As February dawns upon us, we are reminded of the profound significance of fostering peace and resolving conflicts in our communities and beyond. February is "Peace & Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month."
In line with our enduring commitment to service above self, this month offers us a unique opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the noble cause of promoting peace and understanding among all peoples. Our collective effort is called upon more now than ever, we can make a tangible difference in the world by addressing the root causes of conflict and fostering environments where peace can flourish.
Our District 9800 has produced 42 peace fellows since the program began in 2002. This is more than any other district in the world – a record of which we can all be proud. It is our turn now to help our district to maintain this record.
Let's Make an effort this month to promote the program through our network.
Today, more than 1,700 program alumni are working on peace and development in more than 140 countries. If you know of someone who'd be interested and qualifies, please reach out to either Lesley or me to discuss further. See details below.
On another note, February and March are packed with club activities, below listed are all engagements you can assist and participate in during the next 4 weeks, I look forward to seeing you all at our monthly breakfast meeting on 6th March at Flemington Bowls club:
Australia Day honours:
Congratulations to the following Rotarians who received honours this year.
Peter Duras AM, Rotary Central Melbourne, for significant service to sports physiotherapy, and to the community.
Marjorie Gerlinger OAM , Rotary Central Melbourne, for service to the community through a range of roles.
Garry Fowler, AM, Rotary Melbourne, for his service to the community through a range of organisations including as a Board Member at a number of service organisations, and as a past Vice President and Secretary at Rotary Melbourne.
1. EAHA - Eritrean Australian Humanitarian Association. We are supporting former member Anwar Alishek and EAHA with fundraising o support the school in the refugee camp in Kassala, South Sudan {we have supported this school with stationery and supplies previously}.
Please consider helping at Moonee Valley Festival on Saturday 24th February. Any time you can give between 10-5 would be appreciated.
Please advise Lesley of your availability on the day. Project leader Peter Cribb.
2. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDfor members of the African community is set for Tuesday and Wednesday 5, 6, 12 and 13 March 2024 at the Djerring Hub. This course is being run over 4 half days to suit the mainly women participants who have childcare issues. Dr Francis Acquah will present {African background with cultural and linguistic knowledge}. See the attached flier - please distribute to relevant connections. Project leader Shraddha Sharma
3. Sri Lanka - medical. Peter has gained support from the Australian Sri Lankan Association in South Australia who are contributing to funding and packing the container at RARE. Thanks also to Jim and Liz Alvey for their sponsorship.
This project is to deliver beds and medical supplies to support stroke patients.
Our request for additional beds, mattresses and medical supplies is in the queue at DiK. Assistance will be needed to load the container at Donations in Kind when ready. Project leader Peter Cribb.
5. Jarriban Hospital, Puntland Somalia. This project is to send a container of hospital beds and other medical equipment to the Jarriban hospital. Abdi has been in regular contact with Somalia and DiK about details and the progress. Again, we are waiting for beds to complete this shipment.
6. Nepal education project. A Global Grant Foundation application has been submitted. This project seeks to re-engage young people into education in rural Nepal. We are working with the Rotary Club of Tripureswor, Shradd’s father’s club. This project will train teacher mentors, provide back to school materials for students and equipment for schools. Additional funding is also being sought. Facebook Project leader Shraddha Sharma.
7. 1,000 stories project. This week, we have delivered 2 huge bags of books to Danni and the Venny. Project leader Lesley McCarthy
8. RYDA -Rotary Youth Driver Awareness
Shraddha and Jeff are working on this project to connect students at MAC and Simmonds College , working with Anton at RYDA. The program is planned to go ahead in April-May at the Toyota Altona Centre. At this stage we hope to host 50 students. Project leader Shraddha Sharma.
Each of these projects seeks support from other members. Please reach out to the project leader and offer what you are able to.
Members are encouraged to speak to Shraddha or another Board member if they have a particular project idea they wish to pursue. All ideas are welcomed and we want you to have your ideas and passions addressed.
HARUKA'S UPDATE:
Haruka met up with Viviane and Helena from the e-Rotaract Club recently. Viviane was a leader at RYLA last year.
They joined up with 3186 Beach Patrol for the monthly beach clean-up. Beating the 38-degree heat to come, they wrapped up the morning with a stroll down to the iconic bathing boxes, just in time to catch a glimpse of an open water swim event hosted by Firbank Grammar.
It wouldn’t be right to head home on empty stomachs, so the girls then headed to grab some delicious tacos and tostadas, and a refreshing cone of sweet corn ice cream.
Haruka has now found part time work in a Japanese restaurant and is looking forward to being back at Uni this week.
She is also keen to see more of Victoria and visit some attraction. Can you help?
Haruka - harukanohat0@gmail.com
Mob: 0433 401 785
Rotary International celebrates its 119th anniversary on 23 February.
It is amazing how the vision of our founder, Paul Harris lives on today.
In the February 1945 issue of The Rotarian, Paul Harris penned an article titled: The Best is Yet to Be.
An excerpt of that article rings true now as it did on its 40th anniversary when Rotary was in the midst of World War 2, with 5,284 clubs and 235,550 members.
“I like to think the pioneering days of Rotary have only just begun. What’s 40 years in the life of a great movement? There are just as many new things to be done as ever there were. Kaleidoscopic changes are taking place, many of them without our will. Even to hang to the fringe of this fast-changing world is about all most of us can do. Rotary simply must continue to pioneer or be left in the rear of progress.”
Even for an organisation that he founded himself, he remained open to ways that Rotary can change for the better. He reveled in the thought that not everything in Rotary is all right.
Clubs have now been advised of the Rotary Community Group to which they have been allocated. This replaces the current cluster grouping of Gateway.
We have been allocated to RCG-4 with:
Brunswick Tullamarine
Essendon
Essendon North
Footscray
Keilor
Keilor East
North Melbourne
West Footscray
Yarraville
The next step is for our group to select a Leader to assist us with communication and engagement. TBC. Read more.
As you know they are always short of wanted items like toasters, kettles, microwaves, vacuum cleaners and clean doonas and pillows.
Susie had established a 10c refund drive is to provide spending money for these essentials that are in short supply!
Did you know? Every 70 empties buys a kettle or toaster, the refunds add up fast and some charities that are getting very organised are banking hundreds of dollars a week already!
Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of our peace centres.
Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centres program develops the capacity of peace and development professionals to become effective catalysts for peace.
The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.
Choose from a 2-year Masters Degree or the Professional Development Certificate lasting 3 months. READ MORE
Applications open on 1 February and close on 15 May.
If you are interested please contact Past District Governor Dennis Shore at djshore@bigpond.net.au 0412 332 226
OR Bob Fels robertmfels@gmail.com : 0394 176 550
When: Saturday, 24 February Time: 10am – 9pm Where: Queens Park, Moonee Ponds
The Moonee Valley Festival is back in 2024 and returns to its original home at Queens Park in Moonee Ponds. The festival is the largest free community celebration and will host an impressive line-up of live music, market stalls, food, activities, performances, and entertainment for everyone to enjoy.
The festival will kick on into the evening, with the new “After Dark” event, which will feature incredible DJs, live performances, and fun entertainment that you won’t want to miss.
Moonee Valley Festival 2024
When: Saturday, 24 February
Time: 10am – 9pm
Where: Queens Park, Moonee Ponds
