Welcome to this week's edition of the Gateway Bulletin!
We're here to provide you with the latest updates, events, and stories from our Rotary community. Whether it's new initiatives, upcoming meetings, or opportunities to get involved, we'll ensure you're kept informed and up to date.
Our Facebook page is also an excellent way to stay updated on our club's activities. If you haven't connected yet, click here to follow.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Last weekend the President's Lunch was held at Myuna Farm, we all enjoyed a great day and were impressed with how much the farm had to offer for everyone.
We were given a tour by a lovely young lady names Macca who gave us a talk all about the farm history and animals including the full feathered white peacock and albino snake.
For those interested, Myuna Farm also run a riding for the disabled program, so a great community facility for all to enjoy!
All the best, John Peck
President of the Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
One of the most important events in a Rotary Year is our annual conference.
I encourage every member to attend, it is an opportunity to have some fun, playing golf, joining the wine tour plus the Pre-Conference Cocktail event and, the Saturday night Gala Dinner, with this year’s theme "Rotary Rocks".
This is a chance to meet with other fellow Rotarians in District 9815, to learn about the work of Rotary, both locally and internationally, to visit the Rotary Expo to see and personally meet the Rotarians behind the many local and international Rotary Projects.
The District Conference gives you the opportunity to learn and become involved in the work Rotarians and Rotary Clubs do around the world to make our world a better place.
Five Members of our Club are on the Conference Committee, including District Governor Colin, they deserve our collective support. Further information on The District Conference is included in this edition of the Gateway Bulletin.
David Langworthy
Editor
The Musings of Socrates 470-399BC
Human behaviour flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.
February 4th: Projects Meeting
All members required to kick-start 2025
February 11th: Club Meeting
Guest Speaker - Sally Baird, Backpack for Kids
February 18th: Club Meeting
Guest Speaker - Stephanie Joseph, Dandenong Community & Learning Centre
February 25th: Board Meeting
No club meeting
As members of Rotary, we dedicate January to Vocational Service, one of the foundational avenues of service in Rotary International. This month presents an opportunity to reflect on how our professional lives can embody the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.”
Vocational Service calls on Rotarians to leverage their unique skills, talents, and expertise to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond. It is about using our professions as platforms for ethical conduct, mentorship, and community betterment.
What Does Vocational Service Mean?
At its core, Vocational Service encourages:
Adhering to High Ethical Standards: Rotarians uphold integrity in their personal and professional lives. By living out the Four-Way Test, we ensure our actions promote truth, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all.
Recognizing the Value of All Professions: Every occupation plays a vital role in the fabric of society. Rotary celebrates and respects the diversity of vocations represented in its membership.
Serving Others Through Expertise: Rotarians can use their professional skills to meet community needs. This might include offering pro bono services, organizing career guidance programs, or supporting vocational training for underserved populations.
Rotarians around the world are making a difference through vocational service. From providing technical training in underserved areas to mentoring future leaders, these initiatives highlight the profound impact of combining professional expertise with a heart for service.
Let us use this month to reaffirm our commitment to vocational service and inspire others to do the same. Together, we can continue to create meaningful change through our professions, living out the Rotary ideals every day.
Inaugural District 9815 Conference 8 - 30 March 2025
The Inaugural District 9815 Conference will be held in Bendigo from 28 to 30 March 2025. Join us in celebrating our achievements by coming together for a weekend of fun activities and special guest seminars.
Individual session details and costs are outlined on the booking site.
Please check out the menu on the left-hand side for useful links including FAQs, Accommodation, Tourist Information, Exclusive Winery Tour details, and Committee information.
Partners, family, friends, potential members, supporters, and alumni are welcome. We look forward to collaborating and celebrating with you in Bendigo.
Rotary Conference Volunteering Opportunities
To help ensure a smooth running and successful Conference, we require the assistance of volunteers to provide support in several areas.
A range of volunteering opportunities are available including logistical assistance, coordinating, or packing Delegate bags, speaker/performer minders, reception/welcome desk, traffic control, set up/pack down crew, greeters, and ushers - just to name a few.
If anyone is interested in volunteering, can you please contact Tony Monley OAM (acmonley@gmail.com) and advise which dates/times you would be available, and he will explore volunteering options with you.
DONATIONS IN KIND PROJECT UPDATE
Seven MAX SkyHydrants and three GEM SkyHydrants are on their way to East Timor, thanks to the Rotary "Donations in Kind Project" which is facilitating the transportation. These life-saving water filtration units will be installed in the coming months by our dedicated partner, Rotary Projects Timor Leste East. This collaborative effort is the result of three Rotary club projects working together to ensure that the children of East Timor can grow up in a healthier environment, free from the dangers of waterborne diseases.
