I'm delighted to confirm that Loryn Clark and Past District Governors Colin Muir and Ross Butterworth have advised me that the provisional Rotary Club of Eynesbury will charter with 20+ members on Sunday, 14th of March. I encourage Club Presidents to email Loryn Clark to congratulate her and the new Eynesbury members. Loryn can be reached at loryn@ssbee.com.au
If you haven’t already either looked into, or applied for a District Recognition Award, now is the time to do so, as applications close very soon. Project categories include the key service areas of Community, International, Vocational, Youth, Public Image & Communications, and Membership, to which has been added the new Rotary Area of Focus, Supporting the Environment; and,Innovation During COVID, a special category in this unusual pandemic-affected year. For further information, please visit the District website: https://rotarydistrict9800.org.au/sitepage/club-service/recognitions
This week I attended the CEO Satellite Rotary Club of Southbank meeting at which Club member Robert Pradolin, CEO of Housing All Australians gave an incredibly interesting insight to homelessness, the key area of focus for the Club. Robert was able to highlight that the CEO network (and indeed the entire Rotary network) is an important avenue for creating awareness/education about the underlying causes of homelessness – enough to build respectful unrest at many levels to influence Government to act on this issue. It was an extremely informative meeting.
This Saturday is the first Morning Tea with the DG for 2021. The line up of speakers and topics include an update from Rotary Melbourne on their Centenary Celebrations;
Warwick Cavell and DGE Dale Hoy will talk about International Student Mentoring;
Maurie Stack, the Chairman of the Rotary Foundation Australia Ltd will provide information on the new public benevolent institution; Sue Vincent will speak on Acknowledgement to Country; and, Club Service Chair Sue Foley will talk to us about the G'day Network & St Patricks Day.
Lastly, our Victorian Conference with all five Districts is well underway. I'm very happy with the planning and the content, particularly the speakers that have been booked for this virtual Conference on 1st and 2nd May from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm. You can expect inspiring presentations and fabulous musical entertainment.
Have a great week everyone … look forward to seeing your smiling faces at the Morning Tea!
Opened in 1948, Camp Getaway was an initiative of Rotary Bendigo in response to the need for a youth camp in the region. Today, the camp is a wonderful respite that caters for people of all abilities and mobility. It is a meeting place for support groups, and offers those who need it most a sanctuary away from their daily struggles. Whilst disability and related support groups have priority for booking dates, Camp Getaway welcomes bookings for family groups, church groups, clubs, special functions, business meetings and recreational groups.
Situated at Axedale, twenty kilometres east of Bendigo, the camp has myriad activities available, as well as fantastic tourist attractions within close proximity. It can accommodate up to 72 campers in three cabins each containing two twin bedrooms with ensuite; and two dormitories, each with 28-30 beds. Other main buildings include recreation and dining halls/lounge catering for up to 80-90 diners.
Management of the camp is through a Board made up of 15 Rotarians from different clubs. An onsite resident caretaker family oversees the day-to-day activities and voluntary Board Members provide the vast majority of labour input.
Whilst the Camp’s operating costs are met through site fees, the funding of capital improvements, major building maintenance and equipment is sought from Rotary club donations, local and regional businesses and individuals. And there are a number of projects that are needed, such as the rehabilitation of the double tennis/basketball court area, the refurbishment of the two toilet blocks and, an upgrade of the camp septic effluent disposal system. Over the next five years, mechanical and electrical equipment items, such as air conditioners will reach the end of their useful life and must be replaced.
Camp Getaway is a unique and important asset in District 9800 in which all Rotary clubs can be involved. You can assist the camp by:
Including the camp in the distribution of your club’s funds;
Sponsoring under-privileged groups in your area to midweek camps. This will provide a much needed community service and help boost the camp’s operating income;
Visiting the camp, perhaps even partnering with another club, for a weekend away. The weekend could take the form of a working bee – there are lots of little jobs to do around the camp – or just a getaway for fun and fellowship in a COVID-safe way.
The camp’s on-going viability and success is dependent upon the contribution and involvement of Rotarians and clubs across our District. For further information, email kmaxfiel@bigpond.net.au (no ‘d’) or telephone 0412 489 580. I am also available as a guest speaker.
The quest for world understanding and peace has been a cornerstone of Rotary since its early days.
For an early history on Rotary’s involvement in the framework for the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights; finalising, the charter of the United Nations; and the ongoing commitment to peace, click on this link.
By Rowan McClean, District 9800 Club Service Chair
A simple tool to guide clear thinking, planning and effective delivery for project meetings is to use and implement what is known as PDO – Purpose and Desired Outcomes.
When you are setting up a meeting or a project, define the Purpose of the activity, i.e. why are we doing it? Clearly spelling out the purpose allows you to focus and save time as well as resources.
Why are we having this meeting? "Well, we always meet on Mondays!” Is there a Purpose for it, or are we just falling into a pattern that wastes time and resources?
Clarifying the Purpose of a project can also be valuable. Purpose is not the ‘What’ or the ‘How’ – it is the ‘Why’.
