WomenCAN Australia:  Our program, The Placement Circle (TPC), supports women to build their confidence, their connections and their work capability.  

The Placement Circle is working with women to help them gain vocational qualifications, meaningful employment, links to financial literacy training and create a supportive community of women.

We have created a unique business where our qualified tradeswomen provide trades, gardening, cleaning and other residential services to women  in their homes as well as organisations that work with women and girls.

We have a pool of talented experienced women. Our business has significant social impact as a result of our connection with The Placement Circle where a pipeline of tradeswomen are being trained through TAFE. On graduation, those women have the opportunity for a structured career in trades and facilities maintenance. (eg: Plumbing, Carpentry, Electrical (& Gas), Painting, Cleaning, Gardening, Gutter Cleaning, Rubbish Removal, Glaziers, Testing of gas appliances).

We're doing this by establishing a training model for women that provides them with the support they need to get back into the workforce. 

Mikaela Stafrace is the Founder and CEO of WomenCAN, Kerry Kornhauser is a Director of WomenCAN Australia

M.C. Noel Halford, Director Vocational Service

The Brickworks is the first retail complex in the world to earn international ‘Living Building’ certification and so it’s sure to be an interesting and informative visit.  

More details to come.

Photo Credit: Burwood Brickworks. (frasersproperty.com.au)

Your Vocational Service Team warmly invites you, your partner and friends to join us on a tour to the Disaster Aid Centre and the Australian Garden. 

The Disaster Aid Centre visit would help attendees to understand the logistics needed in providing relief around the world and how it all works.

The Australian garden is an award-winning, contemporary botanic garden featuring the plants and ecosystems of south-east Australia.

The plan is to meet at the Zelmann Cowan Park at 9:45 AM on June 14 and the bus will take us to the Disaster Aid Centre beforing arriving at the Australian Garden. The total cost including transportation and a lunch is $60.00.

Numbers are limited to 40, so please register your interest ASAP.

This event has been planned for some time so it is terrific that we can finally get there. If you are free, please support Noel and his team and come along to this tour and lunch.

Your Vocational Service Team warmly invites you, your partner and friends to join us on a tour & presentation  of the world's most sustainable shopping centre Burwood Brickworks.

The Brickworks is home to the first roof top farm in a shopping centre environment with an acre farm and eateries.

The plan is to meet at 12.00pm at Hollow meeting room (first floor) at the Brickworks Shopping Centre. We will be welcomed by Peter Fraser, Operations Group Manager who will conduct a presentation on the unique features of this residential and retail development.

After the tour you are invited to join us for lunch at the Norwood cafe (lunch is at your own expense)

The cost of $20 pp for the tour will be donated to Rotary Ukrainian Refuge Fund.

Numbers are limited to 40 so please register your interest ASAP.

This event has been planned for some time so it is terrific that we can finally get there. If you are free, please support Noel and his team and come along to this tour and lunch.

If you are not joining us for lunch please put a note on the registration page.

Transport? Do you require transport? please let Noel know, this can be readily arranged.

Any other questions please contact Noel Halford.

Dorothy has vast experience and professional, academic history in Social Sciences including human behaviours and challenges of specialised groups. 

Her main practice was in the area of trauma, loss, grief, mediation and suicide prevention for individuals, parents and families and included debriefing after a critical incident in workplaces and post community disasters.  Her services included 14 years of University lecturing in Masters of Psychology, Social Science and Family Therapy .

Dorothy remains an advocate for social justice and fairness for those less fortunate.  She is determined for everyday people to be part of the solution in the prevention of family violence and elder abuse across the world. 

Her belief is that we must take some responsibility and assist our Police and social services to manage this epidemic of abuse: 'We must assist a victim or possible victim of abuse, by being able to identify and report any form of abuse, not sit on our hands. Let us help to ensure our children and grandchildren do not perpetrate this lack of respect for humanity.”