By providing access to clean and safe drinking water, these filtration systems will significantly reduce the prevalence of waterborne illnesses in the region, ultimately improving the overall health and well-being of the community.
DISTRICT EVENTS
The Annual Ride for Medical Research 2025
The next annual “Ride For Medical Research” will take place March 16 - 21, 2025, celebrating 40 years of fundraising. Having now raised over $1.32 million for Australian Rotary Health, we look forward to pushing this to over $ 1.4 million in the near future.
This will be the first ride organised under the banner of D9815.
Registration for this popular fundraising event will open in November 2024, with strictly limited places, so get in early to secure your place. (Cost for riders is $998.00, support crew/drivers $800.00)
For early bird registration, please pre-register your interest, in either riding or driving, please send an email to Stephen Spiers: - jsthecrest3154@outlook.com
(Registration will open approximately 2 weeks prior November for those who have pre-registered.)
Join us for the “Ruby Ramble” 2025, Baddaginnie to Benalla.
Approximately 580km over 6 days
Day 1: Baddaginnie - Wangaratta -76km
Day 2: Wangaratta-Chiltern-Rutherglen Loop-98km
Day 3: Wangaratta-Yackandandah-Myrtleford Loop – 125km
Day 4: Wangaratta-Yarrawonga Loop - 115km
Day 5: Wangaratta-Milawa-Eldorado Loop - 100km
Day 6: Wangaratta-Glenrowan-Benalla - 64km
(Distances subject to change due to road/traffic conditions.)
The ride this year will be centered around the greater Wangaratta region, taking in many of the towns in the area. See the website for more information and registration details: - https://rotaryrideforresearch.raisely.com
If you can’t make it why not consider joining in with the Mad March Cycle challenge which will run in conjunction. Details of this will be released closer to the date. https://madmarchcyclechallenge.raisely.com/
Please note, we are also seeking support drivers for the ride, if interested please see the website for contact details Stephen Spiers on: - 0411 675 330 (Cost for Support crew is $800.00)
Begun in 2021 as a way of helping to raise funds for Australian Rotary Health during Covid-19 lockdowns, it continues now as a compliment to the annual bike ride.
In the spirit of supporting healthy minds, bodies and communities, it allows anyone to take part in a manner that suits them anywhere in the world. (In fact, over the last 4 years we have had people join in from not only other parts of Australia, but also America, India, Indonesia and South Africa).
Participants can challenge the riders on the Annual Ride and see if they can cover 580km over the month of March, the Annual ride participants have to do it in 6 days, or they can choose their own form of exercise and set their own goals.
It is Free to join in, although not compulsory, all we ask is that participants try and raise some funds, via sponsorship, for Australian Rotary Health. The typical goal participants set is $200 and all donations of $2.00 or more are tax deductible.
All funds raised go direct to Australian Rotary Health.
So go on, challenge yourself, your Club and friends, join in the fun and Make A Differfence, to not only your health, help Australian Rotary Health make a difference to everyones health.
Attendance and Participation: Regularly attend club meetings and participate actively in club activities and projects.
Service Projects: Engage in community service projects, both locally and internationally, aimed at addressing humanitarian needs, promoting goodwill, and fostering peace.
Fundraising: Contribute to fundraising efforts that support Rotary's service projects and charitable activities.
Vocational Expertise: Share their professional skills and expertise to benefit others within the club and in service projects.
Ethical Standards: Adhere to high ethical standards in their personal and professional lives, reflecting Rotary's commitment to integrity and ethical behavior.
Networking and Fellowship: Build relationships and network with other Rotarians and community leaders, fostering goodwill and understanding.
Membership Growth: Support efforts to grow Rotary's membership and extend invitations to prospective members who embody Rotary's ideals.
Rotary Foundation: Contribute financially to the Rotary Foundation, which funds international scholarships, humanitarian projects, and other charitable efforts.
Public Image: Promote Rotary's mission and achievements within the community and advocate for Rotary's values and initiatives.
Leadership: Serve in leadership roles within the club or district, providing guidance and direction to advance Rotary's goals.
Overall, Rotarians are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities and the world at large through service, fellowship, and ethical leadership.
All members are invited to contribute to our newsletter.
If you have an interesting article or some great pictures, please share them with us by Thursday so we can include them in Friday's edition.
Send all articles and notifications to our Editor, David Langworthy, at david@bevmarks.com.au.
The next annual “Ride For Medical Research” will take place March 16 - 21, 2025, celebrating 40 years of fundraising. Having now raised over $1.32 million for Australian Rotary Health, we look forward to pushing this to over $ 1.4 million in the near future.
Begun in 2021 as a way of helping to raise funds for Australian Rotary Health during Covid-19 lockdowns, it continues now as a compliment to the annual bike ride.
