Diversity, Inclusion and Equity - On Thursday 29th September, along with a number of Rotary Club in Boroondara, I was honored to attend the Boroondara Citizenship Ceremony at the Hawthorn Art Centre. Witnessing 119 new citizens, from 29 countries, making their Australian citizenship pledge of commitment, and sharing their joy of becoming an Australian citizen, I felt how lucky I am to live in this vibrant, multicultural country. Australia is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures, as well as Australians who identify with more than 270 ancestries: everyone comes with his/her own story, and everyone comes to work hard for a better life and contribute to building a continuously diverse society.
At the last meeting Amelia Anderson presented her “Member behind the Badge” speech. She spoke about her time growing up on a dairy farm in Central Queensland, and the challenges of life in the bush. She included a story of a snake slithering out of their Christmas tree. WOW!
Amelia also spoke about her career – having done a degree in Civil Engineering she was unable to find work in that field and did a second degree in Computer Science. She was successful in that endeavour and has worked for some large multinational technology companies such as Hewlett Packard, Oracle, and Fujitsu. She currently works for a large financial institution as a Telecommunications Analyst.
Amelia spoke about the fundraising activities undertaken during her time as President of the local Scout Group. Amelia mentioned her husband’s battle with a rare neurodegenerative disease called Multiple System Atrophy. Amelia said that she loves to travel and spoke about some of the interesting places she has been to.
It was a light-hearted speech with some humorous stories.
As Rotarians, we know that when we engage people in meaningful, convenient and fun hands-on volunteering, we demonstrate that Rotarians are indeed “People of Action”. In mid-September, this message found an even wider audience when Rotary Inner Melbourne Emergency Relief Network (RIMERN) volunteer, Ros McMaster was announced as the Westfield Local Hero for the Airport West Shopping Centre, winning $20,000 for RIMERN towards the cost of its first van!
Ros, a member of Rotary Prahran, is the Thursday warehouse supervisor, a twice weekly volunteer who has set up the linen and kitchen rooms and manages the warehouse itself. She is there to assist new volunteers find their feet and feel welcome and valued.
The Boroondara Farmers Market is the club's single biggest commitment, raising substantial funds in support of local and international projects. It is a key factor in determining the club's continued success.
For most of the market's history, it has been a feature of membership of the Rotary Club of Glenferrie that every member is expected to complete at least four rostered duties at the market during the course of the calendar year. (Actually, it used to be six until the market was reorganised two years ago!). That process has slipped in recent years, meaning that not every member has had an opportunity to contribute. At a recent Board meeting, the decision was taken to return to the previous practice of assigning duties centrally.
From October 1st to 31st Rotarians and friends are being encouraged, once again, to take action to raise awareness, funds, and support to end poliomyelitis, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens the children of the world today.
As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Rotary worldwide has helped to reduce polio cases from an average of 1,000 cases per day in 1987 to just a handful of cases in 2021; a 99.9% reduction. If eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyse as many as 200,000 children each year.
The Rotary Walk With Us campaign throughout October is a fun way to raise awareness and funds to End Polio Now.
The full results of the Zone 8 Regionalisation Pilot vote were shared on Wednesday: 90% of Zone 8 clubs voted Yes. Within District 9800, the proposal secured overwhelming support with 98.44% of clubs voting Yes. I’m very pleased to note that every club voted.
The willingness of our members to embrace our evolving circumstances by trying new approaches is incredibly heartening and inspires me with confidence for the future of our projects, clubs and movement. No doubt, this was envisaged by Paul Harris when he proclaimed, “This is a changing world, we must be prepared to change with it.The story of Rotary will have to be written again and again.” If ever we needed licence to have a red hot go at new approaches, this is it.
Messy, but doesn't refer to food. Often used by parents to describe their kids' chaotic lives. Not in order, a shambles, no thought, just a bit of everything. A "dog's breakfast."
Wrap your laughing gear 'round that
While some suggest you can laugh on the inside, your main laughing gear is your mouth. So when you wrap your laughing gear 'round something, you eat it.
Ripsnorter
Someone playing a good game of sport (having a "blinder"), or something that's exceptionally good. Can also be "bonza" or "beaut."
ROTARIANS LIVE BY THE FOUR WAY TEST
Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
OUR VISION
“Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”
VOLUNTEER HERE
Add your name to one or more of the volunteer lists below by clicking on the name:
The Pulim Win Project: Breathing Life Into Newborns
It is a joint Rotary partnership with the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses. Rennie is a member of the Lower Blue Mountains Rotary Club and his wife Robyn is Head of the Neonatal section at Westmead Hospital in Western Sydney.
Nurses from Westmead Hospital have been going to PNG at their own expense to train locals in the villages on how to resuscitate newborns. Most babies are born in villages where there is little medical staff and many babies do not survive. PNG have highest rate of infant mortality in the world.
Due to COVID in the last couple of years, the nurses from Australia have not been able to return to PNG. Rennie and Robyn plan to apply for District Grants and maybe Foundation Grants this FY with the view to returning to PNG in September next year.
Robyn and Rennie will speak about this incredible work they have been doing helping to save the lives of newborns.
As they live in NSW the presentation will be via zoom.
The zoom presentation is planned to start at 7:30pm – the link is below.
Rotary Club in Boroondara, I was honored to attend the Boroondara Citizenship Ceremony at the Hawthorn Art Centre. Witnessing 119 new citizens, from 29 countries, making their Australian citizenship pledge of commitment, and sharing their joy of becoming an Australian citizen, I felt how lucky I am to live in this vibrant, multicultural country. Australia is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures, as well as Australians who identify with more than 270 ancestries: everyone comes with his/her own story, and everyone comes to work hard for a better life and contribute to building a continuously diverse society.
Click here for more information about the Rotary International Convention 2023
