Welcome to this week's edition of the Gateway Bulletin!
We're here to keep you informed with the latest updates, events, and stories from our Rotary community. Whether it's new initiatives, upcoming meetings, or ways to get involved, we'll keep you informed and up-to-date.
Don’t forget — our Facebook page is a great way to follow what’s happening in real time. If you haven’t connected with us yet, click here to follow us.
PRESIDENT'S UPDATE
It’s been an exciting and fulfilling month for our club, as we celebrated Rotary Foundation Month, prepared for our Annual General Meeting (AGM), and continued our hands-on community projects that make a real difference in people’s lives. With so many November activities, including the AGM, ASRC Garden Bed Upgrade, and DWPS and Rotary Foundation Month Presentations, there’s plenty of opportunity for fellowship, service, and connecting with our community.
💙 November is Rotary Foundation Month
November is one of Rotary’s most important months — a time to celebrate The Rotary Foundation, the heart of Rotary’s humanitarian work. 💫
Our Foundation transforms your contributions into life-changing projects both locally and globally — tackling challenges such as:
🌾 Fighting disease (including eradicating polio worldwide)
💧 Providing clean water and sanitation
📚 Supporting education and literacy
👩⚕️ Saving mothers and children
💼 Growing local economies
🤝 Promoting peace and conflict resolution
Every dollar donated works harder through Rotary’s global network — combined with District and Global Grants to multiply impact. Even a modest personal donation contributes to scholarships, clean water projects, and life-saving health initiatives around the world.
This month, our Foundation Chair, David Langworthy, will give an insightful presentation on Tuesday, 18 November — sharing how your generosity fuels projects that change lives, and how we can all make a difference by supporting Rotary’s Foundation. 🌎💙
Fun Fact: November is the month when the World Health Organisation officially declared the first global polio-free region, highlighting the impact Rotary has made in fighting disease worldwide. 🎉
🏛️ Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Our AGM will be held on Tuesday, 11 November at The Dandenong Club (Napoleon Room). Nominations have now closed, and we are looking forward to holding the meeting and sharing plans for the year ahead.
This will be an excellent opportunity for members to participate in club governance, review achievements, and look ahead to another strong Rotary year. 🙌
Fun Trivia: Did you know the first Rotary club meeting ever held in Australia was in 1921 in Melbourne? Rotary has a rich history here spanning over 100 years!
🌏 Disaster Aid Australia – SmartAid UltraFilter
In October 2025, Disaster Aid Australia (DAA) introduced the SmartAid UltraFilter at its Annual Conference.
Based on DAA’s experience with Safe Water installations since 2010, the filter features:
0.04 micron pore size
99.9999% particle removal, including E. coli
10,000 L/day capacity
No power required, no treatment chemicals
Simple cleaning and true backwash at 2x filter pressure
Rugged, easily repairable, weighs 14kg
Leanne and Colin Byron visited and checked out the SmartAid UltraFilter at the Rotary Zone Conference at Tweed Heads.
A big congratulations to Brian Ashworth and Cherie Ramsay for showcasing this life-saving innovation — providing clean drinking water in disaster-affected areas and demonstrating practical, hands-on solutions in action. 💧👏
The filter will be used for all future DAA installations once SkyHydrant stock is delivered.
Howard and the EHMS team have been busy on the ASRC project. They recently prepared and painted 7.4m garden bed beams, a perfect example of hands-on Rotary teamwork and community collaboration. 👏🌱
✉️ Email Received – Dandenong West Primary School (DWPS)
Rahima Rizai from DWPS extended a warm thank you to our club and all who joined in celebrating their 100-year milestone. She shared that the centenary event was truly unforgettable, bringing together students, families, staff, alumni, and community friends to honour the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a bright future.
DWPS expressed appreciation for our ongoing support and looks forward to seeing us again at their next event.
📅 Upcoming Events in Date Order
Nov 11, 2025 – 📊 Annual AGM, Dandenong
Nov 12, 2025 – 🌱 ASRC Garden Bed Upgrade, ASRC
Nov 17, 2025 – 💼 Board Meeting #5, Dandenong Club
Nov 18, 2025 – 🌐 DWPS and Rotary Foundation Month Presentations
Nov 25, 2025 – 📍 Officer Sikh Temple visit, Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Officer
Dec 02, 2025 – 🎄 Christmas Business Breakfast Meeting, Dandenong Club
Dec 09, 2025 – 🙌 ASRC Rice Packing and Dinner Night
Dec 16, 2025 – 🎅 Christmas Social Night, Dandenong Club
Thank you for your continued passion, service, and fellowship — together, we’re making a real difference in our community.
