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.
with 12 Geelong-based Coles’ supermarkets and Geelong Rotary clubs, to provide essential supplies for some of thecommunity’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.
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.
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.
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
Human dynamo, Lucy Koszela was recognised by the club as a Paul Harris Fellow.
The recognition was given to Lucy, a non-member of Rotary for her decades of work with the Lithuanian community in Geelong,
volunteer work with the Fight Cancer Foundation Recycle Shop and numerous individuals in need throughout Geelong.
The recognition was made at the club’s Changeover Dinner.
The recognition was given to Lucy, a non-member of Rotary for her decades of work with the Lithuanian community in Geelong,
volunteer work with the Fight Cancer Foundation Recycle Shop and numerous individuals in need throughout Geelong.
The recognition was made at the club’s Changeover Dinner.
Her service includes:
Geelong Lithuanian Sports Club VYTIS
- Lucy played basketball with the Lithuanian Basketball teams in the
1970’s and 80’s and was responsible for helping to get the club established
and continuing to this day - Joined the Basketball Committee in the early 1980’s
- Actively involved in organising a sports carnival in which
Lithuanian sports clubs from around Australia took place (Geelong was the host city) - Served as Club President
- Served as Club Secretary
- Active in other roles over many years
Australian Lithuanian Sports Federation
- Lucy was recognised in the national organisation for her work representing Lithuanian sports in Australia
and was made a Life Member
Geelong Lithuanian Community
The Community organisation covers a range of functions and oversees a number of different groups within the Community.
These include:
These include:
- Care of elderly citizens
- Scout troop
- Lithuanian Dance Group
- Social activities
Lucy has been involved in all these areas since their formation.
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.
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 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.
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
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
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.
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
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 27th 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
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, teamed up with the St. Albans Football & Netball club to raise funds for the education of children 
undergoing cancer treatment.
undergoing cancer treatment.Footy Colours is an annual fundraiser for The Fight Cancer Foundation,
This year, both clubs joined together to raise funds so that children undergoing cancer treatment or rehabilitation, can continue their education. The average child treated for cancer, loses six months of schooling, putting them behind their peers. The Fight Cancer Foundation fund ongoing education at this time, to ensure no child is left behind.
Through a range of activities, culminating in a Dinner with the CEO of the Gold Coast Suns, Mark Evans, just over $2,000.00 was raised.
Rotary working with other community organisations
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.
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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 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 27th 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 and Jenny Acopian
Dr. Madhu Singh, Operations Manager Radiotherapy, Shane Barsier
and Rotarians Laurent Franklin and Jenny Acopian
The Rotary Club of Geelong East – Recognising those who Serve our Community
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.
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
nt Death Syndrome (SIDS).
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
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Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta joined the Rotary delegation to the 26th United Nations climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on 10 November to explore ways Rotary can work on environmental challenges.
Youth Exchange students often say their experience abroad was the best time of their lives. Being part of the program can be life-changing for Rotary members as well
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Service Above Self
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