A passionate Rotarian, Paul Harris awardee and Founder/Chair of Rotary SAFE Families for Rotary in Australia, Dorothy has a great sense of humour and is looking forward to providing support and fellowship with Rotary Hawthorn.  "Onwards and Upwards!"

M.C. Pam Crockett

Next week President Andrew will induct Dorothy Gilmour as a member of the Club.  Dorothy has transferred from Rotary Southbank and brings with her not only a wealth of experience as an active and innovative Rotarian, but the Club will also be taking on responsibility for hosting Rotary Safe Families.  Dorothy is one of the founders and the current director of Rotary Safe Families and, following her induction, she will tell us about the ‘Member Behind the Badge’.

Each year 1 in 5 Australians will experience a mental illness. Many people are not knowledgeable or confident to offer assistance. Physical first aid is accepted and widespread in our community, however most do not cover mental health problems. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches people the skills to help someone who they're concerned about.

Newly inducted member Robyn Sparks will give a 'Member Behind The Badge' talk.

M.C. Henry Drury

Next week, it will be President Andrew's pleasure to induct Robyn Sparks as a member of the Club. Following the induction and lunch, Robyn will tell us about the ‘Member behind the Badge’.

We look forward to seeing as many members as possible at Kooyong next Tuesday to welcome our newest member.

Our meeting next Tuesday is at Kooyong and our guest speaker will be Dorothy Gilmour, who will speak about Elder Abuse:  What Everyone Needs to Know.

Dr Jenny Gray  

Dr Jenny Gray is the Chief Executive Officer of Zoos Victoria, charged with the operation of the Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo.  Jenny has a wide range of public and private sector experience having worked in transportation, airlines and banking, before moving into the zoo industry in South Africa, then Australia.

Jenny has qualifications in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Business Administration and Ethics.  She brings a passion for animals and the environment, having facilitated the transformation of Zoos Victoria into a Zoo Based Conservation Organisation.  Her operational and financial skills will ensure that this is achieved in a financially sustainable manner, led by inspired executives and staff.

In 2016 Jenny completed her PhD in ethics with her thesis on 'An Ethical Defense of Modern Zoos'.   Her thesis has been published by CSIRO, and is a commercially available book titled 'Zoo Ethics'.

Jenny serves on a number of governing bodies; she is Past President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is a council-appointed member of the Victoria University Council, and President and Chair of Not In My Workplace, a small association committed to addressing sexual harassment in the workplace.

M.C.  Charlotte England

The next Tuesday Club meeting - and the last for this Rotary year - will be on Tuesday 28 June by Zoom.  Our speaker will be Dr Jenny Gray, CEO of Zoos Victoria. Jenny is a past President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and her PhD thesis was ‘An Ethical Defence of Modern Zoos’.  It’s bound to be an interesting talk so don’t miss it!

Schedule of Club Meetings and Special Events

July to December 2022

Rotary Club of Hawthorn

Schedule of Club Meetings and Special Events

July to December 2022

MC: David McNamara

Photo Credit: SBS

Our speaker at next week’s meeting at Kooyong will be Natalie Johnson, Team Leader of the Salvation Army's Community Connections Program. Natalie will talk about the program including the Reclink football team series, which includes the Salvo Hawks whose home games are supported by the Club.

Janet McCalman AC is known for her award-winning books Struggletown, Journeyings, Sex and Suffering and now Vandemonians. She co-edited with Emma Dawson What Happens Next: reconstructing Australia after COVID 19 in 2020. For over 20 years she taught and researched interdisciplinary history at the University of Melbourne. In 2018 she was made a Companion of the Order of Australia.’

Janet has an engrossing talk of the Tasmanian convict settlers in colonial Victoria, called the Vandemonians.  

Victoria was not meant to be contaminated by the 'convict stain'. Janet's book, Vandemonians: the repressed history of colonial Victoria examines the lives and legacies of the tens of thousands who came to Victoria as soon as they 'were cut free or able to bolt'.

