A big congratulations to our Hawkers Walkers for their outstanding effort in this year’s event. Although we fielded a small team this year, we can be proud of our results. Charlotte England and David Pisterman exceeded their targets - well done, and thank you to everyone who supported them. A special mention to Robert Fisher from Rotary Melbourne, who topped the league table by raising nearly $9,000 through his solo effort.
November is Rotary Foundation Month, a timely reminder of the global impact Rotary has when we come together. I’m pleased to share that Hawthorn has secured several District Grants this year, helping us expand our work across Community, International, and Youth Service. Congratulations and thanks to Katrina Flinn, Mark Pinoli, and all involved for preparing the successful submissions. Please also see Dorothy Gilmour’s informative article on the Foundation in this edition.
We are looking forward to our club visit to Beechworth later this month — a great opportunity for fellowship and to strengthen club-to-club connections. Meanwhile, we continue to progress our Strategic Plan, and our AGM later this month will provide a chance to reflect on the year that has nearly passed and look ahead with purpose.
Finally, leaders from the seven Boroondara Rotary clubs met last Friday for their regular breakfast catch-up. Membership trends vary across clubs, but overall membership in Boroondara has increased — partly due to the success of the Balwyn Blue satellite club and Canterbury’s induction of 10 new members. Collaboration remains strong, with clubs inviting each other to events and working together on shared priorities. Engagement with other community organisations remains high.
Thank you to all those who have stepped up over the past month for your continued involvement — it keeps our club active and forward-looking.
(No meeting next week - Cup Day)
Thank you Jill Weeks for the fascinating article below from The Advertiser 29/10/25 and History of Wollomai – Melbourne Cup Winner from The Phillip Island Vibe, November 2025.READ MORE
NEXT WEEK’S MEETING Kooyong - 11 November
Shaun Graf - Former International Cricketer
An admired Victorian all-rounder Shaun Graf delivers a wealth of cricketing knowledge and stories from his lifetime of playing the game.
You won’t want to miss this lively and engaging talk by one of cricket’s respected figures.
Some of his many achievements include:
Commenced 1976 at Premier Club St Kilda Cricket Club -Played over 300 1st xi Grade/District/Premier matches with St Kilda, Frankston Peninsula and South Perth CC winning five (5) Senior Premierships, (Captain/Coached two (2) of those).
Coached Hampshire in 1993 as a replacement for Malcolm Marshall
Pro with Wiltshire & Cornwall in the Minor Counties; Knowle in the Bristol & District League & Great Harwood in the Ribblesdale League.
Played 55 1st class matches for Victoria, WA & Hampshire (1979 - 1984) winning two winning Sheffield Shields, one with Vic (79-80) & WA (83-84) and two one day cup State wins
Joint winner with Greg Shipperd WA Cricketer of the Year in 1983-84
Represented Australia in 11 one day internationals (India, NZ, WI & Pakistan) and was 12th man in two Tests (India, NZ)
1983-84 Played for Western Australia
State Selector/Chair of Selectors for eight (8) years, successfully managed Victoria’s Salary Cap within the CA Player Payment Pool and State Male/Female lists -this was Victoria’s most successful era in Australian 1st class competition.
Administered Victorian HP cricket (GM Cricket Performance) for 28 years (took over from Bill Lawry), overseeing eleven (11) Shield finals for seven (7) wins, nine (9) one day finals for four (4) wins, two (2) Women’s State titles and four (4) T20 State Big Bash titles
Responsible for Redevelopment of the CitiPower Centre, Junction Oval.
Overseeing the MCG drop in wickets.
Project managed 2000 and 2002 Super Challenge Series (India and Pakistan).
Still very active in Cricket circles at St Kilda, his son is now Coaching St Kilda.
M.C. David McNamara
Photo Credit: Rodger Wang via Unsplash
UPCOMING SPEAKERS
November 18: No meeting (Beechworth Adventure)
November 25: Roger Hunt, Author – Live from UK and our AGM
December 2 : Charlie Allen, Building Resilience
December 9 :Christmas Dinner
December 16:Last meeting for 2025
THEY DID IT!
The Hawthorn Walkers Team have reached their goal plus $352! Well done Charlotte and David.Along with the 2:1 from the Gates Foundation, you have raised $6,704 for End Polio Now 2025!
As an extension of our Club’s ongoing support for Box Hill Hospital’s Upton House, we are putting together Christmas gift packs for the inpatients of the mental health ward.
