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To make a Donation to Rotary D9800 Bushfire Disaster Relief

Bank Account: ROTARY INTERNATIONAL D9800 - AUSTRALIAN BUSHFIRE DISASTER RELIEF APPEAL Account Number – 171206535 BSB Number – 633 000 Reference: ROTARY D9800 BUSHFIRE If you require a taxation receipt please email the foundation team at [email protected] and attach evidence of your transaction. ------THIS WEEK'S MEETING MINA GULI, CEO & ATHLETE, THIRST The Founder and CEO of Thirst, Mina Guli is a global leader, entrepreneur and adventurer committed to making a difference in the world. Following a 15-year career in climate change, Mina established Thirst – a non-profit changing the way we think about water.

Since its launch in 2012, Thirst has educated more than 2 million students in , has had more than 600,000 participants in its water innovation competitions and now works with more than 1000 qualified volunteers and the support of the Chinese Government.

To bring attention to the global water crisis, in 2016 Mina ran across 7 deserts on 7 continents in just 7 weeks.

A self-confessed "non-runner", en route Mina interviewed water experts, telling the stories of people affected by the crisis and those working to solve it. In 2017 Mina ran in support of the UN’s SDG 6, completing 40 marathons in 40 days down 6 of the world’s great rivers on 6 continents. With media coverage around the world, including CNN, BBC, ITV, ABC and CCTV, Mina’s messages about water reached more than 4 billion people, inspiring a generation of water heroes.

Concerned about the pace of change, in 2018, Mina started #RunningDry – a campaign involving her running 100 marathons in 100 days for 1 reason – to make saving water so famous it’s not just the right thing to do, but the only thing to do. After breaking her leg at marathon 62, thousands of people in over 50 countries and territories rallied in support, together running farther than from the north to the south poles, and building #RunningDry into a movement for change.

Mina has been widely recognised for her leadership: named a Young Global Leader by the , one of ’s most influential women, and by Fortune Magazine as one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world.

Mina’s story was featured on the ABC’s Australia Story https://www.abc.net.au/austory/running-on-empty/11035554 Mina sits on the board of the Antarctic Science Foundation, the Global Water Partnership and the Academy of the $1million Global Teachers Prize. She is a frequent media commentator.

Don't miss the chance to hear Mina Guli speak, you will be inspired. Contact Jo Mavros to register for the lunch meeting: Luncheon No35 Restaurant Level 35 Sofitel Melbourne On Collins 25 Collins Street MelbourneVIC3000 Cost: $48 (2 course meal and Coffee) Alcoholic beverages can be purchased at the bar Visitors welcome - Check first with the Club Office (03)9654 7242

LAST WEEK'S MEETING

PRESIDENT KEVIN'S ADDRESS at MEETING Happy New Year - Welcome back – and thank you for the many acknowledgements I have had to my New Year message where I particularly wanted to recognise the superb response by members to the Christmas Giving and the Wine fundraiser. Now for 2020. Happy Birthday to P Nominee Chris Stilwell!

ROTARY MELBOURNE BUSHFIRE UPDATE Pam spoke on the role that ‘Healing the Hurt – EMDR’ is to play through D9800’s Disaster Relief Committee; Reg told us about the phone call donating up to 500,000 P2 Respirator Facemasks which were in the process of arriving from California via Qantas and how he sprang into action; Bob told us of his reaction to Reg’s phone call and how the DIK warehouse was cleared to take the first shipment of 97,000 masks a few days later and how the distribution logistics rolled out in the days that followed; and Bruce told us of the fund raising efforts and on the ground aid and counselling involvement being undertaken in the fire ravaged areas.

