Dr Tania Miletic: Security Through Peacebuilding

Tania will share reflections as an alumna of the Rotary Peace Fellowship program, now over 20 years since she was in the inaugural class. At a time of extraordinary global turbulence and uncertainty, the peacebuilding field and its partners must work harder than ever to ensure foundations on which to build more effective, sustainable solutions to increasingly complex conflicts and crisis. Unprecedented times often call for unprecedented measures. Based on extensive research and applied experience, her talk will focus on peacebuilding efforts in the region. Tania will share some of the ways that public and non-government diplomacy and better integrating conflict prevention and peacebuilding strategy can support efforts for greater peace. The vision and activities of the newly established Initiative for Peacebuilding at the University of Melbourne will also be discussed.

Tania is the Assistant Director of the University of Melbourne's Initiative for Peacebuilding. She is committed to working collaboratively to influence positive change through research, policy development and support to peacebuilders across a range of contexts and settings in her local Australian context, South East Asia and China. She is also Faculty on the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies’ Applied Conflict Transformation Studies PhD program, a unique hybrid academic-practitioner program throughout Asia.

She holds a Masters in Public Administration (Rotary Peace Fellowship 2002-2004) from ICU, Tokyo and a PhD in Political Science from UQ.

Tania has maintained strong links with Rotary, such as co-hosting the R100 Conference ‘The Future of Peace Leadership’ and sitting on various peacebuilding committees. Tania was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition in 2014, Paul Harris Fellow Recognition (Sapphire) in 2021 and received the Robert M Fels Peace Award (2022) by D9800.

She loves to cook and believes in the power of sharing food and stories to nourish understanding and connection. She is the founder and Director of Peace-Meal Peacebuilding Initiatives.

• Darren PARK, 24 Feb
• Steve HALLIS, 27 Feb

• Maria Fragomeni, partner of Ignacio INCHAUSTI, 24 Feb

• Russell & Heather ROLLS, together for 55 years, since 24 Feb 1968
• Roger & Pippa THORNTON, together for 52 years, since 26 Feb 1971

• Allan DRIVER, Rotarian for 27 years, since 28 Feb 1996

• Conventions have been part of Rotary since 1910, and we held in USA until June 1924 when a convention was held in Canada. The first convention held outside mainland America was in Belgium in in 1927. The largest convention was held in Osaka, Japan om 2004 with 43,381attendees.
   
• Melbourne last hosted a convention in May 1993 and Sydney held one in 2014. Australia has also hosted conventions in Sydney in 1971 and in Brisbane in 2003.
   
• Melbourne beat London in the bid for the convention in 2016 – 2017, Neville John was Governor, however the event is a collaboration between all 5 District in Victoria.
   
• There are currently 20 members of the convention team in Melbourne, fine tuning the event.
   
• The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at Rod Laver Arena, as will the plenary sessions. The Melbourne Convention Centre will host the House of Friendship and Break sessions as well as various luncheons. The house of friendship is an exciting place to be as it will be a gathering place for Rotarian from around the world and there will be plenty of entertainment to keep everyone occupied.
   
• A shuttlebus will be available from hotels and there will be extra shuttle trams between the two major venues. Public transport will also be free for convention attendees.
   
• There are a number of people involved in the Host Organising Committee (HOC) from all 5 districts, with Mary Barry from RC Melbourne being the Chair of the committee.
   
• Sponsorship opportunities are still available through Murray Verso, who can be contacted via the following link: verson@netspace.net.au

• Campbell announced that the Port Melbourne Bunnings BBQ raised a record $2,300, which in part was thanks to some drinks stocks being used and the donation of 30 loaves of Bread. He also thanked the volunteers on the day.
   
• He also announced the next raffle, which will be drawn at our meeting on 28 March and proceeds will go to Medical Aid for Ukraine, an organisation which supplies much needed medical supplies via Germany.

• On Saturday 25th February there was a working bee at RIMEN and he thanked the volunteers Nev and Bec, Ignacio and Allan Driver. The next opportunity to volunteer will be Saturday March 25th. If any club members has goods to donate contact him and he will give information on collection or delivery of those goods.
   
• There is also an opportunity for members to volunteer at the Melbourne Flower Show to help Travellers Aid to assist people with mobility issues. The Show will be held between 29th March and 1st April.
   
• A raffle will be held for 5 tickets for the Rotary convention (if you have already registered you will get a refund) Entry to the raffle will be via donating amounts to the Rotary Foundation over the next month – one raffle ticket for every $20 donated.
   
• Similarly, there will be a competition for anyone under 40 who would like to attend the convention (can be a non-Rotarian) To enter the person needs to submit an essay and details are on the following link 
  https://rotarydistrict9800.org.au/Stories/district-9800-sponsoring-five-rotarians-rotaractors-aged-under-40-to-attend-international-convention

I am pleased to inform members that Kerrie Hicks has submitted an application to become a member of Rotary Central Melbourne and that the Board has approved her application.   Kerrie was introduced to Rotary Central Melbourne by Neville Taylor and Stella Avramopoulas.

It is proposed that Kerrie joins the Vocational Service Team and be mentored by Elias Lebbos.    Kerrie's professional experience as a police officer and a leadership coach plus her involvement in the Victoria Police Leadership Mentoring Program as a mentee will enable her to make a significant contribution to our mentoring programs. 

Do let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

April 12th 2023 the 15th voluntour for Umoja Orphanage Kenya departs Australia. Will you be on that flight?   This is a project of Rotary Australia World Community Service (Project 51 / 2011-12,) See information in last week's bulletin.

We are after handymen and women or anyone who seeks adventure and a unique experience at a RAWCS project. The tour includes 10 - 11 days volunteering at the Umoja Project, then a 6 day wildlife safari to 3 national parks  of Kenya.

Is this for you?  Contact us, we'll send you info to help you decide, may be experience of a lifetime. cathy@umojahome