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.
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
Our annual conference is one of the most important events in a Rotary Year.
I encourage every member to attend; it is an opportunity to have some fun—playing golf, joining the wine tour, attending the Pre-Conference Cocktail event, and enjoying the Saturday night Gala Dinner, which has this year’s theme, 'Rotary Rocks.
This is a chance to meet with other fellow Rotarians in District 9815, to learn about the work of Rotary, both locally and internationally, to visit the Rotary Expo to see and personally meet the Rotarians behind the many local and international Rotary Projects.
The District Conference gives you the opportunity to learn and become involved in the work Rotarians and Rotary Clubs do around the world to make our world a better place.
Five members of our Club are on the Conference Committee, including District Governor Colin, they deserve our collective support. Further information on the District Conference is included in this edition of the Gateway Bulletin.
February 11th: Club Meeting
Guest Speaker - Sally Baird, Backpack for Kids
February 25th: Board Meeting
No club meeting
March 4th: Club Meeting
Guest Speaker - Stephanie Joseph, Dandenong Community & Learning Centre
February marks an important time in the Rotary calendar as we focus on one of our key areas of service—Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution. In a world where tensions and disputes can arise at every level, from local communities to international relations, Rotary plays a critical role in fostering peace and understanding.
Rotary International has long been committed to creating environments where peace can thrive. Through initiatives such as the Rotary Peace Fellowship program, we empower individuals with the skills needed to become effective peacebuilders. These fellows go on to work in areas such as diplomacy, conflict resolution, and humanitarian efforts, making a tangible difference in communities worldwide.
This month, we encourage all members to reflect on how we, as individuals and as a club, can contribute to a more peaceful world. Whether through small acts of kindness, fostering inclusive conversations, or participating in Rotary peace projects, every effort counts.
As Rotarians, we have the opportunity to be catalysts for change, promoting peace not just in February but throughout the year. Let’s continue working together to build a more harmonious and understanding world, one step at a time.
Backpacks for Kids Victoria Supporting Children in Crisis
On Tuesday, 11th February, our club will welcome Sally Baird from Backpacks for Kids Victoria as our guest speaker. This incredible charity provides essential material aid to children in crisis, including those entering foster care, fleeing domestic violence, or experiencing homelessness.
Through their ME Packs, School Essentials Packs, and Youth Outreach Packs, they bring comfort and dignity to vulnerable children across Victoria.
Since 2014, they have distributed over 47,000 crisis packs, making a real impact on young lives.
Call for Volunteers Holland Festival Parking Support
The Holland Festival is fast approaching, taking place on Saturday, March 15 at Caribbean Gardens, Scoresby. Once again, the Rotary Club of Casey has requested our assistance with parking management.
Last year, our club provided seven volunteers for this event, contributing to a very busy but rewarding day. In return, we received a generous $2,000 donation to support our projects.
Volunteer Details: Date: Saturday, March 15 Setup Time: 6:30 AM (finishing early/mid-afternoon) Location: Caribbean Gardens, Scoresby
We need to confirm our volunteer numbers by midday Monday. If you can assist, please let us know your availability as soon as possible.
This is a fantastic opportunity tosupport a fellow Rotary event, raise funds for our projects, and get involved in a hands-on way.
If you haven't had the chance to participate in other initiatives, this is a great way to contribute!
As we enter February, Rotary’s Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month, clubs across the district are already making a meaningful impact.
This month's episode spotlights the Rotary Club of Glen Waverley and Monash City Council, who joined forces to create the Octa Net—a lasting community project celebrating Rotary’s centennial.
Key Updates:
Rotary Events & Activities: Clubs started the year with family picnics, BBQs, and art shows, including Mornington’s 53rd annual exhibition.
Australia Day Celebrations: Many clubs hosted events to reflect, respect, and celebrate our diverse communities.
District Conference (March 2025): With over 400 registrations and 52 clubs confirmed, this year’s theme is: "We Belong Because We Are Better Together."
Special Guest Speaker: We’re honored to welcome Rotary Foundation Trustee Dr. Bharat Pandya from Mumbai, India!
Membership Growth: With 27 new members joining by December, our district is now the 2nd highest-growing in the zone!
The Community Kitchen Project, led by the Rotary Club of Treze Tílias, is an inspiring initiative designed to empower the local community through food preparation, workforce training, and economic development. By integrating community engagement, cultural preservation, and sustainable solutions, this project creates long-term benefits for the residents of Treze Tílias.
Project Objectives
Supporting Local Institutions: The project provides a safe and well-equipped space for community groups to prepare and sell food during events, helping them raise funds for their humanitarian initiatives.
Encouraging Entrepreneurship: Individuals can use the kitchen to prepare and sell food, offering them a pathway to financial independence and business ownership.
Culinary Training for Employment: Professional culinary training programs are offered to women, youth, and other community members, equipping them with skills for employment in local hotels and restaurants or for starting their own food ventures.