The second valuable component is thinking about what we want to end up with when the activity is finished. Not just 'pie in the sky', but a realistic assessment of the results we are pursuing and can achieve.
A hypothetical example is: "The Purpose of this meeting is to discuss our possible contribution to indigenous health. The Desired Outcomes are to agree on a list of medical equipment we can fund from a request from the Alice Springs Health Service, and to task one of our project group members to submit a business case for the expenditure to our next Club Board meeting."
Simple … action-orientated ... clear … effective. Try PDO as a good practice tool.
By Rowan McClean, District 9800 Club Service Chair
Ann’s father was in Rotary for fifty years; her grandfather was President of Rotary Essendon when Royce Abbey was inducted; and, two of her uncles were Rotarians. You might say Rotary was in Ann’s blood, so it was not surprising that she joined Albert Park Rotary in 1993 just four years after women were admitted to Rotary.
Ann recalled that Albert Park had recruited, in her words “some madcap members” who embraced fun and tackled activities that people said couldn’t be done. The Club also balanced local and overseas projects, understanding that the needs of developing countries are far greater than the needs here with the exception of our indigenous populations.
“I understand the need to look after yourself and do things in your own backyard and, while I am happy to work locally, I would not feel like a true Rotarian in Rotary International if we were not involved outside this very lucky country,” Ann said.
A trail-blazer for women in Rotary, Ann became the first female club President at Albert Park in 1996/97; chaired the Membership and Club Service Committees at District level; and, was the first female Assistant Governor before being appointed the first D9800 female District Governor in 2001/2002.
Highlights in her year as District Governor included the District Conference at Mount Buller, recruiting members and chartering clubs. A standout for her, though, was the awe-inspiring international assembly at which District Governors prepare for their year. Through persistence, and considerable “cheek”, Ann became a District Assembly trainer, and eventually a trainer of trainers, so that she could continue at international level.
Ann has found that the rewards from her involvement with Rotary have come from shared values and satisfying project outcomes with colleagues. Having observed how clubs often mature, resist change and revert to safe projects, she is grateful for the opportunity to have chartered three clubs and strongly promoted the E-Club, as she believes new blood revitalises Rotary.
On membership retention, Ann feels that with so many activities competing for time, we must tailor expectations and actively enlist non-Rotarians in projects.
Ann has prioritised her own IT businesses right now, but with luck, we might see her once again involved in a substantial way.
Her two rules of conduct are: “Everything in moderation – nothing in excess,” and “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.”
With his father and older brother working in the creative advertising world, it was odds on that Matt too would choose to enter the same field. Thirty years on and he’s now the Managing Director of The Creative Works, a communications agency that is heavily focused on the not-for profit sector. Having worked for the big three in his early career (George Patterson, Clemenger and JWT), Matt prefers the impact his agency has on making people’s lives better through the creation of standout communications strategies that build socially-minded brands.
With a strong alignment of values, it’s not too difficult to understand why Matt has chosen to join Rotary. In fact, Matt began working alongside Rotary some fifteen years ago when his agency helped create the communications strategy around the Rotary Mitre 10 ‘Clean Up Australia’ campaign. There have been other Rotary projects along the way as well, but more recent ones include the Rotary Safe Families and The G’Day Network campaigns.
Matt has a sincere desire to use his marketing and communications skills to help others and communities. After all, his work connects people – the messaging that his team creates brings people together through conversations that educate, entertain and even change behaviour. It’s an opportunity to make a positive social difference, and Matt is keen to share this experience with younger Rotarians.
The newly chartered CEO Rotary Satellite Club has been ideal for Matt to become involved with Rotary in a more substantial way, but at the same time, balance his work and family commitments. His two teenaged children also keep Matt and his wife, Belinda, very busy.
As with so many people running a business, COVID has presented challenges for Matt and his team. Working from home is not ideal when the creative process relies heavily on bouncing ideas off one another. Then there’s the equipment, such as large design machines that have had to be installed in the homes of staff members. However, being creative people, his team have developed creative ways to deal with these challenges and going forward, Matt sees permanent change to the way his team works.
Being flexible to change is something Matt believes is critical to remaining viable, even for Rotary. The new CEO Satellite Club concept is certainly a change to the normal Rotary club format with its monthly meetings and focus only on two or three strategic areas. He also believes that “filling the funnel with younger people” is really important for Rotary if it is to remain relevant to the times in which we live.
Youth Projects is an independent registered charity committed to breaking the cycle of disadvantage by providing front line support to individuals, particularly youth, experiencing unemployment, homelessness, alcohol, and other drug issues. They also help those looking to re-engage with learning and employment. A key service provided by Youth Projects is through Night Nurses Outreach.
This service involves an after-hours primary care team (night nurses) to deliver health care on the streets of Melbourne for people sleeping rough or experiencing homelessness. They address the immediate and primary care needs of these disadvantaged people by providing health and social assessments, professional nursing care, counselling and active support, first aid, medication management and follow-ups.
