Rotary International's monthly theme for September is Basic Education and Literacy.
Rotary International's monthly theme for September is dedicated to Basic Education and Literacy Month: September centers on strengthening communities by improving access to education, enhancing literacy skills, and reducing gender disparities in schooling.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Greetings. Much activity to share with you this week.
Friday morning, I was invited to meet with John Pesutto, MP for Hawthorn at his Hawthorn office. He wanted to know how he could support Rotary Hawthorn.
I told him about a new Community/Vocational Service Award we were planning and he has promised to endorse and support us. He is also planning to table Rotary SAFE Families and Towards Respectful Relationships in Parliament.
This is a great outcome and will be tabled as an initiative of the Rotary Club of Hawthorn.
I have had a couple of Rotary Presidents from Clubs in District 9800 contact me to ask how the year is proceeding at Rotary Hawthorn.
All Members Please Note – Cancellation? It is up to you!
I just decided not to alter my President’ Message of optimism but I need to alert you all to a reality I am very unhappy about. I have just spoken to Terry Kitchen who is trying to enjoy a short holiday up north! Members. Here is Terry’s Report to our Board Meeting on Tuesday night:
“TICKET SALES are very slow and disappointing. At the time of writing we have 20 bookings, only 7 are RCH members. This number will increase to 36 when I have registered our guest speaker, MC and auctioneer, plus 3 from Bendigo Bank and the table of 10 from AVEO.
With less than a month until the lunch, and only 3 weeks until the RSVP date, we desperately need our members to support this event. They need to book their own tickets and encourage friends and other Rotary contacts to come. I have sent invitations to all Business Breakfast attendees and asked Cheryl Pisterman to post the flyer on the District website.
I asked Kooyong if the smaller Stadium Room would be available, but it is fully booked. We need to get numbers up to 100 / 120 to at least fill the lower level of the Kooyong Room and to satisfy our sponsors. By comparison, in 2024 we had 200 guests.“
Peter Cullen AM, CEO Reclink: “The Power of a Football”.
'The Power of a Football’ is a riveting collection of over 30 personal stories from all walks of life in the 30 years of Reclink footy - stories about Reclink’s impact on lives. The big names, the unsung heroes and everyone in between – from the early days of its grassroots in St Kilda, to the football league it is today around the country.
Throughout these stories are the recurrent themes of hope, passion, inspiration, confidence and the transformative nature of connection and purpose which AFL football provides. The Power of a Football is an uplifting and important book which reminds us all that something as simple as a football holds the power to change lives.
With testimonials inside from Rev Tim Costello AO, Andrew Gaze, Doug Hawkins, Andy Maher, Tim Watson, Sam Kekovitch, The Power of a Football is an uplifting and important book which reminds us of all that something as simple as a football holds the power to change lives'. Words and Photo: Reclink Australia
UPCOMING CALENDAR
8 September: No Meeting – Social lunch at venue to be decided
15 September: Peter Cullen AM, CEO Reclink – “Power of a Football”
Think about friends you can invite to make up a table at our Lift the Lid Lunch, our major fundraiser. All members are expected to support our biennial fundraiser!
Download the attached Flyer and email it to your friends or print out and give it to your friends!
We desperately need raffle items:
Do you have a favourite cafe/restaurant that you frequent? Ask them to provide a gift voucher and we will promote their business to 200 guests at our event.
A favourite business that you use like a florist, Scicluna’s greengrocer, a gym, pub, wine bar, spa treatment? Please ask if they could provide a gift voucher in return for us promoting them to 200 guests?
We need auction items:
· Sporting memorabilia
· Artwork
· A Holiday apartment or flights from your travel agency
· A unique experience (e.g. a drive in a sports car)
· Vintage wine
Please contact Terry if you have any ideas or sugges
Thank you Big Mac and team for all your wonderful support of the Salvo Hawks who hit the jackpot this year as Premiers! I believe it was a fantastic day with the Salvo Hawks winning the premiership by about 40 points.
BUNNINGS FATHER'S DAY BBQ
On a cold late afternoon into evening last week, Vincent Chen, Big Mac and Dorothy sizzled 100 sausages, at Hawthorn Bunnings for their Father’s Day Event. Rotary Hawthorn now has another $200 Gift Voucher from our efforts. Thank you boys!
Not only did we get a new volunteer for Hawthorn, but a donation to Rotary SAFE Families, a headache for Big Mac because of Dorothy’s banter, but Vincent – did you know, is the expert in barbequing!
He had the hotplate sizzling! We were told Vincent and Big Mac’s onions were the best ever tasted at a Bunnings BBQ!!!
