In the Rotary world most positions have a term of one year. Some other positions such as Foundation roles have a three year term and it is time for the current team to move on. Some will be continuing on as part of the new team who will be capably led by PDG Murray Verso, who I know will fill that role with distinction.

Please enjoy this Newsletter (click here) and celebrate three years of success, prancing, celebration and inspiration whilst our dedicated Rotarians continued to Do Good in the World.

It seems a long time ago now..... perhaps 3 or 4 years, since my first lady of Rotary, Joan Daniels, invited me to a Christmas Party. Never would I refuse Joan anything.

She is my mentor.

When we arrived at the building there was an enormous Rotary wheel above us and the building was named "Rotary House". I was amazed.

I had never heard of this building.

The Managing Director, Eric Wright greeted us warmly. He calls Joan "Rotary Royalty".

Inside, each apartment door was named for a donor. Most of them Rotari- ans or Rotary Clubs. I learned the history of the place and why it was built. I learnt that one person's idea started it all off; John Oppie as his child had leukaemia. Bernie Lamers (Rotary Club Preston) co-founded the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry then planned, project managed and fundraised tirelessly for BMDI/Rotary House. For that and his other humanitarian service he has been named this year as the first Zone 8 Rotarian Of The Year.

Then the District Governor of that year 1992-93 made it his focus.

He appointed a committee chaired by John Martyres. In that year Clubs raised over $1 million towards what was then knows as the Bone Marrow Research Institute associated with Rotary Melbourne Hospital.

Then 1993-1994 District Governor from my own Club Rob Dunn said it was the most important project he had undertaken in his Governor year, and that he and Past District Governor Gordon McKern continued to encourage Clubs to raise $2 million to earn naming rights of Rotary House.

Gordon's monthly newsletters are full of Club reports of fundraisers each month, pulling together with this District wide initiative.

So that was the beginning of it all.

Now, the Fight Cancer Foundation keeps it running, largely with proceeds from the Red Ball and a few Rotary Clubs stay helping.

Rotary has an opportunity to be part of the future too, as District 9800 has signed a collaboration deed to assist with the redevelopment of a new building.

BMDI Rotary House is located at 4-12 Blackwood St, North Melbourne

Rotary House Appeal Help Families Fight Cancer Together

Rotary, in partnership with Fight Cancer Foundation, has made an enormous difference to the lives of people living with cancer since 1990. District 9800 helped fundraise $4M to create a world-class Cancer Research Centre in Melbourne, which continues to produce results that improve the outcomes of cancer patients around the world.

Again in 2003 Rotary took up the cause of families fighting against cancer by throwing its considerable weight behind BMDI Rotary House in North Melbourne.

The centre comprises 13 self-contained apartments for regional, rural and interstate families who must travel to Melbourne to access specialist cancer treatment.

Close to three major treating hospitals, more than 70 families find a home away from home at BMDI Rotary House each year, helping to alleviate some of the financial and emotional stress and uncertainty brought by a diagnosis of cancer. Most importantly, it keeps these families together during the toughest battle of their lives.

The need for comfortable, affordable accommodation for rural and interstate families requiring treatment for cancer is high. BMDI Rotary House is always at capacity and the waiting list of families desperate for a safe place to stay for up to six months is long. What happens to these families if they can't access accommodation like that of BMDI Rotary House? They might spend their life savings on motel rooms, couch surf or decide to skip the treatment they need all due to the prohibitive cost of accommodation.

Rotary House, Rotary and Fight Cancer Foundation's ambitious new project, aims to provide more families going through cancer with a home away from home. With 30 custom-built apartments that cater to the specialised needs of people recovering from a bone marrow transplant, each year the new facility will provide almost 11,000 nights' accommodation to families who need it most.

Your support and that of your clubs will make a real difference in the lives of families fighting against cancer and help them face it together.

You can donate to the Rotary House Appeal by visiting www.fightcancer.org.au/donate and all donations are tax deductible.

Are You Free on April 4th for a Sing at Boyd 10.30 11.30?

A few short weeks ago, members of the Club wowed guests at our 20th Anniversary Dinner with an inspiring rendition of 'Hey Jude'.  In just a few of our meetings in May, we were coached by Music Director Kerry Gerraty from Upbeat Arts.

The vision for "South Village Singers" was formed.

Our Club now plans to hold Choir sessions ahead of our scheduled evening meetings twice a month.  So the Rotary Club of Southbank will host the 'Evening Chapter' of South Village Singers. 

