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
Thanks to everyone who joined Tuesday night’s meeting. We had a productive discussion on the club survey results. There’s no doubt we have areas to improve, but what stood out was the enthusiasm to roll up sleeves and get involved. A dedicated workshop in October will give us the chance to dive deeper into the feedback, and in the meantime, we have a terrific line-up of guest speakers and events.
📊 Club Survey Access
For those who’d like to review the survey results, you can access the link here.
🎭 Two Truths and a Lie We also had some laughs with Alan Roberts’ “Two Truths and a Lie”:
🌾 Champion young farmer in Grade 6
🏉 Football captain at Drouin Primary
❄️ Overnight snow trek gone wrong, ending up with four people crammed into a two-man tent
The fib? The football captaincy!
👉 And keeping the fun rolling… Peter Faulkner is up next for “Two Truths and a Lie” at our 9 September meeting.
📦 Fun Fact – Aussie Bush Survival!
Aussie bush camping: where wombats steal your snacks, possums raid your tent, drop bears lurk, and kookaburras critique your cooking!
📰 Community Update
Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed – Father’s Day Event
On Thursday, the Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed hosted a special gift-making workshop at Bunnings Dandenong for Father’s Day. Kids rolled up their sleeves to create handmade presents, and no doubt plenty of dads will be delighted to receive a unique gift crafted with love.
📸 See the photos from our Bunnings event in this bulletin – great effort by everyone involved!
💙 Member Shout-Out
A big Happy Father’s Day this Sunday to all the dads in our club. Thank you for everything you do — in your families, in our community, and in Rotary.
🗓 Recent & Upcoming Events
📌 Saturday 30 August – Disaster Aid Australia Board Meeting (Past Event)
I attended my first Disaster Aid Australia Board Meeting and was impressed by the professionalism and impact of their work.
📦 Did You Know? – Disaster Aid Australia
Disaster Aid Australia provides humanitarian aid after major disasters like typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. They work closely with communities to deliver the help they need.
Their Safe Water for Every Child program helps communities affected by unsafe drinking water by:
Providing SkyHydrant MAX filters delivering thousands of litres of safe water daily for years
📌 Friday 5 September – Wheelathon for Kids at Lyndale High 🚴♂️🍔
We’ll be firing up the BBQ to support the Wheelathon for Kids at Lyndale High.
📦 Member Shout-Out
A big round of applause for our Interact Club students who designed the flyers, planned the activities, and made this fundraiser possible. Let’s back them all the way!
📌 Tuesday 9 September – Double Feature Night 🎤🎭 🎤 Guest Speaker: Alex Williams – “Marathon des Sables: A Type 1 Diabetes Adventure”
Alex will share his story of running 250 km across the Sahara Desert while managing Type 1 Diabetes.
🎭 Two Truths and a Lie: Peter Faulkner takes the stage!
Test your detective skills and see if you can spot Peter’s fib.
📌 Tuesday 16 September – Crime & Scam Prevention 👮♂️💻
👮 Victoria Police Officer Brett Owen will share insights into local crime trends, scams, and how to stay safe.
📦 Top Tip
If an online deal looks too good to be true… it usually is! Always verify links and never share personal details with unsolicited callers.
📅 Planning Ahead – October & November
🟢 Wednesday 17 September – Board Meeting #3 ✅
October – Mental Health & Polio Awareness
🎩 Lift the Lid Night – around 7 October
🚶♂️ World Polio Day Fundraiser – around 21 October
November – Rotary Foundation Month
🌍 Foundation Night – early November
📦 Impact Reminder
Every contribution helps:
US$100/year – Every Rotarian Every Year
US$1,000/year – Paul Harris Society
Goal: Level 1 Annual Donor Award (US$100 per member)
Let’s keep the momentum going with fellowship, service, and a touch of Rotary fun along the way.
Join us for a powerful presentation that follows Alex Williams, an Australian adventurer diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 17, as he takes on the legendary Marathon des Sables — a 250 km ultra-marathon across the scorching Sahara Desert.
Tuesday, 16th September Police Presentation on Crime and Scam Prevention
We’re pleased to announce that we’ll be joined by Victoria Police Officer Brett Owen, who will deliver an important and informative presentation on Crime and Scam Prevention.
Plans for our 90th Centenary Celebration are well underway! We’re thrilled to announce that the Dandenong Club is booked. With special guests, great entertainment, and plenty of surprises in store, it promises to be an unforgettable evening. Save the date and celebrate this milestone in style!
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.
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
Are you valued?
Do you add value?
Should you ever be part of an organisation that does not value you?
These questions invite us to pause and reflect. Rotary thrives because every member brings unique strengths, ideas, and passion. When we feel valued, we grow — and when we give value, we help others grow. Together, this creates the strong and supportive community that makes Rotary so special.
Invitation to
Hobart District Conference Presentation 02 October 2025
We are excited to announce that DG Peter Behm and Conference Chair Monique Smith will be joining us to give a special presentation on the Hobart District Conference, taking place in March 2026!
Your Club is warmly invited to attend and hear first-hand about the exciting events and opportunities planned for this landmark Conference. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and start planning for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.
📍 Venue: Keysborough Golf Club, 55 Hutton Rd, Keysborough
⏰ Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
🍽 Dinner: Two-course meal $30 per person (drinks at bar prices)
Come along, bring your Club members, and be part of the excitement—this is a presentation you won’t want to miss!
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
WORLD POLIO DAY
24 October 2025 - Movie Fundraiser
In recent years, the Polio Movie Event has been incredibly successful in attracting audiences to your film screenings to raise funds for Rotary’s number one priority, Ending Polio. This year, we have secured an exciting new Australian movie release for this year’s Movie Event. Our partner SONY PICTURES is making this major release available for your special events and exciting social gatherings - a great opportunity for Rotary members and people in our communities to have some fun together!
THE TRAVELLERS - available for closed group bookings from 2 October - 30 October 2025 (1 week pre-release + 3 weeks in season)!
The Travellers is a poignant, funny and heartwarming family story from acclaimed filmmaker Bruce Beresford.
Stephen Seary, a charismatic and successful stage designer, returns to his small hometown in Australia to say goodbye to his dying mother. What was to be a quick trip descends into chaos, drama, and at times downright funny moments as Stephen navigates family responsibilities, a difficult relationship with his father, old friends & past lovers, all while trying to return to Europe for a major opera contract. Written and directed by Bruce Beresford Starring Luke Bracey, Bryan Brown, and Susie Porter with Shubshri Kandiah, Celia Massingham, and Nicholas Hammond.
Each September, Rotary shines a spotlight on one of our core areas of focus: Basic Education and Literacy. Across the world, more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate, and an estimated 250 million children lack basic reading and writing skills. These challenges affect more than education alone—they influence health, employment, and the ability to break the cycle of poverty.
Rotary clubs everywhere are working to change this story. From building schools and supplying books, to training teachers and mentoring students, our network helps to open doors to knowledge and opportunity. Literacy is more than just learning to read and write; it is a pathway to dignity, empowerment, and lasting change in communities.
Here at Rotary, we are encouraged to reflect on how we can contribute—locally and globally. Whether it’s supporting school programs, encouraging a love of reading at home, or partnering with organizations that provide educational resources, every effort helps strengthen the foundation for brighter futures.
This month, let us celebrate the gift of education and remember Rotary’s commitment to creating opportunities through learning. By investing in literacy, we invest in peace, prosperity, and a better tomorrow.
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.
reflect. Rotary thrives because every member brings unique strengths, ideas, and passion. When we feel valued, we grow — and when we give value, we help others grow. Together, this creates the strong and supportive community that makes Rotary so special.
