Welcome to this week's edition of the Gateway Bulletin!
We're here to provide you with the latest updates, events, and stories from our Rotary community. Whether it's new initiatives, upcoming meetings, or opportunities to get involved, we'll ensure you're kept informed and up to date.
Our Facebook page is also an excellent way to stay updated on our club's activities. If you haven't connected yet, click here to follow.
Our club has recently implemented two very important initiatives.
1. The Mental Health Youth & Teen training for staff and students at Lyndale Secondary College which has already had a big impact in the school and Rotary communities.
This project was funded by a matching District Grant, of which the total cost is $9,000, meaning our club funds $4,500 and matching funds from our Rotary Foundation.
2. We now have a new format club. The new ‘Impact Collective’ club is the first of its kind in Australia and is a Satellite club of Greater Dandenong & Endeavour Hills.
The date on the club Charter for is 20th May, 2025 which is exactly 90 years and 5 days after the original Rotary Club of Dandenong was chartered.
A timely addition for our 90th year celebrations.
The Launch Celebration for Impact Collective is on Thursday 12th June at the Dandenong Club. Leanne has sent out the invitation to all members. Partners are also very welcome.
I hope to see most of our members and partners at the event to support this first Rotary Impact club in Australia.
All the best in Rotary
John Peck
District 9815 Presidents & President-Elects meeting
Last Friday night the final District 9815 Presidents and President-Elects meeting was held at the Mulgrave Country Club.
The night was a huge success with over 80 Presidents & PE's representing their clubs, along with District representatives.
The vibe in the room was electric, filled with positive chatter, enthusiasm and fellowship. It's been a great year with the merger of two Districts, 9810 & 9820 and the implementation of 'Community Groups' which has resulted in many clubs working together to achieve better impact and outcomes by collaborating on projects.
District Governor Colin Byron rewarded deserving clubs on their outstanding achievements, club experiences and membership with Club Excellence Awards.
There were 11 GOLD, 18 Silver and 20 Bronze awards presented on the night, with only 27 of the 76 clubs missing out. An outstanding result from District 9815.
The outcome is that clubs who didn't reach the goals required to earn a certificate are now preparing for the new Rotary year and award winners are striving for even higher achievements.
Congratulations to all Presidents and clubs on an outstanding Rotary Year.
Impact Collective
Our new format club 'Impact Collective' a Satellite club of RCGDEH has received its charter dated 20th May, 2025 which is exactly 90 years and 5 days after the original Rotary Club of Dandenong Charter.
An invitation to the Launch Celebration has been sent to all members and Rotarians from other clubs. Partners, friends and family are all invited to this event.
It's really exciting to be starting this club with 12 members, 6 are brand new to Rotary, 5 current members who we have moved across to the new club and 1 member from a Rotary Club in Gippsland.
We will be ONE Rotary Club with 2 different formats and meeting times, along with a variety of projects. We are off to a great start with a group of enthusiastic, energetic and vibrant individuals who have fabulous project and fundraising ideas.
We've had a combination of Zoom, Hybrid and face to face catch ups.
Photo: Six of our Impact members who caught up for drinks and to share club ideas at the Dandenong Club on Sunday night and a club information card.
Interact
The Year 12 Lyndale Secondary Students, who are also our Interactors, along with Teacher Jackie Smith and myself visited Parliament House on Monday.
The students were a credit to their school and to Rotary, from the moment we met at Dandenong Station, throughout the tour and lunch in the city, to the time they disembarked the train at Dandenong they conducted themselves in an exemplary fashion which was truly inspiring.
We all gained a great deal of knowledge about the Government and the Parliament House. I was very privileged to have been invited to participate in this excursion.
Birthing Kits Packing Day
At Lyndale Secondary College
Rotarians are very welcome to join us at 10am, if you would like to attend, please contact Leanne for further details. It would be great to see good representation from our club on the packing day.
Our club has supported the Interactors by purchasing 200 birthing kits ($1,000) for their packing day on Friday 13th September, it's a fairly involved process which is documented in the attached manual.
