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Rotary Celebrates International Women's Day

Rotary values the contribution that female members make and the difference that they bring to Rotary. Members also focus on the needs of women in developing nations (and here in Australia) who have particular needs. Educating young females is an important focus of clubs.

This year, 2022 / 2023 we celebrate the first woman President of Rotary International, Jennifer Jones of Canada.

Rotary valuing the contribution and leadership of women in the organisation, in business and in communities

Rotary's March Theme

We know how important safe drinking water is to all life. Many don't have access to safe water and Rotary provides support in the form of drilling wells, providing water filters and in short term situations, safe drinking straws that filter the water that is available.

Covid has taught many of us of the importance of sanitation and hygiene. Again, there are many in this world who do not have access and in some cases the education to understand the importance of these things. Rotary provides education and supporting infrastructure to help communities with sanitation and hygiene.

Rotary - Making the World a Safer Place

Rotary Turns 118 - Still going strong!!

This amazing organisation has been active since 1905. A very few of the many projects Rotary is and has been involved in include:

Eradication of Polio (only 2 endemic countries remaining)
Training Peace Scholars
Supplying shelter, food and essential items to victims of natural disasters
Providing clean drinking water (via wells) to millions
Assisting withe the formation of the United Nations, including the Declaration of Human Rights

There are 1.4 million Rotarians, 36,697 Rotary clubs around the world together with Rotaract and Interact clubs.The organisation's vision is:

Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves."

Rotary - Making a Difference in the World and a World of Difference!

Peacebuilding & Conflict Prevention Month

2024 Rotary Peace Fellowship application is now available. Candidates have until 15 May to submit applications to The Rotary Foundation.

More than 1,600 peace fellows have trained at Rotary Peace Centers since 2002 and are working in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and development roles in more than 140 countries.

Please ensure you check the eligibility requirements before applying. For general enquiries, please contact rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org.

Rotary – Working for Peace 365 Days of the Year

Rotary & Lions Working Together

The Rotary Club of Geelong East and the Lions Club of Geelong, worked together at the recent Truck & Vintage Machinery Show to raise funds.

The clubs provided food for the hungry hordes. Operating out of the Lions Club stand, members to cook hamburgers, egg and bacon rolls, chips and serve soft drinks etc.

Members of both clubs indicated that they enjoyed working together. Each club will share the takings and put the funds to their various community projects.

Rotary & Lions - Working Together for the Community

Bill Gates, Rotary & Polio Eradication

"No update on polio would be complete without a big thank-you to Rotary International. They were part of this effort long before the Gates Foundation was. Since we became partners on eradication, we’ve jointly raised $1.8 billion for this work, and there’s more to come. Rotarians also lead massive vaccination campaigns to reach children all over the world. Sometime in the next few years, when polio is finally eradicated, my first phone call will be to thank and congratulate the team at Rotary International."

Bill Gates

Rotary - working with others to eradicate Polio

Graduates - Rotary Junior Community Service Award

The Rotary Club of Geelong East has conducted the Rotary Junior Community Service Award at a number of Primary Schools for about five years. The East Geelong Primary School has been the most consistent and has promoted it to eligible students.

Mr. Bloink, Grade Six teacher has strongly encouraged students to take up the program. He has great plans for next year already in play.

The students have to demonstrate that they have carried out the following tasks to be able to receive the award.

Community Service
Skill Development
Physical Recreation
Social Experience

Past President of The Rotary Club of Geelong East, Jenny Acopian, has been the driver of the program from the club's point of view. Below, Jenny is pictured with the 2022 Graduates of the program.

Rotary - Creating Future Community Leaders

Consider Joining Rotary

Rotary is the largest Service organisation in the world. Not only do you join a local club working in the local community, but you join a
World-Wide group of like minded people. There are opportunities to use your skills and knowledge to help other communities to grow stronger and more peaceful and thus, make a real impact in Peacebuilding.

Rotary Club of Geelong East is welcoming New Members Now - enquire today - 0414 324 814

Further Funding to End Polio

Building a Bird & Animal Corridor

Nine members of The Rotary Club of Geelong East and friends worked for two hours and planted 447 trees. The trees will eventually join up with a Bird and Animal Corridor to provide safe haven for breeding, nesting, food and other needs.

