Welcome


President
Ian Bentley
 
A very warm welcome. 
Hawthorn Rotary has a long and proud history of active service to the local, national and international communities. We are friendly, diverse, vibrant and open to all who share the Rotary ideals of integrity and service.  
If you would like to attend one of our meetings or pursue membership, follow the links and make contact with us.
We would be delighted to meet you.

 

 
 
 
Meeting Speakers
Judy Carruthers
Jan 29, 2019
Let's Work Together, Celebrating Difference

 

 

Chair: Katrina Flinn

Stewart Kreltszheim, Expedition Coordinator
May 20, 2019
No Roads Health
View entire list...
 

News

Rotary Boroondara Christmas Luncheon
Posted by Gordon Cheyne
For the 12th year running, Di Gillies (RC Balwyn) and Noel Halford organised the Rotary Boroondara Christmas Luncheon for two hundred and ten socially isolated residents of the City of Boroondara. 
 
That involved overseeing the entertainment program, food preparation, gifts, transport of guests and the venue. Smoky Dawson (RC Ivanhoe) was Master of Ceremonies, and Rosaleen Falkiner (with some donations from Second Bite) arranged the food and cooking. Ian Macfarlane’s team of Richard Owen, David Rush and Sheridan Brown bussed the less mobile residents to Camberwell High School, who had provided the venue free of charge, and students to provide technical support.
 
Rotarians from several clubs, family and friends all joined in to ensure everyone had an enjoyable Christmas Lunch. Noel Halford particularly appreciated the assistance of  regular volunteers Alec Withy, Wayne and Helen Worledge,  Susie White, and the Australian Vietnamese Association (Boroondara Senior Group) headed by Hanh Tran, who prepared the food and gave a donation.
The production line in the kitchen was going full bore.
 
DG Bronwyn Stephens and President Ian Bentley were among the waiters
 
Marjorie Halford ensured everyone was served: what a great job the young waiters did!
 
Entertainment for everyone, and a special “Happy Birthday to you” for one guest.
 
Every guest received a present, and of course it wouldn’t be Rotary without a raffle (DG Bronwyn drew the tickets and Noel handed out the prizes)
 
Guests and volunteers all wanted a photo with Santa, who has slimmed down a bit since last year.  (perhaps he’s been at an “elf“ resort – Ed.) 
 
Did I say everybody wanted a photo with Santa?  Even a “selfie” 
 
Noel Halford thanked the volunteers and presented Di Gillies with flowers.    
 
MC Smoky Dawson made sure DG Bronwyn was on the right track, and then wished everybody “Merry Christmas” 
 
DG Bronwyn Stephens kindly gave us a nod on the Rotary  District 9800 Discussion Page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/D9800discussion/10156886258453850/

RYLA Dinner at Camp Oasis
The RYLA Dinner at Camp Oasis in Mt Evelyn was a wonderful showcase of a Rotary Youth initiative.  This year our Club took the lead in our District to support the event.
 
On a very warm evening many club members made the trek to Mt Evelyn to celebrate with RYLA participants who had spent several days involved in this worthwhile leadership and personal development programme.  It was enlightening to see so many young people who had experienced so much personal growth and wanted to share it.
 
Susie Cole, from End Polio Now, gave an uplifting talk about Rotary's role in ending Polio and the value of visiting overseas locations to see how Rotary's support in is this important area is playing a large part in eradicating such a crippling disease. Her encouragement to the RYLA students to look at their 'next step' in the Rotary world was well received and gave the participants much food for thought!
 
 
 
 
President Ian's comprehensive presentation about our Club showed the many and varied activities that we are involved in at so many levels.  It certainly encapsulated our ethos and, the wide variety of support we give to our local community and overseas initiatives.
 
The final part of the evening was a broad and entertaining show involving all participants and the audience at times.  A fitting finale to a great evening!
 
 
 
 
 
Our photos show 1) Susie Cole with President Ian, 2) Katrina Flinn, Richard Logan, Joanna Benhamou, Lawrence and Virginia Reddaway and 3) the joint is jumpin'
 
 
 
 
 
And yet some more photos from the Sunday break-up barbecue at Camp Oasis. First we have the chefs making sure the sausages are done to a "T", while the salad-makes chop and chop some more.
Jane Bentley and Anne Scott received some unsolicited advice from a local resident, who was rewarded with some tit-bits. Lucky fellow!

Garden DesignFest 2018
Garden DesignFest 2018 provides garden lovers with the opportunity to visit professionally designed private gardens in Victoria over two weekends in November. 
The key distinguishing feature of Garden DesignFest is that all the gardens on display are designed by professional garden designers. 

To add to the visual pleasure of visiting the gardens, visitors have the opportunity to personally meet the designers at each garden and to discuss their work and how they handled the challenges the site presented.
Garden DesignFest is organised by Rotary to raise funds for charity. The main charity to benefit from this year's Garden DesignFest is End Trachoma by 2020. 
Since the event began in 2004, more than $500,000 has been donated to charity.
 
