SPOKE 'N' WORDS

Issue  34
15th March 2023
 
Join our meeting

Most Wednesdays at
The Beaconsfield Club,
Holm Park, Beaconsfield, 
Victoria, Australia

Enquire by Email:
Visitors and Rotarians are welcome.
 
Post: P.O. Box 30, Berwick 3806
Meetings & Events
Travel Guide Partners night: Egypt and Jordan
The Beaconsfield Club
Mar 22, 2023
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
 
Bowling night with RC Monbulk
Berwick Bowling Club
Mar 29, 2023
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
 
Rae Mackay - Latrobe Valley Coal Mine Rehabilitation.
The Beaconsfield Club
Apr 05, 2023
6:30 PM – 8:03 PM
 
View entire list
Our Sponsors
 
March is Water & Sanitation
Month on the Rotary calendar.
 
Clean water, sanitation and hygiene education are basic necessities for a healthy environment and a productive life.
 
World Water Day on 22 March is an opportunity to learn about Rotary’s commitment to provide clean water and sanitation.
Executives & Directors
President
 
Co-President
 
Treasurer
 
President Elect
 
Secretary
 
Membership and Public Image
 
Youth Protection Officer
 
Youth
 
Projects and Fundraising
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Jeanette Blackwood
March 2
 
Jane Moore
March 4
 
Sharmaine Squire
March 5
 
Michele Somers
March 9
 
Di Scheepers
March 10
 
David Nutter
March 13
 
Spouse Birthdays
Wendy Boon
March 1
 
Jane Moore
March 4
 
Rosaleen French
March 4
 
Sharon
March 7
 
Ann Kraan
March 13
 
Warren Lukey
March 18
 
Anniversaries
David Anderson
Sharon
March 10
 
John Rosenthal
Helen Rosenthal
March 11
 
Di Double
Geoff Double
March 13
 
Geoff Double
Di Double
March 13
 
Greg Lee
Sharon Verbi
March 23
 
Jim Wilson
Josie Wilson
March 26
 
Sam McCurdy
Pat McCurdy
March 31
 

As World Rotaract Week (13-19 March) kicks off, Rotaractor and public image coordinator Philip Flindt shares his secrets for planning exciting events.

 
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Co-President's Report 17-3-23
Posted by Co-President Jack Kraan:
 
Last Wednesday evening we conducted a joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Narre Warren.  President Tim Fisher introduced a project that his Club was supporting in Tonga and sought our Club’s assistance. 
 
Our guest speaker was Ma’ake Lolohea from 'Our Lady Help of Christians Parish' in Narre Warren . 
 
 
The volcanic eruption of the Hunga-Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano on January 15, 2022, was one of the largest ever recorded in Tonga. The eruption triggered tsunami waves of up to 15m which struck the west coast of Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai.
 
The 'Our Lady Help of Christians Parish' in Narre Warren offered to help one of the most severely affected secondary schools in Tonga, 'Apifo'ou College.
 
This parish has strong links with Tonga as many of its parishioners are from there. The parish contacted the school and requested a list of needs, especially equipment that had been lost in the Tsunami that followed the earthquake. This school is right on the beach area and was first of all covered in volcanic ash and then flooded in the tsunami, so almost everything was lost.  
 
The parish collected a large range of educational equipment and consumables.  The goods have been packed in a 20ft shipping container and will be sent to Tonga on 26th March.
 
To ship the container costs $9,600, of which the church is paying $2,000.  The RC of Narre Warren is contributing $4,000 and our Club is paying $2,000.  Half of each Club’s contributions are paid from District grants. The Apifo'ou Ex-Students Association in Melbourne is contributing the balance. 
 
This is an excellent example of what can be achieved by organisations working together. 
 
It also demonstrates what can be achieved by utilising the resources of The Rotary Foundation, in this instance District Grants. This enabled our Club’s $1,000 contribution to be doubled.
 
The Narre Warren Club have also offered to work with us and provide assistance with the Nossal High School Mock Interviews to be held on 27th & 28th April. 
 
Please don’t forget to advise Di Scheepers at di.scheepers@gmail.com if you can assist.
 
Co-President Jack Kraan
Art Screen Hire in action
Posted by Trevor Watson:
 
Our Art Screen team began Friday morning with an early delivery to the "In One Voice' Festival" in Elsternwick.
 
This is a street festival held on Sunday 19th March that celebrates Jewish life in Melbourne.
 
 
Here the team is photographed with abstract artist, Gayle Sachs, and her work.
Kicking in with the crew
There is nothing better than getting up at 5.00am on a Sunday morning just for the pleasure of making a difference! That's what Trevor, Russell and myself did last Sunday to help the Rotary Club of Dandenong- Endeavour Hills with their major fundraising event, The All Holden Car Show.
 
Firstly, I love working with other Rotary Clubs on their events. It broadens my network, feeds in new ideas and concepts and I get the whole event experience, while I do my best in a minor day job. Months of planning could be tossed down the sink just by me not doing a good job. Pressure!!
 
My job was to point each car into the right direction, usually handballing them to Russell or Trevor. I was surprised by the frequent comments of appreciation for what Rotary does for this event.
 
