April is dedicated to the environment in Rotary’s calendar.
Our club is a member of ESRAG – the Environment and Sustainability Action Group and environment is one of our focus areas. What are you doing to support, protect, care for the environment? The ESRAG newsletters and website have many ideas which you can do right now.
Our next club action day is Sunday 28th July when we return to our planting site at Fairbairn Park alongside the Maribyrnong river to renew the wildlife habitat.
President Shraddha
President Shraddha is on holidays in Japan with family enjoying some skiing, music, cherry blossoms and time away.
She will return on 12th April.
This photo was taken on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima.
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Saturday 22nd June – President’s changeover at the bowls club.
Sunday June 30th District Governors Changeover – Ultima Function Centre, East Keilor
Sunday 28th July – National Tree Day at Fairbairn Park, Ascot Vale 10am to 1pm
Wednesday 18th September – District Governor Michael Lapina's visit to our club. Dinner at Hardiman’s Hotel.
Breakfast meeting 3rd April:
This was a lively meeting with 2 guest speakers, project reports and a special breakfast.
Firstly, President Elect Lesley presented Past President John Sklenar with a 30-year service certificate.
John was inducted into the Rotary Club of Flemington on 1 April 1994 by then President Paul Perrottet. Allan Bruno was club secretary at the time with Eugene Odachowski as treasurer.
He served as Club President in 2000-2001 with Alan Bruno as secretary and Paul Perrottet as treasurer.
John was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow in 2002.
e has been a dedicated and inspiring worker giving service at BBQs, playground removals, festivals and events and with his wife Anna and children, a regular attendee at numerous club functions.
Anna Henderson, Marketing Manager for the Flemington Traders then spoke about the trader's organization and 2 upcoming events. The first is the Bright Lights, Winter Nights Festival set for Saturday 27th July and the Multicultural festival on Saturday 12 October. She would like our participation and support at both events.
Jo Walker then reported on her trip to Myanmar with Rotary Essendon last November. Jo showed images from the trip including visits to the liver foundation, deaf school and other sites. She went with PP Richard Lawrence {his father Bill was a charter member of Flemington} READ MORE
Peter Cribb then reported on his recent trip to Sri Lanka, his visits with the Health Minister and his pleasure in officially opening 2 playgrounds. He also asked for club support in sending books to a school in Male.
Abdi Hassan then reported on the Jarriban project.
Mel reminded all to book for dinner at Sahara on 17 April and RSVP to the Trivia Night.
Lesley reminded everyone to book for the joint RCG cluster dinner on 9th May.
March was a very busy month for our club.READ MORE
We began on Friday 1st with the BBQ at Moonee Valley Council’sHarmony Day celebrations at the Djerring Hub. This was an excellent connection and sharing event for us with the participation
of 10 international students from Mount Alexander College who came along with teacher Ms Ching Chan. They were outstanding in their effort, participation, assistance and communication with those attending. Many thanks to
Jeff Weitzel, President Shraddha and Lesley McCarthy
for their contributions.
The Mental Health First Aid program at Djerring Hub
commenced on Tuesday 5th March with Dr Francis Acquah AM, a PP from Rotary Greensborough as our presenter. We had 21 participants from a range of cultural backgrounds attend. This program was targetted at members of the Horn of Africa communities living at Debney Park following the MH Forum we ran in 2022.
Women from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Uganda were represented along with men from Uganda and Ghana; and several participants who registered at Australian.
The program ran on Tuesday and Wednesday 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th March. Sincere thanks to Abdi, Drew, Mohammed, Lesley and Shraddha for their attendance and assistance.
Our meeting on 6th was a Club Forum with much discussion on the forthcoming international projects. Peter Cribb has produced a draft project criteria template for the Board to review. This will assist in clarifying our efforts/work/projects/donations in the future.
8th March was International Women’s Day at the Clocktower for Moonee Vallet Council’s annual event. President Shraddha was accompanied by Karolina, Nicole and her daughter Charlotte, Haruka, Shraddha and sister in law Nina, and 6 students and 2 teachers from MAC. The focus for this day was ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress,’
Donations in Kind was asked for assistance to provide
chairs for the Bellarine Agricultural Society – PP Alan Bruno’s newest area of service. Lesley contacted Manager Frank Dri who was happy to assist so on Thursday 21st, Lesley, John Sklenar and Len Seddon attended to assist Alan loading the chairs and catching up.
Australian Rotary Health PhD Scholar Catherine Johnson:
Our club is part funding Catherine’s PhD into Mental Health programs addressing issues with primary school aged children. She is seeking input from teachers, parents and carers who have supported these children. Please pass these fliers onto anyone who may be able to assist gathering data. http://tinyurl.com/363uejty
Sri Lanka – Peter Cribb has just returned from Sri Lanka where he was able to participate in a number of meetings and events.