Hawthorn Rotary were given the task of minding two gardens at Alphington and East Doncaster. 
 
 
Designer Ross Goodman – Alphington
The Modern Japanese Tea House was created with timber decking seats, planter boxes and a modern shade structure with elements of ‘Zen’ in the Japanese Culture.
The garden has a sense of tranquility, privacy and calm. The tranquility is created from the shade of the Eucalyptus tree and from the modern shade structure that is painted a black colour with Black butt timber slats, timber is commonly used in Japanese style gardens.  The privacy screen conceals rain water tank which harvests rainwater from the roof and re used in the house for sustainability. The calmness of the garden is created with the plants located under the dappled light of the shade structure in the in built planter boxes located behind the seats.The living room sliding doors open into this private place that can be entertained in and used for a place of relaxation, even to read a book.
 
 
Designer Christian Jenkins - East Doncaster
The client brief was to create a Japanese inspired garden.
Working with a sloping rear garden and 20 year old Elm tree in the middle to the garden the transformation was underway.
Large granite boulders were placed into position combined with River sand mulch creating a light refreshing feel to the garden.
Framing this large internal space is recycled Iron Bark sleepers creating a post and beam fence running along the perimeter of the garden with cream colored shade cloth symbolizing rice paper walls combined with bamboo poles.
Floating decked landings connect the garden from the house down the slope through the garden.

 CHANCES Golf Day
Posted by Noel Halford
A super day of golf was held at the Box hill Golf Club with 80 players and 20 non playing guests. The course was in excellent condition and we benefited from the fact the Box Hill Pro-Am was to be played the following Friday and Saturday.
Special thanks to those Rotary Clubs, corporates and individuals whose act of generosity is greatly appreciated by not only the CHANCES committee but also by the students from financially deprived backgrounds whom we support. 
 
The event was won by a team comprised of Dylan Rash, Ryan Underwood, Griffin Underwood and Jarryd Swift with an Ambrose score of 51. 
Jarryd ( 4.07 metres) also finished runner up to Jonathon O’Donoghue (3.63 metres) in the nearest the pin competition. The car which would have been donated by Kia Chadstone, was not far away – perhaps next year.
 
    
 
The second team of Steven Curtis, Douglas Hawley, Eugene Fitzwilliam and Tony Laycock  managed second with 52.25 followed by hometown heroes, Jonathon O’Donoghue, Simon O’Donoghue who claims to have taught his son Jonathon everything he knows, and the other father son combination Bill and James Troedel with a team score of 53.625.
(Former rugby player and referee Tony Laycock replied to my congratulations with a terse: "Hehe. We were outplayed by young uns who waited for us to walk 60 meters before they hit off!!"  -  Ed.)
 
Chris Hanson, who has hit more holes in one than anyone the writer knows won the straightest drive.
 
The day concluded with a Dinner compered by Graham “Smokey” Dawson ,where the prize winners received their awards.
Chairperson Elida Brereton thanked those for their support of CHANCES and informed those attending just how difficult it can be for talented students who come from a background of financial hardship.
 
Thanks to all those involved in making the event a success particularly my fellow organisers, Robert Hogan  (Rotary Club of Glenferrie), Clinton Sceney (Rotary Club of Yarra Bend) and Lili-Anne Kriegler (Rotary Club of Canterbury). A special mention to Di Gillies  (Rotary Club of Balwyn), and Hawthorn Rotarians, Kim Darcy , David Pisterman and  Hawthorn President, Ian Bentley whose assistance on the day was invaluable. 
 
They all made this important Rotary event such an enjoyable and successful fundraiser for Boroondara Cares Foundation’s Chances Scholarship Program.  The final tally is not in yet, but around $7,000.00 has been raised. You have each made a difference.
 
Photo: The front desk: David Pisterman, Di Gillies, Ian Bentley and Noel Halford.

Container Capers
Posted by Gordon Cheyne
Four Rotary Clubs combined to sort and load the cargo into three containers destined to help the poor in the third world. 
 
At 9.00 am on Friday 20th October we teamed up with the Rotary Clubs of Belgrave, Ringwood and Wandin at Clayton to pack a container of goods (mainly medical) destined for Cambodia. The history of the container is complex, but in a nutshell we have bought it (and contents) from RC Belgrave, after it had been declared seaworthy.
   
 
After a briefing from Belgrave’s Wayne McKenzie, we emptied out three containers, and sorted the goods according to their destinations: Cambodia, Fiji and elsewhere. Wayne proved to be an expert at stacking, as we started re-loading the containers: first the heavy stuff: hospital beds. There were 80 metal bed frames that easily stood on end, and ten large electrically powered beds already stacked on top of each other. Fortunately most of the latter were safely in place, and did not need to be re-loaded.  Bed heads and ends were squeezed in wherever they could fit: as we pay transport per cubic foot, spare space is a waste. 
 
