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November Market

The November Geelong Waterfront Makers and Growers Market was a vibrant celebration of local craftsmanship, produce, and creativity. Held at the picturesque Geelong Waterfront, this market is a popular monthly event that attracts a wide variety of visitors, from local residents to visiting tourists. It serves as a platform for small-scale producers, artisans, and growers to showcase and sell their products, emphasising sustainability, quality, and the unique charm of the Geelong region.

The market hosted over 100 stalls, featuring an impressive mix of handmade goods, fresh produce, and artisanal products. Vendors ranged from growers offering seasonal fruits, to crafters selling bespoke jewellery, ceramics, candles, and textiles.

The Geelong Waterfront Makers and Growers Market places a strong emphasis on eco-friendly practices, including the use of biodegradable packaging, sustainable materials, and locally sourced ingredients.

Food lovers were treated to a wide array of delicious offerings, from freshly baked treats to great coffee and international cuisine. Many vendors offered free tastings, allowing visitors to sample products before purchasing, further enhancing the market's interactive experience.

The Geelong Makers and Growers Market continues to play a vital role in fostering a sense of community by connecting consumers directly with the makers and growers behind the products. Producers and artisans were able to engage with customers, tell their stories, and educate the public about sustainable practices and the importance of supporting small businesses.

The weather on the day was perfect for a day out, with mild temperatures and sunny skies, making for an enjoyable outdoor market experience. Attendance numbers were strong, with a mix of regular market-goers and new visitors drawn by the spectacular waterfront location. And wasn’t the new turf fantastic.

The November Geelong Makers and Growers Market was a resounding success, offering a vibrant showcase of local talent with live music performances, fresh produce, and sustainable goods. It continues to be a key event in the region's cultural and economic calendar, attracting both locals and visitors alike. The market’s emphasis on quality, community, and sustainability reinforces its position as a premier destination for shoppers looking for unique and authentic products.

Peter Mac: Unite To Fight Cancer update!

Posted by Kim Tompkins

That's a wrap on the Peter Mac fundraiser!

Our Rotary Ramblers team excelled by:

walking 280km, exceeding our target of 250 Km, and
raising $1371 well above our $1000 target.

Thanks to everyone who walked and raised funds, donated funds, walked to keep us company or popped in for a cuppa after a walk. It was an inspiring team effort.

All funds raised go directly to the Peter Mac and the following note of thanks was received (an excerpt).

"Thank you for your compassionate support, which inspires the cancer researchers at Peter Mac. Your support gives our researchers access to the most advanced technologies and accelerates the pace of cancer research."

Sonya Kennedy, Community and Events Fundraising Manager
Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation

Today in the Philippines

Written by President Don Shields.

On the 16th of October 2024, I accompanied President Raymund Balicha of the Rotary International Club of Multinational Manila (RIMM), and we started by visiting Andrea Senior Home Care Inc (see enclosed brochure). This is a nursing home for the elderly, named after Andrea Senior, a Filipino who lives in the USA, and financially supports the home personally, providing the home free, and paying most of the costs.

In the Philippines, the elderly are normally looked after by their children in old age, but it is becoming an increasing problem that the elderly have no children (there is a 98 year old resident who has outlived her children) or are disowned by their children due to challenging behaviours, or they can no-longer afford to look after them due to dementia or health issues. This nursing home houses 9 elderly female residents and receives no government support. It is run on a daily basis by a Catholic nun, a retired social worker & a retired qualified nurse. Via one of their members, who works for the Department of Social Welfare & who used to work with the retired social worker, RIMM made contact & asked what they needed. The result was that today we delivered 14 chairs & a table (with another 10 chairs & a table to be delivered next week), along with tinned food & laundry soap. The tined food when supplemented by rice will provide meals for a week.

We then visited Kaysuyo National High School, a small rural high school with approx. 150 students in grades 7 to 10, which come from poor rural families. The school has 8 staff, and the Philippines Government provides the bare minimum. There is no air conditioning anywhere in the school, and many of the classrooms don’t even have fans. Obviously, this is not conducive to learning when the weather is hot &/or humid. RIMM purchased 4 ceiling fans, we donated them to the school. They were extremely thankful to receive them – cost approx. $60 each. The school has been added to the Christmas Giving Program of RIMM, which our club has supported with $1,000 each year for the last several years, and I have matched/doubled myself.

The enclosed letter also asks for a grass cutter, which the RIMM will donate, and I will supply a playground, along with a couple of boxes of 2^nd hand school supplies (from RARE North Geelong).

We are blessed to live in Australia

Rotary Overseas Relocated Playgrounds Update

The playgrounds designated for Vanuatu have successfully arrived, but due to “island time,” the shipping container did not reach its destination in time for the Rotary Club of Albury to complete the installation. Installation is now scheduled for the next trip in April. In the meantime, the local Chief is overseeing the care of the playground, which is being securely stored in the shipping container.

The playground sent to Vanuatu was sourced from Moolap Recreation Reserve, extracted by the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove. To enhance the play experience, a slide and see-saw from Sparks Reserve, Geelong West, were also included. The playgrounds were collected, stored, and transported to DIK West Footscray by President Don, representing the Rotary Club of Geelong Central.

A commemorative sign will be placed on the playground to acknowledge the contributions of our club, other participating clubs, and the generous donation from the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG).

This shipment marks the second delivery of playgrounds to Vanuatu. The first shipment was organized by the Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast and included playground equipment from Lubeck Reserve, Leopold (donated by CoGG and extracted by a member), Thames Boulevard, Werribee (donated by the City of Wyndham and extracted by our club), along with a swing set and rocker from Beeac (donated by Colac Otway Shire).

