The Gateway Newsletter
Edition #3
26th July 2026
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
 
This week saw the first of our Thursday meetings in the DARTS room at the Dandenong Club, and what a great one it was!
Thank you to each and every one of you who attended the meeting.
It was wonderful to host our RYLA Leaders/Rotaractors at our club meeting.
 
Elizabeth, (sponsored by our club), shared a positive, insightful presentation about her time as a RYLA Leader at Phillip Island.
She expressed sincere thanks to our club for sponsoring her involvement in this transformative, skill-building and team-focused week.
Sponsoring, and working with young Leaders is something we will continue throughout this Rotary year.
 
The Youth programs we will be supporting this year are:
RYLA, RYDA, MUNA, RYPEN and the
4-Way Test Speech Competition.
 
For further information, please check out:
Youth programs by clicking this link:
 
INTERACT is also another of our important Youth Programs.
On Monday we have our regular meeting at 1.20pm (school lunchtime), then on Tuesday we will be visiting a local Aged Care Facility.
 
Yours in Rotary,
Leanne
The first of our Thursday night meetings.
A very enjoyable evening with our
Rotarians & Rotaractors.
A presentation by our sponsored RYLA Leader
Elizabeth
Our Certificate which was presented by Matthew Gibney Rotaract Club of Whitehorse
Rotary Youth Driver Awareness - RYDA
Our club volunteers will be supporting this event on Tuesday 28th July
An very interesting fact:
 
Since August 2020, Rotary members and our supporters have created more than 4,000 fundraising events to celebrate birthdays, athletic challenges, and other occasions.
These fundraisers have generated over US$3.5 million for the PolioPlus Fund, World Fund, Disaster Response Fund and areas of focus.
 
Our Board of Directors is proud to approve this donation, which has been acknowledged by the Foundation as one of five Clubs who will receive District match funding of another US$1,000.
With the multiple of the Gates Foundation matching our US$1,000 it is actually worth US$6,000.
 
This results in approximately 2,000 children being vaccinated with Polio drops.
 
A very worthy donation, resulting in an enormous IMPACT.
Our Club Board has approved another impactful donation of $5,000.
This donation was made during NAIDOC week and will provide an Australian Rotary Health Indigenous Scholarship. 
 
The Purpose is to help study-related costs for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in an approved tertiary health course at an Australian University or higher education institution.
 
To learn more about this, be sure to attend our AUGUST 3rd meeting, at which
the Director of Australian Rotary Health, and Past District Governor Paul Mee
will be our Guest Speaker.
Our Club has been invited by RC Berwick to join them at this event.
It's a great way to participate in an Environmental Project and to meet Rotarians and Rotaractors from other clubs.
I encourage all members to attend this event.
Book Into a Meeting
RYDA - Rotary Youth Driver Awarenes
Jul 28, 2026
9:15 AM – 2:30 PM
Cornerstone Meal Service
Jul 30, 2026
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
BOARD MEETING
Aug 03, 2026
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Guest Speaker: PDG Paul Mee - ARH Director
Aug 06, 2026
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Club Meeting
Aug 13, 2026
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
MUNA - Model United Nations Assembly
Aug 15, 2026
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
TBC: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Presentation
Aug 20, 2026
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
TREE PLANTING with RC Berwick
Aug 30, 2026
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Brian Ashworth
July 3
 
Anthony Brown
July 6
 
Lynn Tam
July 11
 
Colin Byron
July 18
 
Anne Diez
July 22
 
Spouse/Partner Birthdays
Colin Byron
July 18
 
Anniversaries
Graeme Coates
Marlene Coates
July 31
 
Join Date
Graeme Coates
July 1, 1972
54 years
 
Paul Morris
July 1, 1991
35 years
 
Terry Valentine
July 1, 2002
24 years
 
Joe Iellamo
July 9, 2002
24 years
 
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Executive Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Rotary Foundation
 
Community Service
 
International Service
 
Youth Service
 
Public Relations
 
Club Protection Officer
 
Secretary
 
Satellite Co-Chair
 
Satellite Co-Chair
 
On to Conference
 
Club Young Leaders Contact
 
Club Foundation Chair
 
Club Service Projects Chair
 
Club Information
Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills
Thursdays at 6:30 PM
Dandenong Club
1579 Heatherton Road
Dandenong North, VIC 3175
Australia
Our Club meetings are held on the first THREE Thursdays of each month at the Dandenong Club. Cornerstone Contact Centre Meal Service on the 5th Thursday when applicable. Social night dates TO BE ADVISED
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District Site
Venue Map
Venue Map
REMINDER to ALL MEMBERS: 
 Thursday 30th June is our Cornerstone Meal Service.
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED - PLEASE REGISTER on CLUB RUNNER events.
We will be serving Pizzas once again, followed by dessert.