Russell Hayes (RC Wandin) of “Wheelchairs for Kids”  had a couple of trailer-loads of wheelchairs to be added, and there were several boxes of “Days for Girls” goods added, before the upper space was filled with bags of hospital linen and of course several matresses for the beds.  
 
For the record and the manifest the items we included were:
  • 36 new adult wheelchairs in cartons for Russian Hospital Phnom Penh
  • 25 new Wheelchairs for Kids children’s wheelchairs in cartons for two disability centres. 
  • 200 new Days for Girls kits within ten cartons for AusCam in Phnom Penh (which is an NGO established by an Australian woman for prevention of female child trafficking in Cambodia).
  • What else?  Better ask Peter Lugg, who was kept busy with pen and paper keeping track of the goods as they were loaded.  An X-Ray machine, an operating theatre table, an ultrasound, BP and data trolleys, examination couches, and some mysterious boxes of technical equipment, Peter logged it all. 
    
 
By 2.00 pm the work was over, and our container locked up. It will be sent to the Donations-in-Kind Warehouse in West Footscray for final topping up, and then to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh, where Peter will meet it and supervise distribution of the goods.  The cost of our project is around $6,000, and the benefit to Cambodia is approximately $200,000 of goods. 
 
Special thanks to Wayne McKenzie of Belgrave RC for organising the container, workers and goods, and especially the refreshments that kept us going on a warm day. Thanks also to David Rush’s International Committee volunteers for all the heavy lifting. (or rather their clever footwork that ensured the younger members of Belgrave  and Wandin RCs got an opportunity to show their prowess)  From Hawthorn: President Ian Bentley, David Rush, Katrina Flinn and Mick Tyrrell, John Perry, David Pisterman, Peter Lugg and myself.

Captain ‘Old King’ Cole:
Captain ‘Old King’ Cole: from Port Phillip Pioneer to Victorian Patriarch.  -  a talk by John Botham. 
 
John Botham spent a career in the RAF and with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority before developing an interest in early Victorian history. He assisted with the production of La Trobe’s Jolimont, A walk round my garden (2006) and worked tirelessly thereafter to develop an understanding amongst government and the public of the heritage importance of the La Trobe’s Cottage.
 
Our photo shows John enjoying a pre-lunch drink with Ian Pohl and Noel McInnes. 
 
John told us that Captain George Ward Cole arrived in Melbourne in 1840 following a career in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, including the sacking of Washington, and in the merchant marine. He was prominent in early Melbourne society, marrying into the McCrae family and building one of the first houses in Brighton, St Ninian’s, where Edward La Trobe Bateman worked on the garden.
 
Cole built the first private wharf on the bank of the Yarra, known as Cole’s Wharf and developed shipping facilities in Port Phillip, providing sea transport both locally and to other colonies. He was however the victim of sovereign risk, when changing govermnments imposed different rules and wharfage costs. He conducted a long campaign for compensation, or for the government to buy the wharf, but it was not until 1868 that the government bought his wharf for £19,000, a fraction of the initial construction costs and the lost income due to governments changing the rules. 
 
 He served on the Legislative Council for 20 years. 
 
Although Cole had seven children, none married and his memory died out with them. John Botham’s talk gave us the opportunity to rediscover this virtually forgotten patriarch of early Melbourne.
 
We heard  the story of  his life in early Melbourne, his entrepreneurial activities and work as a respected politician in amazing dertail.
 
You can read the full story by John Botham at http://www.latrobesociety.org.au/LaTrobeana/LaTrobeanaV16n3Botham.pdf

Why Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club?
Posted by Alan Trengove
Like many of today’s house hunters, the pioneers of tennis in Melbourne had difficulty finding a home of their own.
The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) gave a helping hand. It had a tennis section and built some of the early courts, including one of asphalt at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1878 – a year after the first Wimbledon.
 
Australasia’s continuing Davis Cup triumphs boosted public interest in tennis even further; so much so that the Albert Ground courts quickly proved inadequate for the LTAV. Other sites were inspected, but were either unavailable or unsuitable, and so the search was postponed until the end of the First World War.
 
Then, in 1919, an opportunity occurred to acquire 17 1⁄2 acres in Glenferrie Road, close to Kooyong railway station. The prominent financier and politician William L. Baillieu had bought the land for £175 an acre and was prepared to let the LTAV have it at the same price. The amount came to £3080, on top of which would eventually come the cost of putting down courts, building a clubhouse and stadium, and other works.
 
A sub-committee that included Norman Brookes investigated the low-lying land, which was prone to flooding from the adjacent Gardiner’s Creek. “Gardiner”, incidentally, was not the creek’s original name. The local Aborigines, in the previous century, called it Kooyong Koot (meaning, “haunt of the wildfowl”). In 1836, John Gardiner drove 400 head of cattle to Kooyong from his property at Yass, in New South Wales. After buying out his partners, he became sole owner of a cattle station centred on Kooyong Koot, with his cottage on a hill that became the site of Scotch College. Gardiner prospered but left the property after surviving an attack by Aborigines.
 
