Club Meetings

The Club has been consistent in organising meeting throughout this two-month period. In April, a zoom meeting in the first week was followed by a dinner meeting at The Plough Hotel later in the month. The Footscray Rotary Board Meeting was organised on the 13th May.

Tommy Quick is the guest speaker for tonight’s zoom meeting. Tommy Quick is a young 28-year-old stroke impacted man, who is riding a recumbent bike 9000 across Australia and up the East coast with the goal to raise $1m for stroke research.  He only has 62 days until he starts in WA and heads to Melbourne. 

Looking forward to meeting Tommy and listening to his story.

Horn of Africa Project

A few words from the Club President

It seems only a few weeks since Jama Farah asked me to be president elect (PE) for his year as president. In a fit of absence of mind, I said, yes. We are now nearly at the end of my first month having had the Changeover night, the District’s changeover night, a second meeting at The Plough Hotel and soon to come, my first Zoom Board meeting. Apart from that, there’s been a Zoom meeting of our cluster’s Presidents and a veritable e-blizzard of emails from everywhere except someone in Nigeria offering me a fortune. 

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

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.  

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.

Tommy Quick

Horn of Africa Project

President Jama Farah and Past President Suzanne Zammit have been to DIK to check out the contents of the first container of our Horn of Africa Project. The container is due for shipment Monday 22 Feb.

December Meeting

The Rotary Club of Footscray members met face to face in the second week of December at 540 Barkly St, Footscray. The enjoyable evening found members catching up with each other after what seemed like an year! Rodney, Club Secretary chaired the meeting and organised a probing quiz that kept everyone mettle and entertained. Jama, Club President spoke about the New Year and provided gifts for the ladies’ present. $330 raised for the Foodbank, enough to provide 600 meals.

Maria provided Christmas music and together with Suzanne, worked their magic to create Christmas atmosphere with decorations on the table. Wonderful to see Jama in a colourful jacket!

WE DID IT!

Footstrollers have managed to cross their target of $3000 to the End Polio Now campaign. Many thanks to our sponsors, our friends and family who have supported and cheered for us. Graeme alone has marched the way with a whopping $1128 donation. A special thank you to our team members for challenging yourself to walk, run or roll 10, 20, or 50km throughout the month and raise vital funds that will help eradicate and prepare us for a Polio free world.:

Elia Andriotis

Graeme Thompson

Rodney Johnstone

Jamie Robertson

Suzanne Zammit

Ronald Hunt

Kevin Field

Maria Silber

Pragya Kapil

Clean water, better sanitation, teacher training, and hygiene education

By Past District Governor Iven Mackay

The Rotary Club of Yarraville and its partner in the Philippines, the Rotary Club of Greater Marikina Valley in District 3800, are very pleased to report that our joint WASH project has been completed.

Global Handwashing Day 2020

Global Handwashing Day - October 15, 2020

With the COVID-19 crisis so prominent in the news, a number of organizations are making an extra effort to promote handwashing with soap this year. They have developed resources that we can use every day when we are teaching about the importance of handwashing. 

GlobalHandwashing.org

Zoom meetings

On October 1st, our guest speaker was Kitty O’Connor, Past President of Laverton Point Cook Club spoke to us on Walk with Us program. Andrew Bennett, Professor of Ecology at Latrobe University will speak to us on the 19^th November about his many projects and work in the field of wildlife research.

Rotary Walk With Us – Ending Polio

By Grant Hocking on behalf of Kitty O’Connor and Murray Verso, Rotary District 9800, End Polio Walk With Us Team

During the month of October, Rotarians and friends in Australia and across the world took action to raise awareness, funds and support to end poliomyelitis, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens the children of the world today.  The Rotary Walk With Us campaign was very successful, raising over $123,000 for the Rotary End Polio campaign. The amount raised by District 9800 was over $73,000, 4-5 times more than previous walking events.

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

 

November Zoom Meetings

The two zoom meeting in November saw special guests, Elwyn Davies, member of Community Consultative Committee sharing about the ‘Progress update on New Footscray Hospital’ and Prof Andrew Bennett from La Trobe University, a landscape ecologist who has an interest in the effects of the change in native vegetation and the impact on flora and fauna.

Horn of Africa Project

The fundraising to ship containers of hospital and school equipment to Ethiopia is going well. The Rotary Club of Footscray in association with Donations in Kind wishes to transport three containers of medical and school equipment to Somali Regional State of Ethiopia.

President Jama is being well supported by his network in the African community and over $14272 as of this evening. The target is $21000. Club members are encouraged to support what is the club's major project during Jama’s year as President. 

Footscray Art Prize 2021

The Footscray Art Prize is returning for 2021 and is now open for entries. Even better, it’s an art prize where kids can get involved!

Primary and secondary students from Melbourne’s west are invited to enter the Footscray Art Prize Young Artists Prize category. There are two $500 prizes, and all entries are exhibited – a fantastic experience for any budding artist!

 July Bulletin 2020 Reformed - 30-Jul-2020

Newsletter

President Jama's Speech

Enjoy reading Rotary Club Footscray President's inspiring Speech from the Changeover Ceremony evening.

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests. I would like to thank you all for your company on this occasion as I enter the role of President of the Rotary Club of Footscray District 9800. I consider it an honor that you considered me up to the task of this role. I am grateful to be in this position and I aim to carry out my responsibilities to the best of my abilities. We are living in a strange moment, where it seems that no one really knows what to do next. These are the moments where people look for guidance and leadership to show them the way.

Changeover Ceremony Highlights

We were honoured to have in attendance District Governor Phillip Archer, District Governor Elect Dale Hoy and Assistant Governor Michael Donnelly at the Changeover Ceremony. It was also pleasing to have club honorary member PDG John Davis attend. Due to family illness President elect Jama Farah was unable to attend the Zoom meeting.

The highlight of the meeting was the DG presenting a Paul Harris award to Emanuel Tumino for his service to District 9800’s Youth Exchange program over many years.

Youth Science Forum

Next Meeting: Lunch on Thursday 19th December 12.30pm.
Speaker:Jamie Cheeseman
With our support, Jamie attended the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) in August.
Over a two week period the residential event held at Imperial College London & The Royal Geographical Society, involved 500 students (16-21 years) from 70 countries attending lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists, visiting world class laboratories and universities combined with cultural interaction. All welcome to attend and here about Jamie's experience.
Croatia House, 72 Whitehall St Footscray 19th December 12.30pm

 June Bulletin 2020 - 17-Jun-2020

Newsletter

Vale Lach Wright

President Suzanne, club members, partners and friends of Footscray Rotary mourn the loss of one of its great stalwarts. As a member for 67 years, Lauchie was a contributor, friend, and gentleman throughout. He will be sadly missed by all and we extend our sympathies to Marie and the whole family for their loss.

Mask Production for Western Health

Following a request from Western Health to produce face masks, Past President Carol Castano has formed a team of Rotarians and friends. Production is well under way. Carol has made 30 adult, and 10 children’s masks herself whilst one of the amazing team has made 120! There are 10 team members, working on the project, including Faye Lanyon from Pt Gellibrand Rotary Club, and 7 of from Caesia Gardens Retirement Village, 5 of whom belong to the Village Rotary Craft Group. Carol says,”it’s good to be able to do such a small thing to help out”
“Service above Self"