Hybrid Link

Note from the Editor

Last Week's Meeting

• This weekend is the Deb Ball finally after 7 attempts to hold it. The last practice is tomorrow night (Wednesday). Thank you to Shalini and her team.
• Sunday is the Rotary Storm Recovery Festival on the main street of Monbulk. Entry is by gold coin donation. The Festival is a time for healing and a thank you to the CFA and SES.

Rotarians Against Malaria  - RAM

• 627,000 died from malaria in 2020, a rise of 12% from the previous year. 2/3 of the fatalities were children under 5.
• RAM’s fundraising capacity has been impacted by COVID, and therefore the money for programmes in partnering countries has declined.
• Please register to do the 4km. walk (run or swim) and then try to source sponsors or just sponsor someone.
• Editor’s note: Gloria did the walk last year despite requiring a hip operation, so let’s be inspired by her and support RAM’s fundraiser this year.

CLUB ASSEMBLY chaired by PHF President-Elect Marcus Adams

Committee Reports:

• We are at the crossroads with the Market
• Each Mkt. raises between $600-800. It is great not only because it involves a lot of members but for many other reasons too.
• It was launched during COVID, which was a bit unfortunate.
• The name is changing to the Emerald Rotary Market.
• Kris has initiated new marketing with the help of Belgrave RC President and District IT Champ Gus Rozycki.
• Flyers will be placed in surrounding towns.
• THE MAIN ISSUE is getting STALLHOLDERS. There are not enough currently for the Market to be sustainable. We are not getting the stalls there on a regular basis
• Insufficient stalls to create an atmosphere.
• Professional stallholders have told us they won’t come back if there’s “Trash” in the Market’s title.
• So, stalls will cost only $10 this time – 12^th March.

• Lots of community groups will be invited to have a stall or display to generate a true community feel. For example, it would be an attraction if the CFA and/or SES could come with their truck, and the children would especially enjoy it.
• The lead-up to the Markets is running well, with many members performing important roles each month.
• New facebook post to share - check out the Emerald Rotary Market Facebook Page and help spread the word!

• Psychologist Hita suggested a stall promoting mental health and will talk to her team about it, and Emma will also discuss the idea with her.
• Approx. 200 visitors come through the gate, with the number peaking between 11 and 12pm.
• The flyers need to be put out soon as we are on a short timeline.

• Our members will be handing out water on the day during hourly shifts and maybe help elsewhere if needed.
• Its purpose is a recovery day, a fun day for families.
• A cheque for $16,000 will be presented to the SES.
• The book “The Big Storm” will be launched.
• Money from the District Recovery Fund will be used:

1. To replace the Chestnut Cart
2. For a “Grab bag” containing a wind-up torch among other things
3. For “Habitat for Humanity” – 2 large donations
4. For “Treasuring our Trees” with logs being manufactured into playground equipment.

• The event has been held for 26 years , mainly at Gembrook then it was moved to Pakenham.
• We are trying to make it work at Gembrook again.
• It has been very popular, attracting between 700and 900 show cars.
• Last time at Gembrook there was “mild traffic chaos”, but this problem has been solved for the most part.
• Don, who has presided over many of the All Ams. in the past, says it will take about 5 mins. per car to check the Covid vaccination accreditation and take the money. And there’s only one entrance into the oval.
• How do we minimise the effect on the road? – There is a lower area on the left of the entrance to Gembrook, where the cars could be processed in 2 lines. The oval can be entered from that paddock.
• The oval’s Grounds Committee headed by Neil Busacca is giving us positive support. They want to help us as best as they can.
• What are the Covid conditions on the day of the event? We don’t know as we don’t have the date.
• We need to plan for the Covid conditions and have plans in place.

• It is fantastic to see Kerith in person and Hita (and children) on screen.
• Going back 10+ years, Club Dinners were held with the host preparing the main course and the guests bringing entrée and dessert. The names were more or less randomly picked. Marcus would like to reintroduce the dinners as over the last couple of years, members have become disconnected because of Zoom meetings, and the dinners will improve our relationships with one another.

• Dr. Norman Swan
• Professor who is internationally recognised for the production of green materials at the Uni. of NSW (UNSW).

• Jillian Riseley, CEO of Metro Waste and Resource Recovery Group
• Pat McCafferty, Managing Director of Yarra Valley Water
• Celeste Mergens, Founder and CEO of “Days For Girls”
• Victor Perton, inspirational speaker, Founder and Chief Optimism Officer (COO) of the Centre for Optimism
• Keynote Speaker is Samuel Johnson from the “Love Your Sister” Charity. Samuel will stay during the lunchbreak to chat informally
• Focussed Breakout Sessions organised by Pat Armstrong and AG Mark Balla
• . Conclusion of presentations
• . Gala Dinner with fun theme of “Famous Families”. Dress up or dress to impress. Cost is $100 and register on the DG’s Website
• Our own Ken Miller DGE will be part of the Conference too

• Clean up Australia Day is Sunday 6^th of March from 9:00 to 11:ooam. followed by morning tea. Join Sheila Hampson, President of Friends of Emerald Lake Park, and her “Emerald Clean Team”. See the EVA Newsletter Feb. 2022 for more details.
• The community is invited to meet in the carpark below the Library.
• BYO gloves, bags are provided.
• Families with children are welcome to participate.
• Last year, Roy, Gayle, Chris Barrot and Vicki participated wearing their Rotary regalia and were clearly visible to motorists while picking up rubbish along the main road. It would be great if we could double or triple the numbers. We claim to be “People of Action” and this is an opportunity to show we are.
• A reminder that the MEANDER Group has requested our help on Sunday 20^th of March from 9:00 to 11:45am. to help with restoring the Telopea Steps.  Consider helping on at least one of these dates if you are fit and healthy.

• the increasing population and the strain on our water resources and our desalination plant.
• 12 million tonnes of plastic have been dumped into our oceans.
• We all have the equivalent of a credit card of plastic in our bodies.
• observed that in Victoria we don’t have to worry too much about population growth as 45,000 people have left, with the majority going to Queensland. (Editor’s Note: thereby raising the IQs of both States!)

• Stands for Run Out Of Poverty and is a project of RAWCS = Rotary Australia World Community Service.
• Tony Benson, a former Australian Olympian and later coach, provides free coaching to students who are interested in running, from three primary schools in the Ma-a District of Davao City in the Philippines.
• This gives them the opportunity to qualify for a University Track and Field Scholarship so they can Run Out of Poverty.
• Tony would be a fantastic guest speaker.
• You are welcome to donate to ROOP.

EMERALD ROTARY MARKET

THIS SUNDAY ..

 

 

Conference 2022