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Let’s Walk (or ride) Together to Fight Cancer! - 17-26 October

Posted by Kim Tompkins

In recognition of our members who have been affected by cancer, we have created a team, the “Rotary Ramblers”, to raise funds for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation UNITE Challenge.

Now in its sixth year, this fundraising challenge will be held from 17th to 26th October. Peter Mac calls on us to UNITE with thousands of walkers and riders over this 10-day period to raise money for cancer research.

We invite you, your families and friends to join our Rotary Ramblers Team to walk or ride to raise funds to fight cancer.

In addition to the health benefits in joining our team, you’ll feel wonderful knowing that the funds you’re raising will support better health outcomes for all people affected by cancer.

An online site will be setup for you to register your fundraising and distance targets and share with others who can show their support and make donations to this exceptional cause. Members will receive an email shortly with instructions on how to register.

This will be the inaugural walk for the Rotary Ramblers. Regular walks will be scheduled in the future for other fundraising causes, fellowship, getting to know potential members and for our general wellbeing. It’ll be a great way for us to get together.

Please contact Kim Tompkins for further information.

June Market

Rotary’s Makers & Growers’ Market on the Geelong Waterfront (first Sunday each month) market attracts thousands even on winter days.

A crowd around 5000 attended the market on July 7 taking special interest in the wide range of hand made products as well as grower lines like garlic, strawberries & honey

Stall holder numbers help Rotary with its many local, national and international products.

While profits from Rotary’s catering van goes directly to Donations in Kind to send containers of educational and medical equipment to people in countries needing support.

Peter Kennedy, of Our Sunburnt Country, proudly displays some of his metal materials and designs – reminding Aussies of such a great land we live.

Global Grants in Goa, India!

Improving the lives of our fellow man or woman is all part of being a member of Rotary International.

Geelong Central Rotary has joined with two other international clubs (Panaji in India & Great Tarmouth Haven in the UK) along with District 9780 and a Global Grant to build new toilet blocks for schools in a disadvantaged region of India.

As part of the program there will also be refurbishing of multiple existing toilet blocks at outlying Goa schools.

The Rotary club of Geelong Central has contributed $3200.

An invitation has gone out to any Rotary member to visit Goa around the end of October when the inauguration of the toilet blocks will take place.

Vale James Nott

Written by PDG Jane Cox

Recently we were saddened to hear of the passing of one of our Charter members James Nott.

James joined when Club was Chartered in 1990 and remained a member until his passing.

He served as Club President in 2001-2002 and held various positions throughout his time with us.

Although he had not been in the best of health for the past 18 months James attended our meetings as often as he was able plus Geoff and Max picked him up en route to the meeting as well as making the occasional visit to our Food Van at our monthly market.

James’ daughters Titania and Camilla organized a Memorial Service which was held in the Presidents Room at Geelong Football Club on 29 May. This was attended by current members and a few past members. It was a lovely send off for James and am sure he would have approved.

Rotary Overseas Relocated Playgrounds Update.

Recently 3 playgrounds were delivered to DIK West Footscray, where they were included in a shipping container bound for Vanuatu. These playgrounds came from Thames Blvd (City of Wyndham), Lubeck Reserve (City of Greater Geelong), and Beeac (Colac-Otway Shire). The Rotary Club of Alfredton has a project there, and Rotarians from the club will be installing them.

The next shipment is 12 playgrounds to Zimbabwe, as the Philippines is not ready to accept the shipment. We are currently obtaining quotations, and expect to ship the playgrounds, along with as many boxes of school supplies as possible, in approx. 4 weeks’ time.

Finally, on 17^th of April I am driving to Macarthur to collect a large playground, which has been planned as two for overseas shipment. The playground has been donated by the Moyne Shire and is being extracted by the Rotary Club of Port Fairy. It will be stored at a nearby council deport until collection. The plan is to depart by 7am and be back by 1pm. A couple of volunteers to accompany me and assist with loading & unloading would be appreciated.

Rotary International Convention

I was lucky enough to attend the Rotary International Convention in Singapore this year, and it was one of the best Rotary events I've ever been to!

Convention Highlights:
1️⃣ Insightful data and research-driven strategies for engaging club member: an outstanding presentation on what members actually want. (Kudos Jessie Harman!).

2️⃣ Inspirational talks from Tayyaba Gul, a frontline health worker from Pakistan, dedicated to vaccinating children and the EndPolioNow initiative.

3️⃣ An educational session on trauma-informed mental health care, exploring ways Rotarians can offer support to those in need.