1. He participated in the opening of 2 playgrounds through RORP – a small and very remote Rohini primary school in the Anuradhapura district. Although small the greeting and response to the opening of their playground provided by the RC Anuradhapura.
Then the opening of a playground at Rajabima Vidyataya Nikaweeratiya. This is a P-12 school of 900+ with 400 of those in the primary school. Her than had lunch with the sponsoring club, Rotary Nikaweeratiya.
He also visited the Sputnik Girls School and orphanage, our original focus p[roject in Sri Lanka where he renewed acquaintance with Dr Eshantha.
Through connections with Rotary Colombo and PDG Senake Ameresinghe, Peter met with immediate PDG Pubudu and Dr Harsha with the Secretary of Health about the Stroke project.
This was reportedin the newspaper!
1. The container being shipped from RARE in Adeliade has been delayed due to a hold up with the shipping company but now has a date for May. Funding for this container has been provided by the Sri Lankan Association of SA and Jim & Liz Alvey who assisted with the Sputnik container funding.
2. The container from DiK is in the queue awaiting beds which are currently in short supply.
Jarriban Hospital Somalia:
Abdi has agreed to a modification of this container due to the lack of beds. Deakin Uni donated a number of very good condition students desks which will be sent to the University along with textbooks and medical items. A District 9800 Foundation grant is assisting with shipping costs,
Nepal – Girls Education Project:
Shraddha and Lesley met with Ms Vasanthi Ranganathan, a member of Rotary’s Basic Education & Literacy technical cadre who had some advice and suggestions which Shraddha forwarded to Rotary Tripureswor. A Global Grant application has now been submitted for the first year at a reduced budget.
Congo Disability Project:
Bob Glindemann from DiK asked us to adopt this project which replicates a privately sponsored container sent in 2021. Muhindo Matata spoke to our members on a ZOOM presentation and asked for assistance. Rotary Werribee has joined us and an application to the Balwyn Centenary Grants program has been made for sponsorship. Luckily, they don’t need beds!!
Basic Education and Literacy:
Hadia and Shadia at Djerring Hub have asked for assistance with providing picture story books and junior fiction for their pre-school and homework clubs. Anyone who has suitable books, please drop off at the op Shop or bring along to Sahara.
Live For Lily – Velo de Vic
This year’s ride is an epic 1000km ride from Melbourne, through Mansfield and the high country to summit Hotham via Bright, down the coast at Metung and through Gippsland to return to Melbourne via the stunning Donna Buang and Dandenongs.
Many thanks to the Rotary Clubs of Yea and Lakes Entrance who have joined us in supporting Aaron and Katie.
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 and Yarraville
The next step is for our group to select a Leader to assist us with communication and engagement. TBC. Read more.
A combined social dinner is to be held on Thursday 9th May at the Hyatt, Essendon Fields. It is really important for all members to attend if possible.
Meet other Rotarians, reconnect with former clubs and get to know our new coordinator.
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
MOONEE VALLEY NEWS:
What does the future look like for Moonee Valley? Join us as we explore all the exciting possibilities and prepare to refresh our MV2040 Strategy at our upcoming event.
We’ll be embarking on a thought-provoking exercise and you’re invited to come along for the journey! As we review our MV2040 strategy alongside experts, we want to hear your thoughts and insights on what you think our community could (and should) look like by 2040.
Wednesday 17th April 6pm at Djerring Hub. Register here.
Congratulations to the Moonee Valley Spirit Award winners for 2024:
2024 Moonee Valley Citizen of the Year Award winner, Ann Stevens, and to award recipients Robert Hunt, Felicity Nuvani and Arlo Rickard.
Open Innovation competition - Calling allinnovators, entrepreneurs, students and community. Submit your ideas to solve a challenge and have the chance to share in up to $30,000 to bring this idea to life.
This year, we ask ‘How might we accelerate Melbourne’s transition to a zero-carbon city by innovating in climate and clean technologies while creating new job opportunities and empowering businesses and communities?’
ent Elect Lesley presented Past President John Sklenar with a 30-year service certificate. 
celebrations at the Djerring Hub. This was an excellent connection and sharing event for us with the participation
Women from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Uganda were represented along with men from Uganda and Ghana; and several participants who registered at Australian.
8th March was International Women’s Day at the Clocktower for Moonee Vallet Council’s annual event. President Shraddha was accompanied by Karolina, Nicole and her daughter Charlotte, Haruka, Shraddha and sister in law Nina, and 6 students and 2 teachers from MAC. The focus for this day was ‘
Then the opening of a playground at Rajabima Vidyataya Nikaweeratiya. This is a P-12 school of 900+ with 400 of those in the primary school. Her than had lunch with the sponsoring club, Rotary Nikaweeratiya.
