It has been a lively Rotary week—from bowling at Auburn and a Hawthorn win at the Boroondara Quiz Night, to members volunteering at Donations in Kind.
At the Auburn Bowls Club social afternoon, Denbigh bowled over the competition with great style. Thank you to Terry for organising the event, giving us the chance to enjoy relaxed fellowship, and for arranging our table at the combined Boroondara Quiz Night, which was hosted by the Rotary Club of North Balwyn and expertly run by PDG Greg Ross. I’m pleased to report that the Hawthorn team of Dennis, Meredith, and David Rush carried the day.
Last Thursday, several Hawthorn members also volunteered at Donations in Kind, sorting medical equipment for shipment to the Children’s Surgical Centre in Phnom Penh. Thank you to John Perry for organising the team, and to Katrina for coordinating the Surgical Centre project.
Behind the scenes, the Board also met last week for a productive meeting. Among the decisions made was a $2,000 contribution to the Rotary Club of Alexandra to assist with bushfire recovery—a small but meaningful way for us to stand alongside communities doing it tough. We also agreed to contribute $700 to the West Timor Malaria Elimination Project through a Rotary Global Grant, and we hope to hear more about that initiative from a future speaker.
The Board has set 31 March for a general meeting to consider amendments to our membership bylaws, including the creation of a new membership category for situations we have encountered this year that do not quite fit within the existing classifications.
We also approved a modest investment to help centralise the club’s growing archive of photographs. Dorothy and I will work through the practical arrangements before rolling this out. If you can assist by taking photographs at meetings or other events, please let me know.
The Board has also formalised a mid-year and end-of-year review cycle for our Strategic Plan, ensuring that our 2026–2030 plan remains a living document. An Awards Committee has been established to oversee this year’s awards and recognitions.
Thank you to Mark for his continuing work on volunteer engagement, including coordinating our club’s participation in the Boroondara Volunteer Expo, which attracted over 500 attendees.
Finally, at today’s meeting, we were treated to Min’s engaging “Behind the Badge” talk—a reminder of the breadth and depth of experience and character around our lunch table each week.
All in all, another good week for the club: fellowship, service, and steady work behind the scenes to keep the wheels turning.
Ian Bentley
President 2025-26
NEXT MEETING – ZOOM –24 MARCH
Sue Williams -“The Duke's Secret”
Sue Williams bases her fourth historical novel, on her own family's legend that they are descended from Mary Ann and the Duke. In a beguiling mix of fact and fiction, she tells the rollicking story of the womanising Duke, whose appetite for women knew no bounds, the maid who was powerless to resist his charms, and her own quest to prove whether this was merely myth or a blood tie with history.
Her other historical novels, Elizabeth & Elizabeth, about Elizabeth Macquarie and Elizabeth Macarthur; That Bligh Girl, featuring Mary Bligh and her father, the notorious mutiny survivor and governor William Bligh; and The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress, about Philip Gidley King and his tangled love affairs, have all proved bestsellers. Sue is also an award-winning journalist, travel writer and bestselling author of non-fiction. She lives in Sydney with her partner Jimmy Thomson, aka crime writer James Dunbar, and their two cats'. (Source: Words and Photo:Allen and Unwin)
31 March:Maire Ruance, CEO of the FREO2 Foundation
7 April:Easter Tuesday, No meeting
14 April:Club Meeting at Kooyong
21 April: Annual Service to Senior’s Award, Ben Rogers, CEO COTA and Seniors Rights Victoria
28 April:Club Meeting by Zoom
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
Request for Support for DIK
At our last meeting and again in the last Bulletin, President Ian mentioned that it is now possible to sign up online to volunteer for our club’s once-a-month working bee at Donations in Kind (DIK), held on the second Thursday of each month. When he checked recently, not one person had signed up. The process is very simple — just click the link below, enter your name on the form that opens, and tick the dates when you are available to join other Hawthorn Rotarians at the warehouse:
We are once again taking part in the GWS COMMUNITY RAFFLE. Last year we raised over $600 through the raffle, so our challenge is to do better this time round. Please support this activity as it will contribute to our annual fundraising; tickets will be on sale at our Club meetings.