4️⃣ A spectacular performance by the amazing Calum Scott!

5️⃣ The joy of connecting with fellow Rotarians and Rotaractors from around the globe, reuniting with old friends, and forming new friendships.

These events really re-enforce why I am a Rotarian, to be a person of action and contribute to humanitarian progress across the globe! 2025's convention is in Calgary, and I cannot wait!

P.S, if you are in Singapore, you absolutely have to do the Garden's by the Bay lightshow. It was free and probably the non-rotary highlight of the entire trip!

Ian Fulton Memorial Award Presentation

On Thursday evening the 30th May, Max Findlay and Gary Robinson had the pleasure of attending the School of Architecture & Built Environment Deakin University Award night held at the Waurn Ponds Estate.

Each year the School of Architecture and Built Environment presents a number of awards for excellence and high achievement. Some awards are sponsored by people or organisations outside the University, and some are sponsored internally.

This year our Max Findlay from Rotary Club of Geelong Central presented the Ian Fulton Memorial Award to Tom West and Maurice Koelle.

This award is named in honour of Ian Fulton (past staff member of the School of Architecture and Built Environment and past member of the Rotary Club of Geelong Central). The award is sponsored and presented by the Rotary Club of Geelong Central. Two awards of $750 are made annually to the top two S346 Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) students.

D9780 District Assembly

Don Shields and Cath Powell represented the Rotary Club of Central Geelong at the 2024 District Assembly held in Horsham. The Assembly, a major training event for District 9780, initially presented an overview of the big projects currently undertaken. Clusters of local clubs gave feedback on the projects currently underway and how to work together around outcomes.

Don was recognised in relation to his outstanding contribution over the last 20 years managing the insurance portfolio.

The Assembly provides an opportunity for all Club members to enhance their leadership skills and support their Club.

May Market

Tracey Chandler, from Drysdale, is one of the newer stall holders at the Geelong Waterfront Makers & Growers Market.
Tracey produces a range of brightly-colored sling pack, make up, anything, toilet & hand bags.

Come down to the Geelong Waterfront Makers & Growers Market to see amazing stallholders like Tracey, and many others!

District Conference 2024

Written by Jed Castle, reflecting on the District 9780 Conference 2024.

This was my third Rotary International District 9780 Conference, and once again it proves to be the highlight of my year. Hosted in beautiful Mount Gambier, on the brink of the blue lake, I had the best time revisiting old friendships and creating new ones.

It was an amazing experience to be able to MC this brilliant weekend alongside the amazing and spectacular Safari Smith. Many late late nights of writing speeches, slightly delusional over google docs and the pronunciation of names. I couldn’t have asked for a better co-host. I feel so privileged to have shared that stage with you.

Also, special shoutout to Kayla Adams and to Alex Lapina. Genuinely amazing people that I loved hanging out with over the course of the weekend. All previous RYLArians, it really demonstrates the beauty of RYLA. Swipe to see some photos of Safari and I absolutely losing it when Alex makes a joke so good we all break into hysterics.

Over the weekend, we heard from some amazing keynote speakers including Natalie Cook OAM OLY, Kirrily Dear, Uncle Ken Jones, Professor Lorimer Moseley AO, Nic Newling and Professor Michael Sawyer. The theme of Celebrating Rotary’s Difference and Making change in the world shone through in our projects, especially preventing family and domestic violence, and supporting mental health.

The walk for Polio on the Saturday morning was amazing, seeing a sea of Red throughout the streets of Mount Gambier. We are so close to EndPolioNow, with the last reported case of Wild Polio Virus being reported on the 21st of February 2024 in Pakistan (@Global Polio Eradication Initiative, 2024). The World Health Organisations requires there to be no cases for three years to consider a virus eradicated. The clock has started. Let’s get to the finish line.

Thank you so much to Ian McKay, and the rest of the amazing conference committee. This brilliant wouldn’t have happened without your hard work and dedication.

Rotary has this unique way to bringing likeminded people together, and weekends like this really demonstrate that in Rotary, no one feels like a stranger. I can discuss, laugh and really be my authentic self around these people. I know that wherever life takes me, I’ll have friends in Rotary to support me every step of the way.

Hears to Torquay2025!

World Immunization Week 2024

World Immunization Week — 24-30 April — is a perfect opportunity for Rotary clubs to share the incredible progress we’ve made toward eradicating polio.

