Meetings are held at 6.30pm on the first and third Thursdays of the month.
Meetings are held at 6.30pm on the first and third Thursdays of the month.
April’s highlights for our club included the Annual Golf Day organised by Rodney and Elia. It was an enjoyable event, with several of our members attending, and it provided a valuable opportunity to connect with representatives from local for‑profit and social enterprise organisations. Thank you to Rodney and Elia, Ron and Carol, Bob, Jamie, and Roger for supporting this event.
Presidents Report March
March has been another rewarding month for our Club, with engaging speakers and important community-focused work. My thanks go to Angus for coordinating two excellent presentations: Kevin Halstead from the Police Veterans Association, and Dr Jeff Godfredson, who shared valuable insights into the work and achievements of the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade. Their contributions added great depth to our March program and our understanding of two important not-for-profit organisations.
Presidents Report
February has been a month of connection and quiet but meaningful progress across our club. As we settle into the rhythm of 2026, I continue to be inspired by the generosity, reliability, and good humour that define the Rotary Club of Footscray. One of the highlights this month has been the arrival of the 20th container of medical and other essential goods at a hospital in Ethiopia.
Our meetings continue to be lively and well attended......
Welcome to the first Club Bulletin of 2026, and best wishes to all our members, friends, and supporters for the New Year.
We have commenced our fundraising efforts with our first BBQ at the Whitten Oval for the Western Bulldogs Fan Fest. Thank you to everyone who was able to assist, especially Rodney and Elia.
As part of our local community service work, I have arranged donations from DIK to Duke St Neighbourhood House and the Sunshine Polish Charity Association.
Dear Members,
As we approach the close of 2025, I want to acknowledge the commitment each of you continues to bring to our club. From fellowship at our monthly meetings to the service projects we’ve supported, it’s clear that the spirit of Rotary is alive in Footscray.
Highlights this month include:
• Community Engagement – Our ongoing support for local initiatives has strengthened ties with numerous community groups.
• Fundraising Efforts – Thank you to all who contributed time this year to ensure our activities were both successful and enjoyable.
• Club Fellowship – The camaraderie within our club remains one of our greatest strengths. It’s always inspiring to see members working together with good humour and shared purpose.
It was appropriate that Fred attended a recent community event “Game On” event in Maddern Square, in the heart of Footscray.
Jama Farah has provided an update regarding the Horn of Africa Medical Equipment, Mobility Aid & Diplomacy Foundation project.
"Our 20th container of essential goods has now been loaded and will depart shortly for its destination of Dilchora Referral Hospital in Dire Dawa City Administration, Ethiopia."
A comprehensive report is avaiable here.
In December 2023 at the final meeting of the Rotary Club of Footscray a raffle was drawn. The raffle was to raise money for the Rotary Sailing Challenge Program. The first prize was a week’s stay in a beach front cabin at the Ingenia Resort in Eden NSW and I was lucky enough to win the first prize which had to be used within two years. In October 2025 I took my sister and the dog for a holiday.
Dear Fellow Rotarians and Friends,
During November, I continued to attend meetings and local community events as part of promoting our club and what we do, as well as connecting with relevant stakeholders.
Iven McKay PDG and I attended the AGM of the Footscray Traders Association and we heard of the challenges that the traders are facing due to safety concerns and due to people being affected by the cost of living pressures.
Dear Fellow Rotarians and Friends,
May I begin by thanking all the members who have volunteered in one way or another to continue our contribution to local community and make a positive difference to people’s lives, locally and globally. Key highlights for October include:
Local and/or relevant community engagement activities:
- Attending a community expo in North Melbourne........
Dear Fellow Rotarians and Friends,
Since my last report, I continued to connect online with other Victorian Rotary clubs and other relevant stakeholders. I am starting to receive feedback that the local community is more aware about what we do. Information about our FRACS grants has been of particular interest.
Dear Fellow Rotarians and Friends,
During August I continued to engage with other Rotary clubs (in-person and online), relevant Facebook groups and other stakeholders.
Key events that I participated in included:
- Community planting at the National Tree Day at Pipemakers Park
- Footscray Rubbish Runners monthly clean up
- Connecting with local traders at a Financial workshop for local small business owners, conducted by Collins and Co
- Celebration of the Plastic Free July, organised by Maribyrnong City Council
- Exploration with RC Yarraville of establishment of a neurodiverse Rotary Club
- Speaking at the Rotary Club of Hawthorn..........
Dear Fellow Rotarians and Friends,
Thank you for attending the Changeover Dinner—I hope you all had an enjoyable time.
As promised, I’ve begun contributing to the Club’s visibility by attending Rotary events, including the District Changeover with Bob, Maria, and Peter, as well as the Changeovers hosted by the Rotary Clubs of West Footscray and Flemington/Kensington.
To strengthen our connection with the local community, I’ve reached out to several organisations: the Footscray Mechanics Institute, the Footscray Historical Society, the Chestnut Tree Bookshop, the Community Bike Hub and the Western Health Foundation.
Again this has been another successful year for the Club and its members and as it closes I conclude my second and last year as your club President and I look forward to the future success of the club under the leadership of our incoming President Elizabeth Drozd.
The activities of the club over the last year are summarised in this report which will be presented at the Changeover Meeting.
Susan has been a member for over a year and at meeting on May 1st introduced herself with a “member behind the badge” presentation.
Born in Kent, her family migrated to Sydney when she was six and hated being called a “Pom”.
On her mother’s side she has Scottish Heritage (Cameron clan) and her father was born and bred in London.
The family settled on Sydney’s North Shore where the beach was a great attraction, as was sailing regularly with her father. Anglesea is now her seaside escape.
It was a pleasure to represent the club at the 2025 AGM of FCA on May 21st.
This organisation, establishhed 51years ago, has become a centre for cultural leadership in Melbourne's west.
The statistics shared at the AGM reflect the impact that FCA has in the community.
Work is in progress creating a new outdoor space, Lango, replacing the blue stone amphitheatre. The redevelopment will create and accessible veniue for music, ceremony, film, talks and community gatherings. Graeme Thompson
We welcome Elwyn and look forward to his involvement in our club. Here is a brief profile of his professional and community experience.
Elwyn arrived in Australia in 1986 to start work at Footscray Hospital after a nursing recruitment drive from UK. Since that time he has worked almost entirely between Footscray and Royal Melbourne Hospitals. He describes himself as “semi” retired and lives in Footscray with wife Leanne.
Cohealth is holding a function in the vegetable garden at Gaskin Gardens, Gordon Street Footscray, at 11am on Thursday 11 April. To acknowledge the funding and support provided by Footscray Rotary, Nada Stojkovic has invited our members to attend a celebratory morning tea of sandwiches, fruit and refreshments.
The medical equipment shipped as part of the Horn of Africa Project has been delivered and officially handed over to the Jig Jiga and Jugel hospitals.
The recent crowd funding appeal for Ayder hospital has successfully reached its target, allowing a further container of equipment ot be shipped.
Clubs are invited to apply to display their projects at District Conference. Booths 3x3.5 m are available and include a table and a chair and the facility to display posters. For further information and make a booking for a spot, go to: https://www.trybooking.com/CNLEA
If you would like to know more about how to use ClubRunner here is a great opportunity to learn or refresh what one already knows and encourage the use of this important tool.
Date: Saturday 3rd February
Time: 10am to 11:30am
Where: Online via Zoom - so bring a cuppa
Who: ClubRunner Product Specialist - Mickey (direct from Canada😀) will take us through the following topics with time for you to ask questions:
Register online:https://www.trybooking.com/CNSGO