M.C: David Rush

Dianne has been involved with The Boroondara Family Network since its inception.

She was the first coordinator responsible for the setting up of the organisation.

After seven years as the coordinator, she became a member of the committee and subsequently the chairperson.
Dianne’s background is in nursing, Registered nurse, Registered midwife, and has a Certificate in Neonatal Intensive care.

Volunteering became a part of her life when she was fourteen and continuesto be a big part of her life as she continues volunteering in a number of organisations.

With her husband they have been foster parents and hosted many exchange students from all over the world.
Dianne is also a director for a number of companies, and enjoys participating and teaching Scottish Country Dancing.

M.C.:  TBA

Gareth Andrews is a former Geelong and Richmond footballer who appears to have led a fortunate life.

He had a successful VFL/AFL playing career for 11 years, including a Premiership with Richmond in 1974. His life in the AFL has continued to this year-52 years-having been CEO for Richmond in the late 1970’s, ABC radio and television commentator for a decade, including a time hosting the National TV Show the Winners in 1986, journalist for The Age for another 10 years, Vice-President of the Geelong Cats alongside Frank Costa and Colin Carter for 15 years during which time the Club has become one of the success stories of Australian sport, both on and off the field, including 3 Premierships.

He is a joint-founder of the AFL Players Association. He is a Trustee of both the Cats and the AFLPA.

Beyond football, he has had a happy and fulfilling marriage and family life, run a series of successful businesses, travelled extensively around the world.

But like most men, there have been many challenges which have tested him. His marriage ended, he has almost gone broke, he has been depressed and suffered extreme anxiety.

He has searched for more. He is living proof of Thoreau’s famous quote that: 'most men lead lives of quiet desperation'.

Five years ago, he recognised that he wasn’t alone in the forest. His search has taken him to interesting places - counselling, meditation, medication, massive amounts of reading, desert retreats, ashrams, mountain tops, homeless kitchens and new affairs of the heart.

In 2012, Gareth established Life Again, a registered Not for Profit charity that educates and helps men to change and lead more fulfilling and purposeful lives. Through writing, public speaking, taking men to the Outback and working with Aboriginals, workshops and personally challenging men, he asks the powerful question, 'Have You Done Your Best Work Yet?' The answers will surprise. He is a story-teller at heart and is with us today to tell his story.

M.C.  TBA

Photo Credit:  Adam TYrafford / AFL Media

The Rotary Club of Hawthorn invites members and guests to our Lift the Lid on Mental Illness Lunch on Friday 7 October 2022 at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. Our guest speaker will be Gareth Andrews, an AFL Club CEO, TV and radio host and founder of the Life Again Foundation. This will be our major fundraising event for the year and will feature fabulous auction items and raffles. Tickets are $75 per head and are available at www.trybooking.com/BTFZY

Celebrating the iconic Melbourne Cup.

Dust off your top hats, bring out the fascinators, flowers, beads and feathers.

Bring out your biggest and fun fashion.

Melbourne Cup Day is Australia’s best known horse racing event. Since 1861 it has been held on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. It is an annual public holiday in the state of Victoria. This event, popularly dubbed as “the race that stops the nation”, is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over, is said to be the richest ‘two-mile’ handicap in the world and is one of the richest turf races.  More than 100,000 people usually attend Flemington Racecourse, and the race is televised live to an audience of about 650 million people worldwide'.

Did you know? The 1875 winner, Wollomai, came from Phillip Island?, (which is located around 135 kilometres south-east of Melbourne and is better known for its penguin colonies). In earlier days, prior to a ferry service between Phillip Island and San Remo, animals were swum across to the Narrows.

It was thought that Wollomai had very little chance of winning, but jockey Bob Batty rode the horse to success, in a time of three minutes and thirty eight seconds, before a crowd of 70,000 people.

The owner, John Cleeland, returned to Cape Woolomai  with £22,000 pounds, having given the jockey and trainer £500 each.