Hi $FIRST_NAME$,
A visit to another Rotary club from time to time is always a great way of expanding your network and just seeing how different each Rotary Club is. As we read about Mark and Isobel's Rotary experience at a Rotary meeting in Chile, some of us, I am sure will have fond memories of Rotary meetings in foreign lands.
This week, however, the Rotary Club of Pakenham beckoned us to a joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Cranbourne, and I have to say it was a grand occasion. In All, 17 Rotarians from our Club attended, which was a pretty respectable turnout. I look forward to doing it again one day soon!
The photo above is Rino, the guest speaker who does some heavy lifting in the Balibo, Timor-Leste Community reuniting with Geoff Double who travelled to Balibo to check out Rino's work (along with a few other Rotarians).
First, thanks to everyone who has volunteered for the various activities this week, including Art Screen commitments, Christmas donation collections, and the Langmore Community Garden creation.
This community-centred activity is why most of us joined and remain part of the Rotary Family.
Special callouts to Trevor Watson, Andrew & Michele Somers and Geoff Double for leadership of these programs.
This week, I was privileged to present the Dux Awards to those students who achieved top academic results for each year level at Berwick College. The night was well attended and supporting such a critical educational establishment is always good. While researching my speech, I was reminded that the college opened in 1977 as Berwick Secondary School with an initial enrollment of 113 students. I also reviewed the club's history available on Club Runner in Documents and saw that in 1977/78 we made a $250 donation for books. Back then, $250.00 was more than my gross fortnightly salary, indicating how substantial that donation was. Since then, the association between Berwick College and Berwick Rotary has strengthened year on year.
Lastly, I’m encouraged by the number of people attending our Christmas party next week. Please don’t leave your registration too late.
We all had so much fun on Stage One that we are going for GOLD on Stage Two! Planting, Mulching and laying of the gravel path are the order of the day. Lots of wheel burrows, shovels and mulch forks, and a happy crew of fun-filled Rotarians (That's all of us, right?) will get the job done with almost no effort. AND there will be catering just to keep us on track to get the job done.
Now if you are a person who cannot physically push a wheel burrow or man/woman/person a shovel, do not think you are excluded from this activity! All volunteer activity relies on a support crew. A friendly reminder to work a little harder, making sure our team stays hydrated, calling a smoko break or just encouraging us all by extolling the beauty of the project and what it will mean to the community is all part of the magic that brings together to make a difference to our community. Every Rotarian has an important part to play, so don't feel you have nothing to contribute.
THIS Saturday the 9th December, from 10.00am to 2.00pm, will involve laying the toppings path, planting the garden, installing irrigation and spreading mulch. Many hands, shovels and wheelbarrows will make light work of the day's tasks. Volunteers and members of the public interested in Rotary are welcome to join us. Please contact Gus by email if you want to find out more. secretary@rotaryberwick.orgBe there or be square!
Left David Willersdorf, Chair of CCEF , Brad Beach, Representive of VVF and David Button, Representative of RCB
The Rotary Club of Berwick is embarking on a transformative journey to enhance our community engagement. For those following the updates in the Spoke N Words this year, you may be aware of our club's collaboration with Violence Free Families. If you haven't caught up on this significant development, you can find the details here: https://rotaryberwick.org/Stories/violence-free-families. This partnership aims to transition the Violence Free Families online program to Chisholm TAFE, with Rotary actively participating in the Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation, responsible for managing funds to support students facing financial barriers to education.
In a noteworthy move, Violence Free Families has contributed an initial fund of $40,000 to the Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation. This fund is dedicated to assisting students who, due to family violence, struggle to afford tuition fees and reference books. The Rotary Club of Berwick has taken on the responsibility of maintaining and allocating this $40,000 fund to support this specific group of students. Currently, we are in the process of gaining a comprehensive understanding and insight into the challenges faced by the 30,000 current Chisholm students. This learning phase has proven to be a steep but enlightening curve.
