Member Announcements

By Graeme Thompson

Originally from Sydney, Dr Thu-Trang Tran, CEO of Volunteers West.  is a former refugee from Vietnam who became aware of Rotary whilst at school. At school she was the recipient of a Rotary scholarship and during her days at University of New South Wales was involved in Rotaract and was awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to Argentina.

On relocating to Melbourne, she has been involved with Volunteer West and at our September 2^nd meeting gave an insight into the activities of the organisation.

By Brendon and Joan Smith

David’s story……

Hugh David Graham was born on Sept. 26^th, 1930 while his parents, Isaac and Martha Graham were living in Gray St., Hamilton.

All his primary and secondary schooling was in Hamilton before he decided to become a teacher and did so by training at the Ballarat Teachers’ College.

After graduating he started his teaching career working at a most impressive long list of schools including Robinvale, Charlton, Vasey, Balmoral, Horsham, Nullaware, Carpendeit, Raglan, Point Cook., Armstrong Street Laverton, Hawkesdale, Laverton North, Altona, Williamstown, Altona Gate, and finally as Principal of Footscray North from 1976-1994. This concluded a most dedicated and outstanding teaching career during which he influenced and encouraged hundreds of students and teachers with their own education and careers.

As the Rotary year unfolds, it’s becoming a long night’s journey into day, to change the title of Eugene O’Neill’s play. What began with a full and confident Changeover has lurched forward in a series of Zoom meetings for both full membership and Board. On top of that have been other Zoom togetherness occasions at District and Cluster levels. I feel that I’ve been Zooming around like a fly in a bottle for the past three months.

The two September meetings, held on the second and sixteenth, seem a long time ago. However, both were well-attended, lively and informative in their own ways. If Secretary Rodney keeps up his quizzes, we’ll be the most informed bunch in District 9800; the collective name for platypuses, the stats on Olympic Games? No problem.

October Birthdays!

John Granger – 3^rd

Rodney Johnstone – 4^th

Kenneth Betts – 12^th

Suzanne Zammit – 18^th

Each year Rotary District 9800 takes the opportunity to recognise and thank Members and clubs for their hard work and dedication to a wide variety of projects, both locally and internationally.

This year invitations are being issued in October 2020 and will close on 26th March 2021 to allow the successful applications to be announced at this year’s Multi District Conference in May 2021. This is the occasion for District 9800 to thank you for all your dedication to changing lives for the better and to congratulate Clubs on their commitment to serve others. Read more.

An opportunity awaits for you to learn more about Rotary with like-minded people. The Rotary Leadership Institute is a four part program where you will learn a little more about Rotary, the early history, traditions, the Rotary Foundation, and its relevance in
the world today. You will make new friends in an enjoyable environment.

This program is perfect for members who have joined Rotary in the last 12 months and indeed people who may be interested in becoming involved in Rotary activities.

Graeme Thompson has been kind to share updates on Frank and Ann’s recovery from the unfortunate accident they were involved in a few days before Christmas last month.

Pleased to share with you all that Frank and Ann are now home and doing well. They will commence outpatient rehabilitation at Epworth twice per week from next week. Ann is wearing a neck brace and Frank has been experiencing challenging with his computer and has therefore been unable to answer many emails from friends but has shared that he is gradually catching up. Home help has been arranged for them. We wish them a speedy recovery.

The Rotary Club of Footscray successfully shipped off a container with 66 hospital beds and mattresses, two transfer trollies, 25 sets of crutches, 12 dialysis machines, 25 cartons of medical books, two cartons of medical bloodlines and two cartons of medical central venous to the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia Jigjiga Health Centre. 

The arrival of the container prompted a press conference and was reported by the local TV news channel.

As we begin a new way of presenting club news via our website we must give a huge vote of thanks to Diane McGrath for her dedication in producing the Bulletin over the last 18 years.

Diane can’t remember who she replaced but after her first 8 years had 12 months of respite when Carol Castano took on the role after her year as President (2009-10) Carol was unable to continue, so Diane recommenced her role as editor and has done so until 2020. True “Service above Self”.

Don't miss the 2021 Rotary International Convention, 12-16 June, in Taipei, Taiwan. Explore the city where the old meets the new, from ancient architecture and traditions to modern art and culture. No matter who you are or where you're from, the city's energy is certain to invigorate you.

The convention is the perfect place to connect with the Rotary family to discover new opportunities for service and friendship, collaborate, learn, and find ways to make a lasting impact in communities around the world.
The last chance to take advantage of the special rate of $315 is tomorrow, 26 June, at 23:59 Chicago time (UTC-5), so register and pay today for the largest savings!

Pragya Kapil is the new Editor for the Club bulletin. Pragya has volunteered with the Club at several occasions and will be volunteering her time to edit, create and publish the monthly bulletin.

She is looking forward to putting her creative skills to work in this role and is welcome to receiving new ideas on member engagement via this platform. There will be period of trail and error as we experiment with the new format. We thank you for your patience and support. Feel free to share your ideas with me.

Feel the energy in Taipei

Register now for the 2021 Rotary International Convention in Taipei, Taiwan, 12-16 June.

