It is with deep sadness that we learnt this week of the passing of our esteemed Past President Rob Taylor.
Rob was a stalwart of our club for 3 decades, joining in 1990 and resigning in 2020 when his health was failing him. Where there was a job to be done, Rob was there to do it, always in Rob’s way.
I first met Rob in 1989 prior to his membership of the Club. Back in the 80’s, our District ran a three month youth exchange program with New Zealand. Rob’s daughter, Kathryn was selected by the Club as our exchange student to New Zealand and I was the counsellor for both Kathryn and the incoming New Zealand student.
Rob got to learn about our Club’s activities during this time and was impressed enough to join. It was not that long before he became the President of our Club.
One of Rob’s pet interests was the Centurion program which he administered on behalf of the Club for many years. The Centurion program is an Australian program that helps individuals to actively support the great work of the Rotary Foundation. It provides Rotarians, friends and family, an opportunity for individual giving of an annual tax deductable donation of $100 for as long as they choose.
Contributions to the program become part of the District Annual Giving Program, which means half of the $100 comes back to support District Foundation programs that support our clubs. The other half goes towards the wider programs of Rotary such as End Polio and disaster relief. The contributions also count towards Paul Harris Fellowships.
District Foundation funds can be used to fund a variety of district and club projects and activities.
A few of our Club’s activities that have been supported by Foundation funds recently include the BlazeAid trailers & equipment, the Tongan tsunami project (with RC Narre Warren) and school scholarships.
Lynelle Marke, Team Leader Waste Education and Litter Enforcement at the City of Casey provided a very interesting and informative presentation on the correct disposal of domestic waste at our Club meeting on Wednesday.
Starting with a table full of domestic waste items, Lynelle explained why each item should be placed in the appropriate bin; the green bin for landfill rubbish and the blue for recyclables.
This information provided quite a few revelations to the members of the audience.
These inluded:
No plastic bags should be placed in the blue bin.
All garbage added to the green bin should be bagged.
All black plastics should be put in the green bin.
Small plastic caps should be removed from containers and put in the green bin.
Takeway coffee cups must be put in the green bin.
Plastics identified as types 1-5 can be put in the blue bin.
Glass and crockery designed to hold hot liquids must go in the green bin.
Glass containers should be cleaned before placing them in the blue bin.
Batteries and electric cables should be disposed off at designated sites.
Textiles should not be placed in any bin. Take them to an Op Shop.
In answer to a question, Lynelle confirmed "If in doubt, leave it out". In other words, put the bagged item in the green rubbish bin.
Lynelle also informed us that Victoria will introduce a scheme later this year, similar to that in SA, where 10c will be refunded for the return of metal cans and glass bottles.
As damaged bins are replaced by Council, a new bin lid colour identity will be used as follows:
Yellow lid - Recycling bin
Red lid - Landfill rubbish bin
Green lid - Food and garden waste
Lynelle offered some free kitchen food waste caddies, which were quickly snapped up.
For further information, she referred us to the City of Casey website and the monthly 'Green Living in Casey News'.
Another children's playground was harvested by a small team of Rotarians on Wedneday morning. This is the fourth one harvested from Cranbourne in the last two weeks.
This one was on a site at Brooklands Green Boulevarde and is also bound for Bougainville Island.
I gather that the harvesting entails assisting contractors in dismantling and identifying each item and it is quite exhausting.
It is with sadness I share the news of Rob's death last Thursday.
Rob was the loved and loving husband to Anne. Father to Jeffery and Kathryn. Father-in-law to Scott. Grandpa to Leo and Chloe. A member and friend of the Rotary Club of Berwick for 31 years, and a friend to many.
Rob joined the Rotary Club of Berwick on 23 June 1990 under the classification of electrical contractor. He served as president in 1995 - 1996. Rob was a Paul Harris Fellow (sapphire plus 3).
When Tim joined Rotary in 1997, Rob was on top of his game. A warm, friendly, welcoming, man who was quick to make a joke, inclusive, and always wearing a ready smile. He was passionate about his Rotary and passionate about the Rotary Foundation.