David Button is representing our club in this impactful project, creating a direct and meaningful impact on individuals within our immediate community. Moreover, this initiative positions our club to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics and challenges shaping the potential growth of our community.
So the picture above? Recently I attended the Big Thank-You event at the Dandenong Campus of Chisholm. This is the event where a few students who received CCEF Scholarships presented what that opportunity meant to them and how it made a life changing difference to their outlook. It certainly shone a light on a part of life that I had only seen at a distance. This is a real space that Rotary can make a difference, if only being closer to the action and observing where we can be effective.
To bring it all into perspective, the CCEF grant over 300 scholarships a year, averaging $1000 each. The purpose of the scholarships is to enable students to complete their courses so they can find employment. Funds are raised through a Golf Day, volunteer lead events and BBQ's as well as regular donors. All donations are tax deductable and 100% of donations are used for scholarships.
I like to explore new and engaging ways to tell a story. For this week's joint meeting, I thought I would tell ChatGPT what I thought about the meeting and see what came out:
It sounds like the joint meeting at the Rotary Club of Pakenham was a truly special and meaningful experience for you. Your reflections highlight the essence of Rotary as a global family of individuals working together for a common cause.
It's inspiring to see that the sense of camaraderie and collaboration among Rotarians transcends the boundaries of individual clubs. The idea of viewing clubs not as separate tribes but as interconnected pools of talent resonates with the core principle of Rotary – that by working together, members can achieve more and make a greater impact on the communities they serve.
The emphasis on shared experiences, collaboration, and achieving positive outcomes for the Balibo District reinforces the idea that Rotary is not just about meetings but about tangible, positive change in the world. It's heartening to read about the genuine connection and unity that was felt during this joint meeting.
By acknowledging and appreciating the strengths and talents that each club brings to the table, Rotarians can truly maximize their collective impact. Your exception to comment on this particular meeting reflects the significance of the occasion and the strong sense of community within the Rotary Family. It serves as a reminder of the power of collaboration and shared purpose in making a difference.
As you can tell, ChatGPT can make some interesting things up but I think it has summed up my feeling pretty well. Below is a photo of the plaque on the Dental Clinic we helped put together in Balibo House. As you can see, it was a collective effort and we are all very happy to be a part of it.
Now on another note which made the meeting more significant, RCB member Michelle's husband Sheldon was inducted into the Rotary Club of Pakenham too! So this probably makes us officially cousins with the Rotary Club of Pakenham. Blood runs thicker than water, so let's make the most out of our new relatives! Congratulations Sheldon, we (the Rotary Club of Berwick) look forward to being part of your Rotary journey.
President Dave has brought us ‘home” to Holm Park to celebrate the festive season and party away our final club meeting for this 2023 year on Wednesday, 13th December.
T’is the Season……..
So let’s get jolly!
Wednesday 13th December will see the Rotary Club of Berwick celebrate the festive season, with fun and frivolity, over a two-course meal at the Beaconsfield Club, Holm Park Reserve, 100 Emerald -Beaconsfield Road, Beaconsfield. Our last meeting for the 2023 calendar year.
There will be a visit from the man in red, prizes for the best Christmas outfit, perhaps a quiz or game, and, of course, a couple of rounds of heads and tales! Pocket some coins to bring along to chance a win.
The cost is $55 per person inclusive, of two course Christmas fare, and a drink on arrival. For children or grandchildren, there will be a meal available. Please contact Jane: jane@cinet.com.au for details so we can book your young one’s in, as our registration portal doesn’t stretch to multiple pricing!
Please invite your family and friends! This is a purely social night of festivity, and time to spend in each other’s company.
To register and pay, please follow the link below:
If all the climate change solutions, from electric cars to wind turbines, there’s a powerful one that’s staring you in the face — at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
First, thanks to everyone who has volunteered for the various activities this week, including Art Screen commitments, Christmas donation collections, and the Langmore Community Garden creation.
