Hello Fellow Rotarians
I do hope you all had a chance to rest, relax and recharge your batteries over January. I am greatly looking forward to the next few months, which I know will be busy, starting with Australia Day on Wednesday. Many Clubs are organising activities during the day. I will start the day with the Rotary Club of Yarraville and Altona’s inaugural Acknowledgment 2022 - a conversation which starts with a walk to Sandy Point (Williamstown) at 6 am to watch the Sunrise over Melbourne while listening to a single Yirdaki player, followed by Welcome to Country, stories from the dreamtime, the telling of truths, and promises for the emerging. I then travel to the Rotary Club of Brighton’s Great Australia Day Swim https://greataustraliadayswim.com.au/ a high profile community event bringing together swimmers, Rotarians and the general public of Bayside. These events create such good publicity for Rotary and are an excellent way to connect with the local community.
The program will feature great guest speakers, music and entertainment from local talent as well as Rotary updates. There is also the opportunity to visit many tourist sites on the way to and back from Albury such as the wineries in Rutherglen, the King Valley and Milawa, historic towns of Beechworth, Chiltern and Bright and the Lake Hume area on the outskirts of Albury. We encourage those who can to add a few extra days and explore the Albury region. There is so much to see and do within walking distance of Albury Entertainment Centre and Hotels. You will not be disappointed as this part of NSW has much to offer.
Photo: Michael Lapina, DG Dale and Jane Pennington at All Saints Winery Rutherglen researching Conference activities.
By Thursday 20 January Rotary Melbourne were delighted to have received, through club members and District 9800, paid orders for 8,597 RAT 2-test Kits, enabling lodgement of an order for 2 Pallets of RATs, to be delivered by the manufacturer to the DIK warehouse in West Footscray most likely between 3rd and 9th February. All purchasers will be advised when and where to collect their RAT kits as soon as the delivery date is confirmed.
It is pleasing that Rotary has responded to the needs by facilitating the orders of 8 Charities, and several significant private employers whose workers may be prevented from working without immediate RAT access.
I look forward to seeing some of you this Wednesday for Australia Day and others in the following few weeks.
