Welcome to this week's edition of the Gateway Bulletin!
We're here to keep you informed with the latest updates, events, and stories from our Rotary community. Whether it's new initiatives, upcoming meetings, or ways to get involved, we'll keep you informed and up-to-date.
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PRESIDENT'S UPDATE
👋 President’s Update
It has been a busy and productive week as we move into the final preparations for this Sunday’s Dandenong All Holden Car Show.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, I presented the full event plan, outlining the roles and responsibilities that our members and volunteers will be taking on throughout the day. 📋 I also provided a significant update on judging, with nearly 120 show-worthy Holdens now confirmed to be judged—an outstanding turnout. 🏆
The weather forecast is looking favourable, with a warm 27°C predicted, which should help make for a fantastic day. ☀️
We’re pleased to be receiving assistance from our friends at Rotary Belgrave, who will be helping with car parking. Last night I also hosted a judges’ preparation meeting and dinner, and the judging team will assist with morning parking as well. We’ll be on-site from 6:30am, with gates opening at 7:00am. 🤝
Additionally, the Rotary Combined Districts 9815 and 9830 Conference held in Hobart from 13–15 March was both empowering and inspirational, bringing together Rotarians from across Victoria and Tasmania. 🗺️ Please see the Conference Report below for more details.
It was also great to welcome two new prospective members, Ash and Bala—both accountants—at our meeting. 💼 They’ll be joining us at several upcoming gatherings, and we look forward to presenting them to the club for approval for membership in the coming weeks.
We also heard from Alan Roberts, who shared that his legal practice will soon be moving to Elwood. ⚖️ Due to increased commitments, he won’t be able to attend Tuesday night meetings regularly, but he has assured us that he will visit from time to time. I look forward to seeing his smiling face and hearing about the passionate work he continues to do.
I’m also excited to announce that we have been warmly invited to the Opening Ceremony of the Multicultural Inclusion Day, to be held at the Mulgrave Community Centre on Sunday, 29 March 2026. 🌏 More details can be found in the flyer included in this newsletter.
Just a friendly reminder that March is Water, Sanitisation and Hygiene Month, a Vocational Visit to Disaster Aid Australia has been organised for our Satellite Club, and all club members are invited as well. The Satellite members already have the invitation.
Date: Monday, 30 March 2026
Time: 6:30 pm for a 7:00 pm start
Cost for dinner: $25 per head
Note: Prompt bookings and payment are required, as numbers are limited to a maximum of 20.
To attend, please get in touch with Leanne.
In addition, a Polio Fundraiser Night, hosted by the Rotary Club of Springvale City, has been scheduled for Thursday, 23 April. ❤️ A flyer for this important event is also included in this newsletter.
Rotary Conference Report
Author: Leanne Byron
The Rotary combined Districts 9815 and 9830 Conference held in Hobart from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th March was both empowering and inspirational, bringing together Rotarians from Victoria and Tasmania. This Conference certainly lived up to its theme ‘BE INSPIRED’. This conference was enjoyed by over 500 Rotarians from more than 80 clubs.
The only disappointment is that we had a mere five Rotarians and three partners representing our club, whilst other clubs had most of their members and partners present.
It was wonderful to see how immensely proud Gus and Greta De Hoogd were of their beautiful daughter and Conference Chair, Monique Smith. Monique did an outstanding job not only at the event but in the 12 months leading up to it. A huge congratulations to Monique and the entire Conference Committee on an excellent and memorable conference.
A special mention goes to the exceptionally talented Mark Smith who showed his musical prowess, along with his talented band “Wingin It”. Mark was also one of the outstanding Conference speakers, sharing the inspirational and moving story of his youth program “Knox Rocks”.
Brian Ashworth, Peter Faulkner, Cherie Ramsay and Lois Faulkner attracted a continual crowd of people at the DAA stand in the House of Friendship. There was a great deal of excitement and interest in the new Smart Aid Ultra Filter and prospective bookings for Disaster Aid Australia Vocational Visits.
Conferences always provide the opportunity to learn how powerful Rotary truly is. It connects us with likeminded, inspirational and passionate people whilst reinforcing the spirit of fun and fellowship. The outstanding speakers highlighted incredible stories of determination and resilience, and projects which enhance and change the lives of others, both locally and globally.