Q & A for our Bushfire Response Panel

Pam – together with Marion, you are working to incorporate the ‘Healing the Hurt – EMDR’ program within D9800’s response planning, please tell more and how this will be implemented over time. Pam provided background as to how the program was initially developed with assistance from Rotary Melbourne, how it is implemented locally and in other parts of the world and how D9800 can aim to incorporate it into communities through Rotary. Pam also made mention of other initiatives of D9800’s Disaster Relief Committee. Reg – You received a telephone call that in your words ‘blew you away’ and then you sprang into action – please tell us about it – and how project ‘Respirator Face Mask’ emerged and the magnitude of the shipment. Reg told of his initial phone call and how he accepted this entrusted role to be the recipient of up to 500,000 P2 Respirator Facemasks and following a deep breath, set the wheels in motion to receive the first shipment arriving from California courtesy of Qantas. Reg instinctively phoned Bob to plan the logistics of accepting the first shipment at DIK within days of 97,000 masks and communication with DG Grant Hocking to start the distribution process through District Governors covering the affected areas and initiate contact other relief agencies to distribute these masks where they were desperately needed. Reg also spoke of widening his contact to include Rotary Sydney for a Qantas shipment to be received and distributed. Bob – You received a phone call from Reg and also sprang into action – please tell us about DIK’s role in the distribution logistics. Bob told us of his reaction on receiving the phone call from Reg and how he, Laurie and volunteers readied DIK and received the first shipment and how the logistics of distribution developed both thought out Victoria. He told of the dispatches directly to Rotary Clubs in Gippsland and the Northeast and a delivery to Kangaroo Island in addition to the dispatches to the major relief agencies. Bob also detailed DIK’s despatch of medical supplied and equipment to animal rescue agencies. Bruce – the cry has gone out for help by your organisation and others – ‘Donate Now to Deliver Humanitarian Aid’, please tell is what the Salvation Army are doing. A. Bruce told us of the fund-raising efforts and ‘on the ground’ aid and counselling involvement being undertaken in the fire ravaged areas and of the vast number of teams deployed. He spoke personally of his experience at relief centres where he counselled with many who had lost their homes, farms and businesses. He spoke of the need for Salvation Army to partner with service providers in expending donation funds raised to achieve a wider effected community benefit. ------Members will not be surprised that Rotary Melbourne has jumped to attention as the tragedy of the bush fires unfolded. PP Mev Connell – has written extensively which has been conveyed to DG Grant; PP Chris Wang – reminded me of the ‘adopt a Club’ initiative during the drought and in the case of our adopted Club Rochester, the subsequent flood devastation; There was early contact with DG Grant Hocking who advised that he was activating the District’s crisis committee under DGE Philip Archer and our Marion Macleod has joined this committee; Contact with our R100 team member, DGE Mark Humphries of D9820 and in turn with his DG Adrian Froggett; Messages of support have been sent to the respective Presidents of Rotary Orbost, Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale with further messages in the pipeline; Message to Rotary Melbourne members once DG Grant announced the Bush Fire donation details.

This story, this involvement will be continuing – as Australia comes to grips of being a land of drought, fire and flooding rains.

STAGE 1: FACE MASKS EX ROTARY This is why we are Rotarians and strive to make a difference in our world.

"On Tuesday 7 January, the day after Sue and I had driven my son and his family to the airport to return home to Los Angeles, driving past the city of Melbourne shrouded in appallingly dense smoke haze I was feeling a bit miserable and wondering what I was going to do with myself that day.

It didn’t take long to sort that out!

I received the call from a representative of Direct Relief, to the Rotary Office indicating that after consulting the Red Cross, they would offer up to 500,000 N95 / P2 Respirator Face Masks for people in communities directly experiencing the bush-fire crisis. 100,000 masks were already on their way, courtesy of air freight space donated by Qantas, and scheduled to arrive at Melbourne airport on Thursday 9 January.

Direct Relief is a non-profit, non-aligned Santa Barbara California based charity which ships medical supplies to communities affected by natural disasters the world over.

Their Associate Director, Partnerships & Philanthropy, Dean Axelrod, is also President of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara. He had suggested they call us because: “Rotary gets things done when the chips are down”

After consulting with President Kevin, my first call was to Bob Glindemann to check whether the DIK warehouse had capacity to store, temporarily, the 100,000 masks, (24 pallets) while we arranged distribution. Bob said yes and has been front and centre in this amazing logistics response.

The next step was to enlist Grant Hocking, District 9800 Governor to inform Rotary District Governors of the face mask offer and check their needs. The response from Rotarians across the country has been magnificent.

By Monday 20 January, nearly 400,000 masks will have been received to where they are needed in far flung communities experiencing bush fires, ranging from Central Queensland, Kangaroo Island, the Hunter Valley, the NSW Southern Highlands, NE Victoria and East Gippsland.

Yet again, Rotary has met an urgent community need. To me this experience demonstrates that: Rotarians are people of action!

STAGE 2: FACE MASKS DELIVERED Bob Glindemann provided his take on the emergency mask delivery to the fire areas. But it's not only masks! It's help for our animals too!

President Kevin phoned me about the arrival of face masks on Qantas tarmac the next day. "My immediate reaction was “ you have got to be "...... !" joking - we simply don’t have room at DIK!”