Cultural and Culinary Heritage Preservation: The project plays a key role in preserving and promoting the region’s rich culinary traditions, including Austrian, German, and Italian recipes, through specialized training programs.
Budget & Fundraising
The total cost of the Community Kitchen Project is $33,011.18 USD. Thanks to the generosity of supporters, $23,011.18 USD has already been raised. However, an additional $10,000 USD is still needed to bring this project to completion.
We welcome contributions of any size, including support from multiple Rotary partners through mechanisms like FDUC (District Designated Funds). Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to making this project a reality.
By fostering skill development and economic opportunities while preserving cultural traditions, the Community Kitchen Project is a sustainable, community-driven initiative that reflects the Rotary Club’s commitment to service and social impact.
Supporting Youth Mental Health Through Music: Knox Rocks Concert
The Rotary Club of Boronia has been running an inspiring youth program called Knox Rocks, which teaches young people the art of songwriting as a means of self-expression. Participants not only learn how to write songs but also have their creations professionally recorded—giving them a lifelong keepsake while boosting confidence, self-belief, and mental well-being.
Previously funded by grants and club contributions, this year the program is taking a new approach by hosting a live concert to showcase the original songs written by participants. The event will feature an evening of music with six different acts, alongside the debut performances of the Knox Rocks songs.
Ticket sales from the concert will help fund future programs while also promoting Rotary in an exciting and progressive way. The Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills is proud to support this initiative, with the Board recently approving a $500 donation to the cause.
We encourage all members to attend, share the event with friends, and help fill the venue for what promises to be a fantastic night of entertainment and community spirit.
For more details, please refer to the flyer below or contact Mark Smith from the Rotary Club of Boronia.
Let’s support this wonderful initiative and make a real difference in the lives of young people!
DISTRICT EVENTS
Inaugural District 9815 Conference 8 - 30 March 2025
The Inaugural District 9815 Conference will be held in Bendigo from 28 to 30 March 2025. Partners, family, friends, potential members, supporters, and alumni are welcome.
Individual session details and costs are outlined on the booking site.
Please check out the menu on the left-hand side for useful links including FAQs, Accommodation, Tourist Information, Exclusive Winery Tour details, and Committee information.
We look forward to collaborating and celebrating with you in Bendigo.
Conference Volunteering Opportunities
To help ensure a smooth running and successful Conference, we require the assistance of volunteers to provide support in several areas.
A range of volunteering opportunities are available, including logistical assistance, coordinating, or packing Delegate bags, speaker/performer minders, reception/welcome desk, traffic control, set-up/pack-down crew, greeters, and ushers, to name a few.
If anyone is interested in volunteering, please get in touch with Tony Monley OAM (acmonley@gmail.com) and advise which dates/times you would be available. He will then explore your options with you.
The Annual Ride for Medical Research 2025
The next annual “Ride For Medical Research” will take place March 16 - 21, 2025, celebrating 40 years of fundraising. Having now raised over $1.32 million for Australian Rotary Health, we look forward to pushing this to over $ 1.4 million in the near future.
This will be the first ride organised under the banner of D9815.
Registration for this popular fundraising event will open in November 2024, with strictly limited places, so get in early to secure your place. (Cost for riders is $998.00, support crew/drivers $800.00)
For early bird registration, please pre-register your interest, in either riding or driving, please send an email to Stephen Spiers: - jsthecrest3154@outlook.com
(Registration will open approximately 2 weeks prior November for those who have pre-registered.)
Join us for the “Ruby Ramble” 2025, Baddaginnie to Benalla.
Approximately 580km over 6 days
Day 1: Baddaginnie - Wangaratta -76km
Day 2: Wangaratta-Chiltern-Rutherglen Loop-98km
Day 3: Wangaratta-Yackandandah-Myrtleford Loop – 125km
Day 4: Wangaratta-Yarrawonga Loop - 115km
Day 5: Wangaratta-Milawa-Eldorado Loop - 100km
Day 6: Wangaratta-Glenrowan-Benalla - 64km
(Distances subject to change due to road/traffic conditions.)
The ride this year will be centered around the greater Wangaratta region, taking in many of the towns in the area. See the website for more information and registration details: - https://rotaryrideforresearch.raisely.com
If you can’t make it why not consider joining in with the Mad March Cycle challenge which will run in conjunction. Details of this will be released closer to the date. https://madmarchcyclechallenge.raisely.com/
Please note, we are also seeking support drivers for the ride, if interested please see the website for contact details Stephen Spiers on: - 0411 675 330 (Cost for Support crew is $800.00)
Begun in 2021 as a way of helping to raise funds for Australian Rotary Health during Covid-19 lockdowns, it continues now as a compliment to the annual bike ride.
In the spirit of supporting healthy minds, bodies and communities, it allows anyone to take part in a manner that suits them anywhere in the world. (In fact, over the last 4 years we have had people join in from not only other parts of Australia, but also America, India, Indonesia and South Africa).