What mostly concerned the LTAV sub- committee was the repeated threat of flooding. It estimated that it would cost £4000 to drain the ground and protect it from inundations. Two costly floods, in 1923 and 1924, were heartbreaking and seriously delayed the work that needed to be done to convert the swampy, mosquito-and-weed-infested paddock into a Garden of Eden. Another flood, in 1934, would be so huge that Kooyong seemed better equipped to conduct a regatta than a tennis tournament. 
Some wondered where all the money would come from.
 
And, indeed, it was a struggle. Slowly, however, funds were raised by the sale of debentures and assorted forms of membership, including one that offered permanent seating in a yet-to-be built stand. Over the next decade and beyond, funds would be raised by tournaments, by social functions, and by persuading members and others to make donations.
 
Read more about the history of Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club at http://www.kooyong.com.au/images/library/downloadablefiles/courtside/2010_commemorative.pdf  
 

Welcome Dinner
Posted by Noel Halford
The Rotary Club of Hawthorn conducted its first Welcome Dinner on Sunday 16th September at the Auburn Bowls Club.
 
 
Our guests represented a wide range of communities and it was evident to the organisers that there was a genuine welcoming atmosphere as we discovered new friends, new cuisines and and new interests.
 
The event was very capably coordinated by our Rotary club which was well represented and the Join the Dots organisation who provided facilitators to ensure everything went smoothly.
 
From reports received our guests, some of whom had only been Australia for a short time, were delighted with the warmth of the welcome extended to them and their families. This was a small but significant step towards building positive relations across all our diverse community groups.
 
Special thanks to Katrina Flinn who initiated this event, President Ian Bentley, our local member John Persutto and the Hawthorn Rotarians who participated so enthusiastically.
 
We also acknowledge the generosity of the Auburn Bowls Club for providing the venue.

Tree Planting Day
Posted by Gordon Cheyne

Hawthorn Rotarians braved a cold and windy Sunday to celebrate the 21stbirthday of the Ftritsch Holzer Park.

The park was named after Augustus Fritsch and the Holzer brothers who formed the Upper Hawthorn Brick Company in 1883. The factory employed around 50 people and produced 250,000 bricks a week, which were used throughout Victoria.

Council bought the area in 1972 and used it as a landfill site until 1986, then as a temporary waste transfer station until 1989. In the years that followed the site was left empty to allow the landfill to stabilise.

Council, together with the Federal and Victorian Governments, and the Rotary Club of Hawthorn, reconstructed the area into a park in 1995.

Boroondara Council had arranged dozens of grass and shrubs to add to the planted areas, and dozens of volunteers turned up to help. Starting at 10am, they planted 2,000 trees/shrubs/grasses and had the job completed by noon: great work! 

Hawthorn Rotary’s barbecue and a coffee stall were kept busy serving refreshmants: many stayed on for a chat, and to hear the presentation. Even the Honorable Josh Frydenberg MP made an appearance, (to assist with the quality control  ;-) 

President Ian Bentley introduced Mayor Jim Parke, who gave a brief summary of the history of the brickworks, and how local government had joined with Hawthorn Rotary to establish the park, with Federal Government funding.

Our member for Hawthorn, John Pesutto included some young volunteers to assist in his energetic presentation.

President Ian thanked the volunteers for their contribution to the improvement of this wonderful amenity, and PP Katrina Flinn for  organising the event.

Photos: 

Girl Guides at work in the shrubbery

A happy group of community volunteers

Hawthorn Rotary Barbecue, with sampler Josh Frydenberg MHR

Cutting the cake: John Pesutto MP, Cr Coral Ross, Mayor Jim Parke, and President Ian Bentley.

 

Salvo Hawks – Season Ends – Roll on 2019!
Posted by Lawrence Reddaway
Team Gathering at Sophia’s
 
Prizes were handed out at the Salvo Hawks team gathering at Sophia’s Pizza and Pasta Restaurant. Rotary Hawthorn got an honourable mention, but no trophy (thank goodness – where would we have kept it?!)
 
Katrina and I attended; and I said a few words to express our gladness at being able to help out, and to thank everyone for making us so welcome.  I think I also said how proud we were that we (essentially Mick and Katrina) had got the scoreboard working.  That thought was spoiled by the fact that, at the last home game, we simply could not get it to work.  Mick and Katrina have bravely taken on the task of cajoling the Boroondara Council to improve the system before next footy season!
 
 
Grand Final Series
 
This was not a customary grand final. Over the course of three consecutive days, each team plays one match.  And every player of every team gets a medallion.  This is in line with the ethos of the RecLink League – it’s about the triumph of motivating oneself to participate; to play special-rules footy; and (in many cases) to celebrate another day of holding an addiction at bay.
 