This undertaking from a Rotary perspective is part of the club's Environment & Sustainability Interest Group. Over the last twenty years, members have planted close to 10,000 trees.

The group included family members, two women from Bunnings and one from Landcare and the property owner. Below are a couple of photos of the group.

Rotarians - environmentalists

World Peace Day 21st September

Rotary joins with its Partner organisation, the United Nations and all who value peace throughout the world, to celebrate World Peace Day on 21 September.

Rotary is a leading organisation in the promotion of peace through education and practical solutions. Over 1,500 Rotary Peace Scholars have been trained and now work with governments, non-profits and other organisations with a view to making our world a more peaceful place. There has possibly never been a more important time to focus on peace than now.

Think about how you can make the world a more peaceful place.

For International Day of Peace 2022, the theme is 'End Racism. Build Peace'. The United Nations state that this is a date dedicated to strengthening the ideals of peace through a non-violent period of a 24-hour cease-fire. The United Nations also wants to address hate speech and violence directed at racial minorities.

Rotary working toward a Peaceful World

Lids for Kids

LIDS, LIDS AND MORE LIDS

The reduction of plastic waste and the recycling of lids to make useful products, such as prosthetics, is a project of our Rotary Club.

A major source of lids is a large donation bin at GENU’s Eastern Hub that keeps on giving as the attached photos show. The range of colours, sizes and shapes is extraordinary and sorting into categories is an essential part of the process.

The other key source of lids is from Rotarians themselves and their families.

In addition, members of the Rotary Club of Geelong East collect batteries, medicine blister packs, pens and bread tags. Members are educated about the soft plastics taken by Coles and Woolworths, and a range of items taken by Office Works.

Change Over Dinner

Tuesday 5th July, 2022 saw the changeover from one club President to another. President Graham Thomson completed his twelve months at the helm of the Rotary Club of Geelong East. Following a series of recognitions and awards, Graham handed over the responsibility for leading the club for the next year to Gary Newton.

Graham was recognised for his service to the Club. Paul Harris Fellow recognitions were presented to John Birrell and Adrian Innes for their extensive service over 20 and 30 years respectively. Graham Thomson was also recognised for both his service and in particular taking on the Presidency for a second time.

Ros Thornton was inducted as an Honorary Member.

Sam Hayward, Club Secretary, was awarded the prestigious Bill Pratt Award. This is presented to a member who has been in the club for less than five years and made a significant contribution to Rotary.

Greg Champion of the Coodabeen Champions entertained the members much to the delight of people.

The photo below depicts two happy Presidents - one completing his year, the other contemplating his. Graham Thomson (right) and Gary Newton (left). Photo courtesy of Pauline Stewart.

Rotary - Imagine

Imagine

We Need You!!!

Rotary is about helping others and improving our world. No matter what area your interest lies within, it is bound to be an area that Rotary is already working in. We serve local communities, international communities, people, the environment and peace. Think about it - then come and join us.

Use the contact button on this page and learn more about Rotary.

Rotary - Serving the World

Rotary International - Statement on Situation in Ukraine

It is a tragic and sad time for the people of Ukraine and the world.

At #Rotary, we are deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the escalating loss of life and humanitarian hardship there. Continued military action against #Ukraine will not only devastate the region, but also risk spreading tragic consequences across Europe and the world.

As one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations, we have made peace the cornerstone of our global mission. We join the international community in calling for an immediate cease fire, withdrawal of Russian forces, and a restoration of diplomatic efforts to resolve this conflict through dialogue.

In the past decade, Rotary clubs in Ukraine, #Russia and nearby countries have transcended national differences and have actively engaged in peace-building projects to promote goodwill and to marshal assistance for the victims of war and violence.

Today, our thoughts are with our fellow Rotary members and others in Ukraine coping with these tragic events. Rotary International will do everything in its power to bring aid, support and peace to the region.

