Incoming President's Report
It was exactly ten years ago that I took over as President of the Rotary Club of Footscray. I remember ending my speech with two projects that we could look forward to in the future. One was the Evan Phillips award to help support a young apprentice during his/her training. We made that award to a young man earlier this year. The other project was the Footscray Art Prize. We had no idea what format it was going to take but Victoria University and The Rotary Club of Footscray would be partners in the project that would commemorate Victoria University’s Centenary. It is now a well-established event that includes Maribyrnong City Council and Footscray Community Arts Centre being partners. There is a first prize of $10 000, a street art prize of $5000 was included in previous years as well as a prize for a local Footscray artist. We provide the prize for the primary and secondary school categories. The Art Prize Dinner has become a significant fund raiser for our club and I ask everyone to mark the date in their calendars for August 2023. This is a great community project that is changing and becoming better each time it’s held. I’m very happy to announce that Phillip Caruso has agreed to head this project and will work with Suzanne to ensure we have a very successful night.
Many changes have taken place in our club and in Rotary during the last ten years. Our club has lost two wonderful Rotarians in George Kerry and Allan Warrener. Allan was well into his nineties but was in the middle of writing a book. He was the club member who looked out for new members, he always welcomed you and would invite you to sit with him and Val at special events. George also added to the friendliness of the club with his quick smile and ready greeting. He was a master of trivia and a welcome addition to any trivia night team. Both will be missed.
Not all changes are sad. Our newest members Kushal and Rana have just welcomed a baby boy Marwand, to their family. We are very much looking forward to meeting him.
Another change is in Rotary International itself. This year for the first time ever we have a female International President – Jennifer Jones. Our district has a female District Governor with Amanda Wendt and our club a female president, so we are right on trend for the year.
The pandemic has been difficult and changed life for everyone. Social connection was something that we all missed. We are now back to face to face meetings and we will aim to have a hands on project where we can all work together. We will have an emphasis on the social aspects of being in a Rotary Club – Ron Hunt and Kevin Field are going to organise some social activities, so that we can meet and enjoy each other’s company outside the confines of a structured Rotary meeting.
It is also time for our Rotary Club to become more visible and prominent in the community after two years of limited engagement. We have the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne in May 2023 where Rotarians from all over the world will spend up to a week in our city – that should certainly help to raise our profile. Our district governor is encouraging clubs to develop a great local project where the local community can also become involved. We have the possibility of a project that is just getting under way to be that project. Gaskin Gardens in Gordon St Footscray is a multi-storey building that is home to many elderly, disadvantaged people. A community garden had been established there, but has fallen into disrepair and is no longer operational. Nada Stojkovic has taken on the task of working with Co-health to resurrect the garden – working in the garden will provide the occupants with an opportunity for social contact and engagement as well as growing their own food. At $10 a lettuce that should help stretch budgets and provide for a healthier diet. It also has the potential to be a hands-on project for our club make a real difference to the lives of the residents as well as involving the local community and even schools.
We have had really wonderful international projects over the years, in Africa and Pakistan. This year I would like our club to add an international project that is in a country closer to us. Timor Leste is a country with great needs and we will explore the possibility of providing aid there.
I would also like to add my congratulations to Lawrence – reaching 50 years of service is a great achievement. We have two people here tonight who are not far off their 50 years of service – John Granger and Frank Brown. I would also like to congratulate Jamie Robertson for his year as president. He has laid the foundations for success in the coming years. Thank you to the Croatian Association for hosting us tonight. We are very appreciative of their efforts. John Granger as Master of Ceremonies and Graeme Thompson on AV have put much time and effort into planning for tonight. Their efforts have ensured we had a good evening and everything worked smoothly.
Now I would like to introduce the people who have agreed to take responsibility for an area of service or administration for the coming year and as you will see it takes many people to run a Rotary Club:
Secretary – Diane McGrath
Treasurer and Fundraising – Elia Andriotis
Community – Fred Maddern
Vocational – Emanuel Tumino
International - Jama Farah
Foundation – Bob Newman
Environment – Nada Stojkovic
Protection Officer - Carol Castano
New Generations – Suzanne Zammit
Club Service – Rodney Johnstone
Program – John Granger and Ed Lobaza
New Members – Wilson Leung
Communications and Bulletin – Graeme Thompson
Social Events – Ron Hunt and Kevin Field
Footscray Art Prize Dinner – Phillip Caruso