The match between the Salvo Hawks and a new team from Melton started at 10.30, under sunny conditions.  Casey Radio broadcast from its caravan. Rotary Sunbury provided catering from their special trailer.  Katrina and I cheered as our Salvo Hawks trotted out onto the field – what a range of ages, stages and statures!  A pleasant time was had chatting with other hangers-on, as our Rotary Hawthorn hi-viz vests promoted who we were, and watching the play when it came up our end of the field.
 
Alas, the Melton Lions won.  But, being new, they weren’t much acquainted with the special rules – for which they were duly penalised. For example, I saw a big Lion gently hustle a small female Hawk, forgetting that touching females is forbidden; so ‘our Katey’ was advanced to the very mouth of the goal, from which she duly kicked a goal – just!
 
I’m looking forward to Rotary Hawthorn continuing our good work with the Salvo Hawks next season (presumably starting in April as usual.)  And I ask every member to try to attend at least one Home Match!

Mock Interview Program
Posted by Geoff Wright
One Hawthorn Rotary program that invariably gives those members and members spouses who participate great satisfaction, is the mock interviews that we conduct each year with Year 9 and Year 10 students at Auburn High School.

Regardless of the capacity and preparedness of the student being interviewed, we are left with the feeling that they have benefited from the process and from the feedback we give them. We have fulfilled the objective of giving the student more confidence than he would otherwise have when it comes to the real thing, and in so doing have played a significant role in their career planning, awareness of the world of work and job readiness.
Photo:Tiaan being interviewed by Ian Macfarlane and Libby Owen.

On Wednesday morning, July 25, twenty members and spouses met at Auburn High School to conduct mock job interviews with Year 10 students. This followed Year 9 interviews on June 20, and comprises part of the school's 'Learning For Life' program. It is the fourth year that we have assisted with the program at Auburn High School.

As the culmination to their studies, the students apply for one of 13 positions and submit a written application and resume in support of this application. This is the forwarded to the two Rotary interviewers scheduled to interview that applicant, and we do this for 10 minutes, followed by 3 minutes of feedback on what the student did well, and where they can improve. In addition a scoresheet is forwarded to the students teacher.

Our thanks to all who participated in this much appreciated program.

Swinburne Effective Public Speaking Program
Posted by Halford Noel
On Tuesday 24thJuly we completed a four week course designed to equip students and graduates in the skills of presentation and public speaking. This the third year we have undertaken this project which was initially started by David Rush in 2016.
 
Each year it has been subjected to some refinements and over the last two years the participating students have benefited from the leadership of Charlotte England and Ngaire Cannon who were supported by David Rush and Noel Halford.
 
 
We were delighted to have ten graduates, the majority of whom have come from overseas, complete the program. The development in confidence and presentation skills was most impressive particularly when the majority have English as their second language. Certificates were presented to all who completed the four-week program.
 
Elena Verzub, Associate Director, Learning and Academic Skills Centre, thanked our Rotarians for providing their experience and skills in making the course possible.
 
This was a valuable project for our Rotary Club and it clearly ignited interest in Rotary from a most impressive group of students a number of whom have already indicated they would like to be involved in some of our forthcoming projects.  We expect to continue the public speaking project next year.

Karen Refugees in Nhill
Posted by Gordon Cheyne on Jul 31, 2018
 
John Millington of Nhill Rotary Club waa  our guest speaker on 31stJuly. Thirty-two years in Rotary, Club President twice and once an Assistant Governor, John was General Manager of Luv-a-Duck in Nhill before he retired a few years ago. The company was producing 100,000 ducks weekly, and were using 457 visas to obtain suitable workers. John told the story of how 160 Karen refugees have been relocated to Nhill, and over 100 of these are now in full-time employment. 
 
The Karen province in southern Myanmar is near the Thai border, and the mainly Christian population sided with the British during the Second World War. Other Burmese groups sided with the Japanese, and reprisals against the Karen have continued since then. Many have fled across the border to Thailand, where there are currently 43,000 refugees in the main camp. 
 
John Millington heard of two refugee families in Werribeee, and attended a meeting to find out more. A PowerPoint presentation about Luv-a-Duck was enthusiastically viewed by 120 refugees, some of whom were invited too Nhill to meet the local community. Five refugees started work in 2010, and they were accommodated in the former Doctor’s residence. This building has become the base for the current Karen community. 
 
Now in 2018, the Karen people are part on the Nhill scene: fifty work for Luv-a-Duck and fifty for other companies: the 24thKaren family has bought a house. Others have started businesses, such as the Paw Po Company which sells sewing products, a flower shop and an Asian food shop. 
 
The Karen are keen to become involved in community activities, to thank and give back to the Nhill people. They have demonstrated this in their New Year and Water Festivals, and by joining in the Anzac Parade.
 
