This week we are pleased that our 9685 District Governor, Mina Howard, is attending our meeting for her Official Visit. We thank her for her support and for the numerous times she has attended our meetings.
Once again we had an enjoyable evening at the Rotary Clubs of NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards. It was great to share it with Ross Johnson and our past member Fleur Hourihan.
The great news for our club this week is the success of Lucy Hobgood -Brown’s grant application. Please read the following “Congratulations” item.
At present we have members working on their projects here and overseas. At present we have Barbara (permanently) in Kenya, Judith in Timor Leste, Jeff in Cambodia.
Lucy is in Oregon, USA, celebrating Thanksgiving with her family. Kian is in Malaysia.
We wish you all safe travels.
Our next meeting’s guest will be Past Rotary International President Ian Riseley, who is the current Chair of The Rotary Foundation. Please advertise this widely for 4 December.
On Wednesday 23 November I have been invited to speak about Rotary e-clubs at the Rotary Club of Umina Beach. All of our members are invited to attend. Please let me know asap if you wish to come – 6:00 PM at Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy. Meals cost $15-25.
Welcome to the new members who are joining our club this meeting: Kim Mannion, and Wendy Stein
Until next time
Marilyn
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary in Australia in 2021 the Rotary Club of Balwyn will donate a significant portion of its annual income generated from its Camberwell Sunday Market to assist other Rotary Clubs in Australia in their humanitarian endeavours. Since 1976 the Sunday Market has become a Melbourne icon and tourist attraction and the many millions of dollars generated from the Sunday Market has enabled the RCB to start many major community projects and assist in philanthropic initiatives within Australia and internationally.
The Rotary Club of Balwyn is sharing its good fortune by providing Balwyn Centenary Grants to other Rotary Clubs to give their members the opportunity to fulfill their dreams in making the world a better place.
The Rotary Club of Balwyn has committed approximately $1,000,000 over the next 5 years to aid other Rotary Clubs in Australia.
Well done Lucy Hobgood-Brown. News has just come that her application for a grant of AUD 33,264 to construct a community hub at Lotumbe, DRC, has been successful. I will leave it to Lucy to talk about this later.
As a result of the AGM held on 16th October we are able to congratulate Tony Miller and his team for 2022-23, the nominations for whom were accepted on the day. The results were as follows:
o President – Tony Miller o President-Elect – Vacant o Immediate Past President and Vice President – Marilyn Mercer o Secretary – Diana Stewart o Treasurer - Adetola Adewole o International – Doug Vincent o Environment – Judith Charnaud o Membership – Marilyn Mercer o Foundation – Dudley Mercer o Community/Club Service – Lucian Keegel o IT/PR – Ross Johnson
Please contact any of these club leaders if you are not already on a team. Also, give serious consideration as to our President for 2023-24
Alex Rubin is a Major in the Australian Army with a background in operational planning, military instruction, humanitarian assistance and diplomatic engagement with allied partners.
Alex is one of the highest qualified Thai linguists in Defence and uses these skills to enhance bilateral relations and international engagements. During 2018, Alex was deployed on short notice to the Thailand Cave Rescue mission as the Australian military contingent commander and lead planner. For his work in this mission Alex was awarded the Companion of Direkganabhorn and a royal acknowledgement by the King of Thailand. Alex believes that service to the nation and the community are callings that should never be ignored.
Erika Yague is a young woman leader from the Philippines who is passionate about peace and human rights and a strong activist for the cause. She is currently undertaking a PhD focused on Youth Peace and Security in Southeast Asia at the Queensland University of Technology. She is also working as a consultant for UNICEF Headquarters-New York and the Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect-University of Queensland.
Ken Hutt Rotary has had many champions working for the cause … and one such champion is Ken Hutt of the Rotary Club of Berry, New South Wales Australia.
