SPOKE 'N' WORDS

Issue  36
29th 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
Rae Mackay - Latrobe Valley Coal Mine Rehabilitation.
The Beaconsfield Club
Apr 05, 2023
6:30 PM – 8:03 PM
 
Black Dog
The Beaconsfield Club
Apr 12, 2023
6:30 PM – 8:03 PM
 
Quilts of Valour
The Beaconsfield Club
Apr 19, 2023
6:30 PM – 8:03 PM
 
Travel Guide Partners night: Canada
The Beaconsfield Club
Apr 26, 2023
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
 
View entire list
Our Sponsors

St John of God Hospital

Bendigo Community Bank Beaconsfield

 
Rotary provides immunizations and antibiotics to babies, improves access to essential medical services, and supports trained health care providers for mothers and their children.
 
Maternal and Child Health Care is recognised as one of Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus.
Executives & Directors
President
Jack Kraan
 
Co-President
Geoff Double
 
Treasurer
Andrew Somers
 
President Elect
David Anderson
 
Secretary
Jane Moore
 
Membership and Public Image
David Anderson
 
Youth Protection Officer
Jeanette Blackwood
 
Youth
Greg Lee
 
Projects and Fundraising
Jennifer Marshall
 
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
 
A warming world adds peril for a way of life

After historic wildfires, an economic recovery in Turkey aims to preserve a traditional culture.
 
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Co-President's report 31-3-23
Posted by Co-President Jack Kraan:
 
On Monday, we had a very productive Board meeting where a range of items were discussed.  These included:

  • The St John of God Langmore Centre garden project: - Little progress has been made as we are awaiting information from St John of God.

  • City of Casey Community Grants: – It was agreed that we would apply for a grant for further training (First Aid & Food Handling).

  • The Mick Moreland memorial football match: – Further discussions are to be held with Brad Batten MP to determine how this can be progressed with a local football club.

  • Sponsorship opportunity with Mercedes Benz Berwick: – Jen Marshall and the Co-Presidents are following this up.

  • Grasmere Creek Wetlands project: – The first seat is being installed along the walking track this Saturday.  The remaining 3 seats will be installed once the logistics are sorted out.  We are also looking to undertake another tree planning exercise when the soil conditions are suitable.

  • Birthing Kits assembly: -  the kits are about to be received.  We need to determine an appropriate time and venue for this project.  We are looking to involve Interact, Rotaract& Inner Wheel to assist with this.

  • District training Day BBQ: – we have agreed to conduct a BBQ for attendees at Nossal High school on Saturday 22 April.  Louise Carter is coordinating this.

  • Replacement of Club BBQ: – our trailer BBQ is nearing the end of its life.  The Board agreed to  investigate the feasibility of obtaining a new and upgraded BBQ trailer, possibly with further sponsorship from Bendigo Bank.

  • Donations in Kind Storage Facility: – It was agreed that we would look into the possibility of establishing a local storage facility to assist in the collection and distribution of goods donated to DIK.  This is possibly something we could do in conjunction with the South East cluster group of clubs.

  • Art Screen Hire: – Increasing the fees for screen hire and re-imbursing trailer towing costs was discussed and will be considered further.
Jack Kraan
Defeat in the annual bowls event
Posted by Sam McCurdy:
 
The annual bowls competition between the Rotary Clubs of Berwick and Monbulk took place on Wednesday 29th March.
 
 
The venue was the new undercover facility at the Berwick Bowls Club.  Although it has taken years to complete and has only been in use for a few months, it looked magnificent.  The smooth synthetic surface allowing no excuses for wayward shots.
 
Funno addresses the teamsBowling in action
 
Unfortunately, despite inspired coaching by Funno and others, as well as some moments of individual brilliance by a few of our team members, we lost again.  The final score being 19-12 in Monbulk's favour.
 
One ironic aspect of the defeat was that we allocated one of our members, Di Scheepers, to make up one of Monbulk's foursomes.  As such, Di found herself on the overall winning team and received a trophy for her efforts.
 
Geoff presents the 'Funno Fours' award board
Jack presents the original
'Funno Fours' trophy
Monbulk President Helen RiethofPost-competition dinner
 
In handing over the trophies to the President of the RC of Monbulk, Helen Riethof, Co-Presidents Geoff Double and Jack Kraan offered their congratulations with a promise to be more competitive next year.
 
The Inner Wheel Club of Berwick catered for the event and provided a very tasty dinner and dessert.  Thank you, ladies.
Narre Warren CFA Open Day
Posted by Trevor Watson:
 
Our Rotary Club recently supplied 4-Art Screens to the Narre Warren CFA, as a community service.
 
The Art Screens were required to display photos and images from the Ash Wednesday Bushfires for their Open Day, which was held on Sunday 26th March.
 
Former Club member Daniel Kraan liaised with the Club for the supply of the Screens.  Daniel is the son of Co-President Jack Kraan and a CFA volunteer at Narre Warren.
 
 
The Open Day was a great success with a variety of amusements and activities, including fire-fighting demonstrations.
 
It is estimated that 1,500 people attended the displays throughout the Open Day.
Presentation by Rae McKay
Posted by Sam McCurdy:
 
At our meeting on Wednesday 5th May, we will have Professor Rae McKay as our guest speaker on the rehabilitation of the Latrobe Valley Brown Coal Mine:.
 
Rae is the Chair of the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority Board and has extensive mine rehabilitation related expertise, with more than 40 years’ experience as a practising engineer, hydrogeologist and academic. 
 
The story so far:
 
The Inquiry arising from the Hazelwood Mine Fire in 2014 identified mine rehabilitation and the lack of appropriate frameworks for rehabilitation as significant issues for the Latrobe valley mines and for the region.  
 
Recommendations were made on a way forward in terms of policy and legislation that have been rolled out over the last 5 years.  This has been set against a backdrop of early power station closures that have occurred (Hazelwood) and have been brought forward significantly (Yallourn and Loy Yang).  
 
Rae's presentation will give a brief snapshot of the key issues and the current status of rehabilitation planning for the Valley.
Presentation by Frida Umuhoza
Email from the RC of Greater Dandenong & Endeavour Hills:
 
Good afternoon, everyone,
 
On Tuesday 11th April (Easter Tuesday) we are having an amazing Guest Speaker attend our club and she is very worthy of a large audience.
 
Her name is Frida Umuhoza, a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.  Frida has a compelling and tear-jerking story to tell.
 
It would be wonderful if your clubs could support this event by joining us.
 
Please extend the attached invitation to all your members.
 
I hope to see some of you at the event.
 
Kind regards,
 
Leanne Byron
President 2022-2023
Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills
 
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 .