It is to support the essential work of the Night Nurses Outreach service that the Rotary Cub of Essendon has formed a partnership with Youth Projects, and have been successful in receiving a District 9800 Foundation Grant of $2,000 for what we have called the Youth Projects - After Dark Program. The club’s matching contribution will therefore bring the total amount for this project to $4,000. These funds will enable the purchase of medical supplies, sunscreen, and backpacks to support the night nurses with their after-hours primary care services to people on the streets of Melbourne.
An average of 60 people per week are provided support services through this program and Rotary Essendon is a proud partner in this essential work.
In 1919 the flat land of St. Johns farm, about 10 kilometres north of Melbourne CBD, became the fledging Aero Club’s grassy landing field. In 1921 the Commonwealth Government acquired that property, which then officially became the Essendon Airport and remains so to this day. The airport’s WW2 defence activities led the Essendon Football Club, mundanely named the “Don’s” to adopt the soubriquet of the mighty ‘Bombers” – well they will be again one day!
The long-established and successful Rotary Club of Essendon, looking to widen Rotary membership, chartered Essendon North with 22 eager members at a gala dinner on 24 February 1976. Three of them, John Boundy, Max Nichols and Sam Pennisi are still actively involved and regularly attend club meetings.
Those early days saw the out and proud members running a profitable fund-raiser spinning wheel raffle at the now defunct Moonee Ponds market together with pre-Bunnings BBQ’s generating funds for community needs and the donation of a much needed mini-bus to the Essendon City Council for transport of the elderly. Adding to the charitable purse they were also seen conducting blood pressure tests in local shopping centres.
Today, numbering about 30 members, the club meets (COVID restrictions permitting) at the Hyatt Hotel located in the rapidly developing airport estate now known as Essendon Fields.
Donations In Kind and “Youth” are strongly supported in the broad mix of Club activities with emphasis changing with the demand and ability to supply.
Currently, major fund-raising activities have been, and hopefully will be again, an Australia Day Breakfast, Oaks Day Luncheon and Christmas Tree sales - all held under COVID restrictions.
With broadcaster Peter Hitchener OAM as guest speaker, this year’s successful breakfast raised funds in support of “Love Me Love You” a NFP organisation founded by ex-Essendon Grammar boy and retired VFL footballer Lance Piciane to “…empower the community to create positive change for Mental Health”.
And to complete the fund–raising circle, the club ran a welcome “past its use by date” Christmas Tree mulching opportunity on Sunday 3 January 2021.
Footnote: Your correspondent has been a fickle on-and-off Bomber supporter since the late 1950s.
The Rotary Doll Lovers Fellowship is a worldwide group of Rotarians who share a common interest in dolls as a symbol of international culture and friendship.
The Fellowship came about as a result of the establishment of a Doll Museum in the city of Rajkot, Gujarat State, India in 2004. The idea for this Museum started some three years earlier when a request was made from the Rotary Club of Rajkot Midtown to Rotarians worldwide. The Museum required dolls from Rotarians that were handmade and symbolised the culture and traditions of the country in which they were made. The main purpose of the Doll Museum was to enable disadvantaged children and others to attend the Museum, enjoy the dolls and through them learn about other parts of the world, their people’s culture and customs.
As a consequence of the outreach to Rotarians around the globe, the Museum received a very generous supply of ethnic dolls, indicating an ideal example of the true internationality of Rotary. Together with the Dolls, there were letters and notes explaining the culture, tradition, life styles, food recipes and prominent personalities, etc. of the relevant country. This proved a helpful addition to the understanding of each of the countries, their traditions and history.
Some Rotarians developed such a fondness for the dolls that they decided to make the extension to forming the Doll Lovers Fellowship, which commenced in 2005. The Fellowship maintained the program, known as “Gift a Smile,” which continues to encourage Rotarians worldwide to send their ethnic dolls to the Doll Museum so that as many countries as possible are represented. In addition, Rotary clubs or individual Rotarian members of the Fellowship are requested to donate 50 toys for under privileged children.
Membership of this Fellowship is open to all Rotarians, their partners, Rotaractors, and others connected to Rotary. There is no joining fee. However, there is the requirement that an ethnic doll is made for the Rajkot Doll Museum.
Membership of the Rotary Doll Lovers Fellowship offers the possibility of international cultural sharing, lifelong friendships and sharing experiences with others around the world through newsletters and the website.
Although not every country is represented in the Doll Lovers Fellowship, it is pleasing to note that Australia is represented through the Rotary Club of Albany Port, Western Australia.
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I'm delighted to confirm that Loryn Clark and Past District Governors Colin Muir and Ross Butterworth have advised me that the 
The lure of Rotary has ever been the friendships that have been found there.
By Ken Maxfield
By Rowan McClean, District 9800 Club Service Chair
By Tricia Reardon
By Lisa Lowcock, PP Rotary Club of Essendon
Henry Drury
Bringing the World Closer
The United Nations General Assembly designated 2021 as the "International Year of Peace and Trust”. Does your club have a Peace Project for this year?