Local people are happy to see an increase in population, a reliable work force, more volunteers, and improving infrastructure. On the other hand, the Karen people have found hope, happiness, peace and freedom. 
 
It is hard to imagine a better win-win project. 
 
Photos:  John and Margaret Millington
Paw Po Weaving

Box Hill Hospital Bed Collection 
Posted by Bob Glindemann
I believe that everyone was aware that this was a big task and I can safely say that it went off like clockwork, on Saturday 7thApril at Box Hill Hospital.
I am not sure how many people we had across the day with the various comings and goings but something in the order of 50+ was probably near the figure. Importantly they came from 16 different Rotary Clubs. We also had a couple of people from the Marsh Foundation who presented this opportunity to us along with one of their vans.
The container arrived at the appointed time and you could see that this in itself was quite a challenging task. So with a good team to start the removals, a team at the container to start the bed loading we were under way. We only had two lifts instead of three but with the usual Rotary organisation we soon had the beds, chairs, bedside lockers and over bed tables flowing to the loading dock.
By 10.15am – the container loading team had 60 beds and mattresses loaded and the doors closed – a really sterling effort. We had also despatched two van loads of lockers, over bed tables and chairs back to the Donations-in-Kind store where the second group swung into action.
In all seven van loads of equipment went back to the store – the last one with the doors tied back as we could not get the very last bed completely into the van. It arrived safely and thankfully did not draw any attention from any of the “powers that be!”
The DIK crew had by then stowed everything in the designated spots in the store and by about 2.30 or thereabouts all was done. That means 27 high back chairs, 84 bedside lockers and 60 over bed tables plus about 26 beds including 3 beds for several local needs.
The side loader arrived at the hospital to collect the container at 2pm and 15 minutes later was on its way back to the store ahead of delivery to the wharf next week and the eventual shipment to the Khmer–Soviet Friendship Hospital in Cambodia. The balance of the beds is destined for a hospital in Java and for several of the other “wish lists” we have on the go.
So to everyone who assisted today either at the hospital or at the DIK Store – thank you for giving up a lot of your Saturday to contribute to a great result for this big uplift project. We could never have done it without your help. Again – many thanks.

Third Thursday Evening Meeting Report.
Posted by Noel Halford
On a cold night we were delighted to welcome some new members to our group.
It was great to welcome Silas Arrrowsmith and Jahad Navaseri from our Public speaking Training Group at Swinburne. We also welcomed Evodia Alaterou who contacted us through Nabo, a local social media site.
 
President Ian Bentley provided a summary of activities undertaken in the last year and also we advised and provided updates on forthcoming events:
  • Tree Planting  on the 29th July has already seen over 200 citizens nominating to help plant trees at Fritsch Holzer Park.
  • Our Rotary Club will be involved and also provide a BBQ for those attending on the day.
  • Our welcome dinner for new citizens scheduled for 16th September has been well supported.
 
Following President Ian’s address we formed discussion groups to identify projects that could be undertaken by the Thursday Group or the larger club.
Rotary Club leaders were delighted with the enthusiasm and several imaginative suggestions for new projects, which will be considered by working groups to be appointed.
 
 
Photo: The recent formal Rotary Induction of three new members at the Thursday Group: Denbigh Richards, Pamm Robilliard and Paul Dipnall, with their sponsor Noel Halford and President Katrina Flinn.
 
Thanks to the Hawthorn Rotarians who helped make the meeting so productive.

The Australasian Birth Trauma Association
Posted on Jul 17, 2018
The Australasian Birth Trauma Association was established in 2016 to support women and their families who are suffering postnatally from physical and /or psychological trauma resulting from the birth process, as well as the education and support for the range of health professionals who work with pre and postnatal women.
 
They define birth trauma as physically damaging birth processes which result in life-changing psychological and social difficulties, and psychological problems arising from the circumstances of the delivery or the process. This includes an ‘uneventful’ or satisfactory delivery from the professional point of view, but traumatising for the woman, who may feel unsupported or even misunderstood by the health professionals.
 
In Australia, one in three women identify their birth as traumatic. This forum was held to raise awareness of the impact of birth trauma – and the importance of detection, prevention, support and treatment.
 
At our meeting on 17th July, President Ian Bentley introduced the ABTA team, after welcoming DG Bronwyn Stephens and numerous visitors and guests.
 
Any Dawes told us about her difficult birth experience and the following prolapse, then about how she helped start the Assosciation.
 
She was followed by April Hogan, who told of her experience of epidural anaesthesia, forceps delivery with tear and post-partum haemorrhage, followed by a lack of recognition of her symptoms of prolapse and a long delay and being told all was normal, before a final diagnosis. 
              
Midwife Rachael Haywood told us about how the Assosciation was creating BT Care,  a mentoring programme to assist women who had unsatisfactory physical or psychological outcomes, with various avenues of peer support. It involves dissseminating information to the public, partners, hospital staff and health care workers, and increasing ante-natal information. 
 
