We gather together on the lands of the traditional custodians, the Wurundjeri and Woi Wurrung people. We pay our respects to all of Melbourne’s First Peoples, to their ancestors and Elders, and to our shared future together.
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General Meeting – Conochie Hall 11thOctober 23
Paul Harris Recognition
Our speaker for the evening was Tamara Shepherd who has been involved in a project called Heal Africa to which our club had contributed some many years ago. Tamara has also been involved with the Mercy Ships as a Physiotherapist and showed us a small video of the operation.
What a difference the Merch Ships makes to so many people in underprivileged countries who just cannot get the medical attention they need.
Tamara has been an amazing volunteer and was recognised by the City of Boroondara in its 2023 Australia Day Honours with an OAM for service to the community through charitable organisations. Through a kind donation of one of our members our Rotary Club and I was given the honour of presenting Tamara with a Paul Harris recognition. Truly well deserved.
Further information on Tamara and Heal Africa and the Mercy Ships will be contained in the bulletin.
Annual Report 2022 – 2023
At the AGM on the 4thOctober it was decided that the Club Annual Report for 2022-2023 be received and adopted at the meeting on the 11 October 2023. A motion was proposed by me and seconded by Annie Murphy and carried unanimously.
Nomination of Board Appointments for 2024 – 2025
Just to clarify that once the paperwork has been finalised Michelle Critchley will become President Elect Nominee in 2023 / 2024. Therefore, Michelle will be President Elect the 2024 / 2025 Rotary year. Again, sincere thanks to Michelle for rising to the occasion.
Some reminders are:
18thOctober – Member Behind the Badge – Nadia Hamilton
25thOctober – Normal meeting – Speaker Scott Dawes “An Olympians Journey”
1stNovember – Fellowship Night offsite - Tesoro Gastronomia Restaurant
As advised, I will be going to the Philippines on a medical mission from Saturday 14thOctober to Wednesday 25th October. I then travel to Thailand on 31st October so will see you all on Wednesday 15th November.
Let’s work together, to take action to create hope in the world and in our local communities.
This letter of appreciation is in response to the efforts of the "Timor Rotary Consortiums" which have been lead by the Rotary Club of Camberwell for the past several years and which has seen the installation of sixty two (62) 5,500 Ltr Galvanised Water Tanks and 8 Three cubicle Toilets at remote mountain villages in eastern Timor Leste.
Following a successful Scoping Visit to this region by Vijay Susarla and Justine Paragreen in August this year a new Gobal Grant is being applied for to provide for the installation of a further 20 Water Tanks and 4 more Toilets.
RIMERN is a multi-club Rotary project in Inner Melbourne, providing donated furniture, appliances and homewares to welfare agency clients who have experienced homelessness, domestic violence, refugee displacement, release from jail and other crises. www.rimern.org.au
Some RIMERN Statistics!
The year-on-year numbers for financial year 22/23 over 21/22 (our inaugural year peppered with Covid lockdowns) showed that in our second year of operations we doubled order numbers and value of goods provided. The following items were rehomed and were limited by the donations we could source! Nearly every client asks for a fridge &
washing machine, if we could source more, we could distribute more... but these numbers show just how much work our volunteers have done, collecting, cleaning, testing, assembling & seeing the orders out the door! Thanks everyone, our current volumes are higher still....
Last Monday, 2nd October at 10:39 am, Caroline and Kieran Healy welcomed their new baby boy, Euan Graeme Healy. Proud father Kieran summarised his first impression of his new son beautifully: ‘He came into the world full of voice, happy, healthy and hungry. He is the perfect little guy.’ Our warmest congratulations from all Camberwell Rotary members.
Tamara Shepherd was the guest speaker at the club meeting of Wednesday, 11 October 2023. Her presentation covered two topics: ‘Heal Africa’ and ‘Mercy Ships’.
Heal Africa
Heal Africa is based in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo whose mission is to provide holistic care to its most vulnerable population especially women and children, who are most affected by the persistent armed conflicts in the region. It is also a centre of excellence for continuing education for health care workers.
Rotary has been actively involved in this area and the Rotary Club of Balwyn in particular, contributed funding for the Jaipur Limb project in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). Like so many developing countries there are many people in DR Congo who suffer because of amputated or deformed limbs. The causes are many, but include birth defects, communicable diseases such as leprosy and polio, non-communicable diseases such as vascular disorders and diabetes, snake bites, traumatic injuries, natural disasters and armed conflict. With severe limitations many become a burden to families, who already have very meagre resources, and are often condemned to spend their lives begging on the streets.
The Goma Jaipur Limb project arose from a visit to the Balwyn Rotary Club in 2014 by Tammy Shepherd. Tammy is a local physiotherapist who, for some years, has spent time at her own cost, as a volunteer at the Heal Africa hospital in Goma. She was responsible for setting up a physiotherapy unit there and was keen to also set up a prosthetics unit, with a small workshop that could modify and fit artificial legs which are not available at affordable cost in DR Congo.
Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships is an international development organisation that deploys hospital ships and volunteers to developing nations improving the quality of life for people living with the diseases of poverty, disfigurement, and disability, through direct medical services and building the capacities of healthcare systems to meet the needs of the future. According to The Lancet Commission’s Report on Global Surgery: 5 billion lack access to safe, timely and affordable surgery meaning 18.6 million people die unnecessarily each year.
The floating hospitals efficiently bring safe, sterile operating rooms and hospital beds, directly to people in need so our volunteer medical staff can provide free surgeries.
Mercy Ships delivers a customised three-year partnership model with every country it is invited to support.
Mercy Ships build medical capacity in every port training local doctors, providing equipment and opening medical facilities so that improved healthcare continues.
Volunteering with Mercy Ships will not only change the lives of those you serve, it will also change you. There are many ways to support Mercy Ships in its global medical mission. There is a need for both medical and non-medical volunteers. There are volunteer positions in a variety of areas including: housekeeping, galley, deck crew, doctors and nurses and everything in between. The volunteer opportunities are both long and short-term. Short-term volunteers can serve from two weeks to two years depending on the position and typically fill service roles or very specialised medical or technical positions. Long-term crew make an initial commitment of two years and typically fill positions that require more continuity and training.
Paul Harris Fellow
For Tamara’s important work in the Goma Jaipur Limb project, serving a time as a volunteer at the Heal Africa hospital, at her own cost and again for her work as a volunteer on a Mercy Ship as a physiotherapist, she was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow. In response, Tamara sent the following note:
‘Thank you so much for awarding me the Paul Harris Fellow tonight. I feel humbled to have received this prestigious award.’
Followiing a lot of behind the scenes work by Job Oppy and his Art Show Committee, dates have now been locked in for the 2024 Cambewell Art Showat Swinburne University. Sat 22 - Sun 30 June at Swinburne University (ATC Building). The Gala Opening is on Friday 21st June. Further details, artist entry arrangements etc will be announced shortly.
We are pleased to announce that Myeloma Australia will be hosting the first Greatest Call Long Lunch at The Glass House in Melbourne on Wednesday 6th March 2024. We have a huge line up of talent that will keep you entertained as well as beautiful food from The Big Group. The purpose of the event is to raise the profile of myeloma and Myeloma Australia in the wider community.
We will have some big names from the sporting commentary world that will sit alongside our Ambassador Sandy Roberts. Sandy will be joined by his friends and colleagues Bruce McAvaney, OAM, Eddie McGuire, Brian Taylor and Jennifer Keyte to name a few with musical entertainment provided by Frankie J. Holden, OAM.
If you would like to purchase a ticket, please head to our website and you will be directed to the online ticketing platform. Tickets are $275 each or you can purchase a table of 10 for $2,750. All proceeds from the event will go directly to Myeloma Australia.
Membership recruitment and retention is the responsibility of us all. Please support our District endeavours to support you.
A reminder to encourage you to register for this important event. Loryn Clark has worked hard in putting together a meaningful program featuring two renowned keynote speakers in Mark Huddlestone and Andy Rajapakse for this District funded program.
As mentioned at our last Meeting, and following on from an initiative from Jim O'Hara, all* the Club's Annual Reports are now available on the Home Page of our website under Member's Services:
I have also made the older Annual Reports (pre - 2010) available via "About our Club/Club History" on the Home Page.
These are important records of all the amazing work this club has done since it's Charter, so it's important they are both secure and available to all Members. And they make fascinating reading! Have a look by following the menu selections in the image above.
*I say "all" - but I am missing three: 1998-1999, 2000-2001 and 2004-2005. Can Members please check their personal records and if you have any or all of these missing three (in soft or hard copy), please advise me asap.
Have you ever wondered which Sunday you have been allocated to? Can't find the email from Alan?
Then look no further! This new widget has been added to both our website Home Page - it's at the bottom of the right-hand column, right under the 3 most recent Bulletins. And it will be in each Bulletin as well. Just click on the blue "CSM Signup List" link. It's that simple - try it!
A few of the younger guests at the Business Network Breakfast – both employees of Biggin Scott Real Estate, Camberwell.
Our honorary member Mayor Cr Felicity Sinfield opened the Business Network Breakfast
The speaker panel Mayor Cr Felicity Sinfield, Ross Jennings Eric Zimmerman and Michael Stilwell
Chair Dr Michael Valos
Event organisers Kim Wren, Angela Ciliberto and Fabienne Nichola with the speaker panel
At 7:15 am on Thursday 12 October 2023, a Rotary Business Network Breakfast was held at the Hawthorn Arts Centre. The event was a collaborative effort of the Angela Ciliberto Rotary Hawthorn, Kim Wen, Rotary Kew and Fabienne Nichola, Rotary Camberwell.