Upbeat Arts has been hosting a Friday morning Choir at Boyd Community Hub for many months.  Under Kerry's leadership the group will become the 'Morning Chapter' at the Boyd Community Hub.  Presently, this group is a small, but growing, community choir with many members coming from the Choir of Hard Knocks. 

We will rehearse separately, but come together for performances . . . . and some good times.

LATE NEWS

We need singers to join in a gig at Boyd Community Hum on July 4th.  It is their 7th birthday.

Can you join us?

Please contact David Jones

PH: 0419 889 646

Email: David.a.jones@bigpond.com

Links

https://www.southbanklocalnews.com.au/editions/article/choir-call-out_8609/

https://www.southbanklocalnews.com.au/editions/article/southbank-rotary-turns-20_8624/

https://www.upbeatarts.org.au/south-village-singers.html

Across the world, there are thousands of Rotary Clubs. Each are independent and have their own local projects, but it is when they connect with other clubs and share ideas, they can learn new ways of doing things, create opportunities to do things differently and have a greater impact.

So it was on Monday 17th June, 2019, when members of the Rotary Clubs of Port Melbourne, Southbank, North Melbourne, Glen Eira and Bentleigh Moorabbin Central came together for a combined meeting at the Cricketers Arms Hotel in Port Melbourne.

Special thanks go to the Rotary Club of Port Melbourne for being the host club. The night allowed an opportunity to share a range of projects undertaken by each club. By leveraging the talents of other clubs we can do bigger and better things and learn and grow together.

• Providing Morning Tea in Parliament
• Sending used hospital beds to Chile to support palliative care hospitals
• Working with Rotary Club of Albert Park to run a book fair
• Running BBQ's at Bunnings
• Donation of a Mobility Scooter by club member
• Set up of a hotel / school / café / Dental Surgery in Balibo East Timor while restoring the old Balibo fort
• Currently investigating Malnutrition needs in East Timor - Supporting Farmers in East Timor to grow crops that will assist
• Pigs for Cambodia
• Hosting of a Trivia Night at the St. Kilda Town Hall in support of Father Bob.
• Planning a cruise around Port Melbourne.
• Planning guest speaker from Mercy Ships could be a great opportunity for another combined meeting and will lead to a fundraiser.
• Planting Trees in Port Melbourne
• Supporting girls from MacRob with the set-up of an Interact Club and supporting them to attend Rotary Programs such as RYPEN, RYLA and the Science Experience.

• Combining with Ray White in Southbank to support their Christmas giving appeal 'A little Ray of Giving' and supporting local charities including Steps Outreach Service and Launch Housing'
• Planting Trees with First friends of Dandenong creek and also at Westgate Park.
• Participating in Run Melbourne.
• Combined with other District clubs to participate in an 'End Polio Now walk around Albert Park Lake Themed Punks and Princesses where everyone dressed up

• Works in the Homelessness space
• Food Bank community information support combined with Glen Eira council
• Run a monthly program called Nourish along with Beth Israel which has expanded to volunteering in Alma Park to feed 30-40 homeless people
• Volunteering at St. John's church
• Will run an Indian Cultural Day on 18 August to highlight projects in their country in partnership with Rotary Club of Warrnambool Central
• Installation of 200 Solar lighting kits in India

• Very Successful at running BBQ's for Bunnings / Election Sausages, etc. and inundated by requests for more opportunities
• Sell / Donate water filters to South America
• Had representatives from Afri-Aus Care at their last meeting along with the Black Rhinos Basketball Team. This will also lead to a fundraiser. Selba Luka from Afri-Auscare also attended the combined meeting at Port Melbourne.

President Elect Sally visited the Rotary Club of North Melbourne on 13 June and reports on their guest speakers.

Selba Luka was the guest speaker, she is from Afri Aus Care. They are a non-profit organisation that support African youth. Selba brought along 11 or so young men from the basketball club that they founded called the Black Rhinos. Her daughter also spoke about up cycling clothing as a project she is starting to raise some funds for the cause. Selba is doing great work with support and counselling of the African youth, but they need help, especially with employment opportunities and mentoring. Watch this space, we will continue the conversation and see what we can do to help as a cluster, championed by George Zindillis from North Melbourne Rotary Club and Dale Hoy, District Governor Nominee Designate.

Note change of venue and date

Monday 17th June, 2019 - 6 for 6.30pm

Cricketers Arms Hotel, 69 Cruickshank St, Port Melbourne

One of the exciting things about Rotary is often the opportunity and challenge to adapt to change at short notice.