This initiative continues to foster community spirit and enhance play opportunities for children in Vanuatu. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project!

Recently, a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Geelong Central andt he Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast resulted in the dismantling of the Smythesdale School playground. Following this, additional poles were collected by our club, and the playground is currently in storage at Moriac, awaiting shipment.

Volunteer with us!

The Rotary Club of Geelong Central welcomes Club members and community members and friends to join our next scheduled volunteering events!

Geelong Food Relief –4^th Tuesday of each month

Geelong Growers and Makers Market - 1st Sunday of each month

WASH project in Goa, India

In recent weeks Rotary’s global funding has finally been received by the Panaji Rotary Club in Goa, India. Unfortunately there have been some logistical issues, but now it seems the plans to build the toilet blocks and renovated facilities will shortly commence. Regular updates will be made over the coming months as the construction gets underway.Geelong Central’s financial commitment to the project was $3200. Last week while in Sarawak, Malaysia, a member of ours read an article about the Rotary Club of Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunie which last month completed a vital water project connecting running water to a remote village in Sarawak.

The connection involved installing a 1.5 kilometer pipeline to the remote village – giving the 75 residents across 30 households a steady clean supply of clean water. Sixteen Rotarians and volunteers travelled four hours to reach the village. The news article featured in the Borneo Bulletin stated “Access to clean water is a fundamental human right. “ Our team was determined to overcome the logistical challenges of working in such a remote location to ensure the people of Pa Adang have this basic necessity,” the club statement said. This is just one of many projects Rotary has been able to assist a group of people in a remote part of the world.

Guest Speaker - Hosanna Shiv from Destiny Rescue

Hosanna shared some thought provoking, and at times disturbing, information about the work being done by Destiny Rescue to end child trafficking.

Understanding the Child Trafficking and Exploitation Problem

More than 1MILLION children are victims of exploitation today
4 out of 5 of those in commercial sexual exploitation are girls or women.
Commercial sex trade generates approximately $99 BILLION per year,
Soon to overtake GUNS and DRUGS trading as the biggest global “industry”.
Hundreds of Australian men have been caught up in just one case.
Online materials associated with sexual exploitation of children have strong links to child suicide, mental health issues and family violence in Australia.

About Destiny Rescue

Its mission is to rescue children from sexual exploitation and human trafficking and give them skills to stay free.
Has rescue teams available in 12 countries worldwide.
Performed 3.352 rescues in 2023
Over 17,000 people have been rescued by Destine Rescue to date.
Covert agents work undercover to identify children trapped.
Talking with children as part of Border & Transit monitoring results in rescue of individuals from active trafficking situations.
Rescue teams work in collaboration with law enforcement in case-building and rescue operations.
After children have been rescued they are given support to build skills to rejoin their community and stay safe in the future.

How we can all help to rescue a Child from Sexual Exploitation

Donate to Destiny rescue and help to rescue a child GIVE NOW
Have you seen inappropriate behavior towards children online? Report it here https://www.accce.gov.au/report
Find out more about Destiny Rescue by going to their website: https://www.destinyrescue.org.au/

Fundraising for Peter Mac - Unite to fight cancer

The Rotary Ramblers have joined the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation’s Unite to Fight Cancer campaign. Money raised will be used to accelerate vital cancer research focused on providing better treatments, better care and potential cures for cancer.

How you can help

Use this link or the QR code to:

DONATE and encourage family, friends and business acquaintances to do the same.
JOIN THE TEAM & RAISE FUNDS, create your own page on the team site, walk and record your distances and share with family and friends to seek donations.
DONATE & RAISE FUNDS, complete both steps 1 and 2 above

Rotary Ramblers Walking Group - Off and Walking!

Inaugural Walk

Our Rotary Ramblers Walking Group officially kicked off with a walk along the Barwon River on 10 September, which included the Rotary Walk on the West side of the river, finishing with a cuppa and sweet treat (for some) at Barwon Edge Cafe.

Check out the souvenir postcard, it was a perfect day for a walk!

Other walks have included the Rippleside, Eastern Gardens and the Geelong Waterfront up to Limburners Point where we took in the fabulous views and were reminded of monuments for places of quiet reflection.

Identifying Rotary Contributions along the way

Along the way we have identified Rotary initiatives and sponsorships such as the Bicentennial Tree planting by members of our Club along the Barwon River, where you can also see the Safety Markets sponsored by RC of East Geelong.

Join the Rotary Ramblers Walking Group – Open to Family and Friends of Rotary

You can join the Rotary Ramblers WhatsApp group here to keep up with the schedule and to make suggestions for days and locations to walk.

The Rotary Ramblers walking group is open to Club Members, family and friends of Rotary.

Volunteering at Geelong Food Relief

It was great to see Club members family and friends of rotary joining in to sort fruit and veggies at Geelong Food Relief.

There are some fruits that you might never choose – these would definitely be hard to sell but were juicy and delicious, would you believe they are mandarins?

Our Rotary Club is a ShelterBox Champion

The Rotary Club of Geelong Central is proud to announce we have been named a Shelter box champion for 2023-24

ShelterBox is a global disaster relief charity that provides emergency shelter and essential supplies to communities affected by crises, such as natural disasters and conflict. They deliver durable tents, tools, and other vital items to help families rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a disaster. By working closely with local organizations, ShelterBox ensures that their assistance meets the specific needs of each community, promoting resilience and recovery.

Learn more about ShelterBox here!

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.

"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.