2023 Melbourne Rotary International Convention - Registration reminder
Call for volunteers at RI Convention
Gallery
Meeting Responsibilities
Chair
ILOTT, John
Greeter/Zoom Host
TAYLOR, Neville
Reporter
TURNER, Steve
Photographer
THORNTON, Roger
Door
SOROS, Rob
Bulletin Editor
LIM, Daniel
Social Media
LIM, Daniel
NEXT MEETING
Next meeting will be face-to-face meeting at the RACV Club in the CBD on 21 February 2023. If you would like to visit our meeting, please book directly through Humanitix by close of business on Monday, 20 February 2023. If you would like a more general discussion about attending a Rotary meeting, phone 0455-858-996.
The meeting will commence at 7:40am and conclude no later than 8:45.
Heather Campbell: CEO of Bush Heritage Australia: We can achieve a Nature-Positive world where all species thrive
We all know the challenges that the globe is facing. Our climate is changing and we have continued, as a species, to impact the habitat of so many other species.From the devastation of the Black Summer to the floods in eastern Australia and the Kimberley. From the droughts and fires in California to now the storms resulting in landslides and floods. This is a common story of extreme ‘droughts and flooding rains’ across the globe. At the same time that storms are becoming more intense we continue to negatively impact upon the habitat of our native species. Whether this be through land clearing or the challenges of feral animals and weeds.
But there is HOPE! We can collectively change this trajectory and deliver a nature-positive world. Working together as individuals, corporations, not-for-profits, governments and society more generally we can move species further away from extinction towards a thriving planet. At Bush Heritage Australia we play our part by being a unified force for nature, grounded in science and culture to nurture all land for all life. Over the past 30 years of being active land managers doing our day to day work of fire, feral animal and weed management at a landscape scale we have achieved some really positive impact. We are seeing tiny honey and pygmy possums return to revegetated areas of south west Western Australia, the elusive Night Parrot protected in Queensland, the most ancient of birds the Plains Wanderer thrive in South Australia and a tiny Red-finned Blue-eye fish thriving in springs at our Edgbaston reserve in Queensland.
Heather has been the CEO of Bush Heritage Australia since January 2019. She joined the organisation with over 25 years of experience working in senior management and executive roles with a focus on risk, environment, sustainability and safety as well as core business management. Heather has worked in a broad range of industries including; paper and packaging, retail property, salt production, agriculture, research with CSIRO and was a previous CEO of Landcare Australia. She is also an active board director currently sitting on the boards of Arid Recovery, Australian Land Conservation Alliance, Midlands Conservation Fund and Eltham College. She is a previous Chair of Sustainability Victoria and has sat on the boards of Zoos Victoria, Melbourne Polytechnic and Earthwatch Australia. Heather has an Agricultural Engineering degree, a Masters in Environmental Engineering, attended The General Manager Program at Harvard Business School as well as completing a History degree. She grew up as a farm kid in the South Island of New Zealand but has called the different landscapes of Australia home from her teenage years.
Meeting Report: Tuesday 14 February 2023 - reporter Elias Lebbos
President Rohan commenced the meeting by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land that our meeting is taking place.
Chair, Tom Callander proposed a toast to Rotary International, highlighting the contribution the organisation makes toward global peace and conflict resolution.
President Rohan welcomed guests:
Guest speaker – Dr Tania Miletic
Annet Brouwer - (Newly Inducted Member) and Husband Rolf Brouwer
Annet Brouwer was inducted as a Member with the Classification of “Legal”.
Annet will be a member of the International Committee and Rob Hines has been allocated as her mentor. Annet thanked the club for the smooth transition of her membership from the Rotary Club of Rotterdam and provided some background of her recent work on international programs and achievements with her former Rotterdam Club.
Tom Callander introduced our guest speaker Tania Miletic who spoke about Security Through Peacebuilding. Highlights from Tania’s presentation:
We are experiencing turbulent times where conflict exists near and far. In Australia we are grappling with the “Voice” of First Nations People to parliament and the challenges we are attempting to manage as a nation.
Tania reminded us of Rotary’s impact on peace building and conflict resolution. The opportunities a global organization like Rotary provides to develop strong internal and external relationships across the world.
Rotary has the capability to bring people from differing backgrounds and disciplines together to learn to engage in dialogue that prevents and mitigates conflict, rather than respond to conflict. This includes engaging different sectors of communities, especially women. The more people that work in peace building, the more the idea of peace will grow.
Australia’s role in Cambodia has reinstated our role as a peacekeeper in the region. Military engagement should always be the last option, but unfortunately, it tends to be what is done first.
Conflict has costly impacts on economies. Not just the nations involved but analysis highlights that there is a 14% impact on the global economy when conflict is heightened.
Australia has historically made significant contributions to peacekeeping, but this has reduced significantly over the last decade and Australian diplomatic services remain inadequately funded.
Rotary, civil society and universities can play a significant role in building capacity in peace building. It doesn’t have to be left to government to lead, manage and control the narrative. The University of Melbourne has established a faculty that focusses on peace and conflict study. This is Australian based but regionally grounded.
The involvement of a broader group of organisations works toward assisting government to engage more creatively in peace building.
We all need to continue to seek practical and pragmatic drivers of peace.
Member announcements
Neville John has spoken to Herb Greenwood and he is doing well but will be keeping a low profile until he is fully recovered.
A reminder to members that the Collingwood Bunnings BBQ will go ahead this Saturday 18 February.
Tom Callander reminded all members to check their Working with children Checks are up to date and that all members have one.
President’s Announcements
Applications for Peace Scholar Program are now open. If anyone is aware of suitable candidates, please encourage to nominate.
Next speaker is Heather Campbell presenting on a “Nature Positive World where all species Thrive.”
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.
We have the opportunity to volunteer during the RI Melbourne Convention to provide assistance to visitors throughout the Convention to ensure they feel truly welcome in our city.