This project captured the interest of the Interactors due to the difference it makes for mothers and newborns in countries where there are no hospitals or suitable clinics available.
Birthing kits are an internationally accepted intervention to support a clean birth. Each item in the birthing kit provided by Birthing Kits Foundation Australia, works to reduce infections at key high-risk moments of care during labour, birth and post-birth for the mother, the newborn baby and birth attendant.
Rotary Impact Collective Launch Event
We are excited to invite all members and friends of Rotary to the official Launch of our new-format satellite club: the Rotary Impact Collective — a vibrant new arm of the Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills.
When: Thursday, 12th June Where: The Dandenong Club
This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate innovation in Rotary, connect with like-minded individuals, and support the growth of impactful community initiatives.
Please see the invitation for full event details, including RSVP and payment information.
Let’s come together to mark the beginning of something special!
You’re Invited! Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong & Endeavour Hills Annual Changeover Dinner 2024–2025
President John Peck and President-Elect John Ternel warmly invite all members, partners, and friends to a special evening of celebration, reflection, and new beginnings.
Celebration of our achievements over the past Rotary year
Formal induction of the 2025 leadership team
Great food, fellowship, and a bit of fun
A 70s/80s disco cover band to keep the party going! 🕺💃
$70 per person, fine dining and drinks at bar prices
Dress to impress and bring your dancing shoes — let’s make it a night to remember!
Planning Begins for our Club's
90th Birthday Celebration
We’re excited to announce that the date has been set for our Club’s 90th Birthday Celebration — Saturday, 4th October 2025.
This milestone is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our Club’s proud history and promote Rotary within the broader community. To help make this a special and memorable occasion, Peter Faulkner is forming a planning committee and inviting members to volunteer and be part of the organising team.
Members with longstanding ties to the Club are especially encouraged to get involved — either by joining the committee or by sharing valuable historical information and contact details for past members. Peter also plans to connect with former members to gather stories and insights that will help bring our rich history to life.
If you’re interested in contributing to the planning or sharing Club history, please contact Peter Faulkner on 0425 764 103.
Please note delegates will need to use the ‘Access Conference Rates Here’ button at the bottom of the screen and not the ‘search availability’ function at the top of the screen, otherwise they will not gain access to the discount rates!
If any delegates have any questions or concerns about the link, please feel free to reach out to the hotel directly.
Together, we have made 2024-25 an extraordinary year of service.
I am delighted to share with you the activities and events of our District which were undertaken through the month of May.
This issue also gives a glimpse of the thoughts and emotions of leaders, projects from clubs, Rotaract and Interact news, TRF recognitions, achievements and a lot more.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue prepared in great detail. Do keep contributing your good work for the GML.
When Ugandan village elders talk with Stuart Raymond Kasule about supporting people with mental health struggles, they often ask how to open a conversation with a person who is suffering. Kasule travels from his adopted home in Australia to his Ugandan homeland about twice a year to share his training on mental well-being and suicide prevention, skills that are part of his job with a counseling firm in Canberra. Read more about how Kasule launched the Hope for Life campaign to increase mental health awareness in Uganda.
June is Rotary Fellowships Month — a special time for Rotary clubs around the world to celebrate the incredible diversity and camaraderie found within Rotary Fellowships. These international groups bring together Rotarians, family members, and friends who share common interests, hobbies, or professions, fostering lifelong friendships and collaboration beyond traditional club boundaries.
Rotary Fellowships provide unique opportunities to connect, learn, and grow with like-minded people across the globe. Whether your passion lies in photography, hiking, wine appreciation, aviation, or countless other areas, there’s likely a fellowship that fits your interests. These groups offer a wonderful way to deepen your Rotary experience while promoting goodwill and understanding internationally.
We encourage members to explore and join fellowships that inspire them. It’s a fantastic way to expand your network, exchange ideas, and enhance your service projects with fresh perspectives and expertise.
Let’s use this month to celebrate the diverse passions that unite us as Rotarians and to strengthen the bonds of friendship that make Rotary such a powerful global community.
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.
