As I reflect on the last month, I am reminded of the children’s book written by Pamela Allen titled "Who Sank the Boat?" For those unfamiliar with the story, it involves a friendship group comprising a cow, a donkey, a sheep, a pig and a mouse. They decide to all go rowing in an open boat. The larger animals climb into the boat with each threatening to sink it. Before the mouse joins them, the boat is afloat but only just! The boarding by that tiny mouse was enough to cause the water to overflow and sink the boat.
For me this shows how the smallest contribution can trigger a big outcome. I feel that the following were only possible through the many contributions, large and small, made by so many of you. Who is to know if it was one of the small contributions that made the difference.
* A donation of US$3500 made to the Rotary Club of Tripureswor to establish an electronic empowered school for children displaced by the floods.
* The shipment of winter clothing to RC Tripureswor for distribution amongst the children we have worked with over the past two years.
* The BBQ at Flemington Festival with profits shared between Abdi’s and Anwar's projects.
* The purchase of a trailer for RORP.
* The arrival of the container of playgrounds and library books to Mali on Oct 24.
* The Offer of a container of refurbished bicycles with shipping cost paid!
* RYDA
* The Op Shop with an increase in the number of volunteers.
* The promise of additional Hospital beds and other goods for Somalia.
* End Polio Walk.
* Club AGM preparation and the Annual Report
* Organisation and arrangements for the District Governor's Official visit
I am asking you to make another small contribution, to attend a meeting at another club.
A contribution of up to $25 is available to offset the meal cost. Seeing how another club operates can be inspirational and indirectly strengthen you and our club. Please let me know if you would like to take up this offer.
We were delighted to welcome Op Shop volunteer Keegan with his wife and daughter. Many thanks to Fran Stratford for inviting him to attend.
This was a social evening with the opportunity for all to raise items of concern, discuss projects and encourage participation at coming events.
Members were reminded of the importance of attending the AGM on Wednesday 4/11. A proxy notice will be circulated this week as a quorum of 12 {in person or proxy is required to accept reports and ratify President for 2027-2028.
September sales have improved and we are seeing a return to increased trade and engagement.
The new volunteers have been amazing and have contributed to the energy, as well as modifying displays and enhancing appeal. Just a simple rearrangement has changed the look and feel of the shop.
Many thanks to Keagan, Lisa, Jonathan, Beau and Miguel.
{Beau, Lisa, Jonathan}
We are sad to say goodbye to Glenice Thomas. Glenice has been a regular and invaluable volunteer of Saturdays for over a year now and has brought life and fun to the shop. Sadly she has been unwell for some time, and is moving to live closer to her son. Farewell and thank you.
While the window and table displays are focussed on the Spring Racing Carnival, we have also displayed our Halloween stock: clothing, pumpkins, bric-a-brac etc.
We still need more helpers on Friday and Saturday.
Could you find some time to work in the shop - even on a fortnightly basis?
Chris and Jo have been working on several items in the youth portfolio.
Chris has connected with Ascot Vale Heights Special School and 4 of their senior students are now undertaking vocational placements at the op Shop. Their teacher Will accompanies them, and other volunteers will work with them to develop skills in retail over the coming weeks.
Jo is working with Anton and Shraddha after a hiccup with funding for Rosehill. TBC.
Letters regarding annual scholarships have been sent. MAC have already confirmed their recipients for the awards night on 25 November.
Chris is organising a BBQ for our alumni in January. We are currently trying to locate some students for whom we only had school email addresses for.
Lachie has attended some training for his role as a RYLA Facilitator.
We received a thank you from Liam Marshall Pearson who has been sponsored for NYSF in January. We look forward to hearing about his experiences.
WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK:
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing has notified of changes to the process and requirements for WWCCs.
Nicole Marshall as our Protection Officer is working through what this means for us; and also checking that all our WWCCs are valid and up to date. It is a Rotary requirement that we all have a WWCC even though some of us will not be involved with children. However, our recent experiences with RYE, RYPEN, the Op Shop and schools necessitate compliance.
Our members ran the BBQ at the Flemington Traders Multicultural Festival in Pin Oak Crescent on Saturday 10th. We were blessed with great weather and positive crowds.
Many thanks as always to Anwar Alishek who was there with the trailer from 10:30am for set up, stayed all day, and packed up with Peter Cribb at 6pm. A very long day for him again.
Volunteers on the day were John Sklenar, Chris Richardson, Jo Walker, Nicole Marshall, Danny Pearson, John Farmery, Lachlan Janetzki, Abdi Hassan, Soraya Mohamud, Shirhan Abdulkadir, Lesley McCarthy.
We sold 44kgs mixed sausages, 23 loaves of bread, 6 kgs onions plus all the sauces as well as 90 cans of drink and 16 bottles of water.
Profits from the day are to be split between EAHA and Galkayo Hospital.
FOR YOUR CALENDAR: Wednesday 4th November: Annual General Meeting
Mama Bear Cafe 8am
Wednesday 4th November: RYDA Rosehill College at MGRC,
Please confirm your attendance with Jo
Saturday 7th & 15th November: The Great Garage Sale Trail - Op Shop
Wednesday 18th November: Dinner meeting venue Riverside Holf Club, Ascot Vale
District Governor Graeme Hope will visit us
Wednesday 2nd December: Breakfast at Mama Bear 8am.
Collecting for Share the Dignity.
Saturday 5th December: MVCC Carols by Candlelight BBQ
Wednesday 16th December: Christmas function at Riverside Golf Club
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE:
At the latest Board meeting, we approved the donation of $3500 to the Rotary Club of Tripureswor {our partner club in the Global Grant for education in NEPAL}
We have collected $A3800 from several donors. Additionally, we agreed to fund the shipment of several kgs of warm winter clothing via a local Nepalese freight connection.
Abdi and Soraya are continuing their fundraising to ship the hospital/medical container to Galkayo Hospital in Puntland/Somalia. Due to the Gulf War, costs to ship have escalated way beyond what we paid in 2024 to now be approx $32,000.
Colleen at DiK has been given another shipment of hospital beds, bedside tables and overbed tables which she has earmarked for these taking beds to 36.
The container of playgrounds and books sent to the Maldives is due to arrive 24/10. Letters of appreciation have been received from the High Commissioner in Mali for our efforts.
Peter has also been offered 50 refurbished bicycles from DiK through the Bikes for Kids program. These will ship in the next playground container.
Abdihakim Ali has now returned from Kassala, Puntland. We have been assisting his group with books for schools for some time now. He will meet with Peter and Abdi soon to discuss progress and options for medical equipment.
Yes, it's on again. Saturday 8th and 15th November 10-3.
Behind every incredible op shop find is a team of dedicated volunteers sorting, checking and tagging.
The best gift we can give them this #WorldOpShopDay? Quality donations.
ROTARY OVERSEAS RELOCATED PLAYGROUNDS:
RORP west is delighted to report that the
trailer has been collected. Peter Wilson and Grant Standfield from Rotary Pascoe Vale visitedVictorian Trailers last week to inspect, finalise registration details and deliver the trailer to its new home at MEFCO in Sunshine. Thanks Peter and Glenn McDonald!
Signage is being organised.
As this trailer was part funded by a grant from the District 9800 Foundation, signage will acknowledge that.
Stuart Catley and David Brideson from Rotary Williamstown collected the Edina Street playground last week. It is now stored at MEFCO.
Stuart has also been out to inspect 3 playgrounds offered to us from the ULS Group and Melton Council.
These playgrounds at Jai Court Reserve, Sirdar Street Reserve and Parkview Street will go into the next Maldives container.
k and feel of the shop.
