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Disastrous flooding in North Queensland has left many families and individuals in need of assistance in their recovery. The appeal is designed to assist those families and individuals whose needs are not covered by insurance and Government assistance.
On Monday 4th Feb 2019, the Rotary Club of Townsville South West registered the following RAWCS - Rotary... Australia World Community Service RABS Project - (Rotary Australia Benevolent Society) Project:
“D9550 North Queensland Flood Appeal”.
Project Number 74-2018-19: (RABS)
Link for donations: https://
Manager: PDG Robert Tardiani
Assistant Manager: Bruce Scott
On Monday 4th Feb 2019, the Rotary Club of Townsville South West registered the following RAWCS - Rotary... Australia World Community Service RABS Project - (Rotary Australia Benevolent Society) Project:
“D9550 North Queensland Flood Appeal”.
Project Number 74-2018-19: (RABS)
Link for donations: https://
Manager: PDG Robert Tardiani
Assistant Manager: Bruce Scott
| Congratulations |
 | Kenneth Austin OAM (Gosford North) |
| Bill Cook OAM ( Woy Woy) | |
| Geoff Pritchard OAM (North Sydney) | |
| Ted Waters OAM (Manly) |
Please click HERE to view - download the ‘Rotary On The Move’ Newsletter for February 2019. Please feel free to share and send us your great membership stories.
HEALTH & EDUCATION REPURPOSING ACTIVITY
The restructured Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS), Health & Education Repurposing Activity (HEERA) – formally Donations in Kind regularly needs assistance from clubs and club members to assist with sorting and preparing equipment and general items for shipment to developing nations and other areas of need.
Although this work is on-going currently throughout February and March we have urgent need of assistance by 4 – 6 volunteers on Tuesdays & Thursdays for sorting and packing hospital linen for a project in Timor Leste’ and preparing hospital beds and other equipment for projects in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.
The role of HEERA is to assist Australasian Rotary Clubs and other humanitarian organisations to access redundant health and educational equipment in our society and to sort, package and transport these items to communities locally, nationally and internationally where they are in great need. Whether it is for your own club project or not, assisting at HEERA is a great way of fulfilling Club International Service ideals. By your efforts a disadvantage person or community somewhere in the world will benefit with higher health or educational advantages.
The activity is open regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 10:00am and 2:00pm for this purpose and some Saturdays for loading containers.
Address: Unit 4, 12 – 16 Anella Avenue Castle Hill Schedule:
February
Tuesdays – 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th Thursdays – 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th
March
Tuesdays – 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th Thursdays – 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th
If your club members are available to assist on any of these days please call or email me as follows;
M: 0419 046 688 E; keithroffey@bigpond.com
Thank you; your assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Keith Roffey – HEERA Supervisor
Nominations from Rotary Clubs for a Past District Governor to be part of the Zone 8 Nominating Committee for the Rotary International Director for ZONE 8 (Australia and New Zealand) are being called for.
Any Rotary club may nominate a suitably qualified Past District Governor to sit on this selection committee. The Committee will meet in September 2019 at a venue to be decided.
The Nomination Form is here.
The closing date for nominations to be received is 15th March 2019.
At the 2018 AGM a resolution was passed that if a vote is needed to select between two or more candidates there will be an email ballot.
And the winner is Melbourne!
It is with great excitement that we announce Melbourne as the host city for the 2023 Rotary International Convention, the largest conference secured this century for Victoria.
Melbourne is a Big Events City! Set to deliver over $88 million to the Victorian economy, the Convention is the most valuable conference ever won for the state, with the four-day event anticipated to attract more than 20,000 Rotarians from around the world. The global spotlight will be on Melbourne and how we present ourselves to the world.
The Convention will take place 27-31 May 2023 using superb venues; Rod Laver Arena and the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. All activities and events are within the Heart and Soul of Melbourne. Over 7000 hotel rooms over 50 properties across Melbourne. Our transport plan uses our famous trams, ferries and buses to quickly and easily move delegates between venues, hotels, event and restaurants. And of course, Melbourne is a very walkable city with many interesting routes and laneways to tantalise visitors.
