up to my gaming studio. Whenever I was feeling overwhelmed, I always went up there. And today, I was definitely feeling overwhelmed. Reaching out to retrieve my virtual reality goggles, I attached it to my head and turned it on.
In a second, I became immersed into the Possible Worlds game.
Possible Worlds was my favourite because it provided players with incredibly interesting possibilities. It showcased its creators’ imagination and I liked to ponder about how it worked. I skipped past all of the worlds that I had been in before. But a new world stood out. It read ‘Compassionate World.’
Walking outside, I noticed my soccer ball was out of air. Glancing across the fence, I noticed my neighbour brandishing a soccer ball. “Want to play with me?” Brayden asked. Nodding, I went to his backyard.
“Do you need more eggs?” my sister asked my mum. I could see a smile forming on my mother’s face.
I saw a homeless person receive money from kind shoppers.
I felt a warm glow, and I realised how much I wanted this to be a reality. Reluctantly, I untied the strap of my virtual reality goggles. Looking at the floor, I noticed my textbook again. It was lying on the floor, unwanted and discarded.
Reaching down, I picked up the textbook, and read the question once more.
‘If I could change one thing in the world, it would be…’
Smiling, I thought about the virtual world I had recently entered. I wondered if this was possible to translate into real life.
The village of Wyndham was founded in 1850, some 30 kilometres south west of Melbourne. It was named in honour of Scottish General Sir Henry Wyndham who achieved fame for exploits in the field at the Battle of Waterloo. In 1909, Wyndham was renamed “Werribee” after an aboriginal word for “spine or backbone”, which resembled the “lovely curve of the river” fronting the township.
Chartered in 1968, the Rotary Club of Werribee in turn proudly chartered Wyndham Rotary on 14th January 1985, which today has about 50 diverse and active members.
Like all Clubs, the COVID pandemic severely curbed normal fundraising and service activities. Faced with that challenge, President Michael Lapiña sought to find “creative ways” to keep the Club cohesive and productive. Initially the technological and “talking head” aspects of Zoom discouraged some members, which led Michael and his Board to apply operatic and theatrical effects to the Club Zoom meetings–sound, colour and movement always lifts morale.
Also, in this Rotary centenary year, creative thinking has led to one member gathering sponsors to fund his one hundred sit-ups every day for 100 consecutive days; another member has ridden 100kms on his bicycle; and, Michael has set himself the target of recording a different song each day for 100 days, which will become accessible for a fee on Spotify or a similar platform. Proceeds of the R100 Activities will go towards Foundation, as well as supporting a local Breakfast Club.
Community service has continued through the collection of surplus and redundant goods and foodstuffs from local businesses for distribution to those in need with minimum face-to-face contact.
Similarly, international service continues with Rotary families and friends making “Fish and Chip” baby clothing targeted for villagers in East Timor and elsewhere.
At the time of writing, Victoria has had a long run of COVID free days and normal meetings are resuming, but with the experience of Zoom enabling a broader base of speakers and participants, hybrid formats for meetings are being enthusiastically explored as the way for the future.
The Cycling to Serve Fellowship had its origins in Belgium in 1984 when a Rotary club organised the first World Rotary Cycling Championships. The championships were held again in 1985 and 1986, but it was then decided that the effort was too much for a single club. Consequently, some of the Belgian and Dutch participants got together and formed the Cycling to Serve Fellowship in 1988 and annual events have been organised by Rotary clubs in many countries throughout the world, including Australia.
The Fellowship is a group of Rotarians dedicated to cycling with the objectives of developing worldwide friendship through cycling, both competitively and recreationally; to serve the community locally, nationally and internationally through cycling activities; and, to promote international understanding and peace.
Cycling is a wonderful way to keep fit and to maintain good physical and mental health. Rotarians from different age groups participate in the Fellowship’s activities and events, resulting in significant health improvements. One young Californian Rotarian with type one diabetes has been able to reduce his insulin considerably and avoid thousands of injections each year by cycling regularly.
The Cycling to Serve Fellowship particularly lends itself to raising funds and awareness about major medical and social issues. Some worldwide examples include Rotarian Action Group for Diabetes, which has been championed by the young Rotarian mentioned above; the UK Red Rubber Ball Foundation, which aims to help young Kenyan children obtain an education; in Lima, the Rotary Pedal, a collective of over 20 clubs, campaigns to “Respect the cyclist” to promote bicycles as sustainable transport and an aid to a healthy lifestyle, as well as a means to promote Rotary’s image in the community.
In Australia, the Cycling Fellowship strongly supports Australian Rotary Health and until this year there have been 33 annual bike rides for this cause. Bike rides to conferences occur annually and over recent years, these rides have raised funds and awareness for RoCan (Rotary Ovarian Cancer Research).
The Cycling to Serve Fellowship is dedicated to promoting cycling as an opportunity to develop friendships, enjoy a healthy lifestyle—physically and mentally—help the environment, and raise funds and awareness of important social issues.
Rotary District 9800 Inc.
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The importance of placing and maintaining Rotary standards and ideals aloft cannot be overestimated. The star of hope in the Rotary ethical firmament must be high. It is hardly possible for it to be too high. May it be high enough so that there will always be something to strive for.
By Past District Governor Murray Verso, COR & COL Representative District 9800 2020-23
Bob joined Rotary Altona in very different times. The club was established for people who were working locally, but living elsewhere, and a dominant force was the local petrochemical complex.
I’ve long admired Rotary’s work and loved helping husband Henry in many varied projects and events during his 30 years of Rotary Hawthorn membership, particularly when he was District Chairman of Youth Exchange for three years and District Secretary during Past District Governor Dennis Shore’s year.
By Kevin Ch’ng, Year 6 Balwyn North Primary School - 1st Prize Winner Rotary North Balwyn Essay Competition
The village of Wyndham was founded in 1850, some 30 kilometres south west of Melbourne. It was named in honour of Scottish General Sir Henry Wyndham who achieved fame for exploits in the field at the Battle of Waterloo. In 1909, Wyndham was renamed “Werribee” after an aboriginal word for “spine or backbone”, which resembled the “lovely curve of the river” fronting the township.
Also, in this Rotary centenary year, creative thinking has led to one member gathering sponsors to fund his one hundred sit-ups every day for 100 consecutive days; another member has ridden 100kms on his bicycle; and, Michael has set himself the target of recording a different song each day for 100 days, which will become accessible for a fee on Spotify or a similar platform. Proceeds of the R100 Activities will go towards Foundation, as well as supporting a local Breakfast Club.
Give a talk to your club about your profession and take time to learn about fellow members’ occupations.
