Every year, a District Governor will likely turn up at a club meeting to get a feel of how the club is going. The DG visit is always a special occasion for a club with a special Rotary message from higher up the tree. This week, it was our turn as District Governor Paul Mee appeared along with his wonderful partner Adele.
DG Paul and Adele were soon on alert for the traditional ‘timing’ of the DG presentation the RC of Berwick is known for. Isobel tallied the times, and the raffle was off! In good fun, DG Paul joined in the frivolity.
To the delight of many, DG Paul's presentation was light-hearted, informative, and, most of all, interactive! Perhaps the highlight was the opportunity for many of the audience to voice their view on why they were proud to belong to the Rotary Club of Berwick. What we do, what we have achieved and what we like about being part of our great club came thick and fast! The good thing was that all members and guests were totally absorbed by his message and by his interest in what we do!
Our great Art Screen Hire business and the crew who make it happen.
The Deb Balls, going for 37 years so far.
District grants for BlazeAid trailers and the Grasmere Wetland project.
District Scholarship grants.
Our Global grant for clean water to six villages in the Philippines.
The work going on with the Rotary Berwick and District Benevolent Society with food and toy collections.
Our involvement with Donations in Kind with school furniture pickups, Balibo dental clinic, and Honiara dental clinic
Our local cleanup projects, such as the Berwick Cemetary, going 51 years
Our support for Rotary youth programs, including Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, National Youth Science Forum, and Model of United Nations Assembly. All powerful developmental programs that are designed to enhance leadership in young people.
Our relationship with our local schools through Interact and Mock Interviews.
Our relationship with our sponsor, St John of God and the development of projects that benefit the community in the St John of God space.
and then our many social functions, such as movie nights, theme nights, and when we join in with other Cluster club meetings.
In the end, I think we missed out on mentioning quite a few, but it was nice to have the collective opportunity to reflect on what we are proud of by belonging to the Rotary Club of Berwick.
As an aside, with many of the aforementioned activities, there are moments where relationships are created, ideas gel, gears turn, and experiences are generated. It is engagement in the activity that brings about a successful outcome but also cements a feeling of overall achievement. Our club is no slouch when put to the test, but there is always room for more!
Thank you, DG Paul and Adele, for your visit. It was great you focused on the RC of Berwick and what the members are proud of. Members are reminded of the District Conference at Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula on 24th to 26th February 2023. It looks like a great chance for members to catch up with friends and learn more about Rotary.
Andrew and Michele are sure to entertain, especially with Andrew's quirky knack for recalling obscure facts about just about anything. I am sure you will learn something you didn't know before!
The travel guide series of social events have proven to be just as informative as they are entertaining and this one should be both! I hope to see you there. BOOK HERE
The Club’s Art Screen Hire project continues to flourish under Trevor Watson’s management.
Recently we had two jobs involving the delivery and pick-up of screens at Kilbreda College in Mentone and the Noble Park Community Centre.
The Noble Park Community Centre delivery team
This is one of the Club’s most important fundraising projects with several thousand dollars being raised by these two jobs alone. It is also encouraging to note an increase in the number of female members assisting with the jobs
Trevor has already issued a comprehensive schedule of orders from clients up until 18th January. The next scheduled job is for the Emerald Art Show which involves delivery of screens on Friday 28th October and pick up on Wednesday 2nd November.
There is an ongoing need for volunteers to assist with the delivery and pick up of the screens, so please let Trevor know when you can help.
You will certainly enjoy the camaraderie among the volunteers going to and from the venues.
On the morning of Friday 14th October, Trevor and I visited the Shed to pick up two ‘Christmas Appeal’ collection cages for delivery to Berwick College and Berwick Grammar.
Trevor noticed that the side fence on Vesper Drive had been damaged and the security of the compound significantly jeopardised.