Save the date for our BUNNINGS BBQ on SUNDAY 31 MAY. This will be an important fundraiser for the Club. I will be looking for members to sign up to the roster, which will be available at Club meetings.
Storage of Rotary Hawthorn Material
Many of you would know that Noel Halford has, for many years, stored RCH material at his factory. That arrangement will soon come to an end as Noel is looking to sell the factory. We have a few items that need a new home, nothing too bulky. If you think you might be able to store something at your home or beach house, please let Terry Kitchen know ASAP.
Social Success at Rotary Cluster Quiz Night
The Boroondara Cluster Quiz evening was well supported by all seven clubs. The table camaraderie and involvement of those attending was great to see. The quiz combined a mix of Rotary related questions and general knowledge. I am pleased to say that our team came out on top - Dennis Shore, David Rush and Meredith Hayes out performed North Balwyn in the final with a convincing win.
Project Success at DIK
Rotary Hawthorn team members John Perry, Katrina, Big Mac and Geoff Wright were at Donations in Kind sorting and boxing medical equipment bound for the Children’s Surgical Centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (CSC). The container will also include some hospital beds, bedside tables and medical equipment.Thanks to John for organising the team.
The project is being delivered by a collaboration of Clubs including Rotary Hawthornwith the support of a Rotary Foundation District Grant & of course, this project could not be possible without Donations in Kind.READ MORE
Who Am I?
Clue 1: I am the “greatest” collector of anything that can be donated.
Clue 2: My other “half” may be our President!
Clue 3: My surname is the name of a beautiful automobile
Email or message David Pisterman (pisterman41@gmail.comwith your answer to this month’s Quiz. A bottle of the best is waiting for the winner at our lunch meeting 3 March donated by the last prize winner.
YOUR CLUB BULLETIN NEEDS YOUR STORIES!
Editor note: Please send a travel story, project update, story of interest and photographs to Editor, Dorothy Gilmour by Sunday afternoon and you will be Bulletin celebrity and know you have made a difference by contributing!
DID YOU KNOW?
It was a great loss for members in 1966-67 when Tom Tylee died. He and his wife Judy took a keen interest in the club. In the days when touring in Australia’s “red centre” was most hazardous, they had a four-wheel drive vehicle, specially fitted out by Swinburne students, capable of taking them to remote parts and bringing them back in good order.
Tom perfected a way of leaving the front vents open to scoop in clean fresh air before the wheels of the vehicle stirred up the ‘bull dust’ which put a layer of fine red soil over everything inside a vehicle even if windows were opened in the normal way.
Our club decided to establish a permanent memorial to Tom Tylee in the form of an endowment to the library of Swinburne Technical College of which he had been CEO since 1950.
ROTARY NOTICEBOARD
Upcoming GardenDesignfest
A request from a visiting Rotarian from Rotary Kew last week, Pennie Cornwell for their upcoming GardenDesignfest in November.
Kew Rotary are in the planning stages of our major fundraiser, to be held 21/22 November 2026. We have several great designers and gardens signed up, but always looking for more. If you have or know of a great designer, wonderful garden and owners willing to support Rotary, please get in touch with Pennie. 0425714316
Rotary Caroline Springs Charity Golf Day
ROTARY WERRIBEE’S ‘RHYTHMS & RIDES for CHANGE’
Sunday April 26 at Wyndham Harbour
Multi-District IMPACT SUMMIT - in Horsham!
Join us for the Multi-District Impact Summit in the vibrant regional city of Horsham, Victoria. This isn't just another conference; it's a powerful collaboration where Districts 9800, 9780 and 9510 will Unite for Good.
This year's summit brings together three districts to amplify our collective power and drive meaningful change. We'll be focusing on the incredible things we can achieve when we work together, sharing our successes, and planning our future impact. Check the flyer for information or click on: https://www.rotaryimpactsummit.org/
Don't miss this unique opportunity to CONNECT, SHARE, and LEARN how we can make an even greater impact together. Mark your calendars and be part of this unforgettable experience.
