29 April Industry visit - Bendigo Botanic Gardens at White Hills & breakfast at Omari See details below.
29 April - RecLink BBQ, 12.45pm California Gully Oval
7 May Bendigo Rotary Club fundraiser for PNG's midwifery future leaders at Star Cinema. See details below.
5 July - RCoBS Changeover at Camp Getaway
18th September - Save the date! Bendigo Maubisse Friendship Committe's 20th anniversary celebration, See below.
Welcome to Issue 41 (2025-26) 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:
Opportunities to volunteer -for non-Rotarian friends and volunteers:
* Upcoming BBQs - Contact Kevin - 0428 996 619
Industry Visit - Wednesday April 29
The next industry visit will be to the Bendigo Botanic Gardens (White Hills) on Wednesday April 29th at normal meeting time 7.15am for 7.30am. Activity will include a walking tour of the heritage section of the gardens followed by breakfast around 8.30am at Omari (nearby in Hamelin Street). This is not a strenuous walk by any means however it's a good idea to wear comfortable shoes.
We will meet at the Hamelin Street entrance to the gardens at 7.15 am for 7.30am. The entrance is beside the White Hills Swimming Pool near the Omari restaurant. There is plenty of parking in Hamelin Street and around the corner beside The Garden of the Future. Feel free to invite family members and friends of Rotary.
Meeting Roster
29-April
6-May
13-May
20-May
Speaker
Tour of Bendigo Botanic Gardens
Club Morning
Barb Sheehan
Environmental Possibilities via zoom
Carlie Ryan & Lisa Renato
Lifeline
Meeting Location
White Hills
Peppergreen Farm
Peppergreen Farm
Peppergreen Farm
Chair
Doug Lougoon
Stan Hendy
Chris Purton
Computer
Toni Carrington
Doug Lougoon
Ted Gretgrix
Set-Up 6.45am & pack up
Judy Miatke
Geoff Michell
Kathryn Mckenzie
Welcome, raffle & roaming microphone
Graeme Lynas
Colleen McCarthy
Jim Rolfe
Co-President's report
Co-Presidents Report for 22 nd April 2026
Today Andrew Jonson gave us an insight into his background and
his vocation. Andrew explained what risk management and risk auditing is
about. Andrew also told us about the places he has worked and lived in
over the years.
The feedback from the other Bendigo Rotary Clubs about their
Easter Markets was positive. Both had had successful Easter sales.
Kevin Reade reminded members that we are providing the BBQ
following the ANZAC Day dawn service. An email will be sent to all
members re times and venue.
Paul Henderson gave an update about the commitment RecLink are
making to increasing activities to community groups in the region. A
small team helped with a walk held at Lake Weeroona on Wednesday.
Phil Britton reminded members about a working bee at Comet Hill
Reserve on Sunday at 9.30 am.
Allie gave a short picture of the proposed re districting by RI.
Basically, there will be 2 Districts in Victoria. West of the Great
Dividing Range (or Hume Highway) Current Districts 9780, 9790 &
9800 will merge into 1, referred to as Northwest Vic, that will have
on current numbers 155 clubs and 3888 members
The other Districts 9815 & 9830 (Tasmania) will merge into 1
known as Vic/Tas. That will have based on current numbers 129
clubs and 3060 members.
There are no changes that will affect our Club. In short, the new
District will incorporate us and the other two western districts.
A DG will head up the team with 3 regional governors (my words)
assisting. It is hoped that there will be assistant governors
appointed as we have had in the past.
This is part of an overall plan covering Australia, New Zealand and
the pacific neighbours that will see 9 new districts covering all of
Zone 8. See the link below for the current Zone 8 districts map.
Andrew was born in central Tasmania. His family moved to the Mornington Peninsula
when he was around 15 years of age. He has lived in various places until recently
when he moved to Bendigo.
Andrew is married to Georgiana. They don’t have any children.
Andrew’s father was involved in Rotary and he vividly remembers seeing the 4 Way
Test on his father’s desk. He joined Rotary himself while in Tasmania and was
involved to developing the bulletin for his Club. Andrew spoke about some of the
challenges the club had in promoting events and attracting members.
He visited the West Tamar region club at one point and was impressed by some of
their strategies and the success they were having.
Career wise, Andrew started work with the Gas and Fuel. He also had various other
government sector roles. His most interesting job was working for Air Services
Australia doing internal auditing. This job involved a lot of travel and he enjoyed the
work.
Currently he is working with the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst focusing on risk
management.
Cathie M.
Wanted - RecLink BBQ Crew
Paul H is still looking for a crew for the RecLink BBQ on the 29th April. Please contact Paul if you can attend. Location is California Gully Oval at 12.45pm.
ANZAC Day Gunfire breakfast
We never fail to get plenty of volunteers for the annual Anzac Day breakfast sausage sizzle. As the city woke and crowds silently gathered the RCOBS team cooked sausages and prepared bread for families and friends who joined both ex-service men and women and current serving Defence Force members at the dawn service last Saturday.
City of Greater Bendigo Easter Thankyou
It was a pleasure to represent the Club at the Thank You function Bendigo Council hosts for volunteers, partners, sponsors and staff. This year it was held at the council office and Co President Cathie and Market Coordinator Colleen attended.
Comet Hill Reserve - Working Bee 26th April.
On Sunday morning, our Rotary team spent time at Comet Hill caring for the trees we planted over two years ago now. Our commitment to nurturing this place for the benefit of North Bendigo locals and the adjoining Lightning Reef school ensures enjoyment long into the future. This is part of our Club's environmental program overseen by Phil Britton.
Rotary's contribution towards ending polio forever is having a significant impact.
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for over 45 years, and our goal of ridding the earth of this disease is in sight. We started in 1979 with vaccinations for 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic.
The Rotary Foundation with the ongoing support from individual Rotarians and Rotary Clubs is making this possible.
Each week various information come into the Bulletin email, small bits to add into the bulletin that doesn't really go anywhere else but may be good to know. Sometimes it's an announcement, an invitation, an update or advertisement.
Here are this week's tidbits:
Home hosts are needed for the next group of visiting Malaysia Special Education teachers: Thursday 6 August – Saturday 5 September 2026
contacted Lindsay Jolley M: 0416 192 032 or E:lj@joll.net
Save the Date - Bendigo Maubisse Friendship Committee 20th Anniversary - 18th Sept. 2026 at 6.00pm. For more info go to BMFC website see link below.
