5th Nov - BBQ for Blue Light at Camp Getaway. See below for more info
15 - 16 Nov - Bendigo Swap Meet BBQ
Please contact Kevin if you can help out on 04285 996 619.
Numbers are a bit short, so any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. All friends and family are welcome to join us
28 Nov - Bendigo Toyota Golf Day. See Liz for details
5th Dec - Lightning Reef have requested a BBQ for an event they are holding. Please reserve the date.
9th Dec - Joint gathering with RC Bendigo: 6pm for 6.30pm - Bendigo Club Strathdale
14th Dec - Christmas Lunch Marong Family Hotel
19th - 23rd March 2026 Barham weekend. Phone 5453 2553 to book a site/cabin and say you are from Rotary.
Welcome to Issue 17 (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
Meeting Roster
Week 5
29-Oct
5-Nov
12-Nov
19-Nov
Speaker
Meeting Cancelled
Club morning
Bailey Edwards
Podiatry on Williamson
Des Tobin
Former Funeral Director and author
Meeting Location
Peppergreen Farm
Peppergreen Farm
Peppergreen Farm
Chair
Linda Barrow
Stan Hendy
Chris Purton
Computer
Cathie Miller
Cathie Miller
Allie Lyall
Set-Up 6.45am & pack up
Judy Miatke
Geoff Michell
Kathryn Mackenzie
Welcome, raffle & roaming microphone
Geoff Michell
Chris Purton
Kevin Reade
Co-President's report
Co-Presidents Report for 22nd October 2025
Today was a busy and inspiring meeting. We welcomed Sandra Slatter from the Dementia Alliance to speak about the Lake Eppalock property. She had Jan McDirmid (who owns the land) and Phannika (a Dementia Buddy Leader) supporting her.
We were privileged to have two young girls present to our club about their recent experiences attending Rotary sponsored youth programs. Firstly, Jazzy who we sponsored for the RYPEN camp in early September, and secondly Keisha who took on the 4 day Rotary sponsored Sailing Challenge, also last month.
Both girls are participating in the Bendigo Bluelight program, and it is through that connection that we were able to provide the opportunity for them to attend the Rotary programs. Three members of the Bendigo Bluelight team (John Dalton, Nigel Lusk and Liz Bird) also came along to the meeting to support the girls.
Both Jazzy and Keisha are terrific 15 yr olds who haven’t had many advantages in life. These experiences have given a real boost to their respective self-beliefs and optimism for their futures.
Congratulations to these 3 young girls who stepped out of their comfort zones to attend the meeting and speak of their experiences – well done.
The upcoming Toyota Golf Day was discussed and the members supported sponsoring another team to participate in the event, with the proceeds going to Food Share. Phil Harris will be the team captain this year – thanks Phil.
A reminder to those members who have yet to pay their fees – please do so asap.
Our next meeting (in 2 weeks) will be a Club morning. It will be an opportunity to discuss or ask questions about what is happening or not happening in the Club. If there is not much discussion, we will have an impromptu member talk, so be prepared just in case.
- Cathie & Allie
The team and participants from Blue Light
Sandra Slatter from the Reflections at Eppalock Dementia Alliance
Phannika - an emerging Dementia Buddy Leader
Guest Speaker - Dementia Alliance & Reflections At Eppalock
Sandra Slatter
President of Dementia Alliance, a registered charity formed in 2014.
Sandra spoke to us about their facility called Reflections, at Lake Eppalock. This is a bush inspired community model of care for people with dementia which also offers respite for their carers. They are re-imagining dementia care with a program offering fishing , gardening, a monthly Carers lunch, and a craft group, all designed to support connection, wellbeing and inclusion. Each activity is designed to strengthen relationships, reduce isolation, and create opportunities for shared purpose and joy.
Costerfield House respite accommodation is set in a peaceful natural environment, offering a peaceful, home-like setting where carers and people with dementia can enjoy a chance to rest, recharge and reconnect.
A specific goal of Reflections is to establish a citizen science program involving members, schools, and carers to monitor wildlife activity contributing directly to Land for Wildlife records. This will involve creating a thriving biodiverse sanctuary that supports native flora and fauna through habitat restoration, while offering at the same time an accessible space, community engagement, dementia awareness, and cultural connection, by blending nature, culture and community.
An integral part of this is the creation of five garden areas, showcasing distinctly different stories, including a medicinal and bushtucker garden, a pollinator garden{bees and butterflies}, memory and reflection garden, native labyrinth, and whispers of Europe celebrating culture and sustainability.
The vision related by Sandra is to grow something lasting, for the community to understand and support people living with dementia and their carers to live a longer and happier life.
We sincerely thank Sandra and Phannika for an informative and inspirational address.
Co-President Cathie, Sandra Slatter, Phannika, Jan McDirmid
BlueLight Youth Day – Camp Getaway Wed 5 Nov.
BlueLight plan to run a full day session at Camp Getaway for past participants and maybe some current participants of their One-on-One program and their boxing/gym programs. They plan a fun day mixed with some reflections about how the young people are going now. It’s a way for BlueLight to keep in touch and maybe offer a bit more support. We have been asked to run the BBQ lunch (funded by BlueLight). We have agreed to do this. BlueLight is keen to have more Rotarians than just the BBQ team, with the idea that we might informally mingle with the young people during the lunch. If you are able to help with the BBQ, and/or just be there, please let Stew know.
Where on earth is Palau - hundreds of islands, ancient megaliths and not too many tourists
WWll relics
Where are Ray and Toni?
The Noticeboard
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 weeks tidbits:
Shamick's Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show is on again - 29 - 30 November 2025. Save the date on your calendar!
Cluster club meetings
Bendigo
Tuesday 12.45pm for 1.00pm
The Bendigo Club, Strathdale
Bendigo South
Thursday 6.00pm for 6.30pm
Boatshed Function Room, Lakeview Hotel, Bendigo
Eaglehawk
Wednesday 6.15pm for 6.30pm
Mechanics Institute, California Gully
Kangaroo Flat
Monday 6.00pm for 6.30pm
Rotary Gateway Park, Kangaroo Flat
Inner Wheel Bendigo
2nd Tuesday, 11.15am – lunch after meeting
Mechanics Institute, School Street, California Gully
Co-President Cathie, Sandra Slatter, Phannika, Jan McDirmid
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