Our Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed team will be leading an upgrade of one of the ASRC garden beds. Volunteers are needed to help with planting and preparing the garden.
Guest Speaker: Jacqui Weatherill,
CEO, City of Greater Dandenong
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CLUB MEETINGS
Where Club meetings are listed as TBC, please refer to the Events Calendar on our club website for the latest updates.
ATTENDANCE
We’d love to see you at our meetings! Please use ClubRunner to let us know if you’ll be attending, and feel free to include any guests — especially for special events or partners’ nights.
To help us plan with the Dandenong Club, please update your attendance by 5 pmon Monday. This ensures we can confirm numbers and make the most of our time together.
Rotary 9815 & 9830 District Conference
13th -15th March 2026
Hobart, Tasmania
Welcome to the 2026 District Conference in Hobart, Tasmania!
I am thrilled to invite you to join us from March 13th to 15th, 2026, for an extraordinary event that promises to be both enriching and enjoyable. This year, we are excited to announce that the conference will be a collaborative effort with District 9830, representing Tasmania. Together, we aim to create an unforgettable experience filled with learning, networking, and cultural immersion.
Monique Smith, District 9815, Conference Chair 2025-26
We are delighted to present Edition 1 of the District 9815 & 9830 Joint Conference Newsletter, your go-to source for all the latest on our upcoming conference — from updates on speakers and programme highlights, to travel and accommodation tips, and recognition of our valued sponsors. Whether you're planning to attend or simply interested in what’s happening, this issue is packed with useful information and inspiration.
📘 Stay Connected! 👉 Follow Rotary District 9815 on Facebook for updates on community projects, events, and ways to get involved.
Click Like & Follow now!
The Rotary Foundation has declared a Disaster of Magnitude and established a temporary Hurricane Melissa Response Fund to support communities affected by the powerful storm that has caused widespread destruction and displacement across the Caribbean.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in the Caribbean as one of the strongest hurricanes on record, leaving communities facing loss, displacement, and widespread devastation. Many communities have no electricity or access to clean water.
Rotary members across the region are mobilizing to provide aid, and you can help make this possible. The fund will support disaster response grants for member-led projects that provide emergency relief, including food, medicine, clothing, and clean water. Here’s how you can help:
Fundraise among your colleagues, friends, and family through Raise for Rotary.
Learn about local Rotary disaster response efforts.
You can donate to the Hurricane Melissa Response Fund from now through 31 January 2026. If the needs diminish, or if we raise more funds than necessary, your donations will be used to respond to disasters elsewhere. Your support can make resources available to help people affected by Hurricane Melissa as they try to rebuild their lives after this devastating storm.
Together, we can make a lasting difference for those affected and continue Doing Good in the World.
Sincerely,
Holger Knaack
Francesco Arezzo
2025-26 Trustee Chair
2025-26 President
The Rotary Foundation
Rotary International
🎬 Win a Double Pass to The Choral!
To celebrate Foundation Month, Rotary members across Australia have the chance to win one of 20 double passes (valued at $44 each) to see The Choral — a new film coming to cinemas on New Year’s Day, 2026.
This special offer follows last month’s successful Polio Movie Fundraiser partnership with Sony Pictures for The Travellers. Our friends at Sony Pictures have once again generously partnered with Rotary, this time offering members an exclusive opportunity to enjoy a beautiful and inspiring film experience.
About The Choral
Set in 1916, as war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire, has lost most of its men to the army. Determined to carry on, the committee recruits local young men and a new chorus master, Dr Henry Guthrie (played by Ralph Fiennes). Despite his mysterious past, Guthrie leads the community in discovering that even amidst the chaos of war, music has the power to unite and heal.
Directed by Nicholas Hytner (The Crucible, The Madness of King George) and written by Alan Bennett (The History Boys, The Lady in the Van), The Choral brings together an acclaimed creative team and a stellar cast including Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong, Robert Emms, and Simon Russell Beale.
🎥 Watch the trailer on YouTube and be inspired by this moving story of community, courage, and song.
How to Enter
All current Rotary members in Australia are eligible to enter.
Entries close Friday, 28 November 2025 at 11:59 PM AEDT.
Winners will be selected by a random digital draw on Monday, 1 December 2025, conducted by the Rotary Foundation team at the Rotary International (South Pacific & Philippines) Office in Norwest, Sydney.
Winners will be notified by email, and their double passes will be mailed directly to them.
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.
