Dear Members,
It’s been another inspiring and productive week for our club, filled with action, generosity, and the true spirit of Rotary. From supporting life-changing medical initiatives to local community projects, our members continue to make a remarkable impact.
🌍 Donations in Kind (DIK) Presentation
Tuesday night’s meeting featured an excellent presentation from Colleen, who shared the incredible work being done at Rotary Donations in Kind (DIK) West Footscray.
DIK is one of Rotary’s most significant humanitarian initiatives - a volunteer-run facility that collects surplus medical equipment, hospital beds, school furniture, computers, and other quality goods from across Australia, redistributing them to communities in need around the world.
The West Footscray DIK warehouse is a shining example of “Service Above Self.” Entirely volunteer-driven, it has shipped over 6,000 containers of aid valued at more than $500 million, transforming lives while reducing waste to landfill. Colleen’s passion and energy were truly inspiring — let’s get behind DIK. I welcome ideas on how our club can support their extraordinary work.
💙 Board Update
At Monday night’s meeting, the Board approved a $50,000 donation to the Monash Children’s Hospital Cancer Centre for Apheresis Therapy Implementation. This major contribution will directly help save young lives and expand life-changing cancer treatment services for children.
A heartfelt thank you to Leanne for her ongoing commitment and tireless work on this initiative — your efforts continue to make a real difference.
The Board also approved the ASRC (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre) Garden Project, which will provide a sustainable, productive garden for those accessing vital support services — a wonderful reflection of Rotary’s compassion and community spirit.
We will be supporting Dandenong West Primary School with a BBQ on Saturday, 25 October. Our club will bring the BBQ trailer around 1:00 pm and start cooking soon after, ready to serve from 2:00 pm onwards (or slightly later if needed). We will supply sausages, bread, and sauces.
🔧 Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed
Our Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed team continues to lead by example! Howard recently responded to a Next Door App request for help with a BBQ build in Narre South. The group built an impressive BBQ stand and, in appreciation, received a financial donation for their efforts — an excellent demonstration of community connection and service.
Their next project will be constructing the ASRC sustainable garden bed, a meaningful way to support the recently approved Board initiative. Well done to everyone involved for your continued contribution to our community.
🎓 DAA Annual Conference 2025
Disaster Aid Australia (DAA) held its annual conference over the weekend, celebrating 15 Years of Saving Lives and Rebuilding Communities!
DAA has been at the forefront of disaster relief, providing vital support in the wake of major disasters and delivering Safe Water for Every Child installations to communities in need.
A celebratory dinner on Saturday night gave members a chance to connect, share experiences, and reflect on DAA’s incredible achievements — a testament to Rotary’s commitment to global and local humanitarian efforts.
🙏 Well Wishes
Our thoughts and best wishes are with Kam Pow and John Angwin as they continue their medical treatment and recovery. Kam and John, we’re all thinking of you and look forward to seeing you back with us soon.
🗳️ AGM Announcement
Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 11 November. Our Secretary has emailed nomination forms to all members — please consider nominating for a position that aligns with your passion and skills. Your involvement is what keeps our club strong, forward-thinking, and vibrant.
💡 The Three Golden Pillars of Rotary
Keep an eye out for the Three Golden Pillars Flyer in this week’s bulletin. These pillars — Fellowship, Service, and Integrity — are the foundation of Rotary’s success and longevity:
-
Fellowship: Building lasting friendships and community through shared purpose.
-
Service: Turning compassion into meaningful action for others.
-
Integrity: Leading with honesty, accountability, and ethical values.
Together, these principles remind us why Rotary continues to be a global force for good.
📰 Celebrating 90 Years of Service
Our club’s 90th Centenary Celebration was proudly featured in the Dandenong Star Journal! The article highlights our milestone event held on Saturday, 5 October at the Dandenong Club, where members, families, and local dignitaries came together to commemorate nearly a century of community service. The celebration included a special anniversary cake and a copy of our first meeting bulletin from April 1935, noting that Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, attended that inaugural meeting. Read the full article here.
🔜 Up Next
🎉 DAA Calcutta Night – Friday, 17 October at the Dandenong Club. Join us for a night of fun, energy, and great company!
🍔 Dandenong West Primary School BBQ – Saturday, 25 October. Our club will bring the BBQ trailer around 1:00 pm and start cooking soon after, ready to serve from 2:00 pm onwards. We will supply sausages, bread, and sauces. Volunteers are welcome to assist!
🎓 Lyndale Secondary College Mock Interviews – Tuesday, 21 & 28 October. Assistant Principal Diana Kennedy has invited Rotarians to participate in mock interview panels from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm. Arrival from 1:00 pm to be briefed by the staff. You will be paired with other panel interviewers and a teacher in the room.
🦧 Tuesday, 28 October: Guest Speaker Mark Jones, a philanthropist who transformed his passion for wildlife into a global conservation movement through the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. He’ll share how he used his professional expertise to deliver vital infrastructure and equipment to support orangutan rehabilitation in Borneo.
🍽️ Thursday, 30 October: Cornerstone Meal Service – Dandenong Baptist Church, 25 James Street, Dandenong. Volunteers are needed to assist with cooking and serving meals. Please contact Leanne if you can lend a hand.
🌟 November – Rotary Foundation Month: Rotary celebrates Foundation Month each November to highlight the global impact of Rotary’s charitable projects. Our club is planning a special Foundation Night to learn more about the Foundation, share stories of its impact, and discover ways members can contribute to its ongoing success.
💡 Fun Fact: The Rotary Foundation has funded more than 40,000 global grants, supporting projects in health, education, water, and peace initiatives. That means every dollar you contribute can make a lasting difference to communities locally and around the world!