The purpose of the Breakfast was inspired by Rotary International beginnings in 1905 as the one of the original business networking organisation. The goal of this event was primarily to increase the visibility of Rotary’s community work in Boroondara. This aligns with one of the District 9800 priorities of promoting the work of Rotary by placing significant emphasis on Public Image to the broader community. This was achieved with the opportunity of interactions with local businesses as well as displaying a rotating series of the 7 local clubs’ signature projects and key activities. These were viewed during the networking part of the breakfast. Club banners were also displayed along the walls of the Zelman Room.
The event was well attended with 68 people. Following a lively networking session during which the guests shared coffee/tea and sampled a delicious breakfast buffet, the Boroondara Mayor, Cr Felicity Sinfield kicked off the speaker panel segment with a warm welcome and outlined the Economic Development Team’s initiatives supporting local businesses. This was followed by the other speakers’ presentations.
The engaging and insightful presentations by Eric Zimmerman, Michael Stilwell and Ross Jennings generated a strong Q and A session ably managed by the Chair, Dr Michael Valos. The quality of the questions and the post presentation interactions verified the relevance of the theme covered and its importance to the local business community.
Importantly, the networking session enabled guests to meet their local constituents, provided an opportunity for clubs to reconnect with attending guests for future events, increased the awareness of Rotary clubs’ community work and generated general interest in membership.
A big thank you to all the Club Presidents for your encouragement and support. Thank you also to members and all guests who attended. Thank you to the working team who worked tirelessly to ensure this event was successful.
As part of my club visit program, I have been endeavouring to provide club leaders and members with an overview of the current state of play with Regionalisation.
As I am unlikely to reach all clubs within the implementation timeline, I am sending this video to you for use as you see appropriate.
This has come to me via our Governor Team representative on the Steering Group and I feel it provides a succinct overview of what we are currently faced with.
Please have a look at this video, it is only for 8 minutes but is a great way to explain the Community Groupings to clubs.
On Sunday, 8 October 2023, 10 am to 4 pm, the Electrify Boroondara Expo took place at the Hawthorn Arts Centre. This was the work of Boroondara volunteers who want to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. The expo comprised a considerable number of stalls and panels occupying almost every publicly available space at the Hawthorn Arts Centre. It attracted a significant crowd eager to learn about this topic.
The stall providers outlined various cost-effective ways for households to use energy across four main areas:
Cooking – options to replace gas cooking including induction cooktops and using electric appliances
Heating – insulation, draft proofing and using reverse-cycle air conditions, column heaters, and other money saving tips
Hot Water – Solar power, batteries,
Appliances – purchase highest star ratings and switch off fridges when not in use as a main energy user in most households
The Expo Program was extensive. Some topics include the health benefits of electrification, navigating the shift to electric vehicles, E-bikes, Solar energy, Induction cooktop demonstrations and various discussion panels and plenary sessions.
An impressive presentation was from the local school students. They occupied the main hall as part of a session on ‘Empowering Future Eco-Leaders: A Panel on Sustainable Initiatives in Schools’. It was an engaging panel discussion that outlined the sustainability initiatives of local schools. These students represented Camberwell Grammar and Kew High School. Hollie Fields from the Education Liaison at Electrify Boroondara offered details of Electrify Boroondara’s role in working with schools.
Overall, an informative Expo which attracted a large number of Boroondara residents as well as offering a glimpse of how the next generation is shifting the energy industry’s emission profile. Further information can be found on the Boroondara website https://electrifyboroondara.org/expo23/stalls
Membership recruitment and retention is the responsibility of us all. Please support our District endeavours to support you.
A reminder to encourage you to register for this important event. Loryn Clark has worked hard in putting together a meaningful program featuring two renowned keynote speakers in Mark Huddlestone and Andy Rajapakse for this District funded program.
The link for registration is - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1118797
Deb and I invite you to join us at the District Conference in Bendigo.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Rotarians to get together in-person, and enjoy all things Rotary. What a brilliant way for Rotarians to network while hearing from guest speakers and experiencing all that Bendigo and the surrounding area has to offer.
Venue
Ulumbarra Theatre, 10 Gaol Rd, Bendigo
The Ulumbarra Theatre is a 953-seat theater in Bendigo, Victoria. It opened in 2015 and is located on the site of the Sandhurst Goal which closed in 2004.
Accommodation
A variety of accommodation options are available for all budgets.
A Showcase area will be available for the display of Rotary projects for the benefit of the conference attendees to enjoy.
Further information will be available shortly.
About Bendigo
From its grand historic buildings that sprouted up during the gold boom to its famous potteries and growing food scene, there is a lot to love about this regional city.
Experience the contrasts of Bendigo, a city with a vibrant arts hub and world-class food and wine scene, rich gold-rush history, grand architecture and magnificent gardens. Sample stunning contemporary cuisine in historic buildings. Admire modern art in venues new and old, and explore the city's fascinating history at museums, gardens and galleries. When exploring Bendigo, you're visiting the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung People.
Deb and I invite you to join us at the District Conference in Bendigo. 
