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 the icon to follow:
President's Message
Dear Members,
As the Melbourne Cup approaches, I hope each of you enjoys the festivities and maybe even backs a winner.
Some 30 years ago, on my birthday — 4th November — my employees bought me a Tatts Melbourne Cup sweep ticket. I was lucky enough to draw a horse actually racing that year, giving me a 1 in 24 chance of winning a million dollars! As luck would have it, my horse finished 23rd… so no happy ending, but perhaps this year you’ll have better luck!
Volunteers Needed: Lawn Mowing at Brand New Day
We’re looking for volunteers to help out with lawn mowing on Saturday, 9th November, starting at 9:00 am. If you can spare about an hour, please let me know! Your help is much appreciated.
Regards, John Peck
President of the Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills
Last Week's Meeting
29th October 2024
Club Meeting
Special Presentation, SoapAid Australia
At our Club Meeting on Tuesday, we had the pleasure of welcoming Sarah and Carol from SoapAidfor a special presentation. They shared insights into SoapAid’s mission and the transformative impact their work has on communities in need. By collecting and recycling hotel soap, SoapAid prevents waste while providing essential hygiene resources to vulnerable populations worldwide. Their dedication to improving health outcomes through hygiene was both inspiring and motivating, sparking new ideas for how our club can support this impactful initiative.
We extend our thanks to Hans Van Dyk for providing this photo:
From Waste to Wellness: How SoapAid is Changing Lives
In our ongoing mission to support health and hygiene across communities in need, Rotary is proud to spotlight SoapAid, a life-saving initiative that aligns with Rotary’s commitment to making a difference. Millions of hotel soap bars are discarded globally each year, contributing to significant waste and missed opportunities to improve hygiene in underprivileged areas. SoapAid intercepts this cycle, recycling and redistributing soap to those who need it most.
SoapAid’s simple yet powerful concept is driven by a commitment to saving lives. By collecting discarded soap from hotels, cleaning it, and reprocessing it, SoapAid transforms what would have been waste into a tool for promoting good health. The organisation provides soap and hygiene education to communities across the globe, where access to basic hygiene supplies is limited and where the lack of these essentials often leads to preventable illnesses, particularly in children.
Since its inception, SoapAid has delivered millions of bars of soap to vulnerable communities worldwide, and Rotary clubs around Australia have partnered to support this mission.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting will be held on 26th November at the Dandenong Club.
We are now calling for nominations for the following vacant positions on the 2025/2026 Rotary Board:
President-Elect
Secretary
Treasurer
Vocational Services Director
Community Service Director
International Service Director
As per our Club constitution, nominations must:
Be submitted in writing, signed by two members of the Club, and accompanied by the candidate's written consent (this may be endorsed on the nomination form).
Be delivered to the Secretary of the Club no later than 7 days prior to the 26th of November.
This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the future direction of our Club. We encourage members to consider nominating!
Support Community Projects Enter the Thermomix Raffle
The Rotary Club of Casey is running an exciting fundraiser, and they would love your support!
They’re holding a raffle for a Thermomix—a highly sought-after kitchen appliance valued at $3,000 that could transform the way you cook and eat. With only 200 tickets available, you’ll want to act fast!
All profits from this raffle will be directed towards community projects.
If you’re interested, please click the link above to purchase a ticket and join in supporting this fantastic cause!
ClubRunner Training Sessions
Have you ever thought, "I wish I could better use ClubRunner to make both my job, and entering my club details so much easier, but I am not sure who is able to run this training?" Well, you are in luck as we have training at all levels that will enable you to discover how easy, ClubRunner can be for you to use.
We have three classes planned.
You may attend more than one class!!
Each class goes for one hour only.
Date: Saturday 9th November 2024
Time: 9.00am Beginners Class (for those that have rarely or never used CR)
10.15am Intermediate Class (for those that have a basic knowledge, but would like to improve their skills)
11.30am Advanced Class (for those that have a good working knowledge and learn even more about it)
How will the courses be run?
