Events

M.C.  President Dorothy Gilmour

Photo Credit: Darrel Und via Pexels

After working extensively throughout Nepal in community development, Ross says 'After hearing so many horrific stories about innocent young women being trafficked, I got to a point where I could not stay on the sidelines of human trafficking, I had to do something'.

As the proud founder of EDM, Ross often speaks of the privilege it is to advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves and to ensure as many as possible find genuine hope and freedom.

More than 3,676 young women have been rescued and intercepted since the start of Every Daughter Matters

MC: Noel Halford

Ari is the Public Image and Website Chair at Rotary Hawthorn.

Join us for an engaging and informative session as Ari Talantis presents an interesting, motivating and helpful talk so our club can make the most of our club’s website and social media presence. 

Don't pass up this chance to gain knowledge from a social media enthusiast and leave with immediately useful information.

Photo Credit: Visual Tag Mx

'At It’s the Little Things Community, our meals are more than just nourishment—they are a symbol of care, dignity, and human connection. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared in a home-style manner, using fresh, wholesome ingredients and guided by compassion. We craft every meal with the goal of bringing comfort, warmth, and a sense of normalcy to those experiencing hardship.

Whether it’s a hearty casserole for a family seeking refuge from domestic violence, a nutritious lunch for someone experiencing homelessness, or a lovingly packed dinner for a child in hospital care, our meals reflect the kindness of the volunteers, schools, and businesses who come together to make them possible'.

M.C.:  TBA

Photo Credit: Kampus Production via Pexels

Steve Turner 

Elizabeth Drozd OAM

Elizabeth arrived in Australia in 1982 as a Special Humanitarian Entrant, escaping her life from a communist regime in Poland. 

During her life she experienced the whole gamut of migrant experiences ranging from having to learn English upon arrival to completing her Bachelor in Multicultural Studies, followed by Masters in Social Sciences. 

She was a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner between 2008-2015 and in 2019 won a Scholarship from the Harvard Club of Victoria to study at the Harvard Business School. 

In 2022, she won the National Executive Leader Award for her work and impact with migrant ageing communities. In 2023, she was awarded the Order of Australia for her 32 of service and achievements.

Up until June 2024 she was the CEO of the Australian Multicultural Community Services and since then has been enjoying life as a new gen retiree and is currently the President of the Rotary Club of Footscray.

M.C.: TBA

Photo: Prasad Sinhabahu

Prof.

Des Tobin has crammed more lives into his 86 years than your average cat.  He has variously been a failed student, a discontented apprentice panel beater, a youth worker, a springboard diver, a junior pole-vaulter, a VFL and Olympic Australian Rules footballer, a 10-Pin bowling instructor, a successful business executive within the funeral industry, a golfing tragic, a university lecturer and a prolific writer.

His most recent book ‘It’s in the Genes – Australian Football Families tells the stories of some of the many families who have produced multiple generations of VFA/VFL/AFL/AFLW footballers stretching back to the late 19th century.

M.C.: David Rush