What better way to start off a new Rotary year than to welcome new members. Last week we welcomed John Roberts and Ernita Songahid. John and Ernita have been Rotarians for some five years at Albert Park and formally transferred to Eltham on 1 July, although they have been visiting us for quite a few months this year - 'on probation' as John put it! They both have a passion for international causes especially in the Philippines where they have supported a school and a job creation project for young women. A very warm welcome to our new recruits.
What a great and timely presentation Andrew Cooper gave us last week on the changes to superannuation and retirement planning. Andrew spoke with clarity, humour and authority on the changes which will affect most of us.
We were very happy to see Vicki Mackrell and Jim Phillips back at meetings after stints on the sick list. And best wishes to Howard Turner and David McFarlane who have both been unwell lately. We hope to see you both back in peak health very soon. Many members have already or are in the progress of holidaying in more northerly parts - can't understand why! Bon voyage, safe travels and see you soon to Ken and Judy Paynter, Margaret Lane and Maurie, Ron and Wendy Manison, Rob and Margot Kilcullen, Darryl and Linda Wallace, Michael and Jenny Maloney, John and Kerry Skinner, Gordon Birch and Kaye Smith (who has flown off to the northern hemisphere with her arm in a sling after breaking it a few days before she was due to leave). Best wishes too to Frank and Anita Lynch who have taken the plunge and retired from Eltham Footwear. On other member news, Ian Thomas has taken 6 months leave of absence - rumour has it he is hoping to finish his home on the Mornington Peninsula.
Don't forget to let Alison Cooper and/or John O'Callaghan know if you have contact with any suitable speakers for our Footy night - scheduled for 28 September. We'd love to be able to make it another great fun(d)raising night.
President Judy
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 notify Lyn Truran ljtruran@bigpond.com
Well done to the BBQ team this week who made $1098.20. Thanks for your hard work Christina Proust, Mike Wetzler, Victoria Claque and team captain Les Coath.
Second week for President Judy Sharp and this week we are pleased to have Sean Spencer, CEO of healthAbility give a presentation on the services provided to Eltham and surrounding districts residents. healthAbility is located in Eltham in Main Road and is an operating division of Nillumbik Community Health Service Limited, which is an independent, community health organisation that has been providing support and care to people for over 40 years.
Sean will be outlining how healthAbility supports Eltham residents which include assisting people with disability, older people in our community, people with complex and chronic conditions, families and youth. In particular, the current issue of youth homelessness in the local area.
healthAbility is a not-for-profit organisation, which means surplus funds are reinvested back into services so they can continue to support the community and contribute positively to society.
So I would encourage you to come along to hear Sean’s presentation on the work of healthAbility - a wonderful local Community organisation.
Saya Okano from Amakuso, Kumamoto, JAPAN arrives in Melbourne on Sunday 9th July. During Saya's 7 week stay, she will be hosted by RCE and the Millers family in Yallambie. Gracie Millers, whom we sponsored to go to Japan at the end of 2016, was hosted by Saya's family and now it's Gracie's family's opportunity to reciprocate.
Whilst in Melbourne, Saya will attend Montmorency Secondary College and will visit RCE on 17th August when we also hope to have our annual visitors, Mamiko and Johnny join us for the evening.
The next student from Montmorency SC who will do an exchange visit to Japan later this year is Kyra Krukowitch. The paperwork trail for Kyra begins this week when Jill visits the family for a debrief on the Rotary exchange program.
Planning continues behind the scenes and includes seeking sponsorship to supplement the Nillumbik Council's grant. Ken and Michael Maloney have been working very hard on securing local area sponsorship with some great support being offered. A lot of time and effort goes into sponsorship and we thank Ken and Michael for the important work they continue to do in this area. The Festival Committee have been looking into new initiatives in order to keep a 'freshness' at the festival. So far, we've: - negotiated with Diamond Valley Railway seeking their involvement this year. They've agreed to support the festival effort and will have a presence in the park over the weekend and also sponsor a double decker bus offering free rides between Eltham Central and Lower Eltham Park on the Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. This should be a really popular and highly visible activity. What kids wouldn't want to have a free ride on a double decker bus!! And a train ride too as well as all of the other things the festival offers. - planned to have a 'Chill out zone' area in the park this year. Our learnings from the Sensitive Santa project which RCE supports is the need to cater for children with sensory needs who are often frightened by crowds, noise, hustle and bustle etc. I've been in negotiation with Angela Claire, a Nillumbik Council Inclusion Officer, and together we've been hatching a plan that will involve the presence of Yarra Valley Library and the Living and Learning Centre (and Eltham Library) in the park. YVL will have a marquee in which there will be a range of quiet activities suitable for highly sensory children to participate in. LLC also will have a hands on activity tent. - looked into having the animal farm on both Saturday and Sunday this year. A popular activity, we're hoping to have Farmer Darryl and his animals/birds from Kyneton join us at festival time. Farmer Darryl is a real farmer who adds a bit of entertainment, story reading and singalongs which adds to the fun and festivities of the festival.
That's it for now but stay tuned as there will be more festival updates as the weeks go by.
Judy Sharp: Dinner at Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre on Saturday 22 July is an opportunity to meet Ian Riseley from RC Sandringham who is Rotary’s International President for 2017-2018. Let Judy know if interested.
Ann Lynch: Thank you card from Vicki Mackrell. A thank you also from WEHI which is having an afternoon tea/tour on Tuesday 8 August from 2.30 – 4.00pm. RSVP by 28 July.
Brett Linsell: Sam Wilson is new President of DV Rotaractors. Next meet on third Monday of the month.
Alison Cooper: Next week (13 July) Sean Spencer, CEO of Healthability. Club Assembly on 20 July and on 27 July Sue Schreiber (ex-Rotarian) who looks after fireworks at the Festival and is also a local artist with a show at Montsalvat at present. Let Alison know if you have any contacts for the football/fundraising night.
Dale Atkins: An update on recent donations – thank you letters to be sent.
Peter Roden: Attended RC Maryborough’s change-over night. New President is Karen McCarthy who is a dedicated supporter of Aquabox.
Michael Maloney: Ken P accepted donation of $4,000 for the Festival from Bendigo Bank which continues to be a major sponsor.
Speaker: This week's speaker was Andrew Cooper from Advice for Living Financial Planning in Diamond Creek. Andrew, Alison’s husband, is well known to club members as the voice of the Rotary Eltham Festival. Andrew managed to make sense to us of a number of recent, and otherwise inexplicable, changes to Superannuation, Centrelink, and retirement planning as well as tips on how to best deal with these. Our thanks to him for an excellent presentation and for addressing a wide range of questions from the floor.
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