4 Oct - Eaglehawk RC Trivia night - is there any interest in forming a team to attend this night as per the notice below? If so, please contact Evelyn, Colleen or Cathie
5 Oct - Strategic Planning Meeting. 9am - 2pm Mechanics Hall, School St, California Gully.
17 Oct - Ride to Work Day - Breakfast BBQ at Bendigo Town Hall
19 Oct - RCoBS Rotary Ramble!
See flyer below.If you would like to attend, please let John Cannon know asap. Please note the correct email is jcannon50@gmail.com
23 Nov - Rochester RC 60th Anniversary. 6.30 - 10.30pm The Shire Hall
29 Nov - RCoBS & Trike and Bike Toy Run. See flyer below.
1 - 5 May 2025 Barham Weekend
Phone 5453 2553 to book a site/cabin and say you are from Rotary.
This weeks’ meeting was pretty much all you could wish for, in our view. Plenty of camaraderie, socialising and essential Rotary business. It ticked all the boxes for us, and we hope for other members too.
First up, we had the honour, along with District Governor Michael Lapina, of presenting Paul Harris Fellow recognition to three of our members, Linda Barrow, Ian Johnson and Judy Miatke. Each of these very deserving recipients was awarded this honour due to their service to Rotary and the community at large over many years. They had different stories and backgrounds, but the result was essentially the same – giving a hand-up to others in need, often at considerable personal cost, showing what the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self looks like. As well, all have been and continue to be, highly valued club members through their ongoing work to make our club friendly, inclusive and effective in our community. Our congratulations again to Linda, Ian and Judy, on behalf of DG Michael and all club members.
Secondly, DG Michael delivered a very thoughtful and timely speech about Rotary, our club, and why we are Rotarians. Just a few things he touched on, and in no particular order, were:
We can’t be effective Rotarians if we don’t look after ourselves first. Clubs need to be welcoming, inclusive, friendly and social;
Members need to be free to express their opinions, and be respectfully heard. In a good club, their views matter, and will be acted upon. This is likely to result in better outcomes; and
Keep your eye on the big picture – why are we in Rotary, and what do we want to do while we are here? Is what we get out of it (and the difference we make) worth the dollar a day we spend on Rotary?
Michael’s presentation will be more fully covered in scribe Chris’ summation further on, and we thank Chris for his excellent work in this regard.
Apropos of Michael’s speech in relation to friendship and social engagement, we enjoyed a really good night of fellowship at the Rising Sun Hotel on Thursday evening. Pat Sheehan is a great host, we enjoy excellent food, and he and his team always ensure it’s a pleasure for us to go to his family hotel. Thanks very much again, Pat.
Many volunteers, including Madeleine and Adrian, helped to move books from the YMCA building in Mundy Street to the original Town Hall for the Book Fair this weekend (27-29 September). All funds raised will go to Bendigo FoodShare and leftover books will now go to their old premises for distribution elsewhere. (See photos below!)
Our Strategic Planning Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, 5th October from 9am to 2pm at the Mechanics Hall, School St, Cal Gully. Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Please attend if you are able since we wish to get as many ideas as possible to optimise ownership on where we are as a club and where we possibly want to be.
Ride To Work Day takes place again this year, on Wednesday, 17th October. As usual for the past few years, we will put on a barbeque for the Lycra-clad ones in our community in the gardens between the Town Hall and the library. The City of Greater Bendigo is a very strong supporter of this lifestyle event, to the extent they provide all the food
and drink, while we do the cooking. It’s always a good community day, and gets Rotary’s our name out there, with us as a can-do club.
An idea for Ride To Work Day, hopefully better than a thought bubble … How about we try really hard this year to spread the Rotary spirit and deliberately promote Rotary a bit better than previously? We could inform the attendees that guests are always welcome to attend our meetings, where they will experience friendliness, fellowship and inclusion. As well, our meetings would give them a sense of what our club and Rotary generally, is all about. Worth a try, we think, to spread the word about Rotary and boost our membership.
Don't forget to register and take part in the clubs' 3rd ANNUAL ROTARY RAMBLE, which is set down for Saturday, 19th October.
The RAMBLE starts at 9.45am, at the Hot & Crusty Bakery, 180 Barker St, Castlemaine.
We will have morning tea there, then head off on a MYSTERY RAMBLE, followed by lunch at a local winery. $30pp, which includes a welcome drink.
Rotarians and friends are MOST welcome on what is sure to be another fun-filled day.
For catering purposes, please RSVP by SATURDAY, 12TH OCTOBER to John Cannon - jcannon50@gmail.com
Co-presidents Ray Carrington and Adrian Schoo
Ian
Judy
Linda
ABOVE: PHF recipients Ian, Judy and Linda.
RIGHT: Volunteers including Madeleine and Adrian helped move books from the YMCA building in Mundy St to the Town Hall for the weekend's book fair.
A truckload of books.
Madeleine at work.
Guest speaker - DG Michael Lapina
Our guest speaker this week was Rotary District Governor, Michael Lapina.
Michael’s first duty in the morning’s program was to present PHF awards to Linda Barrow, Ian Johnson, and Judy Miatke, three richly deserved recipients. There were plenty of smiles and some emotional responses from all. Congratulations to all concerned.
Michael gave us a quick rundown of his life and times and spoke of his long career as an opera singer (since 1988) and the pleasure he has gained from that. This has included singing at opera concert halls around the world and performing at the closing ceremony of the International Rotary Convention in Singapore in 2024. He has also been the Music Teacher at Haileybury College.
Michael’s message essentially is that Rotary is needed in the world now more than ever, and that our priority is to remember why we joined: to give back, to heal a divided world daily within our club and our community, to restore dignity to people who have lost it, and to plan strategically for our long-term ideals. Ending Polio as an example.
He addressed the continuing decline in membership, and that our number one priority should be us, that we ensure that we have an irresistible Rotary experience. Our purpose is to connect with people because the people help us to do our good work. Each person we meet, talk and listen to will have their own motivations, and it is incumbent on us to seek these out, to connect and convey a sense of belonging to a wider world. In fact, to get an emotional return on our emotional investment.
We thank Michael very much for his inspiring and entertaining address.
Rotary Donations In Kind
The Rotary Donations in Kind September newsletter is now available online.
It is packed with information and some great photos from the recent open day.
Please take a few minutes to check out the site
https://rotarydik.org/dik-newsletter/
National Tree Planting Day
RCoBS members took part in the recent National Tree Planting Day on July 28. Some of our team featured in the latest issue of the Bendigo Magazine.
Thanks Paul K for spotting our crew!
Inner Wheel Afternoon tea
Rotarians and friends,
Please see the below invitation from Deb Reade. Feel free to pass it on to any women who may be interested in attending the afternoon tea.
Deb - 0408 996 619
Maubisse movie night
Dear Rotarians
Please see the flyer (below) for the next Bendigo Maubisse Friendship Committee movie night coming up in October at the Star Cinema.
Proceeds raised support our ongoing Days for Girls Program in Maubisse. It is always a good relaxing night out at the Star in Eaglehawk and the reviews for this movie are very supportive.
Regards,
Tony Plant
Bendigo Maubisse Friendship Committee member and Rotary Club of Bendigo South Member
RCoBS Rotary Ramble
Please RSVP to John Cannon by Saturday October 12 - jcannon50@gmail.com
