I do hope everyone has had the chance to stop, breathe, regroup and enjoy some relaxation with family and friends.
Many thanks to Beate McManus and Anne Heyes for organising the New Years Eve get together, I am sorry I couldn't join with you all but trust you enjoyed a wonderful evening with a fantastic view of the fireworks.
As you will be aware, much of our state and country is burning with the horrendous bushfires consuming the landscape - land, livestock, native animals, homes and businesses. Rotary has commenced action. Whilst we are not first responders, there is much we can and are doing. District 9800 has established a Bushfire Response team and DG Grant is working with his fellow Victorian DGs as to needs both financial and service.
At our first meeting for 2020 next Wednesday 15th, we have some financial matters to discuss, and a motion for approval of a donation to bushfire relief.
Peter Cribb also has news on the Rotary Overseas Recycled Playgrounds program including the installation of another playground at a Buddhist School in Lunuwila with the RC Negombo. He also needs commitments for removal of 2 playgrounds in Melbourne and the reshuffle of equipment from container to container at DiK.
The Arts Committee will meet after our weekly meeting on Wednesday 15th to discuss and plan for 2020. There are several elements which need clarification and refinement including budget, grant possibilities and events.
Anne McMahon has received a grant from City of Melbourne towards the Arts Festival but MVCC has yet to be applied for.
The volunteer ‘Arts Team’ will be getting together on Saturday 18th January at Crown Street Stables to work out what is logistically and humanly possible in terms of arts activities for 2020. We will need to set realistic goals - and factor in overall Club activities as many of the volunteers are also club members and other Club projects will of course impact on their availability and energy levels.
By January 30 (at the latest) the ‘Arts Team’ should have a clear and agreed to understanding, and logistical / funding framework in place, around the arts based activities/program that the Club can reasonably deliver in 2020.
This includes:
The Rotary Art Show via Gallery 247 tentatively scheduled for Grand Final weekend.
The biannual community Festival
The Arts on Anthony
Anyone wishing to be involved in the Arts Team is invited to participate in one or both of these meetings.
Anne H, Anne M, Edith will meet with Melanie Del Monaco from CoM on Wednesday at 1pm.
Our thoughts are sympathies go out to everyone impacted by the recent bushfires across Australia.
Our District 9800 leaders have been working hard to organise the best ways to assist those in need and many clubs have organised fundraising and packing events.
Donations may be made through: Rotary District 9820 Disaster Relief Fund We are encouraging clubs to donate to our district's Disaster Relief Fund in the first instance. The Disaster Relief Fund has already committed $10k to the East Gippsland Rotary Fire Aid Committee below, and will continue to donate funds to where they are most effective. BSB 633000 Acct 137927174. Please email PDG Janne Speirs when you donate jannespeirs@gmail.com
East Gippsland Rotary Fire Aid Committee eastgrotaryfireaid@gmail.com Rotary Club of Bairnsdale Sunrise fire aid project account Bendigo Bank BSB 633 000 Account number 165960451 Their Fire Aid committee, under District 9820 Emergency Chair PDG Janne Spiers will email all Rotary Clubs in Australia & New Zealand for support, and gather information of the need for service work.
District 9800 Bushfire Response Group {Sue Foley, PDG Jim Studebaker, Marion McLeod, Rhys Maggs, DGN Phillip Archer, DG Grant Hocking}
Rotary International D9800 Inc Disaster Fund account
BSB 033181 Acct Number: 377982
District has established an account with Bendigo Bank for receipt of funds where a tax deduction is required which will suit some individuals or businesses. Unlike other funds Bendigo Bank has waived all fees. Details will be published tomorrow.
In the immediate response arena we have definite knowledge that the following items are required. It would be great If you can support them.
Fodder donations and offers of agistment: Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), 1300 882 833 or fodder@vff.org.au
Food donations - contact Food Bank
Offers of free Accommodation; Find a Bed on 02 7202 6588 findabed.info/
RAWCS Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) Bushfire appeals is taking donations and the funds raised will go directly where they're needed most. You can donate here https://donations.rawcs.com.au/68-2019-20 For donations to go to East Gippsland tag your donation with D9820. Donations to RAWCS are Tax Deductible and funds will be utilised in the Community by Rotary Clubs where needed.
WIRES for Wildlife rescue https://www.wires.org.au/donate/online
Due to the Australian bushfires and the impact of smoke in the ACT, the National Youth Science Forum has made the difficult decision to end Session A of the NYSF 2020 Year 12 Program and return participants to their families while it is safe to do so. We have also had to cancel the National Science Teachers Summer School (NSTSS) that was to run this week in Canberra.
Although there is no current bushfire threat, the biggest risk to the safety of participants is the significant smoke that Canberra continues to experience.
We are saddened to have to cancel but safety and wellbeing is our top priority. We greatly appreciate the resilience and understanding of Participants, NYSF Families, Student Staff Leaders and Rotary volunteers. This cancellation only impacts Session A of the NYSF Year 12 Program and Canberra NSTSS. If you are participating in other sessions or NSTSS in Brisbane, please monitor your emails for further updates.
Help is needed to collect the playgrounds from JJ Holland Reserve in Kensington and another playground in Lincoln Square Melbourne. These are anticipated for late January/early February dates TBC.
Early in February, the playground shuffle will take place transferring stored equipment from our container to the leased container for shipment #4 to Sri Lanka later in February. This will be on a Saturday morning, probably February 1st or 8th but TBC.
Gateway Rotaract and the Rotaract E-Club of Melbourne are organising a trivia night at the Flemington-Kensington Bowling Club for Saturday 15 February, with funds going towards the bushfires.
Rotary Clubs of Keilor & Essendon Barefoot Bowls FUNrasier Tuesday 28th January 2020
Aberfeldie Bowls Club - 13 Scott St, Essendon 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm $ 30 per person for Bowls and Dinner Drinks at Bar Prices All profits to Rotary Bushfire Relief Fund
Online Bookings by the 21st January 2020 at :-https://rce.org.au/event/barefoot-bowling---combined-club-night/ Enquires to :- Glenda - Rotary Club Keilor 0419 207 090 or Kelly – Rotary Club Essendon 0413 027 156
Please share with your networks to have their say on making Melbourne internationally recognised as a great place to age and for older people to be:
Respected
Safe
Connected
Supported
Paper surveys are available at our Neighbourhood Centres, staff will be onsite to assist on Wednesday 8 January and Thursday 9 January between 10am and 3pm.
Surveys can be provided in Arabic, Greek, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese. Please let me know if you would like to receive a translated copy to share with your members and networks.
.png?_=637140571899215865)
