If you would like to visit our meeting, you are welcome to join us at the Theatrette, Chancery Level of the RACV Club. There is no charge for attending the meeting.
If you would like a more general discussion about attending a Rotary meeting, please contact the club secretary at rotaryclubcentralmelbourne@gmail.com
The meeting will commence at 7:40am and conclude no later than 8:30. Members and guests are invited to stay for coffee or breakfast in the RACV Club Bistro following the meeting.
Rob Hines, Roy Garrett, Rebecca John, Neville John: Creating hope in the world in Cambodia and Lao PDR
Our school building program started with the construction of a primary school in Ban Heu Yen in the province of Luang Prabang in 2012. Twelve years later the club has funded the construction of five primary schools and numerous toilets and water wells.
A small group of club members has just returned from a trip to Cambodia, Vietnam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic to witness first-hand the club’s projects in Siem Reap and Luang Prabang. The presentation will cover the visit by Rob, Roy, Rebecca and Neville to the village of Kok Beng in Siem Reap to see the washroom toilets funded by a Global Grant with the support of RCM and World of Difference. They will take a brief tour of the holiday hotspots of Vietnam and then cover the school library opening ceremony at the Xeing Nguyen Secondary School in Lao.
Following a career in the area of community development to improve women’s and youth welfare, particularly in ethnic communities and retiring from her work as Senior Academic Business Analyst at RMIT University Josephine has continued her passion in supporting youth through Rotary’s Youth Avenue of Service both as the D9800 Youth Service Chair.
Josephine provided an overview of Rotary Youth Exchange, Program of Enrichment (RYPEN), Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) and the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA). Each program targeting different age groups and development needs. She also outlined the formal structure within Rotary International for the youth program alumni to engage with Rotary including EarlyAct, Interact and Rotaract Clubs. Whilst D9800 has no EarlyAct Clubs, we do support15 Interact and 3 Rotaract Clubs respectively.
Josephine’s presentation generated discussion that drew out the importance for Clubs to develop relationships with other community-based organisations and groups in addition to schools. She highlighted this year as the 40th anniversary of such a successful partnership between Rotary and NYSF as a shining example. The top two priorities identified for D9800 for the coming year are to extend the reach to support youth from more disadvantaged lives and the continuing engagement of the alumni of the different Rotary youth programs.
General Announcements
Neville Taylor announced that nominations for the 2024 VicRESCA (Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards) closed on 30th April with judging now underway. Members & guests are invited to attend the Awards Dinner on Saturday 3rd August at Hyatt Place, Essendon Fields, flyer included in the Bulletin. The new Victorian Governor, Her Excellency the Hon Margaret Gardner AC is the Patron.
Neville John and Frank O’Brien are this week delivering a further 20 sleeping bags to St. Mary’s House of Welcome in Fitzroy.
Member Milestones
Happy birthday to Neville Taylor and partners Ruth Eggleton and Karen Clydesdale
Happy wedding anniversary to Kevin and Veronica Love
Happy Rotary Service to Kevin Love (25yrs), Mary Voice (23yrs), Neil Salvano (24yrs) and Luke Allen (5yrs)
President’s Announcements
Reminder to book for Changeover Dinner Friday 28th June 2024 here.
Paul Harris Breakfast 2024 – A very special Guest Speaker is locked in……watch out for details coming in the new Rotary Year……..
Reminder to members to book for District Changeover, booking details in the Bulletin in support of former RCM member Michael Lapina coming in as District Governor.
In closing, President Michelle provided a quote from Pope Francis:
"We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace."
On the weekend of 18th and 19th of May, Rotary Central Melbourne's team performed with distinction at the District 9800 Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) event held at the University of Melbourne.
Our team of Anushka Abbott (left) and Naheed Jafary represented Japan at the event. The photo shows them in Japanese traditional clothing for the event, for which they won an award. Anushka and Naheed are from years 11 and 12 respectively at Casey Grammar school.
Approximately 50 students from a diverse range of schools debated wide-ranging motions at the mock General Assembly meeting. Climate change, mining, peace efforts, and refugee settlement were some of the topics debated. The quality of performance was exceptional. In addition, participants learned about the history and role of the UN, and its General Assembly and Security Council.