Participants can challenge the riders on the Annual Ride and see if they can cover 580km over the month of March, the Annual ride participants have to do it in 6 days, or they can choose their own form of exercise and set their own goals.
It is Free to join in, although not compulsory, all we ask is that participants try and raise some funds, via sponsorship, for Australian Rotary Health. The typical goal participants set is $200 and all donations of $2.00 or more are tax deductible.
All funds raised go direct to Australian Rotary Health.
So go on, challenge yourself, your Club and friends, join in the fun and Make A Differfence, to not only your health, help Australian Rotary Health make a difference to everyones health.
Stephanie A. Urchick
President, Rotary International 2024-2025
February 2025
This month, as we come together for the International Assembly and the Presidential Peace Conference, we celebrate The Magic of Rotary — a unique blend of global connection, vision, and action that empowers us to create lasting change.
One of the most inspiring examples is our Rotary Peace Fellowship program, a cornerstone of Rotary’s mission to build a more peaceful and just world.
For more than 23 years, Rotary Peace Fellowships have been transforming communities. Our Rotary Peace Centers, hosted at leading universities around the globe, have educated over 1,800 fellows who now work in more than 140 countries.
These centers cultivate expertise in fields like conflict resolution, sustainable development, and peacebuilding, preparing fellows to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This program exemplifies how Rotary turns vision into action, creating a ripple effect of hope and change.
This month during the Presidential Peace Conference, we celebrate a significant milestone with the opening of our newest peace center in Istanbul. This center will focus on training leaders to address peacebuilding challenges in the Middle East and North Africa, further extending Rotary’s impact.
Peace fellows are dedicated champions of transformation, addressing critical issues such as refugee resettlement, youth and women’s empowerment, and reconciliation in conflict zones. Many founded vital organizations or hold leadership roles in governments, nongovernmental organizations, and international institutions like the United Nations and World Bank.
One inspiring story is that of Ntang Julius Meleng, a 2024 Rotary Peace Fellow at Makerere University in Uganda. Through his Social Change Initiative, Julius has worked to empower young people in Cameroon to take active roles in peacebuilding and leadership.
His project provided training in conflict prevention, civic engagement, and leadership to youths and community officials in areas affected by conflict, equipping people to drive sustainable peace efforts.
Julius harnessed Rotary’s global network to overcome obstacles, including limited funding and security risks, and make a meaningful impact.
The Rotary Peace Fellowship gave Julius the tools and support to turn his vision into reality. His work embodies The Magic of Rotary — the transformative power of connecting people, sharing resources, and uniting for a common purpose.
As we reflect on the achievements of our peace fellows and celebrate Rotary’s enduring commitment to peace, let us also recognize the role that everyone in our network of 1.2 million members plays in creating magic through service.
Together, we can amplify our impact, inspire new generations of leaders, and build a brighter, more peaceful future.
Warm Rotary Greetings!
I am delighted to share with you the district's activities and events during January.
This issue also gives a glimpse of the thoughts and emotions of
leaders, projects from clubs, Rotaract and Interact news, Rotary Peace Centres, recognitions, new members, achievements, future events and a lot more.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue prepared in great detail.
Best Regards, DG Tushar V. Shah
District Governor 2024-25
The WASH-RAG Professional Services Committee, through a generous grant from the Wallace Genetics Foundation, can provide a grant (up to $2,000 per club) to cover the cost of required "front-end" technical assessments that a Global Grant cannot fund.
Technical Assessments that might be required include hydrogeologic studies of groundwater, test drilling, and engineering designs. This grant can not be used for Community Assessments.
In less than a decade, the Beers Rotarians Enjoy Worldwide (B.R.E.W.) Fellowship have donated almost $40,000 to WASH-RAG to support clean water projects. As you can't have good beer without clean water.
Every year, at the annual Rotary Convention, B.R.E.W. holds an enjoyable beer-focused event where they present their yearly donation to WASH-RAG.
This is always a fun event with local beer, good food, and wonderful friendly people. The event this year, will be held at Bottlescrew Bill's Pub, on Tuesday, June 24.
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.
Youth Outreach Packs, they bring comfort and dignity to vulnerable children across Victoria. 
The next annual “Ride For Medical Research” will take place March 16 - 21, 2025, celebrating 40 years of fundraising. Having now raised over $1.32 million for Australian Rotary Health, we look forward to pushing this to over $ 1.4 million in the near future.
Begun in 2021 as a way of helping to raise funds for Australian Rotary Health during Covid-19 lockdowns, it continues now as a compliment to the annual bike ride.
Sat., June 21 - 8 am - Noon
The WASH-RAG Professional Services Committee, through a generous grant from the Wallace Genetics Foundation, can provide a grant (up to $2,000 per club) to cover the cost of required "front-end" technical assessments that a Global Grant cannot fund.
In less than a decade, the Beers Rotarians Enjoy Worldwide (B.R.E.W.) Fellowship have donated almost $40,000 to WASH-RAG to support clean water projects. As you can't have good beer without clean water.