This week, we had originally planned to have Lili Teichman, President Elect of Rotary Club of Glen Eira come and talk to us about the opportunity of sharing projects between our club and other district clubs however at late notice (but thankfully before the newsletter went out), Lili advised she wouldn't be able to make it due to another commitment.

Likewise, next week's speaker is also no longer available.

With a quick change of plans, we prepared for a discussion on future opportunities for the club but instead ended up welcoming David Richardson and Lucy Douglas from the Rotary Club of Port Melbourne who also visited our club with an idea of discussing shared project opportunities so we ended up having a similar discussion with that club.

It is now proposed that for next week, we have a combined meeting of Southbank, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne and Glen Eira at Port Melbourne's venue.

Monday 17th June, 2019 - 6 for 6.30pm

Cricketers Arms Hotel, 69 Cruickshank St, Port Melbourne

Other clubs would be welcome to join us too.

This meeting will replace our regular Tuesday club meeting, howver those still wishing to attend the Belgian Cafe on the Tuesday are welcome where President Sally suggests those attending join the Belgian's weekly Tuesday night trivia for some good fun with the community of Southvank.

If you would like to come, please continue to book through the new Southbank event page which now has the updated information.

I am excited and a little bit nervous that I am about to become President of my Rotary club. Excited because I know this is going to be an amazing opportunity. I will gain leadership skills and experiences, working in a team to make a real difference to the lives of people in need in our community. And a little bit nervous because I have never really had the opportunity to be a leader before.

But I know I am not alone, I have a supportive and talented team backing me up.

I want the year ahead to be enjoyable for everyone involved. I've got some ideas but I definitely welcome everyone's input. Let's have some fun whilst getting stuff done! I look forward working with you all.

Regards,

Sally, Presidet Elect

Below is a list of upcoming Changeover Celebrations in our area.  If you would like to help celebrate, please contact the individual club and book your ticket.

June 2019

Jun 13 Caulfield http://caulfieldrotary.org.au/event/38642/Changeover,%202019-20

Jun 14 Altona City Ray Lipscombe https://portal.clubrunner.ca/10794/Event/acrc-changeover-dinner-at-kooringal-golf-club

Jun 15 Hoppers Crossing Khurram Khan

Jun 25 Glen Eira  Lili Teichman http://rotarygleneira.org.au/event/38021/Club%20Change%20Over

Jun 26 Melbourne Kevin Sheehan https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=503008

Jun 28 RCCM Warwick Cavell https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=495961

June 30 District Changeover Grant Hocking https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=473703&

Jun 30 E-Club Madhumita Bishnu http://rotaryeclubofmelbourne.org.au

July 2019

Jul 1 South Melbourne John Wall https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=508353

July 3 Albert Park John Williams https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=512063&

July 4 North Melbourne George Zindilis http://rotarynorthmelbourne.org.au/event/38385/change-over-dinner

July 7 Port Melbourne Kevin Beagle https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/wh1.thewebconsole.com/wh/9036/images/RCPM-Invite-to-Presidents-Change-Over-Lunch-7th-July-2019.pdf

Jul 13 Melbourne Park Azu Azhan Aminath https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=512091

Jul 16 Southbank Sally Page https://www.southbank.org.au/event/event/detail/event/69095

The family of Rotary is invited to experience aloha at the 2020 Rotary International Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 6-10 June 2020.

Having Captured the Moment at the 2019 Rotary International Convention, attendees are leaving Hamburg, Germany with their eyes on the sandy beaches and natural beauty of Honolulu.

Local Rotary members are already hard at work preparing Honolulu to welcome Aloha, Rotary. Just as Rotary is a way of life for Rotarians, aloha is a way of life for Hawaiians one that focuses on living in harmony, being patient, treating everyone with respect, and sharing joy with your family, or 'ohana.

Read more

It was a small group that met on Tues 4th June at Southbank, but we made up for size with our spirit and busted out a few songs karaoke style for the South Village Singers practice. Even the barman was impressed with our tunes!

Sally hosted her first meeting as future President with some great ideas thrown around for her role and future events - some very exciting times ahead for Southbank Rotary. A lot of us will be keeping fit with some fun runs whilst also raising money for MS and STEPS, supporting the homeless at the Salvation Army Café and we talked wine tasting and book clubs more to come there.

We all missed Amrit who is travelling in Hamburg for the Rotary Convention However, we also started planning our holidays to Hawaii in 2020 for the next convention and already dreaming of sunny skies and beaches a long way from freezing Melbourne.

Don't forget on the 18th June we have a guest speaker from Destiny Rescue, a not for profit organisation dedicating to the rescue and restoration of child trafficking victims.