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
👋 Welcome & Meeting Updates
Welcome to this week’s newsletter. This week’s meeting was both inspiring and uplifting as we heard from Mark Jones about a journey that connects wildlife conservation with empowering vulnerable children in Kenya — a story that strongly reflects Rotary’s values in action.
We were also pleased to welcome Mario Aiezza, who will be proposed as a new member of our club. Mario has attended several of our meetings and fits in perfectly with our members. He owns an engineering business and brings extensive experience and organisational skills from running football clubs to coordinating BBQ fundraisers. Mario is also rostered on for our Bunnings Narre Warren BBQ on 28 February at midday. He’s an avid Bulldogs fan — we won’t hold that against him, of course, go the Hawks! Come and say g’day if you’d like to meet him!
It was fantastic to also have Jennifer Robinson from our neighbouring Casey Club and Sharon Ferdinands from Rowville Lysterfield in attendance. It’s always great to welcome the wider Rotary family to our meetings.
🚗 Dandenong All Holden Car Show – Excitement is Building!
With just over a month 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 18 entries in the past week alone!
To keep up the momentum, we’ll be launching additional marketing campaigns across Facebook to encourage more entries and attract car enthusiasts from near and far.
In preparation for the big day:
Tuesday, 10 March 2026 – Show update covering car entry bookings, food and stall holders
Tuesday, 17 March 2026 – Virtual show run-through at the Dandenong Club
Saturday, 21 March 2026 – Site walkthrough to familiarise ourselves with the venue, marshalling, vendor placement, and car club parking
🐘 Guest Speaker – Mark Jones
From Orphaned Elephants to Empowered Children
We were privileged to hear from Mark Jones, whose presentation was both heartfelt and impactful. Mark shared how a passion for sponsoring orphaned elephants through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust evolved into something far greater. What began as wildlife conservation support developed into “Elephants for Education,” linking conservation efforts with meaningful educational opportunities for disadvantaged children.
As a club first, we were honoured to be gifted our own orphaned elephant — Ambo. This symbolic adoption represents not only wildlife protection, but our club’s commitment to sustainable, global impact.
A defining moment in Mark and Julie’s journey came during a visit to Korogocho in Nairobi, where they connected with Keep On Creating Hope (KOCH) — a grassroots organisation supporting children, youth and families in one of Nairobi’s most underprivileged communities. Originally formed during the COVID-19 pandemic by young volunteers providing food relief to vulnerable families, KOCH has grown into a registered NGO focused on three key pillars:
Education: Scholarships from primary to university level, mentoring, life skills training, academic revision programs and exposure trips. Health: Feeding programs, mental health and psychosocial support, hygiene and nutrition education, and disease awareness initiatives. Climate Action: Environmental education, tree planting, waste management campaigns and community climate awareness.
KOCH operates under a participatory governance structure supported by a board, staff and volunteers, with a strong emphasis on alumni returning as mentors — creating sustainable, community-led impact. Since its formation, KOCH has rescued children from abusive situations, supported educational graduations across multiple levels, run crisis feeding programs and established safe spaces where young people gather every weekend and during school holidays for mentorship and learning.
Following our recent meeting, it was incredibly heartening to see the level of engagement from our members, several of whom have already expressed a strong interest in raising funds to support KOCH’s mission. Further discussions will be held in the coming weeks to determine how we can best coordinate our efforts and contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s continued growth. It is an exciting opportunity for our club, and we look forward to sharing more about how we can help KOCH continue restoring dignity and creating opportunity for the next generation. Mark’s message was powerful: when conservation, education and community empowerment intersect, transformational change becomes possible. We thank Mark for a deeply inspiring presentation.
🎲 Two Truths and a Lie – Brian Ashworth
Brian Ashworth took the hot seat as we tested whether we could identify the tall tale among his life experiences. Brian shared three “facts” from his 72 years — and they certainly generated discussion.