The weekend ended on a reflective, energetic note, leaving us motivated to serve more efficiently and to enhance connections with our broader community. Most of all, it left us with a sense of belonging to this amazing organisation—our “Rotary family”.
Please consider signing up for next year's conference, which will be on a cruise ship to Kangaroo Island. Start saving now so that you're not put off by the cost—you will be guaranteed an enjoyable, educational and inspiring experience.
Club Updates & Initiatives
📚 Exercise Book Appeal – Extended
The exercise book collection deadline has been extended to Tuesday, 24 March 2026. Alan Collier is coordinating the collection and ensuring delivery to Donations in Kind (DIK) at the end of March for distribution to children in developing nations.
This extension allows contributions from other clubs, including as far away as Traralgon. Thank you to everyone who has already contributed—please make sure your books are submitted by the revised date to ensure timely delivery.
🚗 Dandenong All Holden Car Show – Excitement is Building!
With just over two weeks to go, we’re getting closer to the 16th Dandenong All Holden Car Show on Sunday, 22 March 2026.
Registrations are already rolling in, with 310 tickets sold online, breaking previous records!
Registrations are trending strongly, following the pattern we’ve seen for our previous events.
In preparation for the big day:
🚗 Saturday, 21 March 2026 – Site walkthrough @ 1PM
🚗 Sunday, 22 March 2026 – Car Show Event from 6 AM
🚗 Tuesday, 24 March 2026 – Car Show event feedback and review at the Dandenong Club
🎤✨ Rotary’s Got Talent – Save the Date!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, 2 May 2026, as Jonathan Usher takes the stage live at the Lyndale Secondary College Theatre for an incredible night of entertainment.
Rotary’s Got Talent will showcase fantastic performances, plenty of laughs, and a wonderful community atmosphere—all while raising funds for the Monash Children's Hospital Cancer Centre Apheresis Therapy, supporting vital treatment for young patients.
📄 See the flyer in this newsletter for full details
🎟 Ticketing and entry information will be available within the next few days
🤹♂️ Save the date and get ready for a brilliant evening of talent, fun, and fundraising for an important cause!
🧩 Last Week’s Rotary Challenge
Test your Rotary knowledge with these three fun challenges!
1️⃣ Rotary History Challenge
Years: 1905, 1921, 1985, 1988
Milestones:
A. The first Rotary club outside the U.S. is formed
B. Rotary International begins the PolioPlus program
C. The first Rotary club is founded in Chicago
D. Rotary becomes the first service organisation to support polio eradication globally
✅ Answers:
1905 – C
1921 – A
1985 – B
1988 – D
2️⃣ Rotary Project Challenge
Which of these is a real Rotary global project?
A. Clean Water for Communities Program
B. Rotary Solar Schools Initiative
C. Polio Eradication Campaign
D. Books for All Literacy Drive
✅ C. Polio Eradication Campaign
3️⃣ Rotary Flags Challenge
Match the country to the flag tradition:
Japan
Australia
Brazil
United States
✅ Answers:
· Japan – Formal ceremonial exchange
· Australia – Friendship exchanges between clubs
· Brazil – Colourful, regionally symbolic flags
· United States – Widely displayed and exchanged between clubs
🧠 This Week’s Rotary Puzzle
Which country issued the world’s first Rotary postage stamp, and in what year was it released?
(Answer will be revealed next week!)
📅 Upcoming Events
🚗 Saturday, 21 March 2026 – Site walkthrough at 1:00PM
🚗 Sunday, 22 March 2026 – 16th Dandenong All Holden Car Show at 6AM
🚗 Tuesday, 24 March 2026 – Car Show event feedback and review at the Dandenong Club
📚 Tuesday, 24 March 2026 – Exercise Book Collection for DIK
🌍 Sunday, 29 March 2026 – Multicultural Inclusion Day, from 10:00AM
🏭 Monday, 30 March 2026 – Vocational Visit to Disaster Aid Australia
🚫 Tuesday, 31 March 2026 - No club meeting due to Vocational Visit to Disaster Aid Australia
🚫 Tuesday, 7 April 2026 – No meeting (Easter Break)
❤️ Thursday, 23 April 2026 – Polio Fundraiser Night, hosted by Rotary Club of Springvale City
🤹♂️ Saturday, 2 May 2026 – Rotary’s Got Talent, Lyndale Secondary College Theatre
🌍 Tuesday, 5 May 2026 – Selba & Afri-Aus Care Presentation
💃 Saturday, 16 May 2026 – Dinner Dance (Theme TBC)
📅 Upcoming Meeting
Tuesday Night Club Meeting
Next meeting:
📚 Tuesday, 24 March 2026 – Exercise Book Collection for DIK
Agenda highlights:
· Car Show event feedback and review at the Dandenong Club
· General club updates
Make sure you come along and be part of the conversation!