In addition, the Victorian visitor economy will be bolstered with expenditure from thousands of visiting Rotarians utilising transport, hospitality, entertainment, venues, attractions, tourism services, event planning, freight customs broker services, technology rental, security and various other members of the local business event and tourism supply chain, as well as the flow on benefits across regional Victoria for pre and post touring. Rotary has a business heritage as well as community service. We are proud to make an impact on local business and create jobs.
The effort to secure this exceptional event was no small feat. Our approach was tenacious, going that extra mile to demonstrate Melbourne’s ability to meet the stringent bid regulations and strategically demonstrate our capacity to accommodate the specific needs of Rotarian delegates and Convention format. This was all made possible by a unified approach between the Melbourne Convention Bureau, Rotary Club of Melbourne, Rotarians from 5 local Districts, Melbourne City Council, State Government and Team Melbourne partners. They have come up with a package that is bound to thrill delegates.
This win is everyone’s and demonstrates what can be achieved when we collaborate and work together. The sublime benefits for local Rotarians include
- Showcasing Melbourne to international Rotarians
- Continuing the partnership of 5 local Rotary Districts
- Local visibility and publicity for what Rotary achieves
- Engagement of Rotarians in new events
- Providing a magnet to attract new members
What Happens Next?
Our local Host Organising Committee is shovel ready. Team members are drawn from 5 local Districts, RC Melbourne, the Rotary Foundation and the 2014 Sydney RI Convention. We will work with an International Convention Committee and staff from Rotary International based in Evanston, USA to deliver the best possible Convention. The focus of the Host Organisation Committee is on Promotion, Publicity, Welcome, House of Friendship, Events, Customer Experience, Finance and Volunteers. The current team will be expanded in coming months to add more horsepower with a broader talent pool.
Melbourne has previously hosted this Convention in 1993. And the 2014 Sydney RI Convention has fast tracked our ability to create a wonderful event. Our Sydney colleagues have shared their experiences and systems to give us a flying start.
A vital part of hosting is to have an engaged and energised volunteer team to assist all visitors during the Convention. We wish to include volunteers from all ages - so be a Rotary Ambassador for Melbourne by registering to volunteer at the Convention in 2023! Recruitment starts immediately at multiple District Conferences to be held in Melbourne and Maryborough in February and March.
In the meantime – “Save The Date” 27-31 May 2023.
In the future a dedicated website is planned for volunteer registration and other Convention information - until then please connect to www.rotaryclubofmelbourne.org.au for progress updates.
We are pleased to announce Rotary and Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) have entered into a service partnership to help enhance our club and district peace building efforts. Rotary has worked with MBBI – an impact organization founded on the principle of people-centered peacebuilding – since 2013 to advance our common goals for peace. This new partnership will enable Rotary members to train with MBBI to sharpen their mediation, dialogue and other conflict transformation skills. Mediators Beyond Borders International’s mission is to build local skills for peace and promote mediation worldwide. Recognizing that the only lasting peace is the one built by those involved, MBBI can help clubs and districts advance their peace and conflict prevention/resolution objectives by delivering services and enhancing skills for community assessments, trauma-informed peacebuilding, post-conflict reconciliation and recovery, cross-sector and network collaboration, project design, implementation, evaluation and peacebuilding leadership that prioritizes the elevation of women and youth as leaders. MBBI and Rotary members can work together to save lives today and one day, eradicate violent conflict around the world. This partnership connects Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Rotary alumni with resources to take action, locally and globally. Rotary members play a key role in building connected communities. Connected communities are safer communities, and safer communities are more prosperous communities. Read the partnership factsheet for more information on how clubs and districts can build peace in partnership with MBBI. Connect with MBBI to support a safer, connected, and prosperous world one community at a time. We hope your district will welcome this opportunity to prevent conflicts in your communities; please share this information with clubs in your district. Rotary International Service |
The Rotary Leadership Institute is successful because it delivers skills and knowledge that Rotarians can apply 
straight away in their clubs. It (1) hones leadership skills, (2) builds Rotary knowledge, (3) gives a perspective about where Rotary has been and where it is now, and (4) shares a vision of what Rotary can be. This is all done while (5) networking with Rotarians from other clubs and (6) providing opportunities for partnering in service.