Every part of this event was being judged by the participants, the public and the ruling bodies (councils, car clubs etc.). To get positive comments early in means that Rotary was getting it right for this event.
 
Apart from organising perfect Car Show weather, we as volunteers should appreciate our ability to deliver customer service, and in this case maybe I shouldn't have been surprised at all. This event was well organised and well run.
 
 
The morning started out well with a blank canvas. Zero cars! Our ranks were depleted by the late arrival of five from RC Belgrave (the A team of parkers), so Rus and Trev took the hard job of parking, while I took the easier meeter, greeter and handballer role.
 
From a personal perspective, I loved to meet other people with passion, just like I have about Rotary. I loved to learn about the backstory of their vehicles, how they found them, and who they connected with along the way. 
 
 
Four hours later, here is our work unfolded. A great morning out, filled with good vibes and Trevor even won third prize in the raffle. Happy Days!
 
Many of us get involved with Rotary to do Community Projects. Don't be shy to volunteer on a Rotary Project, because volunteering is just like a box of chocolates - who knows what you will find!
 
We are one Rotary, so step outside your Club, District, or Zone and make Rotary happen.
Saturday Coffee Catch Up ends
The Saturday Coffee Catch Up over Zoom was introduced during the COVID shutdowns to allow members to drop in for a chat.
 
Now that the COVID pandemic has eased and we are back to full face-to-face club meetings, and with only two or so members attending the session, its purpose has expired. 
 
The Board has determined that the following zoom link for the coffee catch up will expire on 31st March. 
 
Password: Rotaryzoom
 
The last session will be available on Saturday 25th March at 10.00am.
 
ALL members are welcome to join the remaining sessions.
Annual bowling competition
Posted by Funno:
The annual lawn bowls challenge with the Rotary Club of Monbulk will be held this year at the Berwick Bowling Club in Manuka Road, on Wednesday 29th March.
 
The competition was started many years ago by a milkman, Allan Funston (The original Funno), and a butcher, Bob Gray. They thought it would be a good way to promote fellowship between their respective Rotary Clubs of Berwick and Monbulk.
 
Unfortunately, the "Funno's Fours" Bowling Trophy as it is called, has been dominated over recent years by the Monbulk club, so this year we want to bring it home to where it belongs!
 
Therefore, if you have a friend that bowls well, please bring them along to strengthen our team.
 
For $35 you will get a game of bowls and a meal catered for by the Inner Wheel Club of Berwick.
 
Please note that numbers are required for catering purposes by Friday 24th March.  (However, latecomers will also be welcome.)
 
You will need to wear flat shoes (No heels), or play barefoot.  It is recommended that you arrive at 6:30pm to get in some practice before the competition starts at 7:00pm.
 
Bowling balls will be provided, if you don't have your own. Volunteers will be on hand to tutor those that may need it.
 
We look forward to seeing you there.
 
Mock Interviews at Nossal High School
Posted by Sam McCurdy:
 
Nossal High School has requested our assistance in conducting Mock Interviews for 2023.  The interviews are planned for Thursday 27th and Friday 28th April.
 
These require approximately a dozen Rotarians interviewing a total of around 200 Year-11 students over a two-day period, to prepare them for future job interviews. 
 
Each interview should take about 10 minutes and is designed to provide the student with constructive feedback to improve their future interview performance. 
 
 
In previous years we have combined with members of the Rotary Club of Narre Warren to achieve the number of Rotarians necessary, and the interviews have been very successful.
 
Rotarian Di Scheepers has agreed to manage the Mock Interviews for our club and will work with Teacher, Marion Campagna, who is coordinating the activity for Nossal High School.
 
Di has already organised seven potential volunteers for the Mock Interviews, but would welcome more.  The greater the number - the quicker the process can be completed.
 
She will also collaborate with the RC of Narre Warren to see if they can assist us.
 
The Mock Interviews are a very rewarding experience and you will be impressed by the quality of the students.
 
If you are available to assist, please contact Di on 0420 719 796, or by email at di.scheepers@gmail.com .
 
Regionalisation Project Update
An email from the Regionalisation Pilot Project Team:
 
 
Since our last update in December, the Regionalisation Pilot Project Team has been working hard behind the scenes on various aspects of the Regionalisation Pilot. 

In particular, our team of around 100 volunteers from throughout Zone 8 has been consulting with District Governors, Elects and Nominees. Through this process, we have been able to determine our next steps and update the pilot timeline (See below).
We have also been creating an in-depth business case to present to the Rotary International Board in April 2023, which is the next critical step as we start to implement the pilot.

As we move into the pilot’s next phase you can expect regular communications from us, so please keep a look out for emails from the team.
 
You can have your say by visiting creatingtomorrowrotary.org or emailing us directly at rotaryregionalpilot@gmail.com.

We are looking for people who are passionate about the future of Rotary and Rotaract to fill a number of exciting roles in our team. If you’d like to volunteer, please fill out the application form.

The work occurring in the coming months will signal exciting milestones for this project. We look forward to keeping you informed as we approach the pilot’s start on 1 January 2024.

Our next update will share the results of the April Rotary International Board Meeting.

Sincerely,

Regionalisation Pilot Project Team
Co-chairs Ingrid Waugh (NZ/Oceania) and Peter Frueh (Australia)