August is Rotary Membership Month, which means it's time to celebrate our Rotary club, our members, and the good we do in our community and worldwide. In the first Membership Month of the post-pandemic era, Rotary Glenferrie must continue to create a welcoming experience of comfort and care for its members and build an inclusive, diverse, equitable and enjoyable culture. We are a thriving and vibrant club, with our member growth from 44 in 2017 to 64 today. However, I don’t believe there’s a secret formula to make the club successful: club members need to take every opportunity to continue the growth of their club. When we celebrate Membership Month, we enjoy the club's legacy from the past. Most importantly, we need to listen to what our members want out of their Rotary involvement, understand their needs and expectations, and build a welcoming club experience for all members, both the “newbies” and the longer-term members.
The club welcomed three outstanding new Glenferrie Rotarians at the club meeting on August 16th, Anita Morkans, Colin George and Lindy Joubert. And what fine additions to the club's membership they are! Anita is a qualified HR professional who has been introduced to Rotary by former work colleague Wayne Worladge. Colin is a former freighter and bus driver who was introduced to Rotary via the Boroondara Farmers Market. "How does someone join Rotary"?, asked Colin. And the rest is history. Lindy Joubert has led a substantial career in Australia, and overseas where she served with UNESCO. Lindy is currently a senior fellow at the University of Melbourne in the field of Architecture.
A very warm welcome Anita, Colin and Lindy. We are delighted that you have elected to start your Rotary journey with the Rotary Club of Glenferrie, and look forward to many years working alongside you to "Do Good in the World".
New members Lindy Joubert (second from left), Colin George (fourth) and Anita Morkans (second from right) are pictured with President Teresa Liu and mentors PP Carol Benson, PP Richard Blakeman and Wayne Worladge. Proud to be a Rotarian!
DAVID WHITING – It's not all trees and fences - the things people ask!
Our Guest Speaker last week was David Whiting, a lawyer and fellow Rotarian at Rotary Keilor. Following a short run down on how and why he became a lawyer covering a wide range of disciplines and representing a variety of clients, he invited a very engaged audience to an interactive presentation.
David shared with us how he began his “second career” as a radio person really by accident. Since 1983, David has been known to Victorians for his entertaining half hour segment at 10:00 am on a Tuesday morning on ABC Melbourne providing general legal advice to the public. His segment has a dedicated audience around Melbourne and Victoria – one caller described him as "better than Google." It was obvious that there were many listeners in Rotary Glenferrie. He finds it hard to believe that people still want to hear his comments for so long. Originally, he was on air with Jon Faine (also a lawyer) and for the past 2½ years with journalist Virginia Trioli. David would not be drawn on who he preferred, despite being asked directly by a member of the audience.
David also shared some of the interesting and more challenging clients over his many years as a lawyer: one of whom Max Green had a somewhat dodgy business and came to a very messy end. And indeed the law is not all trees and fences: one of his more unusual involvements was acquiring an interest in sapphire mining through another client. He provided detailed and expert advice on the different qualities and values of this precious stone.
Throughout the presentation, there were many different questions from our members and guests – one of whom, Fabienne Nicola, President of Camberwell, booked him on the sport to speak at her club. It was a stimulating and entertaining evening. David was supported by his charming wife, Marie. Thank you both for visiting Glenferrie.
President Teresa Liu, David Whiting & Cheryl Pisterman
The Rotary Club of Glenferrie warmly congratulates club member Hon. Ted Baillieu AO Former Premier of Victoria, on being awarded an Honorary Doctorate at Swinburne University. Ted has been, and continues to be, an inspiration to many through his generous and selfless contribution to community life, professionally, through his many philanthropic interests and through Rotary, in Victoria, and in the City of Boroondara.
A well deserved recognition for an outstanding Australian. Hearty congratulations Ted!
We have been experiencing some intermittent problems with the charging of club dinner meeting fees via Mastercard, whereby banks are rejecting payments with the response 'Do Not Honour'. The problem affects only MasterCard charges, and is intermittent. Charges via Visa credit or debit cards, or Amex have not been impacted, at least not yet. I am following this up with the club's payment intermediary eWay for solution. In the meantime, if you have an unexpected rejection, keep trying as it usually goes through after two or three tries. Also please let me know if you get a chance: Email me and let me know how you go.
The sudden problems coincide with the club enabling payments via Amex, and a change made by ClubRunner to our event booking page. I am not sure if the two are related, but am following this enquiry up with both eWay and ClubRunner for a solution.
I’m excited to share that Rotary President Jennifer and Foundation Chair Ian have prepared a special message on how you personally can change the world and make an impact now and for generations to come. Click hereto read their messages and support of Rotary’s Endowment.
We are organising a Rotary Conference Cruise sailing from Rome in June 2023.
This conference provides Rotarians the opportunity to join in fellowship, to share information about successful projects, and to learn from each other.
It is by sharing information that our communities benefit from our knowledge, innovation, creativity, resourcefulness, and enthusiasm. Through Rotary we make the world a better place.
Rotary District 9800 Australian Rotary Health Committee Presents: AN ONLINE BLENDED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDCOURSE. Mental Health First Aid training was developed in Australia and is now in 25 countries, with over 4 million people trained worldwide. This is your opportunity to be taught by the co-founder and Rotarian, Betty Kitchener AM: https://mhfa.com.au/instructor/135.
Aussie Words & Meanings Banana Bender: The term derives from the joking notion (as perceived from the southern states of Australia) that Queenslanders spend their time putting bends into bananas.
Barbecue stopper: A topic of great public interest, especially a political one. The term derives from the notion that a topic is so interesting that it could halt proceedings at a barbecue - and anything that could interrupt an Aussie barbecue would have to be very significant indeed!
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
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Jean Ker Walsh is an active Woodend member of the Macedon Ranges Rural Australians for Refugees and also Co-chair of the Grandmothers for Refugees, a national movement of women elders lobbying for justice for refugees. Jean’s career experience is as a broadcast journalist, political advisor and strategic communications practitioner in various fields. Grandmothers for Refugees advocates for compassionate welcome and safe settlement of all people seeking asylum, with a primary focus on children.