The Claims:
1. In 1981, he represented the UK in Sweden as a professional-grade orienteer.
2. His first international flight was in 1977, travelling to Spain for his honeymoon on a classic Dan-Air Comet.
3. He has lived in 19 different houses throughout his life.
The Reveal:
Claim 1 was fiction. Brian confirmed he was, in fact, a B-grade orienteer and never quite represented the UK at that level. The honeymoon flight on a Dan-Air Comet? True. Moving house 19 times? Also true — an impressive logistical achievement in itself.
🧭 Fun Orienteering Fact:
The world’s largest orienteering event, Finland’s Jukola Relay, sees more than 15,000 competitors racing through forests overnight — some legs starting close to midnight and runners navigating purely by headlamp. If Brian had been elite level, we might have needed a torch to keep up with him!
📚 Exercise Book Appeal – Extended
The exercise book collection has been extended, with a revised submission date of Tuesday, 24 March 2026. Alan Collier will coordinate collection and ensure delivery to Donations in Kind (DIK) at the end of March, where the books will be distributed to children in developing nations. The extension accommodates contributions from other clubs, including as far away as Traralgon, and we kindly ask that all books be submitted by the revised date to ensure timely delivery. Thank you to those who have already contributed.
🧠 Rotary Knowledge Puzzle – Answers from Last Week Question: Can you name three Rotary programs designed for youth? Bonus: Which program allows young people to live and work in another country? Answer: RYLA, RYPEN, Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Youth Exchange Bonus Answer: Rotary Youth Exchange
🧠 This Week’s Rotary Challenge – The Four-Way Test One of Rotary’s most enduring ethical frameworks. Questions: 1. In what year was the Four-Way Test created? 2. Who wrote it? 3. Can you list the four principles in order? Bonus: In what original business context was it first developed?
Answers will be published next week.
🌏 Peter & Tina Buck – Reflections from Thailand
Peter and Tina Reflect on a Meaningful Return to Thailand
Peter and his wife Tina have recently returned from Thailand following a visit that blended personal significance with cultural discovery, particularly in Tina’s home region of Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima).
One of the most poignant moments of the trip came when Tina signed the condolence book for the late Queen Mother of Thailand, Queen Sirikit — a revered national figure whose legacy continues to hold deep emotional importance for many Thais.
Korat, a major regional centre with a population of approximately 2.6 million, offered insight into the central role Buddhism plays in everyday life. The Nakhon Ratchasima region is home to around 2,226 operating temples, averaging roughly 1,170 people per temple. While some temples date back centuries, others are relatively modern, reflecting the region’s long and evolving spiritual history. With about 95 per cent of Thailand’s population practising Buddhism, it is common for individuals to regularly attend multiple temples — connected to their upbringing, family, workplace and current residence.
The couple also experienced the stark contrast between urban environments. Bangkok’s traffic proved intense and overwhelming, while Korat felt noticeably calmer by comparison — a difference likened to travelling from inner Sydney to regional Victoria.
Among the highlights was a visit to Korat’s well-known Saveone Market, a sprawling 16-acre night market that operates daily from around 5pm until the early hours of the morning. Featuring thousands of stalls selling everything from clothing to electronics — and renowned for its street food — the market attracts crowds in the thousands each night. It remains a vibrant social hub for locals and visitors alike.
For Peter and Tina, the visit was more than a holiday. It was a journey grounded in heritage, reflection and a deeper appreciation of Thailand’s cultural rhythm — particularly for Tina, returning to the place she still calls home.
🔥 Bunnings Narre Warren BBQ – Volunteers Needed
📅 Saturday, 28 February 2026
📍 1/9 Regency Drive, Narre Warren
We expect to cook through 50–60 kilos of sausages, so a strong volunteer roster is essential.
Please contact our BBQ King, Phill Thurgood, to secure your shift.
📅 Upcoming Events
No meeting at the Dandenong Club on Tuesday, 18 February 2026. Will be replaced with Wednesday, 25 February 2026 – 🏮 Shangri-La Inn Chinese New Year Celebration Celebrate the Year of the Horse (9th day of CNY) with fellow members at the Shangri-La Inn.
