The Changeover Dinner on Tuesday night was a huge success with about 90 members and guests in attendance. We had the current DG Ron Payne and his wife Deb, DG Elect Michael Lapiña and the Mayor of Boroondara, Lisa Hollingsworth, attending.
I know a number of members were unable to join us due to travel commitments and illness so I will highlight a few areas from my President’s Report and the Club Awards for 2023-24.
The President’s Report was a slide show presentation of the main events for the year and was played with the theme music from Chicago, All That Jazz, thanks to our music maestros Noel and Lorraine McInness with photos provided by Gordon.
You can watch the slide show at your leisure at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5otp770ovhb605lwvwo4i/Hawthorn-Changeover-Dinner-2024-Final.mov?rlkey=qls9ypltwewrsayk4d09mcfd9&e=1&st=g3o1c2vb&dl=0
Two of our current Board members, Katrina Flinn and Rashi Kapoor, will be stepping off the Board at the end of this month. Katrina is a Past President and long-term Board member with Rotary Hawthorn, including past Treasurer and Director of International and Community Service. I have worked closely with Katrina (left, with Mick) since joining the Club and know she has a real commitment to all the many projects she has worked on to date and will continue to support them, especially the Mental Health Care Packs project across The Alfred, Box Hill and soon St Vincent’s MHU’s.
Rashi (right) is one of our Club’s newer and younger members but she was happy to take on the role of Director of Youth Services in 2023-24. Over the past year she has been married and the happy couple have relocated to Adelaide. In spite of the distance, Rashi has continued to work with Auburn High staff to support their students with Year 9 Mock Job interviews, Model United Nations Assembly, Science Experience programs and remained in contact with Evie Flynn, our Club’s Rotary Exchange student in France. Unfortunately, Rashi was unable to join us this evening but I very much appreciate the good work she has achieved over the year.
Rotary International President Gordon McInally designated the 2023-24 theme as “Create Hope in the World”; as highlighted in the slide presentation Rotary Hawthorn has taken this message to heart and through a number of local, regional and international projects, we have achieved this goal; once again thank you one and all for your support.
Presentation of Awards
Honorary Memberships
The Club’s classification as an Honorary member is the highest level of membership within the Club and is awarded in recognition of the Member’s long-term commitment to Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self” and the Club’s values.
I am pleased to announce the following Members have been awarded Honorary Membership status for 2024-25
· PDG and PP Bernie Walshe
· Jim O’Beirne (right)
· PP David Corrigan
Jim O’Beirne was able to join us tonight and was joined by his daughter Lisa and son Patrick, I was pleased to present him with a Certificate of Honorary Membership.
Paul Harris Fellow Recognition
The second category of award is the Paul Harris Fellow recognition award.
Paul Harris lived in Chicago, worked as a lawyer and wanted to find a way to connect with his local community. In February 1905 Paul Harris and three like minded individuals held the first Rotary meeting which led to the establishment of the worldwide Rotary movement we have today. In his honour The Rotary Foundation recognises Paul Harris Fellows for their contribution to their local Clubs and communities.
I am pleased to announce we have two Members, Noel Halford and Terry Kitchen, who have been awarded the Paul Harris Fellows award for 2023-24. Noel was unable to join us this evening due to Covid, leaving him laying low for a few more days.
Noel has worked on a number of Club projects over the past year including the Moorabbin Airport Club visit and the Club weekend trip to Nhill. Noel coordinated the Nhill visit with Rotary Nhill and they organised a special dinner and dance performance by the local Myanmar community. As part of the festivities Rotary Nhill held a raffle and charity auction which raised over $2,000 towards a Skyhydrant water purification unit to provide to a refugee camp on the Myanmar border.
Terry, as the Cl
ub’s Service Director, has worked quietly (most of the time) and diligently in the background to organise all the in-person events for the past year including Changeover dinners, 70th Anniversary celebrations, Club Christmas dinner and special event lunches for the Club. Few members would have an appreciation of the level of detail and follow up Terry puts into each event to ensure all our members and guests have an enjoyable experience.
I would like to say it would be greatly appreciated if members could respond to meeting invites in a timely fashion; I’m sure even if Paul Harris were a member of our Club, Terry would chase him up to commit to attend meetings and let her know if he has a food allergy.
I am sure you will agree these are two worthy recipients with Noel now a PFH-7 member pin and Terry receiving an initial PHF award and pin.
President’s Commendations for Service
Our next award is the President’s Commendation for Service which is an award to acknowledge a member’s contribution over the past year across a number of Club Service areas and to promote Rotary Hawthorn to the wider community.
