PDG Julie Mason AO, of the Rotary Club of Wyndham, has enjoyed a distinguished career both as an educator and as a Rotarian. She currently serves as Chair of the District 9800 Rotary Foundation Committee, and also leads the District’s Annual Giving and Vocational Training Teams programs. During Rotary Foundation Month, Julie will speak about Rotary’s own award-winning charity — The Rotary Foundation— highlighting the remarkable work being achieved by Rotarians around the world through its support, and how the Foundation can assist the Rotary Club of Glenferrie in advancing its own service goals.
The end of the year is getting closer, however much has been happening recently in our Club. On the 11th of November there was a very successful Peace Pole Dedication ceremony conducted at Loreto Mandeville Hall College. Quite a few Rotarians from our club attended and many felt the ceremony was very moving. Joanne Shentu and Richard Blakeman are to be congratulated for their excellent organization of the day together with senior staff at the school.
On Tuesday the 18th of November the Annual Paul Harris Breakfast was held at the Windsor Hotel in the City. Some Rotarians from our club attended the Breakfast and we were delighted to have our visiting Global Grant Scholar, Masaya Endo, also join us. Julie Mason, the District Chair of Rotary Foundation spoke at the breakfast. She referred to Masaya’s presence and was pleased to meet him as Masaya is a Rotary Foundation Scholarship recipient.
On 11th November, Loreto Mandeville Hall held a beautifully organised Peace Pole planting ceremony initiated by the Rotary Club of Glenferrie. Despite the inclement weather, the atmosphere remained calm, respectful, and inspiring.
Over 60 students attended, with 17 taking part in delivering key texts as part of the dedication ceremony, led by School Captain Amelia Noonan. School Principal Angela O’Dwyer and Rotary Club of Glenferrie President Helena Wimpole shared prayers and powerful messages of hope for a more peaceful world. The peace pole, which carries the universal message " May Peace Prevail on Earth" inscribed in six languages, is a special gift from the Rotary Club of Glenferrie to Loreto Mandeville Hall as part of the club’s 50th anniversary celebrations. It is a symbol carrying deep significance for both the school community and the broader mission of global peace.
The new water tower will carry signage acknowledging the contributions of all partners
After a delayed start, the club's project in Buedu, Sierra Leone moved into it's next stage this month, with work now underway at the Aladura Primary School. The school is the site of the two VIP latrines built last year in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bo, Sierra Leone, and The Rotary Foundation.
This next phase of the project will install a solar powered pump that will retrieve water from an existing well on the school grounds and deliver it to a new water storage tower. Plumbing installed as part of the project will deliver the water to water troughs at the school building. This new facility, which will help provide running water to the school year round, is being built by the Rotary Club of Glenferrie in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bo, Sierra Leone, supported by a Centennial Grant from Rotary Balwyn and a grant from the Australian Government (the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade- DFAT).
The project is governed by the International Service Committee, led by Amelia Anderson, and is expected to be completed by the end of December 2025, in time for the new school year.
Need for Feed stock fodder convoys have brought much needed relief to farmers since 2005
On Tuesday night (11/11/25) we were very fortunate to have Graham Cockerell as our Guest Speaker. Graham was the Founder of “Need for Feed Australia” in 2005 and still works as its Coordinator. This project was started by his Lion’s Club and has been so successful that in 2020 it became a National project for all Lion’s Clubs in Australia. They have delivered stock fodder valued at over $60 million so far to struggling farmers in drought, fire and flood stricken areas.
Graham started with a short video titled “We are Australians”. This showed an impressive array of semi-trailers fully loaded with hay heading out to give farmers relief to feed their stock in the affected areas.
The Glenferrie Gallopers sprinted to victory in the fight to end polio
The Glenferrie Gallopers led by energetic Club Foundation Director Joanne Shentu charged down the straight in October, with a final rapid sprint past their fundraising goal. Setting themselves a target of $3,000, the final tally came in at $3,072 - with all funds going towards Rotary's global End Polio project. Their month-long effort not only boosted vital funds for Rotary’s global polio eradication work but also strengthened camaraderie across the club. We are now so close to ending Polio in the world and won't that be a blessing for children and families.everywhere.
In a note of thanks to those who contributed to this mighty effort, Joanne wrote: " Thank you so much to everyone for your generous contributions. We truly enjoyed the collaborative effort and the positive impact we've made for eradicating Polio in the world. A special thanks to Cheryl Pisterman for organising with me and making this all possible. A wonderful achievement --- Thank you, everyone !
Robert Winspear and Joanne Shentu. Getting in early with Christmas cheer.
The November 15th Boroondara Farmers Market began under light drizzle, but the clouds soon lifted and sunshine drew out plenty of loyal locals eager to explore the stalls. Attendance was strong, matching the positive momentum of recent markets, and stallholder numbers remained robust.
We were delighted to welcome back the Swinburne Chorale, whose performances added warmth to the morning, and Rotarians for Bees added a welcome buzz. The Rotary Christmas Cakes and Puddings stall proved especially popular, with many stocking up for the festive season.
The next Boroondara Farmers Market will be on Saturday morning, November 29th. The Boroondara Farmers Market. Where Community Come to market!
We are seeking yourfavourite pre-loved books to supply our stall at the Farmers Market on 29 November 2025.Books are still deeply valued by many of us and our aim is to find new homes for your favourites, save them from ending up in landfill, and reduce waste. It’s also an easy, sustainable way to declutter whilst doing the right thing by the environment.
So, please review your bookshelves and consider donating some of them to the Rotary Club of Glenferrie for the stall. The books can cover any genre, and we are happy to accept children’s books. No newspapers, magazines and textbooks please. Good, clean condition required.
A reminder to dial in via Zoom for the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of the club on Wednesday 26th November 2025 at 7.00pm . Hear from PP Peter Moore on a year of achievement for the club in 2024-25, and vote for new club office-bearers for 2026-27.
To be valid under the club's constitution, the meeting must be attended by at least 1/3rd of total active members for the resolutions to take effect i.e. a minimum of 16 members must be present. However it is hoped that every Active Member will attend to exercise the right to a say in the club's affairs. A Zoom Meeting invitation will be sent prior to the meeting, but the links can be accessed below.
If you are unable to attend, please appoint a proxy by downloading and submitting via the Club Secretary an Appointment of Proxy form. Email the completed form to: rotaryglenferrie@gmail.com.
Fellowship for Service: Believing that friendships built through regular meetings lead to opportunities to serve others. High Ethical Standards: Applying integrity in business, professions, and personal conduct. Dignity of All Occupations: Recognizing that every useful job offers a chance to serve society. Service in Daily Life: Integrating service into personal, business, and community activities. World Peace: Advancing understanding and goodwill globally through a fellowship of leaders.
It starts with the first Object of Rotary. Working and playing together to develop life-long friendships.
Letter to the Rotary Club of Glenferrie from Talya Pasmanik, Bridge Builders Team
Dear Helena
The conflict in the Middle East is complex and often difficult for us to fully understand.
We would be delighted to welcome Rotarians from your area to a special screening of the award-winning documentary The Very Narrow Bridge, followed by a Q&A with Tim Costello AO and Esther Takac, the film’s writer and producer.
Here in Australia, our proud tradition of social cohesion and respectful coexistence among people of diverse backgrounds is being tested — challenged by the voices of extremism and the distressing images of war.
The Rotary Club of Glenferrie acknowledges the traditional owners as the custodians of this land, recognising their connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Australia's First Peoples, and to their elders, past, present and future.
The Rotary Club of Glenferrie | PO Box 2134 | Hawthorn Vic 3122