President Ian closed the meeting at 2.00pm, and conducted a workshop with the ABTA Team and others interested, about what assistance is required, and how Rotary can be involved. 
Photo:  Dr Jessica Caudwell-Hall, Dr Oliver Daly, Amy Dawes, Rachael Haywood, Lana Sussman and April Hogan.
 
Subsequently President Ian commented:  “After listening to the personal experiences of young mothers, it would be hard to argue that there is not a need in our community to provide more support for women through the process of pregnancy and birth and especially to those who carry physical or psychological damage into life after the birth of their children.  The antenatal, clinical and postnatal issues are complex and there are no 'one size fits all' solutions.  There is, however, room for improvement in many areas and it behoves us to do what we can to encourage those trying to make a difference whether it is minimising birth trauma or maximising support if it is sustained.”

BOAB FOOTCARE PROJECT
Posted on Jul 16, 2018
Project Origination: Club Service Director, Noel Halford, had a vision of a project that would benefit remote aboriginal communities. Noel arranged a Skype meeting last year with the then CEO of Boab Health services Margie Ware, and it was determined that the greatest unfunded need is for podiatry footcare packs.
 
Late last year, the Club had started an alternate meeting time of  once a month on Thursday evenings. It was decided that this project would be perfect for this group of people.
 
Project Benefits: Treatment of chronic footwear conditions does not currently have Government funding, and supports best practice in the management of foot wounds and ulcers with the aim of preventing unnecessary hospitalisation and loss of limbs. 
 
The delivery of the Project involved liaising with Boab Health care to verify and determine needs. Products were obtained from various suppliers, including a significant donation from Rotary  Donations-in-Kind.
A fundraising event was held in the form of a Trivia night, attended by members, partners and friends as well as prospective members, and on 26th April there was a presentation by Margie Ware to our members. This presentation was an important step to engage members in the project and to understand the challenges of the area. Following the presentation, the group worked together to pack the 40 podiatry kits, and we shared the final task of arranging transport to Broome at a subsidised rate.
Via a contact of one of our newest members, Coles agreed to add our boxes of footcare kits to their regular delivery to Broome for nil cost to the Club, with no other conditions other than we needed to deliver the packs to Coles Distribution centre in Melbourne and then collect them in Broome (arranged by Boab health). 
The Project had the following attributes:
  • It had a clear objective in fulfilling a health need in a remote indigenous area, 
  • The collaboration with Boab Health Services was critical 
  • It was a manageable project for our project in terms of time required.
  • The project had a clear endpoint and the opportunity to repeat in future years. 
  • We were able to engage and involve members and prospective members in the Project.
We subsequently inducted four new members, and also solidified the relationship with two of our newest members. Everyone involved expressed satisfaction in being part of the project. 

The Salvo Hawks
Reclink Football Grand Final Series
 
Come and cheer on our Salvo Hawks football team!
 
Tuesday 28 August at 10.00 am.
 
JL Murphy Reserve, Williamstown Rd, Port Melbourne (Melway 56K1)
 
 

 

End Polio Now!
Whilst we have your attention, we must share the great news from Governor Peter Freuh and his Rotary Foundation Chair, Dennis Shore, in District 9800.
DG Peter has just announced that 9800 will donate US$38,000 to the Polio Eradication Program, from unused District Designated Funds this Rotary year!
Now, if my maths are correct (and remember I’m a writer not a mathematician), that US$38,000 is matched 50% by The Rotary Foundation’s World Fund, AND … that total of US$57,000 is then matched 2 for 1 by the Gates Foundation for a final total of US$171,000!!!
Congratulations Governor Peter, TRF Chair Dennis and the entire District 9800 team. That is a magnificent effort – and if it does not provide the necessary inspiration for ALL Districts to immediately get to work and dispatch unused District Designated Funds, I don’t know what will?
PDG Bob Aitken AM JP, RI END POLIO NOW Coordinator, Zones 7B/8, 2017/18

The Welcome Dinner Project
Posted by Katrina Flinn
The Welcome Dinner Project is coming to Hawthorn on 16th September 2018!
 
 
The event is a collaboration between Rotary Hawthorn and NFP Joining the Dots. 
Some members will recall the presentation by Lauren Plant from Joining the Dots on the Welcome Dinner project that we had at our Thursday evening meeting. The dinner (or in this case a lunch) is a Community Lunch whereby we connect existing residents with newly arrived residents (up to 5 years in Australia). It is a way to build connections across various communities.
 Everyone brings a plate to share from their own cultural background. In the case of a Community dinner, it is more a series of lunches with each table sharing the dishes, with the opportunity to mingle and taste leftovers afterwards.  
 
