It’s never easy revisiting the past, particularly when loss and sadness are involved. Momentarily though, at our David McFarlane Scholarship presentation evening last week, we paused to remember PP David, a much-loved member of RCE (2003-2017). PH fellow, board member for many years, friend and humanitarian, David could light up any room with his presence and wit. David knew the importance of support and encouragement to others and constantly showed this in Rotary and through his involvement in other organisations beyond Rotary. It’s extremely fitting therefore that RCE has established a scholarship arrangement, in David’s honour, with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI). The first scholarship recipient, Brigette Duckworth, lives locally, has a Bachelor of Biological Medicine (Honours), and is currently a research technician at WEHI where she will commence her PHD studies in 2019. Brigette’s presentation gave us an insight into her passion to learn more about immune memory and response and the impact this could have on improving medical interventions in the future. Over many years, David fervently supported the work being done at WEHI and in presenting Brigette with the first instalment ($5,000), of a two-year scholarship, we know that he would approve of RCE’s continued support of the cutting-edge work being undertaken by researchers at WEHI. Thankyou to Gary Williams for brokering this scholarship arrangement with WEHI, Marlene McFarlane and family and PP Judy and RCE. We were honoured to have Marlene, Ash, Jess and Josh join us for the scholarship presentation.
Our successful Youth Exchange program was also evidenced last week. It’s always a pleasure to welcome Johnny (Hondo RC) and Mamiko Akiyama from Amakusa, Japan. It’s 30 years apparently since RCE and Hondo RC started this wonderful exchange program. These days, we have a short-term exchange during which a student spends up to 8 weeks overseas. At our meeting, we heard from Kyra who went to Japan at the end of Nov 2017, Karin who is here from Japan now and being hosted by Kyra’s family and attending Monty SC, and Jade who will go to Japan later this year. Experiencing different cultures, attending school, advancing language studies and making new friends for life, is a great way of building tolerance and understanding in our youth.
President Jill
Lower Eltham Park BBQ 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
You are responsible for finding a replacement if you are unable to do your rostered duty and to notify Lyn Truran ljtruran@bigpond.com
This week, August 23rd, we’re looking forward to inducting Veronica Kioria, followed by the first of our Club’s Committee meeting nights in which there will be no guest speaker. Instead, we will have some fellowship together over dinner and then there will be several committee meetings running concurrently throughout HGC. At Club Assembly last week, Jill gave an overview of the purpose behind trialling committee meetings on a club night which includes:
Inclusion – as many members as possible can be involved in the sharing of our Rotary work
Looking after busy members – reduces the number of committee meetings that need to be held at other times
Improving communication – membership of a committee means you get to find out what work is going on in that team
Helping new members – to learn about the work of different committees which then helps them to decide which committee they would like to join
Committee meetings to be held next week include: Aquabox, Youth Services, Community, Administration (includes Sergeant, Bulletin editor, Secretary, Program organizer), Public Relations, Membership.
If you are not on a committee? Then members are encouraged to visit one or a couple of the committee meetings as an observer. Everyone’s thoughts and opinions are important and having as many of our members as possible involved in Rotary work is also very important. Hope to see you there!
The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation around the world who share its vision of a better world. During the past 100 years, the Foundation has spent $3 billion US on life changing, sustainable projects around the world. Foundation has six causes: promoting peace, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies and fighting disease. 91% of donations go directly to these projects and Foundation has a 4 star Charity Navigator rating to rank as one of the world’s most reliable and ethical charities.
Rotarians can donate directly to Foundation - the Every Rotarian Every Year campaign seeks to encourage individual Rotarians to donate annually which you can do via the Rotary Club of Eltham. These donations are tax deductible and also count towards individual attainment of Paul Harris Fellow recognition which is bestowed when individual donations reach a cumulative total of $1000US.
As a Club we also raise funds - for example the funds raised at the forthcoming footy night and the Luncheon on the Deck in March next year have been earmarked for Foundation.
The donations made by clubs also entitle clubs to submit projects for District or International grants and entitle Clubs to ‘cash-in’ $1000US to bestow Paul Harris Fellow recognition on members who demonstrate a shared purpose with the objectives and mission of the Rotary Foundation to build world understanding and peace.I urge everyone to think about making a donation to such a worthy cause.
Good news day! Alison is now out of hospital and at home, recuperating from recent surgery. She is very grateful and appreciative of everyone’s get well wishes and messages of support.
And we have a gold medallist in our midst! Denese the Dynamo has won a gold medal in her age and weight division at the 2018 World Masters Weightlifting Championship in Barcelona. Excelente Denese!!!!
The PR committee is looking for reporters to write stories for the RCE website and Bulletin. Often these stories are only a paragraph of information, occasionally they will involve more. For examples see the website and past Bulletins. Generally there is a photo involved. Some items will also make it onto Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You don't need to be able to use clubrunner, RCE website, FB or any other social media. Just spend the time to get the right words, it can be in Word or just an email. We would also love people who may be interested in just writing about your committee achievements.
RCE does a lot of really great things in the community, to increase our membership and standing in the community we need to share our work.
A single mother of three children living in St Helena contacted the Club. Her middle child, Chloe, a nine year old, has autism, cerebral palsy, suffers from epilepsy and is non-verbal. To attend the Diamond Valley Special School her mother has had to carry her and she currently weighs 20 kilos. Her Occupational Therapist recommended that they get a DoBuggy to wheel her to and from school. A friend at the school suggested that the mother should contact a Rotary Club to see if they would help.
The request was taken up by our Community Service Director, Paul Kelly, and a DoBuggy obtained, it is capable of carrying a person of up to 60 kilos and so should last her until she is 16 or 17. The DoBuggy was delivered to Chloe and her mother by President Jill and Paul Kelly. When they bent down to talk to Chloe who was sitting in the DoBuggy she held their hands, which her mother said was most unusual as she did not normally make tactile actions.