October is Economic and Community Development Month. Rotary supports investments in people to create measurable and enduring economic improvement in their lives and communities. The Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to invest in people by creating sustainable, measurable, and long-term economic improvements in their communities and livelihoods.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Greetings! I haven’t been inundated with your suggestions for fundraising. I had hoped you wouldn’t leave it to me to create this myself as you know by now that President Dorothy is a bit quirky! Confucius say: “Silly person leave invention to President Dorothy!” Please members give fundraising some thought.
I quite often hear the excuse that we don’t have enough members to create a good fundraiser, but don’t overlook that there are many people around us, who would gladly volunteer as “Friends of Rotary Hawthorn.” Mark Eldredge and I have had great success through Seek Volunteer. I advertised recently for a film professional to provide support to the students at Lakeview Secondary College, Caroline Springs where Rotary SAFE Families is running their newly created RESET: Respect on Screen program. I discovered a 3rd Year Masters of Communication and Media student Andrew who is rapt to have the opportunity to assist students make films whilst gaining experience and a reference for future employment.
Is it a negative view that we have whenever we are asked to do something or to discuss a new project or event. Do we instantly come forward with the negatives, the reasons why it won’t be feasible? Why can’t we ask ourselves: “What do we need to make this happen?” instead of “That won’t work” or “We don’t have the members” or “That is too difficult”?
Why does constant negativity come first? Maybe something you might like to reflect? And ask ourselves: “How good would it be if we made this work?” “What do we need to do get this over the line?” Cheers Dorothy
NEXT MEETING – 10 NOVEMBER – KOOYONG
'This is a special meeting with our Anne Scott OAM updating us on her “Member Behind the Badge”.
It appears that Anne was unable to complete her original “MBB” years ago and many adventures have happened since then, so Anne has agreed to bring us up to date.
I hope we hear about her drinking Cobra and Scorpion Liqueur in Vietnam?
UPCOMING CALENDAR
3 November:
Melbourne Cup Day (no meeting)
10 November:
Member Behind the Badge – Anne Scott
17 November:
No Meeting (Epic Adventure Trip to Portland)
24 November:
DG Graeme Hope, “Create Lasting Impact” District Priorities
1 December:
Honorary Thai Consul Teresa Sullivan OAM
8 December:
Christmas Dinner
16 December:
Fun! Members Entertaining Us!
BIG MAC'S VISIT TO BALLINA
Rotary cricketers met in Ballina for the annual cricket carnival recently.
Hawthorn Rotarian David and Karun McNamara travelled to Ballina via Jetstar for the carnival and fellowship.
There were 24 Players placed into 4 Groups to play over the 3 days but unfortunately due to rain only one day’s play was possible.
So off to the Tweed Valley for a bus trip to Tweed Valley Farmhouse Cheese factory . We visited the farm for a lovely lunch but unfortunately on the way to the Falls the bus broke down. This delayed us by an hour.
But we did get to enjoy a Dinner and Meeting with the Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond at the Ballina RSL with more than 80 in attendance.
We enjoyed a great final night dinner at the Ballina RSL and then off home.
2027 IFCR Carnival will be in either Mackay or Maroochydore at a date to be advised.
ON THE PLUS SIDE
Rotary and its PolioPlus partners are delivering much more than vaccines
.
A 2013 article in Time magazine described Gadap Town as a “black hole” for government services. The settlement on the outskirts of the Pakistani megacity of Karachi was home to 400,000 people at that time but had only one basic health clinic and no sanitation or water treatment.
But in the decade since, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have done much in Gadap to address not only polio, which remains a challenge, but other health needs. “Where you have a polio case or measles case, it’s kind of a litmus test for the failure of a health system,” says Melissa Corkum, UNICEF’s polio team lead in Pakistan.
Invite friends and family to donate to this increasingly important International Project.
Charlotte England, Dennis Shore and Andrew Crockett are stepping out as our inspirational team “Hawthorn Walkers” this year. They are challenging themselves to walk throughout the month and raise vital funds that will help eradicate and prepare us for a Polio free world. Please support them in this important cause to End Polio Now! https://www.rotarywalkwithus.org/fundraisers/hawthornwalkers
WHERE WERE YOU LAST THURSDAY EVENING?
Do you know where Min Bell and I spent last Thursday evening?
We were invited to the annual production by Somebody’s Daughter Theatre, performed by the women of the Dame Phyllis Frost Detention Centre at Ravenhall.
I am no stranger to the prison. Years ago, in my professional capacity, I visited many times to debrief prison officers after a serious incident, and on one of those visits I had the privilege of seeing a Somebody’s Daughter production for the first time.