AVEO ARE BACK SUPPORTING ROTARY HAWTHORN
Dorothy has organised a date for you and your partner /friends to take a tour and enjoy a morning tea at the Fountain Court in Burwood on Tuesday 13 October, commencing at 10.30 – 11.45 am.
Please let me know if you would like to attend. It means $500 for Rotary Hawthorn!
OPERATION UPLIFT
Can you imagine how happy we will make the Rotary Portland members if we can drag a few big bags of bras into the dinner we are having with Rotary Portland, Portland Bay and Rotary Hawthorn in November?
Guess what? Rotary Kew’s President Barb Brook said they would get some bras for us. Saturday afternoon I collected from Kew Collection, and Barb delivered to my garage – 60 Kgs of bras! I believe they will be delivering another 40 kgs. Now I need to sort and pack ready for our delivery to Portland in November.
The bookworms met Chez Bentley on 3rd September, and discussed “James” by Percival Everett. We all gained something from this profound and ferociously funny reimagining of Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, told from the perspective of the enslaved J Jim.
It took us some time as readers to become comfortable with the format of multiple “adventures” (as Mark Twain had introduced), and to understand the “coon talk”, which the slaves adopted in the presence of whites. This talking was used largely to make them appear stupid and therefore subservient and not a threat.
PLEASE SIGN UP FOR DONATIONS IN KIND MONTHLY PACKING!
John Perry is seeking MEMBERS to sign up for this month’s DIK packing.
We would greatly appreciate if you used the form below and showed your willingness to be invited to a DIK packing day. This would make John’s job so much easier and give you time to plan.
This week has been a challenging one for your Modest Rotarian.
The topic of Artificial Intelligence, addressed at the Rotary Club of Hawthorn Breakfast, was indeed timely. As your Modest Rotarian scanned the room, he could not help but be impressed by the number of Rotarians of advancing years who have embraced this new age of technology.
No sooner had your M.R arrived home, however, than he encountered an IT problem.
And, surprisingly, this was not due to the age of its operator, but rather the age of his computer.
It came as something of a shock to discover that the computer which had served him so faithfully for what he believed to be six years was, in fact, thirteen years old.
So, perhaps with some gratitude, your M R reflected that he had outlived such an essential part of modern life — the PC.
Rotarians from Hawthorn (Vic) Cheryl Pisterman & husband David, were on board the OVERLAND today on their way to meet up with the GHAN in Adelaide.
Yes it was a 'short and sweet' meeting when the OVERLAND pulled into Nhill station and we understood that many of you weren't able to make it due to work etc and of other commitments but John & Margaret did the full regalia with the Rotary flags on the platform.
Even though it was just a couple from another Club and not the crowd it didn't matter, because I am sure they will have such wonderful memories to take back to their Hawthorn Club of our effort on behalf of our Nhill Rotary Club to welcome them yet again into our town Nhill. I do hope they venture up this way again like they did some couple years ago.
Editor’s Note: Thank you Helen and we look forward to another visit!
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2017 Past Presidents Charlotte England, Ngaire Cannon, Noel Halford, David Rush created the Effective Speaking program for Swinburne University students who had English as their second language.
MESSAGE FROM DG GREME HOPE
Re -Districting - Vote Results
I am pleased to advise that the vast majority of D9800 Clubs voted YES to the proposed district plan for the new District 9795. Effective date is from 1 Jul 28 as detailed in the email forwarded to Clubs on 1 August 26.
Analysis of Vote Results
· 64 Clubs – 61 Rotary and 3 Rotaract
· 75% (as per By-laws) = 48 Clubs needed to respond
· 53 Clubs – Yes
· 7 Clubs – No
Next Steps
Nomination for DGN (District Governor Nominee) Arrangements are underway to seek nominations for DGN for the new District from D9800. Once these are finalised, (awaiting District 9780 vote result) an application form and supporting documents will be circulated.
2026 Rotary South Pacific Zone Conference
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Vic 27 Oct – 1 Nov 2026
What… The world is changing – and so is Rotary!
As Rotarians, we know that meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes vision, commitment and community. That’s why the 2026 Zone 8 Conference is focused on building a legacy that lasts.
The 2026 theme – Future in Focus: People, Planet, Peace – places our shared future at the heart of everything we do. It calls us to step up and lead in three interconnected areas: people, planet and peace.
Whether you’re a club leader, a project champion or a passionate community member, this is your opportunity to join fellow Rotarians from across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and beyond, as we explore what it truly means to be future focused.
hy has organised a date for you and your partner /friends to take a tour and enjoy a morning tea at the Fountain Court in Burwood on Tuesday 13 October, commencing at 10.30 – 11.45 am.