Monday, 16 February 2026 – Board Meeting
Tuesday, 18 February 2026 – 🚫 No meeting at the Dandenong Club
Wednesday, 25 February 2026 – 🏮 Shangri-La Inn Chinese New Year Celebration (Year of the Horse, 9th day of CNY)
Saturday, 28 February 2026 – 🔥 Bunnings Narre Warren BBQ
Tuesday, 3 March 2026 – Scatter Meeting (make sure you attend!)
Dandenong All Holden Car Show – Meetings Leading to 22 March 2026:
Tuesday, 10 March 2026 – Show update covering car entry bookings, food and stall holders
Tuesday, 17 March 2026 – Virtual show run-through at the Dandenong Club
Saturday, 21 March 2026 – Site walkthrough to familiarise ourselves with the venue, marshalling, vendor placement, and car club parking
Sunday, 22 March 2026 – 🚗 16th Dandenong All Holden Car Show
Tuesday, 24 March 2026 – 📚 Exercise Book Collection for DIK
Sunday, 15th February Ignite Your Passion for International Service! Join us for an exciting and interactive session packed with ideas, insights, and a renewed sense of purpose in International Service. Connect with fellow members, share your experiences, and discover fresh ways to make a
The annual Chinese New Year Celebration Fundraising Dinner will be held on February 25, 2026, to celebrate the Chinese New Year with families and friends, and also to raise much-needed funds to help support the community.
🔥Join us for our first barbecue at the brand-new Bunnings Warehouse in Narre Warren — it’s fully undercover, equipped with electric barbecues, and we’re expecting to cook through 80–90 kilos of sausages a day, so we’ll need a strong team on deck… keep an eye out and get involved!
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.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
For Rotary, February is Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month. This topic is more than one of our areas of focus. Peacebuilding is central to our work as a humanitarian organization. We believe that when people work together to create peace locally, change can happen globally.
How Rotary builds peace
The Rotary Foundation offers programs, grants, and scholarships that help people create environments where peace can flourish. Rotary Peace Centers at partner universities around the world prepare dedicated leaders to further promote understanding and prevent conflict.
Growing our impact Rotary’s newest peace center at Symbiosis International University in Pune, India, is accepting applications for its first cohort of fellows to begin in 2027. And this year, the Foundation will award up to 170 fellowships at these centers for master’s degrees and certificate programs in peace and development. Around the world, nearly 2,000 Rotary Peace Fellowship alumni are working for peace, from grassroots initiatives to policy development at international organizations.
The world needs peacebuilders like you
Celebrate Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month by making a gift to The Rotary Foundation, or create a legacy of peace with a gift to our Endowment. Your support will empower Rotary and Rotaract clubs, Rotary districts, and peace fellows to foster lasting peace around the world.
2026 CONFERENCE NEWSLETTER
The latest edition of the 2026 Conference Newsletter is now available, featuring great updates, including the newly released conference timetable and more information about our guest speakers. It’s well worth a read to stay across what’s coming up:
Rotary 9815 & 9830 District Conference
13th -15th March 2026
Hobart, Tasmania
RIDE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
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.
📘 Stay Connected! 👉 Follow Rotary District 9815 on Facebook for updates on community projects, events, and ways to get involved.
Click Like & Follow now!
Rotary alumni transforms mindsets in peacebuilding
As a child during Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war, Pushpi Weerakoon planned to become a lawyer. “I was born into a civil conflict, walked minutes away from bomb blasts, and saw parents of my schoolmates killed,” Weerakoon said. “From a very early stage, I understood the cost of conflict, and I knew I had to do something about it.” Her academic achievements have included a master’s in conflict transformation, a PhD in peace and conflict studies, and a diploma in peace studies and conflict resolution from the Rotary Peace Centers certificate program. She is the recipient of the 2024-25 Rotary Alumni Global Service Award. Read more about Weerakoon’s distinguished career.
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.