Importance of the Barwon River Safety Markers

BCYF-COLES-ROTARY PARTNERSHIP

Barwon Child, Youth & Family (BCYF), a major community service provider in the Barwon region, has teamed up

with 12 Geelong-based Coles’ supermarkets and Geelong Rotary clubs, to provide essential supplies for some of the
community’s most vulnerable members.

Throughout July and August, Coles stores across the region are facilitating customer donations of food, toiletries and
other non-perishable items. The donations are being collected, sorted and packed by a team of around thirty Rotarians
and friends, and distributed to BCYF’s clients in need.

Food insecurity is a growing issue in the Geelong region, compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Demand for essential supplies has increased significantly over the past year across the wider Geelong region,
as it has across the country. The donated supplies are provided to some of our most vulnerable community members,
some of whom may not have access to any other food at any particular point in time. Every donation is greatly
appreciated – every item helps to relieve basic physical needs.

In the first eight weeks of the partnership, Rotarians have compiled over 500 food packages, cooking equipment,
pantry items, dozens of boxes of hygiene articles and around sixty parcels of baby items. These have been
distributed to clients of BCYF through its Youth Services, Family and Community Services, and Culturally
and Linguistically Diverse departments.

Rotary Club of Geelong East – Working in Partnerships

Rotary – Improving the Environment

Rotary clubs around the world have been working to improve the environment and sustainability for many years. Each club works on projects that meet the needs of their communities. Many worked on their projects through the Rotary initiated ‘Preserve Planet Earth’.

The Rotary Club of Geelong East has also been environmentally active. In this club’s case, it has focused on tree planting for different reasons.

The largest project undertaken by the club was in the planting of trees to create a wildlife corridor that ran between the You Yangs and

Brisbane Ranges. The idea was to create a sanctuary for birds and animals that allowed them to move with security through from Ballarat to Geelong.

A number of cold winters saw Rotarians (and one year Belmont Cubs and Scouts) planting trees at Limeburners Point. In this case the idea was to prevent erosion of soil. Most of the Limeburners planting was of grasses.

A number of plantings have been done at three different sites along Hovell’s Creek and the last three years, the club has focused on Eumeralla Scout Camp. At the camp, trees are being planted increasing the bushland and preventing erosion of soil.

Rotarian Peter Funston who has managed these projects estimates that over 5,000 trees and many grasses have been planted over the years by the club.

The Rotary Club of Geelong East - Preserving the Environment

Rotary - Serving Youth

Rotary clubs around the world support youth in various ways. Perhaps the best known publicly, is Rotary Youth Exchan

ge. Students go overseas and have twelve months experiencing another culture and educational system. Many make life long friendships, thus helping to build understanding between communities in different parts of the world.

Other Rotary programs for youth include Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Rotary Junior Community Awards, Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment as well as specific local club activities aimed at youth.

The Rotary Club of Geelong East has provided bursaries to students at Geelong High School and Newcomb Secondary College, iPads, books and shelving to Whittington Primary School, books for a new library for Newcomb Park Primary School, Trainee of the Year Awards and scholarships for apprentices at the Gordon TAFE, sponsorship for youth with disabilites through Blue Bird Foundation to learn to play music, write stories and create artworks.

The club has also sponsored a Rotaract Club and Interact Club.

Rotary - Providing Opportunities for Youth to Grow and Develop

New Environmental Focus for Rotary

Since 2013, Rotary has had six Areas of Focus.

Peace and conflict prevention/resolution.
Disease prevention and treatment.
Water and sanitation.
Maternal and child health.
Basic education and literacy.
Economic and community development.

These allow clubs to tailor their work to fit within these areas in order to bring about a better world.

In June, Rotary International announced a seventh Area of Focus – Supporting the Environment. This new area is actually not new to Rotary, it has just been recognised as an Area of Focus for the first time. For many years, Rotarians and their clubs all around the world, have been active in environmental work.

Now when clubs consider projects to create or support, they consider whether they fall within the 7 Areas of Focus.

Rotarians – People of Action

Junior Footys Great Supporter

Over the past few years, the Newcomb Power Football Club has introduced award winning junior programs which work with loc

al schools. Record levels of participation and a growing number of teams has meant Building better facilities for players, coaches, volunteers and fans with a view to encouraging more locals.

