District Governor's visit

At this meeting we were honoured to welcome DG Michael Lapina for his visit to our club. He complemented the club for the impact it has had locally and internationally.

He then spoke to the annual theme “The Magic of Rotary”...

Nina Fromhold, from Memory Lane - Life Stories was our speaker on November 7th.

Discovering a recorded message of her “Nan” 4 weeks after she passed away made Nina realise the value of such a recording as it included important content of the family history in her grandmother’s voice.

Such recordings provide an understanding of a person across subsequent generations and avoids their story being lost.

Of late, this on-going project has been flying under the radar for most members of the club. Since its inception, it has grown and evolved to the extent that the original focus of providing disease prevention and primary care for rural school children has ended, perhaps temporarily, while the tutoring visits to Vietnam’s main dental hospital has gone from strength to strength.

We mourn the loss of our longtime member Frank Brown, who died on 19th November. A member of the Rotary Club of Footscray for 49 years having joined in April 1975, President 1986/87 and Paul Harris recognition with Sapphire 1992-93.
The Rotary theme during his year as President was “Rotary Brings Hope”. During his presidency the Club’s 50th Anniversary was celebrated with a black tie gala dinner at the Arts Centre. Other highlights of that year were Sir Edward (Weary ) Dunlop being the most significant lunchtime speaker and a Children’s Christmas party being instituted.

On October 3rd club member Stephen Palmer spoke about his life and work as a “Person behind the Badge” presentation
At the meeting on October 17th Megan Bridger-Darling spoke about “National Survivors Day”. The day commemorates the courage and journeys of survivors of sexual, institutional abuse and their supporters. This was a challenging presentation for all present.
Attending the meeting was Sophia Wilson - pictured with Maria Silber. Sophia is the nominee of Footscray High School as the recipient of the District Foundation Grant Scholarship which will support her during year 11 and 12.

Footscray West Primary School have sent a certificate of appreciation for our donation of $500 to their Vision and Values launch. Each student planted a sunflower seed…nearly 680!…in a small pot to demonstrate the value of responsibility.
Their new responsibility icon is a plant!
There are 6 primary schools in our area and we have been able to donate $500 each to St Monica’s Primary School and Footscray Primary School.