The Behind the Badge talks are always interesting and provide us with insight into what our members lives have involved prior to joining our club. Ann’s talk on Tuesday was remarkable! Talk about pack a lot into your years…travel, five children and lots and lots of study and degrees!! I loved the positive attitude that shone through in every situation. I will remember her talk for a long time.
The Quilling night was a huge success thanks to Mel’s mum, Jane, and our fun raising team led by Kelly and Anna. We have some very talented Quillers in our club…unfortunately I am not one of them, but I did have a fun time. Amazing food, great company and an expert teacher made for a night to remember.
Some of our members attended the screening of the documentary, The Plastic Country on Thursday night. Our Environment Chair, Vicki reports that it was very thought provoking. I’m sure that there will be some ideas brought to our club as to how we can lead some change.
Next was our Rotary Groups movie night on Friday, the movie shown was Feckham Hall, a satirical comedy. We all enjoyed the movie, pizza and fellowship and the money raised will assist in the promotion of the Safe Families initiative.
Our member Kirsty’s impending wedding was celebrated with a ‘Hen’s Day’ on Saturday at The Place. What a great afternoon it was with loads of food, lots of fun and some amazing wedding pics, wedding accessories and some of us wore our wedding dresses. Again, our party queens, Kelly and Anna excelled at setting up a wonderful event. We all wish Kirsty a very special wedding day in Bali, we can’t wait to see some pictures.
It’s been an eventful week, and the fun continues this week when we will have a wrapping session at the Paradise Hotel on Tuesday at 6.00 and then our Cluster meeting/District Governor’s visit at Monbulk Bowling Club is on Wednesday at 6.30. I’m really looking forward to joining with our neighbouring clubs to listen to our DG Emma, see you all there.
Meeting Wednesday 2nd Sept - Monbulk Bowling Club is 6.30 for 7.00
In order to confirm numbers for meetings at the pub, please ensure that you communicate the following to PP PHF Lorna: 0408 506 622
notify if NOT attending by 12 noon on the MONDAY before the meeting
and notify if bringing guests or visitor
notify at any time about future absences and holidays.
Thank You!
People Who Sparkle
Lyn Beckwith
Years of Service: 16
I joined Montrose Rotary Club in 2010 or 2011, then switched to Emerald in 2014 (yes, Emerald is much better, 100%).
Profession:
I was a vet nurse and then a real estate agent.
Q: What first inspired you to join our club?
A: I was inspired to join Rotary originally as I belonged to a family that always gave back and I wanted to find an avenue to be able to do that. I was living off the mountain and had mentioned to my brother what I was hoping to do. The next minute I was approached by the then DG Carol and joined Montrose Rotary Club. In 2014 it was the right time to move to a club closer to home as we were living in the hills again. It was Gloria who got me to go along to my first meeting of the Emerald club.
Q: What is a personal Rotary highlight?
A: There are many! One was being awarded a PHF. It was totally unexpected and such an honour. Recently, the lolly stall with the Gembrook Early Act at the Kids Fun Run with Puffing Billy. It was fabulous, we didn’t have one or two kids helping out, we had half the class. And they brought their families along. It was just great.
Q: What Rotary project (current or new) would you most like to be involved in in the future?
A: I have a real passion for the Deb Ball and would like to continue my involvement, in some capacity, into the future.
Q: What is the best thing about being a member of this club?
A: I absolutely love the family of Rotary. Everyone gives back to the community but also to each other.
Q: What is a life philosophy or mantra that you live by?
A: I have always treated people the way I would like to be treated. What you give, you get back tenfold.
Q: If you could have any super power what would you choose?
A: I would love to be able to have the power to play anything and everything I wanted on the Piano.
Q: What was your very first job?
A: At the age of 13 I worked at a small horse riding school doing all the dirty work and saddling and unsaddling the horses. At the end of a Saturday shift my payment was to be able to have a ride on one of the horses.
Q: Who, dead or alive, would you most like to have dinner with?
A: My dad. He passed away so suddenly that there are a lot of things we didn’t get to say.
Q: When you are not busy completing Rotary tasks, what do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Spend time with my most precious family, play music and potter in the garden.
Q: What is the biggest lesson life has taught you?
A: To be content with who you are.
Last Week's Club Meeting 25th August 2026
Chairperson - Toni-Anne Griffin
Guest Speakers - Anne Clowes - Behind the Badge
- PDG Ken Miller - My Rotary Moment
Anne Clowes
I was adopted at the age of three and grew up knowing I had been adopted, which sparked a lifelong interest in family, identity and history.