Where Club meetings are listed as TBC, please refer to the Events Calendar on our club website for the latest updates.
ATTENDANCE
We’d love to see you at our meetings! Please use ClubRunner to let us know if you’ll be attending, and feel free to include any guests — especially for special events or partners’ nights.
To help us plan with the Dandenong Club, please update your attendance by 5 pmon Monday. This ensures we can confirm numbers and make the most of our time together.
You are warmly invited to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Multicultural Inclusion Day, at Mulgrave Community Centre taking place on Sunday, 29 March at 10:00 AM.
The Opening Ceremony will be attended by our special guests including the Ms. Eden Foster, State MP for Mulgrave, Cr. Stuart James , Mayor, City of Monash and D9815 Governor, Rtn. Peter Behm, who will officially open the event.
Please feel free to share this invitation with members of your club who may wish to attend.
Following the ceremony, the celebration will continue with vibrant community cultural performances representing the diversity of our community (PFA flyer attachments). The event will also feature a Makers Market supporting local small businesses.
This day is a wonderful opportunity to come together, celebrate multiculturalism, strengthen community connections, and support local talent and businesses. Your presence would greatly contribute to the spirit and success of the Rotary event.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday 29th March 2026 Multicultural Inclusion Day - Opening Ceremony: 10:00 AM (please arrive by 9:45 AM)
Venue: Mulgrave Community Centre, 355 Wellington Road, Mulgrave VIC 3170
We sincerely hope you can join us for this special community celebration.
The Ride for Medical Research is organised by the Rotary District 9815 Ride for Medical Research Team. Over the past 40 years, Rotary Districts 9810 and 9820 have raised an incredible $2,476,285 for Australian Rotary Health, supporting vital medical research across the country.
The next annual ride will be held 22–27 March 2026, marking 40 years of dedication to funding life-changing research. Riders will cover approximately 578 km, setting out each day from the Bendigo base and spending six days exploring the surrounding countryside.
Figures that track the deaths of mothers in Nigeria are not faceless to a Rotarian who has been in the delivery room. Through his eyes, get an update on a Rotary Foundation Programs of Scale initiative three years in. It supports healthier pregnancies, births, and early days for newborns and moms. Read the progress report on the project to reduce maternal deaths in Nigeria.
Attendance and Participation: Regularly attend club meetings and participate actively in club activities and projects.
Service Projects: Engage in community service projects, both locally and internationally, aimed at addressing humanitarian needs, promoting goodwill, and fostering peace.
Fundraising: Contribute to fundraising efforts that support Rotary's service projects and charitable activities.
Vocational Expertise: Share their professional skills and expertise to benefit others within the club and in service projects.
Ethical Standards: Adhere to high ethical standards in their personal and professional lives, reflecting Rotary's commitment to integrity and ethical behavior.
Networking and Fellowship: Build relationships and network with other Rotarians and community leaders, fostering goodwill and understanding.
Membership Growth: Support efforts to grow Rotary's membership and extend invitations to prospective members who embody Rotary's ideals.
Rotary Foundation: Contribute financially to the Rotary Foundation, which funds international scholarships, humanitarian projects, and other charitable efforts.
Public Image: Promote Rotary's mission and achievements within the community and advocate for Rotary's values and initiatives.
Leadership: Serve in leadership roles within the club or district, providing guidance and direction to advance Rotary's goals.
Overall, Rotarians are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities and the world at large through service, fellowship, and ethical leadership.
All members are invited to contribute to our newsletter.
If you have an interesting article or some great pictures, please share them with us by Thursday so we can include them in Friday's edition.
Send all articles and notifications to our Editor, David Langworthy, at david@bevmarks.com.au.
Riders will cover approximately 578 km, setting out each day from the Bendigo base and spending six days exploring the surrounding countryside.
