By the end of the month, I will have completed 12 Club visits and I am enjoying these immensely with my aide & driver my father Neil joining me at the majority of them. It has been great sharing my story and my thoughts with the members and hearing their feedback and questions. I am pleased to see that my focus on the importance of collaboration and the need to create a sense of belonging are resonating and being embraced.
You will be aware that I state on a regular basis that “I believe the children are our future” and this was reinforced yet again when I attended the Multi District Interact Conference. These amazing Young Adults are learning skills while following their passions and showing experienced Rotarians like myself a thing or two about organization and fundraising. I encourage all clubs to consider finding a local school to start Interact in and if you need assistance drop me an email at peter.shepheard@rotary9800.org and I will pass it on to the Interact team.
Our District is calling for volunteers to be on call to assist with our Rotary Oversea Repurposed Playgrounds program which requires help to disassemble play ground equipment and pack for transfer to storage and then when we have enough ready to assist with packing containers so the equipment can be sent overseas to places in need of outdoor equipment. Both are normally events only a few hours long and the more people involved the quicker the work can be done. Experienced leaders will run the processes, we just need able bodied members, family or friends willing to assist. The ability to use a drill or tools is also handy. If you or someone you know would be interested to be on our on call list please send an email to Peter Cribb at RORP9800@gmail.com
It seems the past month has been a season of both birthdays and births. We recently welcomed three “new arrivals” into our Rotary family – the Satellite Club of Balwyn Blues, the Rotaract Club of Music Makers, and the Rotary eClub of Melbourne-Manila. While we’ve only just celebrated their charter events, each of these clubs was in fact conceived during Immediate Past District Governor Michael Lapina’s year. Congratulations to him, and to all the energetic new members who have brought these vibrant clubs into the world.
Meanwhile, our more established clubs have been celebrating milestone birthdays of their own: Caroline Springs turned 10, Werribee marked 57 years, Bacchus Marsh reached 70, and the biggest cake of them all was cut in Bendigo as they celebrated their 100th. Each of these clubs has given so much to their communities over the years, and it’s clear that age is no barrier to service.
So, whether it’s newborn clubs finding their first voice or centenarians still showing how it’s done, one thing is certain: Rotary just keeps getting better with age.
Unite for Good
Peter Shepheard
It’s hard to believe that almost 2 months of the Rotary year have come and gone and what a jam packed month August has been. The month kicked off with a trip up to Macedon for afternoon with the current inbound and 2026 outbound Youth Exchange Students, their parents, the host families and the Committee. 
