Hi $FIRST_NAME$, This week we had a visit from District Governor Linda Humphries and Past District Governor Mark Humphries. It was an informative evening with plenty to think about and take action on.
In 2008, the Rotary Clubs of Pakenham and Koo Wee Rup-Lang Lang joined forces to raise funds for a significant humanitarian project. Their collective effort aimed to construct a three-classroom building at Chamabondo School, located in an underprivileged region of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The profound impact of this initiative became evident when Pakenham Rotarian George Blenkhorn and his wife Sue visited the school in 2010 and discovered a heartfelt acknowledgment on the wall, recognizing the contributions of both Rotary Clubs.
Fast forward to 2021, members of the Rotary Club of Pakenham paid a visit to the Rotary Donations In Kind (DIK) warehouse in West Footscray to deliver wheelchairs. While there, they noticed a range of goods that could be used to improve the lives of the people living in Victoria Falls. After consultations with the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls, a plan was devised to dispatch a container of essential items from DIK to areas with significant needs. A comprehensive wish list was prepared for the local hospital and three schools. The list for the Victoria Falls hospital alone required the equivalent of four 40-foot containers. DIK's quote of $7,250 per 40ft container, along with transportation costs of $17,500 from Melbourne to Victoria Falls, set the stage for an ambitious undertaking.
To fulfil this mission, the Rotary Club of Pakenham generously covered the container expenses, and they reached out to fellow Rotary Clubs of Berwick, Casey, Cranbourne, and Greater Dandenong, who readily offered their support to this noble cause. The initiative was all set to launch in 2022, but an unforeseen surge in shipping costs caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, escalating the expenses to $36,500, led to a temporary postponement of the project.
However, in August of this year, a turning point emerged when DIK informed the group that the container could be sent from Melbourne to Bulawayo for a reduced cost of $17,000, provided it was paid within seven days. The five participating clubs successfully raised the required funds, and the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls graciously agreed to cover the expenses for the onward journey from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls.
On the 10th of this month, members of the Rotary Clubs came together to pack the container, which was destined for Port Melbourne for shipment. The container was filled with a valuable assortment of supplies, including 30 modern hospital beds and bedside cabinets, 132 cartons of assorted surgical instruments and consumables, a baby resuscitator machine and baby care stations, as well as school desks and chairs.
It's worth noting that all the items supplied by DIK are sourced through donations from hospitals, schools, and businesses when they upgrade their stock and equipment or have excess or outdated goods. DIK plays a pivotal role in distributing these goods, both within Australia and globally, contributing to humanitarian efforts in communities around the world, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Rotary Clubs.
Well it is that time of the year to say farwell to our Year 12 Interact students from St Margaret's - Berwick Grammar Interact Club. A small ceremony took place to present certificates and badges to the members in recognition of their service. Since it was the last day for the year 12's, they were not in school uniform. Two members of the Rotary Club of Emerald were present, President Sangeeta Bajaj, PP Catherine Elfick (the photographer) and one Berwick Rotarian, David Button.
During this week's meeting, PDG Mark Humphries delivered a compelling presentation to our Club, shedding light on the vital role of the Rotary Foundation in underpinning our various Rotary Club of Berwick projects, facilitated through the District and Global Grant mechanisms.
The roots of the Rotary Foundation trace back to the 1917 convention when Arch Klumph, the outgoing Rotary president, proposed the establishment of an endowment with the noble aim of making a positive impact on the world. This visionary idea, backed by an initial contribution of just $26.50, ignited The Rotary Foundation, which has touched the lives of countless individuals across the globe. It's an expectation that Every Rotarian, Every Year, contributes $26.50 to sustain the Rotary Foundation's mission. If every Rotarian contributed just a little, great good could be done in the world.
Our Rotary Club of Berwick also has a Centurion Club, which used to have widespread support from our members when PP Rob Taylor (Dec.) used to run it. Rob encouraged each member to contribute $100 AUD annually. Looking back. It was a personal reminder and a gesture of respect that transformed this tax-deductible donation into a painless and gratifying experience, especially when our collective Club generosity was recognized.
It is essential to understand that our Club relies on the funding provided by the Rotary Foundation to bring our projects to fruition. While our Club's support remains steadfast, it's worth noting that over the past year, only six individual members, alongside the Club itself, have contributed to the Rotary Foundation. Imagine if the other 38 members put in $26.50 AUD each, that adds an extra $1000 AUD to our total contributions and adds to our ability to fund our work.
Despite this, the historical records of our Club's giving efforts proudly reveal a cumulative total of $387,176 US in support of the Rotary Foundation's invaluable work. It is a bit misleading because exchange rates change over time, but in today's money, that is $603896.25 AUD.
Please get in touch with Foundation Chair PP Jack Kraan if you would like to learn more about rejoining the Centurion Club, becoming an EREY (Every Rotarian, Every Year) member, or learning more about giving to the Rotary Foundation.
Now that funds from a grant have been received, a site meeting was held on Friday, the 6th of October, to determine the scope of works and the date of the first working bee at the Langmore Community Garden by members of the Rotary Club of Berwick.
Saturday, the 11th of November, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
We will meet under the Oak tree on the corner of Gloucester Avenue and Keith Taylor Drive, Berwick. The initial work will involve clearing the site and loading a skip bin. This work will help prepare the site for the installation of edging, a toppings path, improvements to the garden bed, planting and mulching and possibly irrigation, which will occur at future working bees.
