Rotary District 9800 Governor Philip Archer

The Rotary Centenary Coins and Stamp launch was held on Thursday morning and was truly a wonderful event. The seamless online communication link between the Melbourne and Sydney UBS boardrooms was impressive and allowed us to showcase the best of the two centenary clubs of Rotary Melbourne and Rotary Sydney.

I would like to acknowledge the leadership of those clubs dating back one hundred years. Sir John Monash, the second President of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, and indeed every president since charter, has led a broad church of members who have been able to assist the growth of Rotary in Victoria and across Australia, chartering new clubs and implementing a range of impressive projects that have brought significant benefits to the communities they have served. I congratulate the current Rotary Melbourne leadership team of President Marion MacLeod, Immediate Past President Kevin Sheehan and Hugh Bucknall, all of whom have been so active in the promotion of Rotary’s 100 years of giving and leading our centenary celebrations. They have helped to lay the foundation for the next century of giving.

The Rotary Club of Footscay is a partner in the 2021 Footscray Art Prize. Full details of exhibitions for Major, 

Street Art and Young Artists Prizes https://www.footscrayartprize.com/  

The fundraising to ship containers of hospital and school equipment to Ethiopia has successfully reached its target. 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. The current donation total stands at $21575 of the $21000 target.

A BIG thank you to all those who contributed and offered their support for this massive project for the Club.

You are welcome to see the update of the project here.

Here is a picture of 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. 

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

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.  

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.

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 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

 

We had our first meeting for the Footscray Art Prize last Tuesday.

Philip and Suzanne will the Rotary Representatives for the 2023 Arts Prize. Maria will be president when the Footscray Arts Prize and the Footscray Rotary Arts Prize Dinner take place. The Arts Prize will be announced on late May, and the finalists will have their work displayed for about 2 months.

The junior Arts Prize finalists will have their work displayed for a month.  

The Footscray Rotary dinner will occur on 17th June 2023.

Newsletter

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.

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.

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

Newsletter

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.

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"

A successful dinner with auction was held on Saturday 22nd in conjunction with the Footscray Art Prize. Guest speaker Mary Long gave a thought provoking presentation "Business and Art -Strange Bedfellows”. Funds raised will support our youth programs. Thanks to Bruce Postle, Oslo Davis and Susan Dang for the works they donated for the live auction. Many club members donated a diverse range of items for silent auction.