However as we were filling a container of beds for Somaliland on that Thursday morning, we would be able to make the room once they were gone. So that afternoon, the trucks arrived and the 25 pallets were unloaded into the store ready for instructions on distribution.

They were all destined for the Red Cross and CFA but given that communications had already gone to the many District Governors, we could take whatever was requested for Rotary’s use.

DHL who were contracted to do the cartage, were not quite sure what they were supposed to do as everything had happened very quickly from Santa Barbara ,but clarity does not take long to sorted when Rotarians get involved and in the next couple of days, 14 of the pallets were despatched as follows:- 4 to Wangaratta for D9870; 2 to Traralgon for D9820; 2 pallets to the Red Cross in Melbourne; 3 pallets to Orbost, Bright and Mansfield; 2 for Healesville; sundry cartons were mailed to Queensland and others shipped to Kangaroo Island.

Another 20 pallets on the ground in Sydney are destined for D9685 in the Blue Mountains and for D9675 in the Southern Highlands. The next 30 pallets of face masks are on their way to Melbourne by Qantas and we expect to see them in the next few days.

And it’s not only masks. We had a team of volunteer nurses sort and pack 5 pallets of medical consumables under the guidance of a veterinarian. These have been delivered to the Victorian Dept of Agriculture’s Central Vet Store for issue to animal welfare agencies seeking assistance.

We have also despatched 50 cartons of new industrial clothing to Traralgon for use in the forthcoming cleanup with the balance of these going into Southern NSW for the same purpose.

All in all a busy time bearing in mind that the usual activities of Donations in Kind are continuing. Its pleasing when you see it all come together." Cheers Bob.

CATCHING UP AFTER THE FESTIVE SEASON!

Ted Garland, Bob Fels and Austen Burleigh at lunch last week. UPCOMING MEETING 29 Jan: Vocational Service Panel – “How has Technology changed your workplace”

CLUB NEWS HUGE THANK YOU TED GARLAND Photo show the contents of Ted's bags of 'goodies' he packed for the children.

Ted has reported: "The day was very successful and the largest yet sponsored by the Welfare of the Young Committee for the refugee children and parents/guardians from the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre (ASRC). The event was arranged by the ASRC and supervised by volunteers from Kids Zone (affiliated with ASRC) We met outside the Zoo at 10.30 am and distributed adult admission tickets and food vouchers to the waiting children and parents, and because of delay in obtaining tickets previously ordered, this process took about 45 minutes. Once the visitors received their tickets and food vouchers they entered the Zoo able to see what they desired and with an invitation to join for lunch at the Carousel Park from 12.30 on. President Kevin and Lisa assisted in handing out some of the 60 “Goodies” bags I packed and generally lining up the recipients. Also helping was Rtn Marg Leser and Maree. I organised the purchase of 120 food vouchers and 20 ZOO admissions in addition to 50 donated via the ASRC. All were used. Sixty four adults and fifty eight children were registered to attend. I expect to receive final numbers shortly." Pic below shows the Volunteers with our President Kevin, Lisa, Ted Garland and Maree.

END TRACHOMA TRAILER UPDATE 2020 End Trachoma's Mk2 version of Interactive Face Washing Trailer is nearing completion in the Darwin workshops of our partner Inpex.

The construction of Mk2 version is based on digital drawings produced by Monash students last summer who proposed we should involve indigenous tradesmen in its construction.

When completed this will go into service with Katherine West Health Board which covers communities in a very expansive area from Katherine through to the Kimberley.

It will continue to promote clean faces in End Trachoma promotional events scheduled through the year in this area. 2020 is a very important year in this R100 project which forms part of the global WHO initiative to eliminate Trachoma.

BUSHFIRE BREAKFAST - 19 FEBRUARY BAruesatkrafalisatn Bushfire Relief Appeal Business

Rotary Club of Southbank inc. in cooperation with all District 9800 Clubs invite you to attend a Business Breakfast in support of the newly setup Bushfire Relief Appeal Featuring Key Note Speaker: Emergency Management Commisioner Andrew Crisp, Victoria Police.:

Notes: Maximum Tickets Avaliable 200 Table Size: 10pp. Bookings: Go to Rotary Southbank website to register: https://www.southbank.org.au/event/event/detail/event/70003 Rotary International District 9800 appreciates your support in helping all those affected by the devastating losses caused by the Bushfires. Donations may also be made direct to the fund via the following link: bendigobank.com.au/rotaryd9800bushfireappeal About the Venue:

Hyatt Essendon Fieds is conveniently located right next to Essendon Airport and the Tullamrine Freeway. Complimentary Parking will be made available on the day for those attending the breakfast (attendees must validate their entry ticket while at the breakfast to receive the offer). Venue: Hyatt Essendon Fields Venue Address: 1 English Street, Essendon Fields, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3041 Starting: 7:30 AM Wednesday 19th February 2020 Ending: 8:45 AM

'WHERE ARE THE R100 SOCKS?' SAD! They have disappeared! Did you know that Englishmen wear socks with their sandals! No excuses about not wearing socks in summer please! Where are the R100 Socks this summer? Where are your photos?

DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2020 CONFERENCE SPEAKERS PROGRAM BOOKINGS : https://www.trybooking.com/BDPRN If you have booked for On to Conference, you have Conference accommodation included but you need to register for the Conference and its program of events.

A special note from our On to Conference Organiser, Ari Talantis: "If you are not registered with OTC, you may like to join us on Friday night for our Dinner. Please contact me in advance for details." (See Directory for contact details)

DISTRICT CONFERENCE PROGRAM EVENTS

BENDIGO Steeped in history

Take a walk or ride on Bendigo's talking tram and explore the city's heritage architecture. Don a miner's hat and dig up a wealth of goldrush history on a tour of the Central Deborah Mine, or explore the city's Chinese heritage at the Golden Dragon Museum. Get behind the wheel at Australia's oldest working pottery, Bendigo Pottery, or admire the delightful conservatory, cascade waterfall and open-air fernery of Rosalind Park.

Art abounds

Discover Bendigo's vibrant arts precinct while wandering along View Street. Pop into the Bendigo Art Gallery (1887), which contains a collection of Australian art dating back to the 1850s and attracts significant exhibitions from across the globe. Explore the host of smaller galleries and antique stores around town and take a stroll down Chancery and Bath Lanes for an encounter with colourful street art. For performing arts, catch shows big and small at the elegant Capital Theatre (1873) and the Ulumbarra Theatre, a striking complex on the grounds of the historic Sandhurst Gaol.

Bendigo History

As of June 2018, Bendigo had an urban population of 99,122, making it the fourth-largest inland city in Australia and fourth-most populous city in the state.

It is the administrative centre for the City of Greater Bendigo, which encompasses both the urban area and outlying towns with over 111,000 people.

On 30 October 2019 Bendigo was admitted to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the Category of Gastronomy. Bendigo and region's core gastronomy themes are; a 40,000 year old sustainable food system through the Dja Dja Wrung people and the need to heal the landscape following colonialization and gold mining, the creativity and innovation of the community and of our food producers, health and nutrition and the role of food in inclusion and community wellbeing, and the importance of developing a sustainable food system in an era of climate change.

The discovery of gold in the soils of Bendigo during the 1850s made it one of the most significant Victorian-era boom towns in Australia. News of the finds intensified the Victorian gold rush, bringing an influx of migrants to the city from around the world within a year and transforming it from a sheep station to a major settlement in the newly proclaimed Colony of Victoria.

Once the alluvial gold had been mined out, mining companies were formed to exploit the rich underground quartz reef gold. Since 1851, about 780,000 kilograms (25 million troy ounces) of gold have been extracted from Bendigo's goldmines, making it the highest producing goldfield in Australia in the 19th century and the largest gold-mining economy in eastern Australia.

It is also notable for its Victorian architectural heritage. The city took its name from the Bendigo Creek and its residents from the earliest days of the gold rush have been called "Bendigonians".

Although the town flourished in its beginnings as a result of the discovery of gold, it experienced a reversal of fortune in the early 20th century. However, its growth accelerated in the postwar years and has continued to increase steadily since. (Taken from: Wikipedia)

INTERCLUB VISITS ROTARY RICHMOND INVITATION Co-hosted Exchange Student, Constance Schuen (pictured with P Kevin at Christmas meeting 2019) will deliver her half year progress report Venue: Amora Hotel – 649 Bridge Road, Richmond Time: 6.30pm for 7.00pm Meeting – Cost: $35 Complimentary Parking onsite – off River Street, Entry Pass exchanged at reception for exit pass (mention Rotary) RSVP to John Peberdy via email [email protected] or mobile 0417 943 524 by 31 January 2020.