The two part course is held on a weekend or separately on Saturdays or Sundays to meet demand. Morning tea and lunch are provided. Each day starts at 8:00am and finishes around 4.00pm. The cost is $75 and we encourage Clubs to pay for their members attending.
Courses 50, 51 and 52 are open for registration:
RLI 50 runs over the weekend 2-3 March at the District Office, Thornleigh.
RLI 51 runs Saturday 4th and 18th of May at the District Office, Thornleigh.
RLI 52 runs over the weekend of 1-2 June at a location to be decided in the Penrith/Lower Mountains area.
Register at rli.rotarydistrict9685.org.au
2019-20 RI president announces his presidential theme
By Arnold R. Grahl Photos by Alyce Henson
Rotary International President-elect Mark Daniel Maloney explained his vision for building a stronger Rotary, calling on leaders to expand connections to their communities and to embrace innovative membership models.
RI President-elect Mark Maloney announces the 2019-20 presidential theme, Rotary Connects the World, to incoming district governors in San Diego, California, USA.
Maloney, a member of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama, USA, unveiled the 2019-20 presidential theme, Rotary Connects the World, to incoming district governors at Rotary’s annual training event, the International Assembly, in San Diego, California, USA, on Monday.
“The first emphasis is to grow Rotary — to grow our service; to grow the impact of our projects; but, most importantly, to grow our membership so that we can achieve more,” Maloney said.
Maloney believes that connection is at the heart of the Rotary experience.
“(Rotary) allows us to connect with each other, in deep and meaningful ways, across our differences,” Maloney said. “It connects us to people we would never otherwise have met, who are more like us than we ever could have known. It connects us to our communities, to professional opportunities, and to the people who need our help.” Maloney also called on every Rotary and Rotaract club to identify segments of their community not represented in their club by creating a membership committee with diverse members. “Through Rotary, we connect to the incredible diversity of humanity on a truly unique footing, forging deep and lasting ties in pursuit of a common goal,” he added. “In this ever more divided world, Rotary connects us all.”
Maloney urged leaders to offer alternative meeting experiences and service opportunities to make it easier for busy professionals and people with many family obligations to serve in leadership roles.
“We need to foster a culture where Rotary does not compete with the family, but rather complements it,” Maloney said. “That means taking real, practical steps to change the existing culture: being realistic in our expectations, considerate in our scheduling, and welcoming of children at Rotary events on every level.”
Maloney said many of the barriers that prevent people from serving as leaders in Rotary are based on expectations that are no longer relevant.
“It is time to adapt, to change our culture, and to convey the message that you can be a great district governor without visiting every club individually, and a great president without doing everything yourself.”
Relationship with the United Nations
During 2019-20, Rotary will host a series of presidential conferences around the world, focusing on Rotary’s relationship with the United Nations and the UN’s sustainable development goals that many Rotary service projects support. More information will be available in July.
In 2020, the United Nations will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its charter and its mission of promoting peace. Rotary was one of 42 organizations the United States invited to serve as consultants to its delegation at the 1945 San Francisco conference, which led to the UN’s charter. For decades, Rotary has worked alongside the United Nations to address humanitarian issues around the world. Today, Rotary holds the highest consultative status that the UN offers to nongovernmental organizations.
“Rotary shares the United Nations’ enduring commitment to a healthier, more peaceful, and more sustainable world,” Maloney said. “And Rotary offers something no other organization can match: an existing infrastructure that allows people from all over the world to connect in a spirit of service and peace and take meaningful action toward that goal.”
A reminder about some important dates that we first shared with you in July 2018. If you haven't already, please add them to your Club Calendar NOW. Please don't schedule Club Projects or Events on any of these dates, as they are all important District Events (Conference & Changeover) or Training for 2019/20 Club Leaders.
IMPORTANT 2018-19 DATES TO ADD TO YOUR CALENDARS
16 March 2019 - President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) - COMPULSORY Training for 2019/20 Presidents
29-31 March 2019 - District Conference, Newcastle. Register at conference2019.rotarydistrict9685.org.au
14 April 2019 - District Assembly - Training for all 2019/20 Club Board members and executives
29 June 2019 - District Changeover at Hornsby RSL
Having a consistent brand image is important to all organisations, Rotary is no exception. In 2013, a new logo & brand image pack was developed, this was to ensure every club, in every district across the world could have the same high standard of brand recognition.