On identifying a car grill and other small items on the Shed side of the fence, we concluded that a car speeding along Vesper Drive had failed to take the corner and ploughed through the fence damaging the steel supports and the wire fencing. The incident may have resulted from the previous night’s heavy rain. The following photos taken by Trevor reveal the damage caused.
We registered the damage with the City of Casey that day and on the following Monday we found that the fence had been repaired over the weekend. That is excellent customer service!
Congratulations to the City of Casey's maintenance crew on a job well done.
Issue 17
19th October 2022
Join our meeting
Most Wednesdays at
The Beaconsfield Club,
Holm Park, Beaconsfield,
Victoria, Australia
October is Economic and Community Development Month
The work of Rotary begins in the community, and every community has its own unique needs and concerns.
While we serve in countless ways, we’ve focused our efforts in seven key areas to maximize our impact. These areas encompass some of the world’s most critical and widespread humanitarian needs.
Rotary members planning new service projects are encouraged to consider these areas and the many opportunities for innovative projects within them.
Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation extending fundraising partnership to eradicate polioPartnership will infuse an additional US$450 million into global polio
The usual club meeting on the 2nd November, will now be moved to Monday 31st October (at Holm Park) to learn more about the Wheelchairs for Kids Project of the RC of Casey.
31st October 2022, 6.30pm for a 7pm start.
Presented by our District 9820 Chair for Wheel Chair for Kids Grant Klaaysen.
Venue: The Beaconsfield Club,
100 Beaconsfield-Emerald Road, Beaconsfield 3807
Cost: $25 includes: 2 Course Meal, Drinks at Bar Prices
We have a charter booked for Wednesday, 30th November sailing out of Hastings. The cost is $160 per person and includes a BBQ lunch. Anyone is welcome to join us, not just Rotarians, who likes a social day out on a boat with a bit of fishing on the side.
If you want to join us, please contact Roger Thornton by email at rogerthornton2010@gmail.com or give him a ring on 0418812652. Limit on the tour is 20 people. It is peak Snapper season, so it should be a nice day out on the water.
Well it all starts off on Friday with captivating choices to explore the local area. Take a delicious winery OR garden bus tour with lunch, or try your luck on breaking your handicap in a round of golf on the delightful RACV Cape Schanck course.
On Friday night, arrange your Club dinner in any of the multitudes of cafes and restaurants which abound in the local area.
On Saturday, settle in to enjoy an impressive array of presentations by the following Keynote speakers:
Kate Roffey, President of the Melbourne Football Club,
Warren Tate, Communications expert,
Julia Kay, 2022 Young Victorian of the Year and co-Director of Great Wrap,
Samuel Johnson, 2018 Victorian of the Year, actor and founder of Love Your sister,
Rotary projects and discussions will also be made by:
Jennifer Jones, Rotary International President and Ian Riseley, Rotary Foundation Chair and Past Rotary International President who will share a virtual conversation with us
Jessie Harman, Zone 8 representative.
Bernie Farquhar, Rotary Club of Mitchell River
Ross Kilborn, Rotary Club of Mornington.
After enjoying a day of learning and connection building, it is time to kick up your heels at the Saturday night themed Beach Party dinner. Accompanying the gourmet event, the Baker Boy Band will treat you to fabulous music. The Baker Boy Band have played at a number of District Conference dinners and they are always on point with their entertainment.
Sunday morning starts with a breakfast session and a presentation by Kevin Sheedy, 2022 Victorian of the Year and Libby Wilson, Rotary Club of Rosebud Rye (RCRR). A tour of the Rotary Rosebud Warehouse: https://www.facebook.com/rosebudwarehouse/ will be offered to interested Conference participants as they leave from breakfast and head home. This is a major project of the Rotary Club of Rosebud-Rye and well worth a visit if you are interested in how a Rotary Club can run a very big and ongoing project that requires a lot of capital investment.
Saturday Coffee Catch Up over Zoom, and all members are welcome to drop in for a chat.