Upton House staff will assemble the packs themselves so they can tailor each one to individual needs.
Some of the items will come from our regular care bag products (such as deodorant, lip balm, moisturiser, and hairbrushes) in place of our usual December delivery of care bags. We’ll also include a few special treats for the inpatients to share during mutual help meetings.For items needed … READ MORE
WHAT IS FOUNDATION?
November is Foundation month and I wonder if you recognise the importance of Foundation to the health, success and future of Rotary Hawthorn.I had to research Foundation in the lead up to this year and was surprised to find it thought-provoking and most valuable and not in the least “ho-hum”!I have created for you an easy to read synopsis as Director of Foundation, titled: FOUNDATION & ITS DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES.
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 11 November donated by the last prize winner.
YOUR CLUB BULLETIN NEEDS YOUR STORIES!
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 be able to tell your children your stories are in print!
Rotary Hawthorn Members wish you a wonderful birthday in November:
Simon O'Donoghue November 4 (Happy Birthday Today!)
Kevin Rose November 4 (Happy Birthday Today!)
John Perry November 5
Tamara Cannon November 11
Gilbert Habla November 15
Denbigh Richards November 23
Dennis Shore November 28
Congratulations to the following Members celebrating their Rotary Hawthorn Membership Anniversary in November:
Simon O'Donoghue 53 years 11 months 22 Nov 1971
Peter Lugg 44 years 11 months 29 Nov 1980
Charlotte England 40 years 11 months 10 Nov 1984
Ian Macfarlane 26 years 11 months 30 Nov 1998
Kim D’Arcy 14 years 11 months 24 Nov 2010
DID YOU KNOW?
PP Bill Troedel (1992-93) and his wife Sue, enjoyed a splendid Presidential year with significant successes including:
•Changeover night at Argenti’s with a record number of 130 members and guests, including some “very personable” young ladies from behind the former Iron curtain.
•Youth Exchange student to Edmonton, Alberta Canada and the hosting of a German student.
•An international service project with a training program for students and executives from the former Eastern bloc countries to help them acquire democratic ways from which they had been shut off for two generations.
•Thousands of dollars were donated to Bone Marrow Appeal, Vicspan, ARHRF, FAIM, Camp Quality, Life Education, Moorfield Aged Care, Mission for Streets and Lanes, State School Relief, Blind Audio Extensions, Crisis Line.
It is also noted that in Bill’s year, George Loton pioneered the sale of Christmas hams as a major annual fund-raising effort, and Bill and other members have continued to this day in 2023 to continue selling Christmas hams.
Bill’s record is a real example for all Rotarians – ask and it will be done! He has carried out numerous Club tasks with great zeal.
This attitude led to Bill also being active in District responsibilities where he was District New Generations Director and a huge supporter of MUNA and the Portsea Camp.
He was greatly involved in Youth Exchange at District and Club level.
Editor Note: We appreciate the efforts of Phil Stewart, Richard Logan and other members who have continued the Christmas Hams’ Fundraising raising fantastic funds for Rotary Hawthorn.
OTHER ROTARY NEWS
It's not too late to join us for Rotary's Fight Against Polio: Global Progress and Updates from Pakistan 13 November 2025 | 12:00 Chicago time (UTC-6) Live on Zoom
Polio remains endemic in only two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, recent outbreaks in previously polio-free areas and detections of poliovirus in sewage across several European countries demonstrate that polio remains a threat to children everywhere.
Fragile health systems and competing priorities continue to challenge eradication efforts, but Rotary and the Gates Foundation have renewed our long-standing partnership to fight polio with a joint commitment of US$450 million.
Rotary leaders also recently visited Pakistan and met with government officials, who reaffirmed their commitment to eradication. Join us to hear the latest updates and learn how your support is helping make progress toward a polio-free world.
Trustee Chair, The Rotary Foundation | Past President, Rotary International | Liaison, International PolioPlus Committee Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany District 1940
John F. Germ
Chair, End Polio Now: Countdown to History Campaign | Vice Chair, International PolioPlus Committee | Past President, Rotary International Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA District 6780
Arshad Quddus
Head of Detection and Interruption for Polio Eradication, World Health Organization
Carol Pandak
Director of PolioPlus, The Rotary Foundation Rotary Club of Evanston Lighthouse, Illinois, USA District 6440
Christmas Packs for Upton House Inpatients
