27 September (Sun) 10.00am working bee at the Lightning Reef Reserve
30 September 2026 Industry visit to JL King RSVP to Jim
4 October (Sat) District 9800 International Service Workshop Oct 4th 9.30am at Djerring Flemington Hub (Free)
14 October Ride 2 Work BBQ RSVP to Kevin for the roster
27th October 2026 - Foundation Dinner at the Bendigo Club. See flyer below for details
27 Oct - 1 Nov 2026 Rotary South Pacific Conference
14 & 15 Nov Swap Meet RSVP to Kevin for the roster
27 - 31 May 2027 - Rotary Barham Weekend, Barham Caravan Park. See Kevin Reade for more details.
Welcome to Issue 12 (2026-27) of our weekly bulletin. Find out about our upcoming events, our guest speakers, what we covered during the last meeting and more!
Can't make our meeting in person please join us via Zoom:
A big thank you to Past President Cathie for stepping in while I spent a couple of weeks away engaged in piscatorial pursuits with one of my oldest mates from Navy days. By all reports, I missed two very engaging meetings: last week with Brad Hodge and the week before with Lina Langendorf. Thanks also to Jim Rolfe for the excellent write-ups he continues to provide for our Bulletin.
At last week's meeting, Cathie provided an update on our Future's Plan. I think we can be proud to say that the Plan is truly a living document and plays a significant role in guiding what we do as a Club. Like me, I am sure many members have seen strategic plans come and go throughout their working lives. Often, there is six months of enthusiasm before the plan is placed on a shelf and quietly gathers dust. That has certainly not been the case with our Future's Plan, which is now approaching its third anniversary. To ensure it remains relevant and effective in the years ahead, we will dedicate a Club meeting in the first half of next year to a comprehensive review and refresh.
A major component of our Future's Plan has been examining our Club's management structure and identifying ways to optimise it as circumstances evolve. A key part of this has been encouraging succession planning for Club office bearers, including the Executive, Directors, and Committee Chairpersons. This was the driver behind the Club discussion we held at last Wednesday's meeting.
I must say, the level of member engagement was outstanding. Everyone present contributed openly and honestly, creating a highly constructive discussion. As a result, I believe we now have a solid framework for implementing meaningful changes that will help this aspect of our Club management run more smoothly in the future. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
Of course, the most important work we do does not happen in meetings. It is the work we routinely and quietly undertake in the community between meetings: refugee support, knitting, school fruit deliveries, environmental projects, Reclink, and much more. The list is long, and it is something of which we can all be proud. Another huge well done to everyone involved.
A couple of reminders:
Next week, in place of our regular meeting, Jim has organised an industry visit to JL King. It promises to be a fascinating and informative experience.
The Ride to Work BBQ will be held on Monday 14 October. Please let Kevin Reade know if you are available to help.
Finally, if you are reading this Bulletin in time, there will be a Working Bee at Comet Hill Reserve (Lightning Reef School car park) on Sunday 27 September at 10.00 am.
We have been approached by the Alola Foundation in Timor Leste regarding a request for help from the Manufahi Orphanage.
This is an orphanage looking for support to provide supplies. There are 20 children living at the orphanage. 5 boys and 15 girls with ages ranging from 7yrs to 18yrs old.
There is a long list of items needed but we are asking at this stage for soft items that can be packed into the bales of knitting that we are sending to Alola. They need bed covers, sheets, pillows & pillowcases, towels, tablecloths and curtains.
We would like to ask Rotarians to look through their linen presses to see if they have any items surplus to requirements.
If the clubs could collect items together and then Tony Plant from Bendigo South RC will come and collect them in one go.
We have a container leaving Melbourne at the end of October, so we have to get items baled along with the knitted goods and transported to DIK in time to be loaded into the Oct container.
Please let Tony or I know if anyone has anything to donate. We will then arrange a pickup time.
Kind Regards
Libby Hughes, Rotary East Timor Knitting Project
Our club was well represented at the recent 20th Maubisse Friendship anniversary celebration. Thank you for your support.
Club Service Report - Kathryn Mackenzie
2026 Rotary South Pacific Conference 27 October - 1 November 2026 to be held at Melbourne Convention Centre. Key themes of the Conference are
Shake Rattle ’n’ Rolltakes over Ulumbarra Theatre at 7.30pm on Saturday, October 17, 2026, with a running time of approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, without an interval. Tickets are currently available, with adult A Reserve tickets priced at $79.90, B Reserve adult tickets at $69.90, and group pricing available for groups of 10 or more. So grab your friends, round up the family and get ready to twist, bop, jive and rock the night away.