All courses will be run via Zoom in the comfort of your own home. So, you can simply hop online as there is no restriction if you would like to join more than one course. All you need to do is to click on the Zoom link supplied.
What if I have other questions following this training?
You can simply contact Omar via email or one of our own District team members, Peter Dalwood RC Boronia pedalwood@gmail.com who can assist you.
Zoom Class Details
Topic: D9815 - Beginner ClubRunner Training | District version for Club Members and Executives
Time: Nov 9, 2024 09:00 AM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Beginner ClubRunner Training on the District version for Club Members and Executives
How to login to the District
Where to find and download the ClubRunner Mobile App
How to get access to manage my club’s information and membership
How to update my club’s information
How to update my Executives
How to add and terminate members
Where to view the RI Integration Settings
Finding self-help ClubRunner Resources
How to reach out to ClubRunner for Support
Intermediate ClubRunner Training on Club version for Club Members and Executives
How to find and login to my club’s website
What kinds of club access levels are there in ClubRunner
Exploring features in club version to;
Create Cloud Events for the website with online registration
Setting up Donation Campaigns to receive donations from the public website
Sending emails and newsletters to my members
Finding self-help ClubRunner Resources
How to reach out to ClubRunner for Support
Advanced ClubRunner Training on Club version for Administrators, Website Designers, and Public Image Chairs
How to design the club’s home page and navigation menu
Commonly used widgets for the home page and custom pages
Creating custom pages with embedded content, like videos and forms
Adding website sponsors and displaying the sponsors on the website
Setting up Google Analytics in ClubRunner
Finding self-help ClubRunner Resources
How to reach out to ClubRunner for Support
DISTRICT EVENTS
Invitation to District 9815-3 Rotary Club of Casey Monday, 18th November
We are very pleased to have accepted an invitation from Harpreet Kandra Singh (Cardinia Citizen of the Year in 2019) on behalf of the Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Darbar Officer (Sikh Temple Officer) to join them on the evening of Monday, 18th November 2024.
The meeting will commence at 6:00 pm and will be an interactive session followed by a complimentary vegetarian meal.
This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the sustainable projects undertaken by the Gurdwara and gain insights into the significant community work being carried out.
Harpreet has shared some background information on their community efforts, which will guide our discussions for the evening. You can explore more about their activities here.
The Gurdwara can accommodate a maximum of 50 people, so please RSVP as soon as possible.
No alcohol or tobacco is permitted on the premises.
Kindly cover your head and remove your shoes when inside the Temple.
We look forward to this enriching experience!
Inaugural District 9815 Conference 8 - 30 March 2025
The Inaugural District 9815 Conference will be held in Bendigo from 28 to 30 March 2025. Partners, family, friends, potential members, supporters, and alumni are welcome.
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.
We look forward to collaborating and celebrating with you in Bendigo.
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 lock downs, 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.
Got a good photo? Submit up to five entries of club projects, activities, or subjects of general interest to the 2025 Rotary magazine photo awards.
ROTARY HEALTH
Dirt 'N' Dust Run is a thrilling 5-day road adventure through some of Western Australia’s dustiest tracks, organised by Greater Bunbury Rotary to raise funds for vital health charities, including Australian Rotary Health.
70 enthusiastic drivers participated in this year's event, which took place from Wednesday, 16 October to Sunday 20 October, raising over $120,000, supporting research and education across Australia and empowering communities to take proactive steps in addressing mental health challenges.
Dirt 'N' Dust Run is continuing to take donations - if you would like to participate, please click here
Lift the Lid Fundraisers
Rotary Club of Altona City Raises Over $1,000 for Mental Health Research
On Tuesday, 1 October, the Rotary Club of Altona City, VIC, hosted a fantastic Hat Day campaign at Kooringal Golf Club, featuring a bright and creative hat display by members. The event raised over $1,000 to support research into mental health disorders, making a meaningful contribution to this important cause. Altona City's vibrant efforts brought both awareness and essential funding to mental health initiatives—an inspiring example of community support in action.
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.
much appreciated.
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 lock downs, 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).
$1,000 for Mental Health Research
