As members will now know, Lorry Rowe, our Fit4 Use Store Manager is retiring and moving to Queensland closer to family. The Fit4 Use Store was Lorry's brainchild and was established in 2016 after a great deal of work by Allan Bruno, Hugh Stewart and Ted Frank.
As Lorry explained to me when I visited her last week, she has been trying to retire for 2 years now! She has been a dedicated and tireless worker and has been the face of Rotary and our club in Werribee - she has supported all who come through the door with a smile, a welcome and a chat. She and her team of volunteers have provided that friendly social environment needed by so many.
Discussions are underway with Rotary Werribee who have been invited to take over the store due to the lack of our members able to commit to ongoing support. I will keep you informed as to the outcome.
In recognition of Lorry's service, an afternoon tea will be held at the store on Saturday 21st May at 2pm. Please make a note in your diaries and make an effort to attend.
Congratulations and thank you to Edith Chen who was farewelled from the board of Kensington Neighbourhood House after 6 years last month. Edith has been a strong community advocate and has assisted in a number of initiatives over the years.
Members are reminded of an opportunity to meet up with PDG Senake Amerasinghe from Sri Lanka and the RORP team next Monday 2 May - 4pm in the upstairs room of The Local Hotel 22-24 Bay Street, Port Melbourne.
This will a great opportunity tohear about the challenges in Sri Lanka currently, how the playground project is progressing and what next for RORP.
RIMERN are in desperate need of volunteers and as a member club I seek your assistance.
I am available to help at the store depending on work - Thursday is usually the best day. Anyone who is able to help for a half day on Saturday 7 May or Thursday 26 May please let me know. If you are available any other Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday, please let Lyn know.
The Club President's Changeover has been set for Friday 24 June at the Mercure Hotel in North Melbourne.
Please diarise this event now and be ready to share the evening with Shraddha and I.
This is 3rd time lucky as this venue was set for our changeover in 2021 - and cancelled; our Christmas Party - and cancelled and our anniversary - cancelled.
Our next meeting is Wednesday 4 May at Mama Bear Cafe at 7.30 for a 7.45 start. See you all there.
Lesley
District Conference Albury
I was delighted to represent our club at the District Conference in Albury on ANZAC Day weekend. It was such a joyous occasion as we were able to get together in person for the first time since 2019!
The Rotary Club of Brighton conference team led by Peter Shepheard, Jane Pennington and Sandi Fulcher did an amazing job in organising such a wonderful event in just 4 months.
I was able to catch up with many old friends of ours including our former Assistant Governor Ian Ada & Ann from Carlton, Nilda Escalante & Cathy Hall from Caroline Springs, Denis & Mary O/Brien and Greg & Sue Ollett from West Footscray, Cherie & Yvonne Osborn, Paul & Allison Perrottet, David Dippie and former Assistant Governor Michael Donnelly from Keilor East and many more.
I was representing the District Environment team on a showcase table and of course was able to chat with my Rotarians from across the district.
For me, some highlights were the amazing Scots School Pipe & Drum band; the video address from Incoming RI President Jennifer Jones; the entertaining talk by Lucy Bloom, Tania Milatec's talk on Peace {she was our 1st District Peace Fellow in 2002; and the energetic PDG Jennifer Scott. Congratulations to RIPEN Michael Lapina from Wyndham for arranging such fabulous musical entertainment during the weekend.
This forum is now finalised and promises to be an invaluable event helping to make sense of the mental health puzzle. The focus is on teenagers and young people and their families and will provide an insight and some understanding into anxiety and depression; 2 areas of mental health which seems to be the new pandemic facing us today.
We are fortunate to have a lineup of amazing and expert speakers to help us including the engaging Maria Ruberto - an old friend from my days as a Principal who can give us some relevant information and history. We will also be joined by our club's ARH PhD scholar Catherine Johnson, Dr Parisa Shiran who focuses on women's and migrant health and Fatima, a young woman who will speak on lived experience!
Kensington Town Hall Wednesday 18 May starting at 7pm.
Members will be needed to help setup from 6pm and to assist during the evening. Please let Lesley know your availability.
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RORP Update
Peter Cribb has forwarded some photos from the Railuli playground in East Timor, thanks to Kris Webb from Spend it Well.
The playground was installed last year but the photos have just arrived - such joy on the childrens' faces.
It was a night to remember! Thank you to all the members, family, friends, volunteers and community embers who came along to celebrate the 2021-2022 year.
We farewelled Lesley McCarthy and welcomed Shraddha Sharma in a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Everyone was so happy to get together again and to have the chance to catch up.
We welcomed Cr Katrina Hodgson from Moonee Valley who gave the Acknowledgement of Country. Danny Pearson MP and Nicole Marshall.
Assistant Governor Tony Laycock have the Rotary Toast and assisted Lesley with formalities. David Dippie, Keilor East; Michael Redding: Werribee and Colin Styles: Hoppers Crossing also joined us.