He was the Centurion Club champion for many years, mentoring long term and new members about Foundation, encouraging and following up on members to join the donate $100 a year to Foundation program. Most long-term Centurion Club donors in our club were "enrolled" by Rob!
Rob was an electrician, running his own electrical contracting business. He was generous to the Rotary Club of Berwick, donating his time and skill whenever needed. In turn, many members reciprocated by engaging Rob as their electrician. Many will remember Rob up a ladder well into his late 70s.
He attended EVERY meeting. In the day, the Rotary Club of Berwick met at the Central Hotel in Beaconsfield, and then Castellos (now Zagames) on Clyde Road in Berwick. Rob was amongst the early birds to arrive, and mostly last to leave. He and a large group of Rotary mates could always be found at the bar in the meeting room, sharing a drink or three after the official meeting had well closed. I'm sure Anne was incredulous at how long Rotary meetings went!!!!!!
Rob was absent from Rotary for a few years, finally resigning in 2020 due to ill health.
A small crew of Rotarians delivered 25 Art Screens to the Burrinja Cultural Centre in Upwey on Wednesday morning.
These were required for an art event held by Rowville Secondary College at the Centre. The screens were picked up again the next day.
The delivery and removal of the screens posed some difficulty in that the venue was on the 1st floor of the building. However, the team managed to overcome this problem.
Burrinja is a vibrant community cultural centre in the Dandenong Ranges with a clear, creative and community-based vision for the region: Building Community through Arts.
Rotary is dedicated to causes that build international relationships, improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever.
The Rotary Foundation’s aim is to do good in the world. Here are 3 of the 7 areas of focus of our foundation:
Promoting peace
Rotary encourages conversations to foster understanding within and across cultures. We train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict and help refugees who have fled dangerous areas.
Fighting disease
Providing clean water
Fighting disease
We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. We improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in developing areas.
Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
We support local solutions to bring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to more people every day. We don’t just build wells and walk away. We share our expertise with community leaders and educators to make sure our projects succeed long-term.
In 1999: The Rotary Club of Berwick began this year with the realisation of a dream when Eastern Energy finally set the new Rotary Clock going in the centre of Princes Highway in Berwick.
Club President, Ray Martin, said the clock had been a dream for the Club for more than 10 years and that each year more money was contributed to the project.
"Our slogan for this year is to follow the Rotary dream and this is the case of a Rotary dream coming true."
In 2011:
The clock was then moved to its' current position in Lyall Road in Berwick in 2011, and this caused several operational problems.
The problems were finally resolved 2020 and the clock is now fully operational.
On Sunday 16 July, the Rotary Club of Berwick is undertaking another environmental project of planting a further 1000 trees at Grasmere Creek Wetland!
You are invited to join in and lend a hand, enjoy the beautiful nature of the area, admire the four new seats installed by the Rotary Club of Berwick and stay on for a bbq, drinks, and friendship.
When: Sunday 16 July
Where: Grasmere Creek Wetlands, 45A Inglis Road, Berwick
Time: 10.30am - 12.00pm
Bring: sturdy shoes and gloves
This is a free event open to the public.
Please register for insurance and catering purposes at:
Do you have a coat at home you no longer wear? Do you have children or grandchildren who have outgrown last year's warm winter coat?
Jeanette has kindly offered to receive donations from you, family, or friends, at our June club meetings. Let's help those in need keep warm this winter.
All donations will be forwarded to Casey North Community Information & Support Service.
Incoming President Dave Anderson together with our 2023 four shared presidents, Past Presidents Gus Dominguez, Tim Moore, Geoff Double and Jack Kraan, invite you to celebrate the 62nd changeover of the Rotary Club of Berwick
When: Wednesday 19 July
Where: The Beaconsfield Club, Holm Park Reserve, Emerald-Beaconsfield Road, Beaconsfield
Time: 6.30 for 7.00pm
Cost: $60 per person, inclusive of a complimentary drink on arrival, 3 course dinner and live musical
entertainment with a special guest appearance.
Cash bar
RSVP: 14th July. Please register and pay via the online registration portal via this link :
It is with deep sadness that we learnt this week of the passing of our esteemed Past President Rob Taylor. 
It is with sadness I share the news of Rob's death last Thursday.