Many thanks go to Adriaan Adolph (RC Woodend) and Sally Armstrong (RC Macedon Ranges) who were co-convenors of MUNA 2024.
You are warmly invited to the Polio Plus Society Afternoon Tea on Saturday 15 June. The details are shown above in the flyer.
A message from PDG Grant Hocking ASM
District Rotary Foundation Chair - Rotary District 9800
Polio eradication is a real success story for Rotary.
However there is still a lot to do and your support is required.
We have made great progress in recent years, with a new novel Polio vaccine and cases of wild polio and vaccine derived polio cases are very low.
When the task is completed, Rotary and Rotarians will be recognised for our wonderful part in eradicating Polio from the world.
When it's done, you can say you did your bit to support the End Polio program and wear your badge with pride.
Everyone is welcome to come along to this Afternoon Tea to hear about the wonderful work, progress made and what the future holds. Joining the Polio Plus Society is not essential but we would love you to join.
It will be a great afternoon of information, degustation and celebration.
And a message from PDG Murray Verso, Zone 8 End Polio Now Coordinator:
The Polio Plus Society is a district run program, endorsed by Rotary International. It enables people to support Rotary’s historic goal of a polio free world. The program began in one district in the USA about 10 years ago and has now spread throughout the Rotary world. Members know that, after smallpox, poliomyelitis will be only the second disease to be eradicated. Thanks to the work of Jane Pennington, the District 9800 Polio Plus Society is the largest PPS in Australia. Why not come along on June 15 to learn more and to play your part in the countdown to history?
Please see the testimony of Mia's successful NGSE experience written by Italy's NGSE Chair.
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Dear All,
On behalf of the D2060 District I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the successful NGSE experience of our exchange student, Mia Fornasaro.
From the very beginning, it was evident that your D9800 NGSE commission, the hosting club of Melbourne Central and its coordinators were dedicated to creating a unique and memorable experience for Mia.
Mia's words have only reinforced our understanding of the immense effort and commitment that went into ensuring the success of her internship at Napa. She felt supported and cared for from the moment she arrived, thanks to the unwavering attention of the club and her wonderful host families.
We extend our deepest appreciation to the Rc Melbourne Central, Mia's sponsoring club, for making her lifelong dream a reality. To her warm hosting families, who welcomed Mia with open arms and treated her like one of their own, and to the entire team that worked tirelessly on this project, we thank you for your exceptional contributions.
We eagerly await the arrival of your exchange student in District D2060 to reciprocate this incredible exchange experience.
Thank you once again to D9800 district and to everyone involved.
Peace Inc is launching its first public Peace Kitchen during Melbourne's inaugural Asian Heritage Week and it is all VERY exciting! This is an event for all cultures.
Come by yourself or with friends/family/colleagues for good food and meaningful conversations about identity, cultural heritage, and navigating feelings of imposter syndrome.
Facilitated by Peace Inc.'s Dr Elaine Pratley in collaboration with ValueLab Collective, we will be enjoying a delicious 3-course meal + wine/beer/mocktail paired with visual storytelling of Australia's migration history.
To support their work in systemic change and peacebuilding, 10% of ticket proceeds will go towards supporting the work of Meals with Impact.
Date: Wednesday, 5 June
Time: 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Venue: Yum Sing House, 22 Sutherland Street, Melbourne
Tickets are limited so secure your spot now for an evening of good food, great company, and impactful discussions! www.peacekitchen.com.au
We'd like to extend our invitation to each of your clubs to join the Rotary E-Club of Melbourne for a very special guest speaker, RI President-Elect Stephanie Urchik, who will be joining us on Wednesday 12th June at 9PM AEST.
Our meeting will be held on Zoom, with the details below, and also in the attached image.
Date & Time: Wednesday 12th June 2024 at 9PM AEST (Find Your Timezone)
With the Rotary E-Club of Melbourne transitioning to the new E-Clubs Community Group made up of clubs across Zone 8, we especially wanted to emphasise both links to our new collaborators across the Zone, and our close and continuing friendship with the clubs of the Batman Cluster, which has been our home for many years, and with whom we look forward to continuing to serve.
