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Vale David Graham

One of our club giants, David Graham OAM, died last Friday, September 3rd, just short of his 91st birthday.

David joined the Rotary Club of Footscray in 1977 while he was headmaster of Rosamond Road Primary School. He brought a deceptively quiet energy to everything he tackled in life and he was prominent in his own community of Altona where he became Mayor, as well as in our club with one legacy being the Aged Care facility in Mephan Street. He didn’t act alone in that venture but his role was pivotal.

David’s strengths were in administration and networking and his achievements were many. His calm manner and quiet dignity belied the solid contributions he made in life and these contributions were, perhaps belatedly, recognised through him being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. In his later years, David (which was really his middle name, his first being Hugh) put his energy into Footscray Probus Club and he became an Honorary member of our club. He remained a source of wise counsel to anyone who asked.

He would be the first to admit that Team Graham achievements were attributable to his wife Valda and himself. She might be the model for the well-known saying, “behind every great man there is a…” 

Death brings a full stop to the contribution which any person makes to society but the ripples of past actions can spread out and have effect long after. The best way we can honour David is to redouble our efforts to improve the community in which we live and which he loved.

Sincere condolenscences to Valda and family.

 Jamie Robertson AM, President

Evan Phillips Scholarship

Evan Phillips Rotary Club of Footscray Scholarship

 

The Rotary Club of Footscray and FutureGen Foundation are partnering to provide the Evan Phillips scholarship to apprentices and trainees in Melbourne’s West.

The Evan Phillips Scholarship has been developed to provide assistance to young disadvantaged Australians by giving them ‘a hand up, not a hand out’, and helping them reach their full potential.  

The Evan Phillips Scholarship is open to apprentices and trainees who reside in Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Melton Councils.

To be eligible for the Evan Phillips Scholarship, apprentices and trainees need to have been employed for a period of six months, be up to date with studies, have excellent attendance and be supported by your Employer Partner to be nominated. 

Applications close September 30^th and are through the FutureGen Foundation website - https://www.futuregen.org.au/scholarships-and-grants

 

Tommy Quick

Highlights of the District 9800 Changeover 2021

By Dale Hoy

How fortunate we were, after having to change the date of the District 9800 Changeover to Saturday 10^th July, to be able to have 250 Rotarians meet between two Victorian COVID lockdowns for an enjoyable face to face day of celebration and fellowship and the wonderful location of Hyatt Place in Essendon Fields.

Thank you for a wonderful year ‘Opening Opportunities’!

We are now in the peak of club changeovers and DGE Dale, DGN Amanda, DGND Ron, partners and I have been greatly enjoying every event. I know I speak for all the G-train members when I say how amazing it is to see the incredible spread of Rotary activities across the District; to take in the atmosphere of every club; and to learn about the many successes that clubs have achieved during the 2020/21 year with the projects they have undertaken that make such a difference in the world. We are also buoyed by the plans that club leadership teams have for the year ahead.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all Centenary Presidents and club leadership teams for your incredible efforts in ‘Opening Opportunities’ through what has been a challenging year.  

Welcome from District Governor Dale

Welcome to the new Rotary Year of 2021-22, the Centenary year of Rotary here in Australia and New Zealand in which we follow the lead of our Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta and ‘Serve to Change Lives.’

In between two Covid lockdown restrictions, on 10th July at Hyatt Essendon Fields, 250 Rotarians came together to celebrate the District 9800 Changeover. It was wonderful to enjoy face to face friendship and fellowship again.

Clubs across the District, in many cases forced to juggle dates due to COVID restrictions, hosted their changeover events. Both Maureen and I, plus other members of the District Leadership group attended all Changeovers across the District and we were all impressed by the extent of community activity and impact over the last 12 months especially during the difficult COVID period. 

The District Networker Newsletter will be issued twice a month commencing the first and third week of August.

Our District website has been updated and District events will continue to be published under 'Upcoming Events' on the home page.

The popular Morning Tea with the DG will continue on Saturday mornings commencing August varying the format to include themed events and some interactive sessions. 

Any other feedback on enhancing communication across the District will be gratefully received.

On behalf of the District Leadership team, we look forward to working with clubs and Rotarians to help increase our community impact over the next 12 months.

Dale Hoy