Welcome everyone! I trust this newsletter finds you all in good health and preparing for the festive season.
November was a particularly busy month for our club as we launched the Food and Friends Community Dinner on 12th November. This initiative is a collaborative effort with Moonee Valley City Council, LIFE Church, and the Djerring Hub, made possible through the dedication and support of our outstanding volunteers.
Our first dinner saw 160 people served a nutritious meal. Building on this momentum, our second dinner on 26th November provided meals to over 180 people, with an additional 15 take-away meals distributed to those in need.
We anticipate that attendance at our final dinner for 2025 will continue to rise, further highlighting the importance and growing demand for this program within our community. I am both overwhelmed and humbled by the warm embrace we have received from the community, and I look forward to expanding the dinner to a weekly event in 2026. If you would like to see our work firsthand, please join us on Wednesday, 10th December from 5pm at the Djerring Hub, 25 Mount Alexander Road, Flemington.
Our Annual General Meeting took place on 3rd December. During the meeting, I was honoured to accept another term as President of our Club. I am sincerely grateful for the ongoing opportunity to work alongside each of you, and I look forward to discussing projects, sharing ideas, and planning for the future together.
On 17th November, we held our Fellowship Dinner at the newly renovated Doutta Galla Hotel. Although there was no official guest speaker for the evening, we were delighted to welcome Antonio Mendoza, a former Rotarian from the Philippines, and his wife Elaine. We also had the pleasure of meeting Sam McKearney, a local businessman specialising in finance/mortgage broking. The evening included a special moment as we presented Lenka, our exchange student, with a birthday gift.
On 25th November, I had the privilege of presenting the Del King and Ted Frank Sponsorship awards at Mount Alexander College. Congratulations to Faiqa Sawiz, who received the Del King Award, and to TJ Truong, the recipient of the Ted Frank Award. It was also wonderful to witness the graduation of my former mentee, Sarah Alman, herself a previous Del King Award recipient. Sarah is now aspiring to become a crematorium technician, and I wish her every success in her future career.
Our annual Christmas Dinner will be held on Wednesday, 17th December. I warmly encourage you all to attend and to bring along your family and friends. As in previous years, this event is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the festive season together. We are also pleased to announce that District Governor Peter Shepheard will be joining us for the occasion.
If you cannot attend our dinner, I would like to take this opportunity to send my heartfelt wishes to you and your loved ones. May the festive season be filled with joy, happiness and good health for all of you, and may the coming year bring you much love, wonderful opportunities and treasured moments.
All the very best, Melina.
Christmas dinner and District Governor's visit
Join us for our end of year Christmas celebration and a visit from our District Governor too.
At this dinner, we will also be inducting 3 new members:
Jean Turnbull, Soreya Mohamed and Shirhan Abdulkadir.
Please register via Humanitix link below or contact Lesley or Chris and pay in person.
This exciting and much need program is a partnership between our club, MVCC Djerring Hub and Life Church.
We are delighted to have the participation of Rotarians from Essendon, Pascoe Vale, West Footscray and Williamstown.
Run wholly by volunteers, both Rotarian and community, this is both a warm and nutritious meal and the opportunity to shave interaction, socialise and chat with those attending.
Can you help?
Cooking and vegetable prep 12-3, food service 5-6.30: dishwashing 3-7, .
Monday 24th November was the second session for this term with 140 students from Essendon Keilor College participating in the program.
It was another fabulous day with participation from Rotarians from our cluster clubs as well. Thanks to Sally and David from Keilor East and Jennifer from Essendon for joining us and seeing what a valuable program this is.
We have MAC scheduled for 17 February 2026, and Rosehill SC also on the list.
Contact Shraddha for more information or to volunteer.
Never let it be said that Rotarians are deterred by a little rain, wind, hail - or Melbourne weather in general.
Thanks to the amazing team of volunteers who helped us with a good return despite the rain: Onion Queen Karolina Sevcikova, chefs extraordinaire the 2 Johns - Sklenar and Farmery, Jeff Weitzel, Drew Sheehan, Shraddha Sharma, Jo Walker, Lenka and Ava.
Again sincere thanks to honorary member Anway Alishek for the bbq trailer and cool fridges which make storage so easy.
RORP NEWS:
Peter continues to work with John Farmery and
Jean Turnbull on the new RORP9800 cell.
With several playgrounds on the coming schedule, a training session has been organised for those new to the task:
Thursday 4 December at Bristow Reserve, 136 Pilgrim Street Seddon.
Time 10:30.
The experts from Nunawading Rotary will give a demonstration and talk us through the tools and process. Please email Peter to go on the list. or Mob: 0410 548 543
As is our custom, we are collecting bags and personal hygiene items for women in need: those fleeing DV, in refuges, homeless or struggling.
Essentials are shampoo and conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste, soap or body wash, deodorant, period products. Luxury extras can be face wipes, wet wipes, hairbrush/comb, socks, tissues, undies, makeup.
Please bring your donation to the breakfast meeting on Wednesday 3 December or drop off at the op Shop.
We will be packing in the Op Shop from 10-13 December for delivery.
ENVIRONMENT: We've been asked to assist with creating a Nature Strip garden. These gardens are a fabulous way to support bird, butterfly, bee and insect activity and plant pollination - and reduce mowing!!
Can you help? We are working with Moonee Valley Sustainability today.
Saturday 13 December 10am at 331 Buckley Street, Essendon.
BYO gloves and shovel, water bottle.
RSVP to Lesley
Rotary Christmas cakes are now available.
$20 each: buy at the op Shop or see Lesley.
$2 from every cake goes directly to the Rotary Foundation.
L2P 15 year anniversary
What began as a spark in Peter Cribb's brain --- and grew into RoadStart before reimaging as L2P is now 15 years old.
A celebration will be held at Djerring Hub on 3 December.
This program was launched at the Flemington Community Centre in Lesley's first President year with support from the Victorian Government, VicRoads, CityLink and Bendigo Bank.
Lesley, PP Chris Drenen, PDG Vance Hilton, Peter Cribb
Lenka is now being hosted by Chris Richardson in Mangalore Street Flemington.
Recently, she attended the Youth Exchange camp at Beechworth where the students departing in January had some more opportunities to mix, learn from the inbounds and prepare for their year of excitement.
Daniel is headed to Czechia in January and Lenka has been helping him.
She has also had a yar 11 biology excursion to the Melbourne Zoo. She achieved 100% on her Biology SAC!
Last weekend she assisted at the NYSF information session at Djerring Hub with Chris, Bronwyn Fanning and DG Peter. She participated in the debate challenge - Plastics are good/bad.
Jo took her to the theatre and they also saw the switching on the Christmas lights at Fed Square!
Lenka finishes school on Friday 5 December - we are seeking members and families to offer her some entertainment, visits, trips etc during December and January. Please contact Chris.
If you are paying in 2, 6 monthly instalments, please advise the Treasurer.
The club has already paid your fees to RI, RDU and District!!!
$310 for the full year, $155 for 6 monthly.
Bendigo Bank BSB 633-000 Account number 151 262 821
SPUTNIK GIRLS HOME
Congratulations to Dr Eshantha and his team.
Sputnik Girls’ Home has been honored with the Gold Award at the 2025 Performance Competition, organized by the North Western Provincial Department of Probation and Child Care Services.
This year, 35 child care centers competed in the evaluation, and we are pleased to announce that Sputnik Girls’ Home achieved an outstanding score of 969 out of 1000 marks — earning the title of the Best Child Care Center in the North Western Province.
This remarkable accomplishment would not have been possible without the continuous generosity, encouragement, and trust of our donors.
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