What a transformation since then. I remember a windswept yard without a green leaf or flower in sight, and a forlorn children’s climbing frame and slide rising out of the dust. Today the grounds are modern and garden-like, though there is no mistaking that this is still a prison.
Before we arrived, we were reminded of the rules: no watches or cameras; no hoodies, scarves or belts; no insignia or protest slogans; no medications, confectionery or drugs and many more “ No… No!”
DID YOU KNOW? PP Ron Carr (1981-82) was up to 1993, our only President to have had a project named after him. The annual Ron Carr Enterprise Award honoured his efforts to encourage entrepreneurs in Melbourne and beyond. Ron pioneered work in the field of acoustics, tuning large public buildings for special purposes.
The concept of the award was to recognise entrepreneurs from the City of Hawthorn and later from Boroondara through an ‘Annual Entrepreneur Award’. The award consisted of a specially created bronze statuette (commissioned from artist and former Hawthorn Mayor Lloyd Orton) and $1000, a significant sum in those days.
Over time, the award morphed into the Ron Carr Enterprise Award and nominations were evaluated on flair, enterprise, innovation, and contribution to community and/or economic development techniques.
There were many very worthy nominations over the quarter century, which highlighted the significant entrepreneurial centre of excellence in Hawthorn/Boroondara and very many worthy winners, including our own Jill Weeks in 2001.
Unfortunately, work with asbestos before its potential dangers were known, may have contributed to Ron’s early death just six days prior to the inaugural award.
ROTARY CAMBERWELL is CELBRATING 70 YEARS of SERVICE Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at 6.00 pm Studley Grounds, 121 Studley Road, Kew 1. Cost is $95.00/person Which Includes Welcome drink, appetisers, 2 course meal 2. Acceptances closes 14th October 3. Dress is Formal
For more information, click Read morefor flyer and QR code to register.
Join Rotary Hawthorn Members at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre 30 Oct – 1 Nov 2026
Saturday 31 October Morning – PEOPLE
Presidents Breakfast with RIPE Larry Lunsford (ticketed event) (Club Presidents, Presidents-Elect & Nominees)
Keynote Address: Closing the Gap, (announcement coming soon)
Rotary Project Case Study: Ending Trachoma in Australia, Robert McGuirk, Rotary Club of Melbourne
Panel: Building Community Resilience - Rotary's Role, (announcement coming soon)
Rotary South Pacific Update: Membership Focus
Morning & Afternoon - PLANET
Keynote Address: Water at the Heart of Community Resilience, Bridget Teirney MSc, BEng (Hons)
Rotary Project Case Study: (announcement coming soon)
Entertainment
Keynote Address: Building Climate Resilient Futures in the Pacific, (announcement coming soon)
Rotary Project Case Study: (announcement coming soon)
Rotary South Pacific Update: Partnerships Focus
Breakout Sessions: People / Planet / Peace – Rotary’s Call to Action
Afternoon & Evening
End Polio Now Walk (ticketed event) - Raising awareness and support for Rotary’s global eradication effort
Hosted by End Polio Now Coordinator PDG Amanda Wendt
The Rotary Foundation Major Donor Event (invitation)
Hosted by Endowment & Major Gift Adviser PDG Wendy Protheroe
Saturday Conference Dinner
Theme “Masquerade” - A celebration of service, leadership and regional fellowship.
Hosted by PDG Michael Lapina
Conference registration includes:
morning tea on Saturday and Sunday
lunch on Saturday
Delegates will not get a takeaway lunch at the end of the conference on the Sunday. Lunch on Sunday is "own arrangements".
Full conference plus dinner registration includes Saturday dinner.
Saturday dinner tickets may also be purchased separately.
Sunday 1 November Morning - PEACE
In Memoriam
Keynote Address: Peace in the Age of Information Warfare, Associate Professor Sebastian Kaempf, Rotary Peace Centre, University of Queensland
Rotary Project Case Study: (announcement coming soon)
Breakout Sessions: People / Planet / Peace – Rotary’s Call to Action
Closing presentations and reflections, entertainment.
Conference will close no later than 1:30PM
Conference registration includes:
morning tea on Saturday and Sunday
Delegates will not get a takeaway lunch at the end of the conference on the Sunday. Lunch on Sunday is "own arrangements"
Where… The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, colloquially referred to as Jeff’s Shed, is a group of three adjacent buildings next to the Yarra River in South Wharf, an inner-city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The iconic venue is an outlet for Melbourne’s signature culture, hosting dynamic exhibitions, conferences, galas and concerts.
Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at 6.00 pm