Between these stages, maintenance staff from St John of God will install a drinking fountain and seat to complement the area.
Laury and I delivered donation collection cages to five local schools today for the annual Rotary Berwick and District Benevolent Society Christmas Appeal: Nossal High School Kambrya College Berwick College St Margarets Berwick Grammar School - Berwick Campus St Margarets Berwick Grammar School - Officer Campus.
Unfortunately, I forgot to get any photos.
Other participating schools (no cages) are: Haileybury - Berwick St Margarets Junior School
We have engaged the Interact Club at Nossal to take an active involvement in the collection and will do the same for SMBGS.
A number of readers have commented on this story and are pretty excited to be joining the last D9820 Conference ever. I am running this story again because there is more to a District Conference than just fluff and bubbles. There is real value and a great weekend away if you are prepared to make an effort to connect and learn from passionate Rotarians, build your network and relax enough to soak it all in. There is a lot to be said about being in the moment. Rotary is a big-picture organisation, so one moment could last a lifetime!
Over to Jane
We all love a good time, we all love to spend time with friends, we all love to be entertained, we all need a break away from the everyday and to be rejuvenated and inspired, we love a road trip to a regional area and to support regional towns. What’s not to look forward to in spending a weekend of fun and friendship together as club mates?
The D9820 conference team have been beavering away for more than a year, engaging the likes of Mr Magic himself, the wonderfully talented and funny Jonathan Usher from New Zealand. His wit, mastery of illusion, warmth and professional emcee ability will have you looking forward to going to the conference sessions and rolling in the aisles! Jonathan Usher – Magician, Comedian, Speaker and MC based in Dunedin New Zealand (hocuspocus.nz) The lineup of speakers is inspiring and relevant – be inspired in the company of new and old friends, rejuvenate your why, gain a vision beyond club level, revive your membership or simply have a ball!
In the formal sense, Rotary District Conferences are a mandate of Rotary International. The purpose being to provide opportunities for networking, inspirational addresses, and discussion of Rotary related matters, to hear the message of the Rotary International President and to provide memorable friendship experiences.
In days of old, the Rotary Club of Berwick had at least 80% of the 60 members and partners attend the annual conference. A group of us would head to the location the week after it had been announced and scope for a caravan park that had all levels of accommodation from deluxe cabins to unpowered tent sites – something for everyone! We’d make a block booking and really look forward to the following year. A park created fabulous socialising opportunities for being together. BBQ breakfasts, after conference coffee and drinks around a the camp, pre dinner drinkies and the much celebrated Club president’s gathering before the Saturday night dinner. Dress ups were the go and we would wear club “themed” uniform. Some will remember the pink theme – imagine Tim in a pink t-shirt donning a pink curly wig and we once saw a very gorgeous Viviana Dominguez in fishnet stockings and a Charleston dress. At our club conference the theme was Chinese. There were a number of rice grains hitting the dance floor! Funno would bring BJ along and a dearly departed Fred McCubbin would hide his whiskey in a coffee cup! Such great memories, such great club bonding times.
So for all of the reasons above AND because this will be the penultimate D9820 conference being the last before we amalgamate with our neighbouring District friends in July, let’s go out with a huge contingent of Berwick bods celebrating District 9820!
Tim and I will still be there. A bit of a drive from our new home in QLD, but we’ve registered and booked a site for our van at Discovery Park, 25 Pertobe Street Warrnambool. There are cabins of all levels and motel rooms on site too. A 6 minute drive from the venue, there are heaps of options still available. If a park is not your style, gather some friends and book a house, or go upmarket and treat yourself to something special!
Rosemarie Hughes watched this episode of The Pacific on the ABC which gives favourable mention of the Rotary Clubs of Narre Warren and Berwick for their disaster aid support. Watch the episode via the link below (the story starts 16:00 minutes into the episode). I’m not sure how we can share his snippet with other members.
Thanks to Rosemarie for alerting us to this story.
Rotary Foundation receives highest rating from Charity Navigator for 15th consecutive yearFor the 15th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating – four stars – from
Rotary to amplify climate action at COP28 in DubaiRotary will help facilitate collaboration on community-led climate action, and discuss the intersection of climate change and
We all love a good time, we all love to spend time with friends, we all love to be entertained, we all need a break away from the everyday and to be rejuvenated and inspired, we love a road trip to a regional area and to support regional towns. What’s not to look forward to in spending a weekend of fun and friendship together as club mates?
In days of old, the Rotary Club of Berwick had at least 80% of the 60 members and partners attend the annual conference. A group of us would head to the location the week after it had been announced and scope for a caravan park that had all levels of accommodation from deluxe cabins to unpowered tent sites – something for everyone! We’d make a block booking and really look forward to the following year. A park created fabulous socialising opportunities for being together. BBQ breakfasts, after conference coffee and drinks around a the camp, pre dinner drinkies and the much celebrated Club president’s gathering before the Saturday night dinner. Dress ups were the go and we would wear club “themed” uniform. Some will remember the pink theme – imagine Tim in a pink t-shirt donning a pink curly wig and we once saw a very gorgeous Viviana Dominguez in fishnet stockings and a Charleston dress. At our club conference the theme was Chinese. There were a number of rice grains hitting the dance floor! Funno would bring BJ along and a dearly departed Fred McCubbin would hide his whiskey in a coffee cup! Such great memories, such great club bonding times.