In 2014 Ken climbed the World’s sixth highest mountain, Mt Cho Oyu in Tibet, and then successfully paraglided back to Base Camp, all for raising awareness for the PolioPlus campaign. He took on another challenge for PolioPlus … a World Record assault and paraglide from the summit of Everest in May 2022. His story was inspirational
MEDIA RELEASE National Flood Relief Appeal Distribution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Australian Rotary charity, RAWCS, today announced the creation of a national Flood Relief Appeal for people impacted by the current floods in the Eastern States. Australians impacted by the recent floods will be the beneficiaries of money raised by the Flood Appeal and will be able to liaise with their local Rotary Club to let us know what they need. The fundraising campaign was launched today to support communities in need after yet another disaster impacting Australians. “The money raised from the Appeal will go directly and quickly to support those impacted, providing essential items and financial support which Disaster relief and Insurance claims won’t cover,” said Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd CEO Andrew Woodward. “The number of disasters Australians have endured in the last few years in addition to the pandemic have been significant and left a lot of people in very difficult financial positions,” Mr Woodward said. National and international partnerships have greatly assisted RAWCS in building stronger and better resourced projects. By partnering with the Australian Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Agency, RAWCS has brought drought support to 13,000 families and engaged 138 communities, through the Drought Community Outreach Project, strongly supported by local Rotary Clubs. Mr Woodward said that he expects the flood relief appeal money to help people with the things that insurance or disaster relief funds cannot replace. Whether it be helping farmers build new fences or providing food and clothing to those that have lost everything, the money raised will be crucial in helping families get back on their feet as soon as possible. ---Ends---
Tax Deductible Donations to the appeal can be made on the Rotary Australia World Community Service website at https://rawcs.org.au
Andrew Woodward is available for interviews and photographs. Media Contact: Andrew Woodward 0411 075 107, andrew.woodward@rawcs.org.au
RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Services Ltd) Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd. (RAWCS) was formed to enable Australian Rotarians, Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs to assist disadvantaged communities and individuals through humanitarian aid projects. RAWCS has a financial infrastructure system that facilitates fundraising for projects that deliver humanitarian aid and charitable support in Australia and overseas. Projects are registered through Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund (RAOAF), Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS) incorporating Rotary Australia Compassionate Grants (RACG), Rotary Australia Relief Fund (RARF), Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) and Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment (RARE). Funds raised over 2021/2022 include • Ukraine humanitarian assistance Projects: $6,337,414 • Australian Flood relief Projects: $1,157,182 • Cambodia based humanitarian Projects: $988,317 • Top 14 other large humanitarian Projects: $6,513,781
Our weekly sewing training for refugees on the Gold Coast Queensland is progressing well . Of the 12 refugees attending these classes, eight have never used a sewing machine, however on the first day they made a scrunchie and a bag. Congratulations to our Sewaid teacher Rhonda Whitton and her two assistants on the great work they are doing.
SewAID donated six new machines, two new overlockers and all the fabric and accessories, all of which were shipped up from Sydney. The refugee students are being selected by Thriving Multicultural Communities and the classes are being held at their premises in Labrador, Gold Coast. The lessons are being held every Saturday for 7 weeks.
A "feel good" story of Service Above Self in action
Mumbai Rotary comes to aid of a stranded student
Posted on
Members of the Rotary Club of Deonar, Maharashtra, India, during a club social outing.
By Jaee Bhilare
I am a student at Amity University in Mumbai, India. I have routinely been taking the bus from Pune to Mumbai for the past two years. But a few weeks ago, I had the most unexpected journey.
My bus broke down and I was dropped off at a food court near Khalapur Toll. I saw this private bus parked opposite us. I didn’t know what to expect but decided there would be no harm in asking for help. So I approached a group of ladies and asked if they had an extra seat on their bus.
From the very first, they were extremely compassionate. Shivani Bansal consulted with all of her friends, and within a few minutes, they had agreed to give me a seat, drop me off, and began helping me with my bag.
Once aboard, I realized that it was a private charter by the Rotary Club of Deonar. They were returning from a picnic fellowship at Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra. I talked with several individuals of different ages and experiences, and met Tanisi Jaydeep, a daughter of one of the Rotary members, who is studying the same subject as I am.
Although I didn’t know any of them, I instantly felt safe and comfortable. They were fun and kind and the entire bus had this family vibe. I feel women have a sixth sense and they know when something isn’t right. I never felt that throughout the journey.
I have never been a part of Rotaract and this was my first interaction with Rotary members. But it is honestly something I will never forget.
I hope I can pass forward the help I received.
Editor’s note: This story was shared by Vivek Khandelwal, public image chair for the Rotary Club of Deonar, Maharashtra, India. Khandelwal
Tickets to the event will be sold online through an electronic ticketing system. BUT I need a few helpers to get it off and running. Please let me know if you are able to help on the night by tallying scores, monitor the ticket selling and record numbers; help with the publicity. Send me an email and overwhelm me with offers. Thank you. dianastewart48@outlook.com
Alex Rubin is a Major in the Australian Army with a background in operational planning, military instruction, humanitarian assistance and diplomatic engagement with allied partners. 
Erika Yague is a young woman leader from the Philippines who is passionate about peace and human rights and a strong activist for the cause. She is currently undertaking a PhD focused on Youth Peace and Security in Southeast Asia at the Queensland University of Technology. She is also working as a consultant for UNICEF Headquarters-New York and the Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect-University of Queensland.
Ken Hutt Rotary has had many champions working for the cause … and one such champion is Ken Hutt of the Rotary Club of Berry, New South Wales Australia.
