Thank you to everyone who participated in the Shop in Store, Drop at the Door project for Boroondara Community Outreach. Your efforts once again highlight how our club actively collaborates with organisations across our community. This follows closely on our recent joint initiative with the Rotary Clubs of Beechworth and Lakes Entrance, where arrangements for the purchase and installation of a SkyHydrant in Timor-Leste are progressing under the guidance of Noel Halford.
Other important activities are also underway. Our Zoom meeting for member input into the new Strategic Plan is shaping up, and I appreciate the thoughtful contributions already received. Several key additions have strengthened the plan, which aims to guide us in taking the necessary steps to secure the club’s long-term viability. This five-year plan outlines strategies to grow membership, boost fundraising, and keep the club lively and effective for the future. This isn’t a comment on current performance—our club is functioning well—but rather an acknowledgment that trends in membership and fundraising require us to act decisively.
A gentle reminder: if you haven’t already placed your orders for hams and other Christmas fare, please do so—and encourage family and friends to support this important fundraiser.
My sincere thanks to all members who continue to support the many projects we have underway. Your commitment is what enables Hawthorn Rotary to make a meaningful difference.
Next week is our Christmas Party. Numbers are a little lower this year due to travel and illness, but I have no doubt we will enjoy a wonderful evening together. We have an excellent entertainer lined up, and I thank Terry for organising what promises to be a thoroughly enjoyable night. I am very much looking forward to it.
NEXT WEEK’S MEETING Kooyong - 16 December (2025 Finale)
What have Peter England, David Rush, Dorothy Gilmour and “mystery member” got in common? Answer: Travel adventures to keep you riveted!
Come along and be inspired as three “electric” speakers share “eclectic” travel tales with twists and turns. A riveting finale to our Rotary year!
UPCOMING SPEAKERS
December 9 :Christmas Dinner
December 16:Last meeting for 2025
February 3:First meeting Kooyong for 2026
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
LAST CHANCE TO ORDER YOUR CHRISTMAS PRODUCE
Download the Order Formand give it to friends and family or use it yourself to order our beautiful hams, Christmas Cakes and Puddings.
Orders need to be completed by 5 December emailed torflogan@yahoo.com
We are seeking nominations for our Annual Service to Seniors’ Award and suggest you may have someone you might like to nominate. Please read the attached details for nomination and the Application Form.
Award will be announced at our Kooyong meeting 21 April 2026.Our Award recognises a volunteer “who flies under the radar” supporting an older person in Boroondara.
Please put on your thinking cap!
Photo shows last year’s Awardee Coralie White and check out the smiles!
Clue 1:I spend much time hitting the little white ball!
Clue 2:When last ham is collected, I’ll be hitting the whiteball!
Clue 3: I serve on our Membership Committee.
Clue 4: High finance was my role last year.
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 16 December donated by the last prize winner.
SUCCESS AT THE SUPERMARKET
These are just 2 of our wonderful members who filled the roster for collecting items for the Boroondara Community Outreach Christmas Hamper Donations at Woolworths Camberwell on the weekend. 15 of us braved the wind, rain and the public as we asked for their generosity in buying a few extra items to fill the Christmas Hampers.
PRESIDENT IAN VISITS ROTARY MELBOURNE
Last week, President Ian and Jane accompanied by Min Bell and your Editor visited Rotary Melbourne for the annual Sir John Reid Award.It was awarded to a nomination from Rotary SAFE Families and Dr Fartun Farah, CEO East African Women’s Foundation was this year’s awardee receiving $10,000.Unfortunately, Dr Farah was unable to attend due to a family death.
Rotary SAFE Families works with East African Women’s Foundation providing workshops, films, resources to the hundreds of African families that Dr Farah and her team supports.
It was also inspiring hearing about the work of the Maluk Timor organisation in Timor Leste. Since 2012 they have been providing healthcare programs and funding to women’s health, maternal and child nutrition and babies, oral health, rheumatic heart disease, HIV and Tuberculosis.
Editor shared the work of Rotary Hawthorn over the years in Timor Leste. Photo shows L-R:PP Mary Barry, Min Bell, Jane Bentley, Ian Bentley and Deb Yin Foo.
POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Do you remember the story in last week’s Bulletin when Jane Bentley provided 40 basketballs to Fartun Farah, CEO of East African Women’s Foundation, Braybrook?
From my posting this story on our Rotary Hawthorn Facebook page, received in 6 days, 538 viewings and 12 “Likes”.
If you are able to help us with Social Media, please contact Dorothy.
Notice the Rotary Clubs and Rotarians who “Liked” this post, they are all ambassadors of Rotary SAFE Families:
Rotary Club Hervey Bay City
Rotary SAFE Families - Building a Culture of Family Peace
Dorothy Gilmour
Rotary Club of Hawthorn
Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast
Rotary Club of Footscray
Carol Oxley
Rotary Inverloch
Ken Maxfield
Rotary Bacchus Marsh
Rotary Emerald
Rotary Caroline Springs
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!
DID YOU KNOW?
Take a stroll around the gravel walking track, have a picnic, or join the many locals who walk their dogs through this popular native setting. Fritsch Holzer Park features Australian native plants and is a great spot for picnics and dog walking.
The Fritsch Holzer Park was named after Augustus Fritsch and the Holzer brothers who formed the Upper Hawthorn Brick Company in 1883. Council bought the area in 1972 and used it as a landfill site until 1986, then as a temporary waste transfer station until 1989. Council, together with the Victorian Government and the Rotary Club of Hawthorn, reconstructed the area into a park in 1995.READ MORE
The Great Aussie Trivia Night was a very successful event in 2014, during Chris Hanson’s year as President. As he wrote in his report on November 20, 2014: “A million thanks must go to Jill Weeks and PP Ngaire Cannon (2012-13) who were the driving forces behind this project.
We had close to 120 people of whom about 75 (app. 60%) were non-Rotarians.
(Incidentally, this was a fantastic way to make people aware of Rotary and possibly increase membership.
Chris thanked everyone for a team effort and one to be considered every few years!) Maybe we are ready to repeat this successful event?