Would you like to know more about the Welcome Dinner Project ?
or you can check out their Promo Video
 
What do I need from you?
1. if you know anyone that is new to the area and/or Australia, invite them to our lunch (flyer is attached). Do you have any new neighbours? (Please let me know if you would like any hard copy printouts and I can bring them to a meeting )
2. we need Rotarians to participate in the lunch , as part of the quota of existing residents. This event is a chance to put your social and networking skills to use and to showcase & be an ambassador for Rotary and our Club.
 If you would like to be a part of this Event please get onto Eventbrite via the link and register. 
The broader community is also being invited to attend, so it would be a shame if Club members are not well represented, so we do need to Book asap.
The link to view the Eventbrite bookings page is https://welcomedinnerprojectlunchauburn.eventbrite.com.au
3. volunteer to personally present the opportunity to a couple of select groups such as the Conversational English group held at the various Boroondara libraries (let Katrina know if you can assist). Nothing beats a personal approach!
Please let me know if you have any queries
Regards Katrina

Meet RI President Barry Rassin
 
RI President Barry Rassin, a member of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is asking Rotarians to Be the Inspiration this Rotary year. In addressing the closing session of the 2018 Convention in Toronto, Rassin encouraged Rotarians to take the time to understand the real needs of their communities by talking to people in those communities, and to become agents of change through leading by example. Read more about Rotary’s 2018-19 president:

ROTARY RECOGNISED FOR POLIO ERADICATION WORK
Posted on Jul 03, 2018
 
“ROTARY WINS BEST NONPROFIT ACT FOR ITS POLIO ERADICATION WORK” 
 
 
Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio worldwide won Best Nonprofit Act in the Hero Awards of the One Billion Acts of Peace campaign, an international global citizens’ movement to tackle the world’s most important issues. 
The campaign is an initiative of PeaceJam Foundation and is led by 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Rigoberta Menchú Tum, with the ambitious goal of inspiring a billion acts of peace by 2020. 
Each year, the campaign picks two finalists in each of six categories for their work to make a measurable impact in one of the 10 areas considered most important by the Nobel laureates. Winners are chosen by people from around the world. 
Rotary and Mercy Corps were the two finalists in the Best Nonprofit Act category. 
Rotary and the five other winners were recognized at a ceremony in Monaco. Betty Williams, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for her advocacy for peace in Northern Ireland, presented the award.

The Timor Leste Project
Posted by Katrina Flinn
The Timor Leste project is a fabulous project supported by Rotary Hawthorn and has succeeded in obtaining a Global Foundation Matching Grant.
 
The Timor Rotary Consortium consists of the following Clubs:- Camberwell (lead Club), Chadstone/East Malvern, Glenferrie, Hawthorn, Malvern, and Prahran.
One of the very powerful benefits of the project is the fact that it has succeeded in getting so many clubs to come together to make it a reality. I think that very positive contribution, strengthening the bonds between us, is an enormous plus for the project, in addition to the undeniable benefits it brings to the school children of Timor Leste. 
The project is a result of Clubs working together but we would like to acknowledge in particular John Walmsley and Vijay Susaria (from RC of Camberwell) whose leadership, commitment and drive have made this project a reality. 
 
The first team from the Timor Rotary Consortium comprised John Walmsley (RC Camberwell)  Rod Kenafacke (Pres RC Chadstone/East Malvern) and Abilio from the RC of Dili Lafaek.
With local co-operation the team completed its objectives of installing three Water Tanks at schools in Lebenei and Lavateri and also scoped (measuring and designing) a sufficient number of other schools sites to provide planned projects for at least another two Team visits. 
 
The Team’s visit also strengthened relationships with:
  • Leo Guterres and the local Baguia community including the Sub-District  Administrator.
  • The president and members of the RC of Dili Lafaek
  • Max Bird and the Western Australian RPTLE group
  
 
It is not possible to overstate the co-operation and assistance that we receive from Leopoldina Guterres in connection with this program and without her very generous support and co-ordination work it would be extremely difficult for us to carry out this project.
 
Thanks are also due to the Member Clubs of the Consortium without whose generous financial support this program would not have become a Major Project and it is only because of this support that we finally secured the Global Grant form the Rotary Foundation on the 1st June 2018.
 
The full report is available on the Club Website under Documents – Baguia, and photos can be seen at: 
Second Bite

SecondBite 

Second Bite is a well established community service in Melbourne. Its mission is food recycling; that is, using food that would otherwise be wasted. It's about giving good, fresh ingredients new life in a commercial kitchen and, with a bit of creativity, turning them into healthy, hearty meals for people in need.
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Hawthorn
Rotary

Meets Weekly for Lunch Tuesday 12.30pm for 1.00pm

Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club
489 Glenferrie Road
Kooyong  Vic  3144
Melbourne Australia.
 $36 including lunch.
 
 Meets Monthly
for a Light Dinner
Third Wednesday of the Month
6:30pm for 7:00pm
Vision Australia
454 Glenferrie Rd,
Kooyong VIC 314
 
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Enjoy the friendship, and the opportunity to give meaningful service to local and international communities, all in the sociable company of other respected community, professional and business leaders. Learn more.

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