Presentations were made to: Josie Magri: 30 Year Rotary Membership and service award Anne Heyes: Paul Harris Sapphire x 2 Rebecca Smith, Kensington Neighbourhood House: the Vance Hilton Community Leadership Award Karolina Sevcikova, the James Hosie Trophy Melanie Del Monaco, City of Melbourne: Community Service Award Mary Keating, Flem-Ken News: Community Service Award
A surprise award was made by incoming President Shraddha with Colin Styles, and Geoff Cawsey. Lesley was presented with a Royce Abbey Award for her service to the club.
Josie Magri with AG Tony Laycock Yvonne Farquharson was inducted as a new member. Rebecca Smith And Melanie Del Monaco. Anne Heyes was awarded a PHF 2 sapphires.
Lesley thanked everyone for their support and assistance in what was another tough year for the club. She particularly thanked the board: Lyn Borghouts, Edith Chen, Anne Heyes, Shraddha Sharma and Cody Bettanin for their advice and encouragement.
She also thanked Mel Cacetta, Flemington Op Shop Manager, and Lorry Rowe, Fit4 Use Manager, now retired after5 1/2 years service.
Lesley also spoke f the many donations made by the club to individuals, clubs, groups and charities thanks to our fundraising - current and past: over $40,000 this year alone.
She mentioned in particular Donations in Kind and thanked Laurie Fisher and Sondra for joining us; and Polyglot Theatre with Publicity & Development Chair Erica Heller-Wagner joining us tonight.
Incoming President Shraddha spoke of her childhood growing up in Nepal, her father's involvement and passion for Rotary, and the belief and encouragement of her teachers who encouraged her to join and become the Charter President of the Rotaract Cub of Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal - what a journey.
Friend of Rotary, Yvonne Farquharson is the founder of Filter Your Future, an education program for children. She is willing to speak to clubs and groups on the importance of kidneys to all aspects of our health - and how important it is to teach children. Home - Filter Your Future - Healthy Kidneys Education Project
The thing I realized I was that day is that no matter what other people think of a woman, we as girls can build our future the way we want as long as we believe we are strong enough to stand up. And that is what they said at the International Women’s Day Breakfast to achieve most of their goals in life.
Lucia
A thing that stood out to me at the IWD breakfast, is and it kept being brought up in relation to different questions, was how we need to take the time to listen to each other. IWD is about celebrating the achievements of women and striving for equality between all genders and people and we can’t achieve equality or make big achievements if we don’t support each other. By listening to others, we empower them and offer our empathy, helping them achieve their best and get through hard times.
Amelia
The International Women's Day Breakfast was an amazing experience, but one of the things that really resonated with me was how we were talking about the idea of the superwoman. The pressure that women have to be able to do it all. The way they have to do well at work or school, raise a family and please everyone. The idea that women need to be perfect or they are not good enough. That really resonated with me because growing up I witnessed my mum doing it all. That's what I strive to be like when I grow up. But I don't think it's fair to put this pressure on girls, it's ok to make mistakes and be who you are.
Habon
Something that resonated with me was that women can do what they want to do without having to be a superwoman. The fact that yes you could do many great things and you can achieve lots of your goals nothing can stop you. But, at the same time, you could be a human being, you could make mistakes, you can fail at some things. No one is perfect and the fact that you as a woman are pursuing dreams that many are not should not make you feel like you have to always be great and achieve perfection.
Peter Cribb has alerted us to the difficult situation in Sri Lanka. Our friend Dr Eshantha Ariyadasa, , Director of the Sputnik Girls Home tells us that food is in sort supply and he has reached out for assistance.
Peter has bank details if you are able to assist.
The 365 Day Project at Sputnik Girls’ Home
Could you sponsor the Sputnik Girls’ meals for just 1 day a year? For only Sri Lanka(LKR) Rs 15,000 , Japan Yen(¥) 10,000, British Pound(£) 50, Euro(€) 60, United State Dollar($) 70, Australian Dollar(AUD) 80 you could sponsor these children’s meals on just 1 day a year.
With 4 inspiring speakers, attendees learnt more about mental health - the causes, stresses, symptoms and signs. Then the impact of mental health and responses in multicultural communities - the stigma, language issues, inability to access treatment and visa and migration hurdles. Mental health a lived experience from a young volunteer through Headspace - a conversation and how sufferers try to protect their loved ones. So where to get help, hw schools support students and families and the poer of Mental Health First Aid.
Thank you so very much to Maria Ruberto, Fatima Ibrahim, Parisa Shiran and Catherine Johnston for their time ad expertise, and for their empathy towards the audience and their concerns.
RIMERN (Rotary Inner Melbourne Emergency Relief Network) have joined with Prospect Wines to offer a selection of 6 great value wines to help raise funds for a new van.
Please order some “Van Rouge” or “Van Blanc” and help RIMERN hit the road to collect vital goods donations! Thanks for your support & Cheers!
In Checkout, please select the RIMERN Rotary Club you are supporting.
Minimum order quantity: 6 bottles (can be all 1 wine, or several different wines).
Please order some “Van Rouge” or “Van Blanc” and help RIMERN hit the road to collect vital goods donations! Thanks for your support & Cheers!