Over the past few months, we have been completing health checks, and it is very noticeable that there a lot of old style graphics being used in various publications, including newsletters & flyers, and hardware items, such as banners. Could all clubs please check all of their clubs portfolio, and make the correct changes. When posting anything on social media, or submitting items to the District newsletter, please make sure they are updated.
If you're still in doubt, download Rotary's official Voice and Visual Identity Guidelines: https://brandcenter.rotary.org/Asset/DownloadMaster/118
Each year Rotary Clubs have the privilege and honour of suggesting candidates for District Governor from their membership. District 9685 and its predecessors have a great history of Rotarians, supported by their Clubs, who have stepped up to the role.
District 9685 is now calling for applications for nomination as Rotary International District Governor for the 2021-2022 Rotary year.
An applicant must be a current member of good standing of a Club in the District with at least 5 years Rotary membership as at June 2019, as well as having served as President of a Rotary Club for a full term.
It is a challenging and rewarding appointment with a structured and exciting two year training and preparation period, prior to assuming the position.
It’s your opportunity to lead and inspire Rotarians in Clubs across the District.
As an initial expression of interest, please contact, PDG Bruce Lakin, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, via email at brucelakin@teleware.com.au or mobile 0419 876073. He will assist you by providing information about the role and the selection procedure.
You can help even if you are not intending to apply.
All Rotarians know someone who would be an excellent Governor and maybe need someone to tell them just that, so please encourage them to apply. If the response is “not just yet”, they could contact the Nominating Committee Chair to get information for the future.
Key dates are:
1 March 2019: Formal Application Details and Package available
22 March 2019: Closing date for applications
7 April 2019: District Governor 2021-2022 Selection Interviews
(candidates must attend the District Office in Thornleigh in person)
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Greetings everyone, I wish to bring you up to date with some developments with my DG Partners Project, which is Grace’s Place. For those of you whom District Governor Susan and I have yet to visit, Grace’s Place is a purpose-built project to assist the children who have been the silent victims of a domestic homicide. This is a project of Martha Jabour, the CEO of the Homicide Victim’s Support Group in New South Wales, who is one of our keynote speakers at the District Conference next March..png)
It had been planned for a ‘SOD Turning” to get the project underway at the land in Doonside that had been donated to the group by the NSW State Government and the Blacktown City Council. Unfortunately, when the initial inspection was made of the land, it was found that it contained a large amount of Asbestos which had been dumped there over years gone past. Blacktown City Council has now undertaken a clean-up operation in readiness for an inspection and a building application to be approved. It is now thought that the turning of the ‘SOD’ will be either just before or just after the District Conference next march.
For those of you who like to have a shot at the ‘SOD’, or DG Susan’s Official Driver, the turning of the SOD is purely a building term and not associated with me, but I intend to attend that event.
I wish to thank the following clubs and Rotarians who have donated funds to Grace’s Place so that we can fit out one or more of the therapy rooms in the complex in the name of Rotary District 9685. Those clubs are Brookvale, Glenhaven, Castle Hill, Kenthurst, Richmond and the Rotary E Club of Sydney. I would also like to thank Karo Haltmeier for her personal donation.
If you wish, you may meet with Martha Jabour at our District Conference in Newcastle where she will be selling ‘building blocks’ at a stall or you can EFT funds to the District 9685 Admin Account and use the Reference 9875 which will alert the District Treasurer that the funds transferred are for Grace’s Place. If you could also send me an email so that I can have an audit trail for funds raised. If you would prefer to use a cheque, please make the cheque out to the District 9685 Admin Account. If you make it out to Grace’s Place, please endorse the back of the cheque to pay the Rotary District Admin Account.
Once again, thank you for your interest and support of Grace’s Place which is named after Grace Lynch, the mother of murder victim Anita Cobby. Grace was one of the four people who started the Homicide Victims Support Group after the death of her daughter.
John Wakefield OAM
PDG 2002-3 D9690
2019 District Conference Chairman.
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