I met Courtney at school, later studied Disability Studies at Deakin University, and worked in a range of disability, education and community roles.
Together we travelled extensively, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, often on very limited budgets.
We married in December 2000 and raised five sons. One son, Stephen, required extensive care through the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The family later spent 18 months living in England, exploring the countryside and historic sites and visiting World War I battlefields.
The speaker has pursued many interests, including education, nutrition, music, crafts and Rotary/community work, and completed a Bachelor of Nutrition with distinction.
A major life chapter began when, at 18, I searched for my biological parents. Remarkably, the adoption agency quickly located my birth mother, who had given me up as a young woman.
Later, I discovered my biological father's family, including a half-sister and two half-brothers, and was warmly welcomed by an aunt and uncle.
Today, my major passion is family history and genealogy, with a goal of tracing my ancestors and better understanding my own identity.
Overall, this is a reflection on my family, travel, learning, community and the lifelong journey of discovering where I come from.
Ken delivered a light‑hearted presentation about acronyms, expressing frustration at how confusing and widespread they are in everyday life and within Rotary. He lists various acronyms, and highlight how many meanings common abbreviations can have, such as AI and AO
Rotary-related acronyms, noting that Rotary is full of them and often adds to the confusion. Ken praised President Gayle for using full titles instead of shorthand like “PPs” for past presidents.
Several Rotary programs and terms are explained:
RYDA – Rotary Youth Driver Awareness A road‑safety program delivering engaging one‑day workshops for students, run by trained facilitators including police and instructors. In 2024, it reached 680 schools and 60,000 students across Australia and New Zealand
ROMEO – Rotary Old Men Eating Out A humorous acronym describing social groups of older male Rotarians who meet mainly for meals
BROOKS Mentioned as a Rotary project involving significant funding (around $500,000) and community benefit
ARH – Australian Rotary Health Recognised for doing excellent medical and community work
Ken encourages members to familiarise themselves with Rotary acronyms because they appear everywhere and can be confusing
An edible Eureka Tower! Victorian households discard about 250,000 tonnes of edible food each year—enough to fill the Eureka Tower.
A weekly leftovers' night saves food, money and the bother of choosing dinner, or freeze the leftovers and save yourself having to cook on another night (we know many of you already do this).
The club reported on a contribution to Emerald Kindergarten.
Total cost of the kindergarten project: $6,846
Rotary Club of Emerald contribution: $1,000
The contribution is intended to assist with the costs associated with the kindergarten's project and the required processes involved.
RYDA — Rotary Youth Driver Awareness
RYDA provides one-day road-safety workshops for approximately 25 students at a time. Sessions are delivered by trained facilitators, including police, driver instructors and other community specialists.
Reported 2024 participation included:
More than 680 high schools
Approximately 60,000 students
Programs delivered across Australia and New Zealand
International Community Project
The club reported on an international community initiative involving the Tender Foot School Overseas.
Rotary has contributed $1,000 to the project.
The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Gloria and the international committee/team.
International postage of letters to the participating school is also being supported.
The project involves children exchanging letters, with the aim of building connections between students internationally.
For good food, good fellowship and the opportunity for service through Rotary we give thanks
Rotary Toast
To Australia and the people of Australia (toast) To Rotary International (toast)
4 Way Test
CHOCLOTTO JACKPOT
$392.00
Winner: Wayne McLeod
Chocolate Winner:
Kris Ash
Duty Roster
Duty Roster - 1st Septemer 2026
No Meeting
2nd September Cluster Night with Monbulk RC & DG Emma
Rotary Club of Monbulk
Duty Roster - 8th September 2026
Chairperson
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Marcus Adams
August 1
Andrew McAllister
August 16
Russell Marnock
August 18
Kirsty Bates
August 20
Lyn Beckwith
August 24
Lorna Shaw
August 25
Graeme Heatley
August 31
Spouse/Partner Birthdays
Dee Harley
August 2
Andrew McAllister
August 16
Jenny Wakefield
August 24
Lorna Shaw
August 25
Anniversaries
Russ Nielsen
Heather
August 27
Join Date
Sally Randall
August 5, 2025
1 year
Wayne McLeod
August 5, 2025
1 year
Peter Brock
August 11, 2015
11 years
Melinda Moulday
August 22, 2023
3 years
Russell Marnock
August 22, 2006
20 years
Lorna Shaw
August 26, 2008
18 years
Community Notices
Events
We are regularly asked to share information on other Rotary Club or community group events. Rather than list all of them in Sparkle, please check out them outHERE
