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ROTARY CENTRAL MELBOURNE – IN PERSON MEETING REPORT 7 May 2024 Posted by Rebecca John Vice President and Chair Elias Lebbos gave the acknowledgement to Country before welcoming our guests, Professor Mezin Qumsiyeh (Guest speaker), his wife Jessie, their friend Brother Denis Loft and Mia Fornasaro our Next Generation Service Exchange participant. After acknowledging the work of Rotary International Elias noted the following milestones: Member’s Birthdays - May 2024 Therese Robinson, Terry Cocks OAM, Yanpu Zhang, Justine Murphy, Neville Taylor. Partner Birthdays - May 2024 Ruth Eggelton-Ganguli (partner of Suvam), Karen Clydesdale (partner of Martin Langton) Wedding Anniversaries - May 2024 Liz and Rhys Williams - 42 years Years in Rotary - May 2024 Terry Cocks OAM - 37, Herb Greenwood - 37, Frank O’Brien - 37, Tom Callander - 37, Russell Rolls - 28, Kevin Love – 25, Des Benjamin – 7, Suvam Ganguli - 7, Malcolm Fielden - 6, Luke Allen – 5, Steve Turner - 2 years. Our club 37th year anniversary was acknowledged with a cake to share at the club social dinner on 30th April at the Emerald Hotel, South Melbourne. Guest speaker – Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh - Rotary Club Bethlehem Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh is a member of the Rotary Club of Bethlehem (RCB) since its Charter in 2014. He previously served at various Universities in USA including Tennessee, Duke and Yale and is founder and volunteer director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University. He has published hundreds of articles, and several books on topics ranging from environmental impact of colonisation on environmental and climate justice; cultural heritage; human rights; biodiversity conservation and environmental health. Mazin’s presentation focused on the positive work being undertaken in environment and health while situated in an unstable region. He noted several projects that he and RCB have been involved in ranging from formulating the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to environmental and climate justice and empowerment projects with farmers, women, and children that benefited tens of thousands of people. Other projects noted were: - Delivering school bags to the SOS Children’s Village.
- Involvement with Caritas Baby Hospital.
- Hosting a House of Hope Iftar event.
- Support in Gaza in 2015-2016 arising from a gas shortage.
- Providing a healthy environment for mothers and children by training 30 community health activators. These activators went on to support over 4,500 women and 1,400 children under age 5.
- Development of a community garden in which children from refugee camps are involved; and
- Providing water coolers to schools; and
Mazin spoke of the challenges that come with mega projects such as clean water, food production and reforestation. His club is applying for a Rotary Foundation Global Grant to support this work. The latest project is tree planting which provides hope for the local people. In closing, Mazin noted the motto at the Institute: ‘Respect for ourselves; Respect for other human beings regardless of their background or religion; Respect for nature and animals’. Following several questions, Elias and Mazin exchanged Rotary Banners. Elias thanked Professor Mazin for his presentation and also Jessie and Brother Denis for attending. Member Announcements - Tom Callander thanked all members who have assisted in the sleeping bag drive and announced that members have raised $1,748 which, together with bags donated will be sufficient to distribute 87 bags between Youth Projects and St Mary’s House of Welcome. Tom also acknowledged Bunnings Port Melbourne and Collingwood for their donation of bags and offering some at discounted prices.
- Tom reported on the appeal to donate unused mobile phones for Domestic Violence Safe Phones, which will be used to assist women and children affected by domestic violence. Tom announced that approximately 10 phones have been donated so far and to let him know if there are more, as we will continue this as an ongoing project every three months or so.
- Rob Hines reminded us that he is still seeking items for the Changeover Dinner raffle. If anyone has items to donate, please let him know.
- Rhys Williams reminded members that Sunday 19th May is the District Assembly and to let him know if you are attending so he can register your name. He also noted that we’ve been able to sponsor a Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) team who will represent Japan. The event will be held at University of Melbourne over Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May if anyone would like to attend a session.
In closing the meeting Elias thanked members and guests for attending and reminded us that the work we do in Rotary ‘Creates Hope In The World’. |