The primary foci of the programs are to engage young people who would not have the opportunity (usually financially) to take part in football and to get children into healthy activities. Both boys and girls take part in the programs. The programs have been so successful, that the club is now considering using the model on their Netball program.

This will give the club the space they need to grow, store equipment and provide greater

flexibility to train and win avid junior FC players, Newcomb Power Netball Club

and Newcomb Cricket Club.

The Community Service Committee of The Geelong East saw the need and worked with Newcomb to provide financial support. The Rotary club has been a major sponsor providing the club with a $6000 district grant. Newcomb FC has also played an integral part in supporting our main events like the Geelong Show BBQ, Bunnings Sausage Sizzles and for this received a further $1500 and $200.

The Rotary Club of Geelong East – Sporting Partners

Andrew Love Cancer Centre – The Best

The staff and volunteers at the Andrew Love Cancer Centre, have every reason to be proud of the work they do and the standards they set.

This was what led to three Rotarians who had all had experience with

either Chemotherapy or Radiology at the Andrew Love Cancer Centre to nominate the centre for the Pride & Professionalism Award. The annual award is an has been until now, presented to an individual. In discussing the nomination, all nominators agreed that they could not separate individuals from the overall professionalism of those they came into contact with. Hence, the award was presented to all management, staff and volunteers within the Andrew Love Cancer Centre.

The award was presented at a small gathering on Thursday 27^th June at the centre. All groups and professions were represented on the day.

Pictured are (left to right): Rotarian Stan Deans, Medical Oncologist
Dr. Madhu Singh, Operations Manager Radiotherapy, Shane Barsier
and Rotarians Laurent Franklin & Jenny Acopian

The Rotary Club of Geelong East – Recognising those who Serve our Community

The Rotary Club of Geelong East donated $1,500.00 to the Mark West Foundation during the senior game of football at St. Albans ground.

The funds will be used to assist disadvantaged children from missing out on the opportunity to play football. In the 2019 season, there are sponsored children playing at 25 Geelong clubs, due to the assistance of the Mark West Foundation.

The Mark West Foundation was established following the tragic death on the football field of Mark West at the age of 19. Mark had played football at all levels of club football and began coaching at the age of 17. A very talented footballer and someone who believed that he had to give back to the game, for the enjoyment he gained from it.

The Foundation has two Mission Statements:

To ensure no child in the greater Geelong region misses out on being able to play Australian Rules football due to financial reasons.

To strengthen the legacy of Mark West who set an amazing example of how to make a difference to those around him through participation, community involvement and striving to be the best you can be.

Details on the Mark West Foundation can be found at the website: http://www.tmwf.org.au/the-foundation

The Rotary Club of Geelong East – Connecting with Other Community Organisations

The Rotary Club Geelong East, together with the City of Greater Geelong and the Corangamite Catchment Authority, launched the Barwon River Safety Markers.

This six year start-to-finish project was the brainchild of Rotarian Keith Dawson of Rotary Geelong East. The idea of the project was to TRANSFORM and make SAFER the activities areas along both sides of the Barwon River. Safer for Walkers, Runners, Riders, Tourists and Families.

A total of 46 double sided Location Marker signs were installed along the Barwon River on both sides. Along approxi

mately 10 kilometres of river on both sides stretching from the Breakwater to the Ring Road.

The two most important pieces of information during a Triple Zero call is the nature of the emergency and its location. When an incident occurs at a specific street address, it is generally easy for emergency services to find the caller. However, if it takes place in large open-spaces, walking trails or beaches where no obvious reference points exist, it takes extra, valuable, life saving time to identify and verify the specific location and vehicle access point.

Another Community Service of The Rotary Club of Geelong East

River’s Gift and Sailability were the recipients of a combined $15,000.00 from the most recent Rotary Club of Geelong East Dinner Auction.

River's Gift is the largest source of funding for laboratory-based SIDS research in Australia. To date, River's Gift has generated over $1 million to save babies lives, by funding scientific research, delivering Safe Sleep Education and raising awareness of Sudden Infa Master Logo - Navy RG-Sky tagline-Sky he

nt Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Sailability is a “not for profit” organisation, volunteer-based, and through the activity of Sailing enriches the lives of people of all abilities – the elderly, the financially and socially disadvantaged as well as people with physical challenges.