OTHER INVITATIONS CELTIC BRUNCH INVITATION CELTIC BRUNCH INVITATION Sue Foley, Chair of Rotary Bush Fire Response Committee, Community Bendigo Bank Murrumbeena and Mission to Seafarers are delighted to invite you and your guest to a traditional Celtic Brunch to launch the inaugural Melbourne Celtic Festival. Enjoy traditional Celtic fare, kindly supplied by Prestige Foods Australia, a special guest appearance by Aussie national treasure Mike Brady with MC Russell 'Robbo' Robertson, guest speakers and Irish dancing. Melbourne Celtic Festival is a community event and all ticket proceeds go to Rotary Disaster Fund assisting Bush Fire affected communities with mental health support and the important welfare work of Mission to Seafarers. TIME: 10 am - 12 pm DATE: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 VENUE: Mission to Seafarers, 717 Flinders Street, Docklands RSVP: 28/02/2020 Either directly: Celtic Brunch Guest Tickets (please enter number of complimentary guest tickets) or Email: [email protected] How to get there: 10 minute walk from Southern Cross Station. Trams 75 and 35. Early Bird fixed price parking prior to 9 am behind and next door to venue.

Come for brekky but please stay or return throughout the day as our guests for the main Festival events featuring Scottish rock band Claymore, Wendy Stapleton's Australian Women's Choir, Bhan Tre, Claire Patti, Saoirse Oz, Emma-Kate Tobia, Maria Forde Trio, Play it Martha, Victoria Welsh Choir, Platform 9 3/4, Comhaltas Melbourne, Geoff Jones (Scottish smallpipes), Cath Connelly, Kathryn Clements

For the Full Program and more information please go to www.melbournecelticfestival.com.au

PROBUS CLUB LAUNCH MELBOURNE Rotary Central Melbourne (RCM) is launching Melbourne Bearbrass Probus at the Dock Library, Docklands, at 10am-noon on Wednesday February 12.

It’s the first Probus Club launched within District 9800 since Carlton Gardens in 2016. It’s also nine years since RCM launched Melbourne Sunrise Probus in 2011. That club now has about 120 members.

Probus Clubs are for active retirees who want to extend their friendship and activities networks and enjoy stimulating monthly speakers.

The number of retiree residents in the CBD, Southbank and Docklands are surging. Overall, seniors aged 50-74 in CBD, Docklands and Southbank increased 14% from 2016 to 2019, and now total nearly 11,000. The city forecasts their numbers will surge another 25% to 13,500 in 2022.

The city’s older “tower dwellers” have no historic community. They include many seniors downsizing from the suburbs or country, and some have lost their partner.

Bearbrass is enthusiastically backed by Probus headquarters in Sydney. Monthly meetings following the Feb 12 launch will be at the Dock Library at 10am on second Tuesdays of the month, from March.

Bearbrass members can come from Melbourne city and further out. “Bearbrass” was a suggested name for the settlement that became “Melbourne”. Website probussouthpacific.org/microsites/melbournebearbrass Item by: Tony Thomas MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES Membership anniversaries last fortnight and this week Max Hardman (32), David Hayes (6), Adrian Kloeden (3), Gus Nossal (9), Bill Pickett (26), Charles Qin (3), Allan Wang (4), Eric Wright (2). GREETINGS Happy birthday this week and last fortnight Chris Stillwell (photo), Charles Qin, Sally Capp, Peter Jones, John Green, Renata Bernarde, Marc Pinoli, Maureen Mangion, Robin Reid, Antonio Pajovic, Trevor Hill, Philip Cornish, Chad Brendish, Bev Brock, Keith Callinan, Peter Abotomey, Alan Finkel, Alistair Urquhart, Kevin O'Flaherty, David Hayes, Hamish Head, Peter Davis, Cynthia Edgell, Colin Honey, Timothy Goonan, Abdullah Saeed, Ian Sunderland. LAST WEEK'S GUESTS Visiting International Rotarians Rajendra Rijal (Pashupati Kathmandu, Nepal). Guests of Members Kirsten Sayers, Robyn Hollands (Robert Fisher), Bruce Harmer (Kevin Sheehan), Sankar Nadeson (Richard Skinner), Michael Hall (Adrian Nelson), Belinda Saltmarsh Kram (David Kram).

On duty this week Amir Dastaviz, Bill Philip, Richard Skinner, Keith Callinan, Ian Ross (Photos), James Pullar (Wine).

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