Reporter notes from RCM Changeover Dinner.
Rotary Central Melbourne’s 36th Changeover Dinner was held on Friday, 30th June 2023 at Studley Grounds in Kew. It was a beautiful venue with a view of the city lights. The event was attended by RCM members, their partners and guests along with a few District 9800 officials. Past DG Amanda Wendt and DG Ron Payne attended the event along with their partners.
As guests arrived at the venue they enjoyed the warmth of an open fire, a drink, and some canapés. Guests were also encouraged to buy raffle tickets and bid on silent auction items.
President elects Campbell Chambers was the MC for the night and kicked off the official proceedings around 7:15pm by welcoming guests and acknowledgement of country. Campbell invited DG Ron Payne to offer a Toast to Rotary. DG Ron reminded members of the Rotary theme of the year of ‘Create Hope in the World’ and encouraged members to create hope in their communities.
Past DG Amanda Wendt gave vote of thanks to RCM members, particularly to members who have greatly served the district in her year. Past DG Amanda recognised the following members who supported her during 2022/23:
Neville John, Vice Governor
Anne King, District Secretary
Justine Murphy, Assistant District Secretary
Sarah Overton, Vocational Service Chair
Therese Robinson, Assistant Governor Eastside Cluster
Amanda recognised the following members for their mentoring of newer members:
Rob Hines – not present
Elias Lebbos
Neville Taylor
Amanda also recognize the following members for the successful delivery of projects during 2022/23:
Arik Marwen and Neville John for the South Sudan Menstrual Hygiene & Education project for Empowering Others
Doug Robertson and Rhys Williams for the Youth Mental First Aid Workshops for Saving Lives
Past President Rohan Williams provided members and guests a review of his year as President. Rohan reiterated his priorities for his year as President. They were:
1. To re-engage in our service projects
2. To invite friends to participate in our projects and meetings
3. To help our new members to find their place in Rotary
Rohan mentioned that all his priorities were met and by the end of the year, has completed almost all of its planned service projects and 40 or more of our members have contributed to one or more projects each month. Rohan thanked every Rotarian and every family member who contributed to this excellent outcome.
Some honourable mentions for the year were:
Ariik Ariik, Mawien for sharing your vision and inviting RCM to contribute to this wonderful project to supply reusable menstrual kits and provide education to 800 girls to help them avoid missing 6 days of school each month.
DougR and RhysW for coordinating 4 Youth Mental Health First Aid workshops.
Alan Seale for coordinating New Generations Service Exchange. And members who hosted David Rosenberg and Charly Brielmaier.
Paul Fowler who convinced the Gailey Lazarus Foundation to provide a community grant of $40k to RIMERN.
Campbell Chambers, Neville John, Roger Thornton and Rob Hines and the club’s Fundraising Team for raising $70k in funding.
Rohan acknowledged the passing of one of our Charter members Past President, Cec Akerley.
Rohan also acknowledged members who had attended the very successful Rotary International Convention in Melbourne and thanked Anne for providing the spectacular venue to host our Japanese sister club, Rotary Osaka-Midosuji Hommachi.
Rohan recognised the following members for their service to the club.
President’s Distinguished Service Citation
Paul Fowler as our Secretary
Doug Robertson as our Treasurer
John Ilott as our Executive Secretary
David Jones as our Speaker Coordinator
Daniel Lim as our Bulletin Editor – not present
Family of Rotary Award
Pippa Thornton
Royce Abbey Award
Peter and Sue Duras
Paul Harris Fellowships
Elias Lebbos
Cecily Neil
Rhys Williams
Rotarian of the Year
Roger Thornton
Everyone present celebrated the Rotarians who were felicitated. Attendees also enjoyed dinner and entertainment. Soloist Mezz Coleman serenated the congregation with her charming music.
After dinner the formality of the Presidential Changeover was completed. President Michelle Crawford was formally appointed President of Rotary Central Melbourne for the Rotary year 2023-24.
Michelle addressed attendees and mentioned that she joined Rotary not long after stepping into her first CEO role, with the heartfelt desire to access mentors and leaders who she could tap into as she commenced a new chapter in her working life.
The aspect of service through Rotary wasn’t something Michelle gave great consideration to when she first joined RCM. As an active member of The Salvation Army from childhood through to her early 30s, Michelle’s faith community had presented many opportunities for service, both in Australia and overseas.
However, Michelle has been inspired by the opportunities to make a difference through Rotary and she is constantly in awe of what Rotary Central Melbourne achieves – both through individual involvement, but also as a collective and through various avenues of service. Michelle is proud to be a member of Rotary Central Melbourne.
After sharing her reasons for joining Rotary, Michelle’s question to the Rotarians in the room, was ..
Why did they join Rotary?
Why did they join RCM?
Michelle stressed that stories were the way that we tell what we do. Michelle encouraged members to take the time and identify what is their Rotary story?
Michelle mentioned that she was delighted to be part of President train. Rohan, Campbell, Rhys and herself would be working collaboratively and with the club to develop RCM’s 3-year strategic plan.
Michelle ended her address with a poem:
“Come to the edge.
We might fall.
Come to the edge.
It’s too high!
COME TO THE EDGE!
And they came
And he pushed
And they flew.”
― Christopher Logue, New Members
Michelle’s message to members and guests present was “If we work together, build each other up, support each other, I know that we are going to have a year ahead where we can fly… as we CREATE HOPE IN THE WORLD.”