This year features significant anniversaries to celebrate:

10 years since the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region was certified free of polio
30 years since the WHO Americas Region was certified as polio-free
50 years since the launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, which ensures equitable access to vaccines (including polio vaccines)

As a Rotary member, you have a critical role in helping us achieve important milestones like these.

We know our work isn’t done until we end polio forever. During World Immunization Week, raise awareness about the fact that vaccines work and give as proof examples of what Rotary and our partners have accomplished in reducing polio cases worldwide.

How to support #EndPolio during World Immunization Week

Explore the World Immunization Week Toolkit to find graphics and sample posts that you can share on social media with the hashtags #EndPolio and #VaccinesWork.
Use a club meeting as an opportunity for members to learn about Rotary’s polio eradication efforts.
Host an event to raise awareness and funds for PolioPlus.
Start an online fundraiser using Raise for Rotary and share it with your networ

New video promotes Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience that Rotary members organize to give youth a chance to develop leadership skills while having fun and forming lasting friendships!

RYLA - Calling for Participants!

It is that time of year again where the RYLA committee are looking for applications - and we need your support for this amazing program to continue!

Say No To Domestic Violence - Mobile Phone Donation

Did you know that over 2 million people are impacted by domestic violence in Australia? The figures are confronting. It’s 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced domestic violence by the age of 15. It’s a complicated situation, that is impacting many. As part of the Say No To Domestic Violence working group in Rotary, we have been made aware of DV Safe Phone. Their vision is to get a safe phone into the hands of every victim of domestic violence in need. They have helped 5,500 people in need in their first 3 years and looking to positively impact 20,000 by 2026.

If you want to help, please get in touch with Tom Summons (tom@goodbusinessbetter.com) to donate an old phone, or you can find out more and donate directly via https://dvsafephone.org/

Food for the needy in the Philippines

Every year for the last several years the Rotary Club has donated $1000 to provide food for the very poor in the Philippines, and Don took part in many of these food distribution activities, which included:

Dec. 12 (Tuesday)

Fishgate Foundation Amuyong, Alfonso – rice for 16 poor families assisted.

Social Welfare Department, Alfonso and rice/canned goods/hygiene products support to 4 Children under her care (orphans).

Dec. 13 (Wednesday)

Brgy. Amuyong Daycare X'mas party - 43 poor families assisted.

Dec. 14 (Thursday)

Special Education (disabled) X'mas party, Alfonso Central School - rice to 120 families – educational toys for the school.

Tartaria, Silang - rice to 100 former farming families who were thrown off their land (after 6 generations) as no land titles.

Dec. 15 (Friday)

100th Sheep Foundation X’mas party in Dasmarinas – support to 80 families.

Rice, toy and financial support to Esther's family in General Trias.

Dec. 16 (Saturday)

Brgy. Taywanak Ibaba, Alfonso X'mas - rice to 71 families.

Dec. 17 (Sunday)

Visit Aeta community in Batangas - rice to 76 families.

Dec. 18 (Monday)

Tondo High School, Metro Manila X'mas party - rice to 100 families.

The above activities supported 608 families, so our $1000 (along with donations from others) was made to go a long way in the Philippines to help families in need.

"Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves"

We are an active club, with not much formality. Twenty-two projects on the go, ranging from supporting a Leprosy mission in Thailand, dismantling local good playgrounds to send overseas and recognising excellence within our own community. We are keen to hear about community needs. Come and talk to us.

We gather weekly to discuss projects and community happenings in cafes around Geelong and on zoom. Tuesdays 7:30am-8:30am. You can see what is coming up further down the page.

Our Waterfront market, held on Wadawurrung country, on the first Sunday of the month, is famous across the region and we can always use ad hoc assistance. Come on down and see us at the Rotary van, near the carousel and band bollards.

All visitors to meetings and the market will be warmly welcomed. We acknowledge that our nation is enriched by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the millions of people who have made a new life here.

Join Us on Zoom!

General Zoom Link

Board Zoom Link

How to Join a Zoom Meeting

Geelong Waterfront Makers and Growers Market
Steampacket Gardens

Oct 06, 2024
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Club Assembly
Neko Geelong

Oct 08, 2024
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Board Meeting
Zoom

Oct 09, 2024
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Guest Speaker - TBA
Quest Apartments Geelong Central

Oct 15, 2024
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Geelong Food Relief
Geelong Food Relief

Oct 22, 2024
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Coffee and Fellowship
TBC

Oct 29, 2024
7:30 am – 7:30 am
Geelong Waterfront Makers and Growers Market
Steampacket Gardens

Nov 03, 2024
10:00 am - 3:00 pm