The Dinner Auction attracted 150 Guests and was MC’d by media personality and Rotarian, Gary Newton and the auction was conducted by Joe Grgic.

Dozens of local businesses supported the auction by donating goods and services to be auctioned on the night and the club thanks them. The club’s Dinner Auctions are held every two years.

Rotarians working in the Community

The Rotary Club of Geelong East hosted ten Canadians visiting our District. Four couples and two single women travelled from Canada to Australia on a Rotary Friendship Exchange. Ten Australians will go to Canada in August on the return leg of the Exchange.

The visitors were home hosted by local Rotarians both on their way into the District and again on their departure. In Geelong they toured the Bollards, Narana, National Wool Museum, did a tour of Corio Bay, Anglesea Golf Club, attended an AFLW match at GMHBA Stadium, toured Queenscliffe and a Picnic in the (Eastern) Park.

They spent time in Portland, Warnambool, Grampians, Port Fairy and Drysdale.

The feedback from all, was that they thoroughly enjoyed their 14 days in the area.

The Rotary Friendship Exchange allows small groups of Rotarians to go to other countries and meet with locals and experience the culture and so see local sites of interest and animals. A component of the Friendship Exchanges is creating greater understanding and friendships between people of the world.

Rotary Friendship - Worldwide

It is with great excitement that we announce Melbourne as the host city for the 2023 Rotary International Convention, the largest conference secured this century for Victoria.

Melbourne is a Big Events City! Set to deliver over $88 million to the Victorian economy, the Convention is the most valuable conference ever won for the state, with the four-day event anticipated to attract more than 20,000 Rotarians from around the world. The global spotlight will be on Melbourne and how we present ourselves to the world.

The Convention will take place 27-31 May 2023 using superb venues; Rod Laver Arena and the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. All activities and events are within the Heart and Soul of Melbourne. Over 7000 hotel rooms over 50 properties across Melbourne. Our transport plan uses our famous trams, ferries and buses to quickly and easily move delegates between venues, hotels, event and restaurants. And of course, Melbourne is a very walkable city with many interesting routes and laneways to tantalise visitors.

In addition, the Victorian visitor economy will be bolstered with expenditure from thousands of visiting Rotarians utilising transport, hospitality, entertainment, venues, attractions, tourism services, event planning, freight customs broker services, technology rental, security and various other members of the local business event and tourism supply chain, as well as the flow on benefits across regional Victoria for pre and post touring. Rotary has a business heritage as well as community service. We are proud to make an impact on local business and create jobs.

Rotarians Supporting Victoria

Rotary world-wide, is dedicated to making the world a better place for all.

Through its 32,000 clubs, the organisation and its 1.2 million members work in their local communities, internationally, through youth and professions to do those things that will lead to a more peaceful world.

The illustration below shows Rotary’s Six Areas of Focus. Working to improve five, will help the world move toward the sixth, Peace.

Rotarians - People of Action

You asked. Gordon McInally answered.

Responding to questions from Rotary members, our president-elect says he plans to lead with caring as his core value.

A debt to the dead

Chris Kolenda’s 1,700-mile Fallen Hero Honor Ride saluted six men who died in combat — and celebrated everything their lives embodied.

Fire extinguishers

Cataclysmic seasonal fires — overall made more destructive and more frequent by climate change — have struck in Australia and the western United States, prompting action from local Rotary clubs.

A platform to raise their voices

The Rotary Club of Madras Elite in India is comprised of transgender members dedicated to serving the needs of their community.

Links

Rotary A World of Opportunities

RI Blog

RCGE's Facebook page

The Rotary Club of Geelong East Inc.

Service Above Self

We meet In Person

Tuesdays at 6:00 PM

Newcomb Power Football & Netball Club Rooms

141 Coppards Road,
Moolap, VIC 3219
Australia

Phone:

0414 324 814

Email:

RCGE.Enquiries@gmail.com

Tuesdays at 6:00 pm for 6:30pm start

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