Youngest President sets record at Rotary Stawell

You may have seen the story on the ABC News on Wednesday July 22, featuring 18-year-old Taia Hayter, the youngest president to be installed at the Rotary Club of Stawell. The story also featured the ageing and decline of our membership, which was perhaps not the most positive message about Rotary. I would, however, like to reassure everyone that we are working with the ABC and other television networks to present a more attractive image of Rotary.

Rotarians Against Malaria are looking for a Supervisor for District 9800.  This key role is an essential part in maintaining communication about RAM projects throughout the world and engaging clubs in our District in projects.

The Rotary Zone 8: Virtually Alice Springs Conference was organised on the 19th and 20th of September 2020 with great participation from members from Australia and New Zealand. 

The following is the video shown at the recent Rotary Alice Springs Virtual Regional Conference showcasing some of the activities within the New Zealand and Pacific region. Enjoy!

https://rotaryoceania.zone/Stories/fantastic-presentation-on-recent-and-current-nz-pacific-projects

John Granger 3rd 

Rodney Johnstone 4th

Suzanne Zammit 18th

Dear Rotarians/ International PolioPlus Committee members/ Directors and Trustees,

It is with great pride that we inform you that one of our own has been named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People in the World.” Just a few moments ago, Dr. Tunji Funsho, Rotary’s Nigeria National PolioPlus Chair was named to the TIME 100 list for his critical leadership in working with Rotary members and our partners to achieve a wild polio-free Nigeria and eradicate the wild poliovirus in the African region. He is the first Rotary member to receive this honor for our work to eradicate polio.

You can view Dr. Funsho’s profile on the TIME website here.

Celebrating Rotary Club Of Footscray November Birthdays

Phillip Caruso 12^th

Gerry Cross joined Rotary Launceston 31 years ago. He enjoyed the camaraderie and opportunities to help others. Later, when posted to the Solomon Islands, he joined Rotary Honiara.

For the last 20 years, his name has kept ‘bobbing up’ in Rotary District 9800 with work at Donations in Kind (DIK), such as collecting used hospital furniture, packing containers and driving the truck. He had been Chairman of DIK some years ago.

A week of successful events

As we come to the time of year when festivities abound, there have been several highly successful events over the past week in our District including the International Men’s Day Virtual ‘Happy As Larry’ Lunch jointly hosted by Rotary Brighton North and Rotary Melbourne. Well-known comedian and actor Shane Jacobson entertained the audience, along with Rotary District 9810’s “Toilet Warrior”, Rotarian Mark Balla. My congratulations go to both clubs and in particular, Presidents Peter Killey and Marion MacLeod on not only delivering a fantastic event, but also the very important messages on men’s health.

The Rotary Leadership Institute Program presents a wonderful opportunity for experienced Rotarians, new members and indeed people interested in finding out more about Rotary to take some time to experience the history, current and new initiatives related to this great organisation we call Rotary.

This four-part program is now available online.

130 fellowships for fully funded university training  in peace and conflict resolution, are now available Applications to district 9800 close 15th May 2021. 

District 9800 has recruited and mentored more successful Rotary Peace Fellow applicants than any other district,  worldwide. On-line applications for peace fellowships require District endorsement. 

Is there someone that you know who might benefit from this program? Please share the attached flyer. 

I am greatly looking forward to a real, in-person, meeting on Thursday, 4 November. By then most of us should have had a haircut, visited Bunnings, put seedlings in the garden and generally gambolled about like lambs in Spring sunshine. Well, perhaps some of us are past gambolling.

Zoom meetings have been a lifeline of connectedness but not all people feel comfortable with either the technology or the format of talking heads. The buzz of many conversations round a table acts like a charge of adrenaline in itself whereas attempting many conversations on Zoom brings chaos to the collective. The usual Zoom suspects should be augmented at The Plough this week. I suspect that Zoom will not disappear from our lives, and some Board meetings may find them beneficial, but I’d like to think that our regular club meetings will be, living, breathing, laughing, munching events.

ROTARY CLUB OF FOOTSCRAY BOARD MEETING

HELD ON  Thursday 29th July 2021, 5.35pm

Via Zoom online meeting – Footscray.

MINUTES

1. Welcome by President Jamie Robertson.
2. Present/Apologies

Present – Jamie Robertson, Rodney Johnstone; Graeme Thompson; Suzanne Zammit; Fred Maddern, Maria Silber, Elia Andriotis, Bob Newman, Emanuel Tumino (via phone).      

Apologies – Angus Scott-Walker, Emanuel Tumino.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of previous Board Meeting.

Working With Children cards – it’s now time to take out your WWC cards and check that they are still current. Due to Covid we have had no interaction with young people for over two years but we are now out and about and need to make sure that our cards are current. We have our first project happening with young people on Friday the 2^nd of September. If your card is out of date or you don’t have one you can apply online. Once your application has been submitted you are able to engage in activities with young people. The cards are free for volunteers and will last for 5 years. Once you have an up to date card can you please send a photo of your card to Carol Castano who is our Protection Officer.