This year’s recipient is PP Anne Scott AO. Anne has been a long-term member of Rotary Hawthorn and a Past President, she is currently the Foundation Director for the Club. Anne played a very important role in working with residents at Sackville Grange to raise funds for projects to support Rochester residents and coordinating our Club’s efforts with Rotary Rochester. She was active in the nomination of Margo Boyle as the Rotary Hawthorn Service to Seniors award recipient for 2023-24, encouraged our Club’s continued support for the Lille Fro charity in India, in addition to maintaining the high level of support Hawthorn provides to the Rotary Foundation.
President’s Prize for Rotarian of the Year
The Rotarian of the Year award is presented to a member in recognition of their Rotary Values “Service Above Self” and contribution to the Club over the past year.
This year’s recipient is PP Andrew Crockett AM. Andrew was Club President for two years from 2021-2023, which was a first for our Club, and has been Vice President and Club Secretary in 2023-24.
Andrew, with support from his wife Pam, has been an active participant in all the Club’s activities this year from MHU Care packing days to Bunnings Barbeques.
Andrew is also the go to person for advice on any matters relating to Club governance and for legal matters like MOU’s the Board need to sign as part of our commitment to current and future projects. These may seem like day-to-day matters but they are very important to ensure the Club operates efficiently and with a high level of legal and moral standards.
The presentation of Awards was was followed by a session with a magician which Dorothy had organised and links with the Rotary theme for 2024-25 The Magic of Rotary.
Induction of new President
Dorothy, you have been chosen by your fellow Rotarians to be the President of the Rotary Club of Hawthorn for the coming year. As President, you are assuming new duties, new obligations and responsibilities and these will make demands on your thoughts, time and energy.
We are confident that you will carry out your tasks with the same
enthusiasm and unique flair that characterises all Rotary actions and you are assured of the co-operation from your fellow members.
Rotary’s objective, with its Five Avenues of Service, will be your guide and I
know you will be sustained throughout your year by the fellowship and respect of us all.
With these collars, which bear the names of all the past Presidents of our Club, I induct you as President for 2024/25. Congratulations and our best wishes for a successful and rewarding year.
Dorothy thanked Terry as the organiser for the Changeover Dinner and President Doug for his contribution to the Club over the past year.
Dorothy then introduced the new Rotary Hawthorn Board for 2024-25:
- Treasurer Richard Logan
- Secretary Ian Bentley
- Vice President and Youth Services Doug McLean
- Membership Andrew Crockett
- Club Service Terry Kitchen
- International Service Peter Lugg
- Vocational Service Vincent Chen
- Foundation Anne Scott
At the end of the formal session, members and guests had a chance to socialise with festivities winding up at around 10 pm. Gordon Cheyne has prepared a catalogue of photos from the evening which highlights the evening’s festivities HERE
Announcements:
Again this year Rotary Hawthorn will be supporting Camcare with The Winter Food Project at in-person meetings in June and July. We ask members to bring non-perishable foods and cleaning products to meetings which will be collected at the front desk for delivery to Camcare. This week’s Bulletin will have a listing of the items they are looking for, in particular canned fish, vegetables and fruit.
In response to members’ feedback we have scheduled a Club Forum meeting on Tuesday 2nd July at Kooyong. This will be an opportunity for members to review current Club operations and projects with a view to improving both areas.
It would be appreciated if members could forward an email with topics they feel should be discussed at the Forum to Dorothy and myself over the next few weeks so we can ensure they are covered off during the session.
A reminder of the Auburn High Mock Interviews scheduled for Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th September from 8:30 am to 12 noon. Geoff Wright has been contacting members to confirm their availability to ensure we have the 32 interviewers required over the two days.
Footy tipping has taken an interesting twist, by not submitting my tips on time last week for the Port Adelaide vs Carlton game I was allocated the away team, Carlton, and won the match points so now have moved to 1st spot followed by David Rush and Richard Logan.
The next Club meeting is on Tuesday 18th June at Kooyong and the guest speaker will be Ashley Siedlecki and his topic will be Insights Into Timor Leste.
Ashley is a past RYLA participant. He is also a climate scientist and international development practitioner. Through his work, he is acquainted with Leopoldina Guterres (known to Rotary Hawthorn) and the Baguia area of Timor Leste. He will share his experiences and endeavours from the time he has spent in Timor Leste, inlcuding the geographic conditions, and shed light on the challenging economic landscape of the region.
The meeting will also include the induction of Norman Franzi as our newest member.
I hope you will be able to join us.
Doug McLean
President 2023-24