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 Summary – 17 April 2026
Thank you to Leanne for running Tuesday night’s meeting. I was dealing with a Priority 1 incident involving a high-profile client that required immediate resolution, with core business systems unavailable and the organisation unable to function, necessitating a late-night response.
This week’s update brings together key club activities, upcoming events, and important reminders as we move through a busy and engaging period for the club.
Leanne provided a club update following her attendance at the President-Elect Learning and Development Seminar (PELDS) in San Remo over the weekend. Rotary International’s 2026–27 presidential message, “Create Lasting Impact,” focuses on sustainable, long-term community outcomes.
Looking ahead, a reminder that our Presidents' Changeover will be held on 30 June 🎉, with bookings now open via ClubRunner. This remains a key event in our calendar and an opportunity for members to come together for an enjoyable and memorable evening.
Our social program continues this week with members gathering at the Hallam Hotel 🍽️ on Tuesday, with arrival from 6:30 pm for a 7:00 pm start. All members are encouraged to attend with partners for a relaxed and enjoyable evening together.
The club calendar is now filling quickly 📅. Thank you to Leanne for her excellent coordination of the upcoming program. Key activities in date order include:
Tuesday 21 April – Club Social Night 🍽️
Members gathering at the Hallam Hotel from 6:30 pm for a 7:00 pm start. A relaxed evening of connection and fellowship.
Saturday 25 April – ANZAC Day Service (Dandenong 11:00 am) 🎖️
Members are encouraged to attend the ANZAC Day service to reflect and pay respects to those who have served and sacrificed. Lest we forget.
Monday 27 April – Board Meeting 📊
Board Meeting #9
Tuesday 28 April – The Tender Foot School 🏫
Presented by Rotarian Greg Adams (Rotary Club of Emerald), sharing the remarkable Rotary-supported growth of a school now educating over 320 students.
Thursday 30 April – Cornerstone Meal Service 🍲
Continuing our ongoing community support work.
Saturday 2 May – Rotary’s Got Talent 🤹♂️🎤✨
An evening of outstanding performances, humour, and strong community spirit, while raising funds for the Monash Children’s Hospital Cancer Centre Apheresis Therapy, supporting vital treatment for young patients. Members are encouraged to purchase tickets early via the QR code to avoid missing out. This event will showcase talented performers, plenty of laughter, and a strong community atmosphere, while supporting an important cause.
📄 See the flyer in this newsletter for full details.
🎟 Tickets are available via the QR code for online registration.
Members are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.
We have also received an enquiry from the Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre in Dandenong regarding a possible BBQ to support their Refugee Week activities in June (date to be confirmed). They are gauging whether the club would be interested in assisting with a sausage sizzle for approximately 150–200 attendees, including children. The requirement would involve supplying and cooking sausages, potentially utilising our BBQ trailer, with an indicative requirement of around 20–25kg of sausages. I would like to gauge member interest at this stage. If you can assist, please contact our BBQ King, Phil, to discuss availability and involvement by 24 April.
I’m pleased to share the April 2026 District News video from District Governor Peter Behm, which is reflective and timely, with a focus on ANZAC Day and its meaning, offering a grounded and thought-provoking perspective 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=278dI2UKZHs
🧩 Rotary Puzzle – “The Four-Way Cipher.”
Decoded message:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Answer to Bonus Challenge:
This represents the Rotary Four-Way Test, one of Rotary’s core ethical guidelines for evaluating thoughts, words, and actions.
🧠 Next Week's Rotary Puzzle
Can You Solve This? I’m a time of growth, but not from the ground; I’m where young voices and ideas are found. I build tomorrow through action today, and mentors and leaders help light the way. I’m not a place, yet I connect many towns. Through service and learning, I earn my crowns. With programs and teams, I help futures align— From school halls to clubs, I steadily shine.
Tip: I’m marked in May, but I’m more than a date; I shape Rotary’s future and strengthen its fate. What am I?
Malaria has bedeviled humankind for millennia, afflicting generations back to the likes of Alexander the Great, believed to have been felled by the illness on the banks of the Euphrates. The magazine’s April cover story describes how scientists, at last, are starting to unravel how to make vaccines to target the shape-shifting parasite that causes the disease. Read how Rotarians are helping in: To catch a killer parasite.
Dr Tara Lal ASFM
Dr Tara Lal AFSM was supported through a Rotary Clubs of NSW PhD Scholarship (2018–2023) focused on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in emergency services, specifically exploring the impact of exposure to suicide on firefighters at the University of New England.
Her PhD, completed in September 2024, explored how exposure to trauma shapes those on the frontline, and whether advanced research can expand — rather than replace — a vocation built in service.
Since completing her doctorate, Tara has taken on multiple roles that draw on both her professional strengths and lived experience to support others navigating mental health challenges. She is deeply committed to transforming mental health and suicide prevention in emergency services by placing the authentic wisdom of lived experience at the centre of practice and policy.
As a PhD researcher and recipient of the Australian Fire Service Medal, she bridges the gap between frontline service and academic insight. With nearly two decades as an operational firefighter and experience as a registered physiotherapist, she brings a dual perspective on the mental health challenges faced by first responders.
Recently, Tara was appointed Emergency Services Lived Experience and Strategic Engagement Lead at the Black Dog Institute. In this role, she supports the National Emergency Worker Support Service (NEWSS) by contributing lived-experience expertise, engagement strategies, and cultural capability training.
Her work strengthens the development and delivery of mental health initiatives tailored to emergency service personnel across Australia, while also building strategic relationships with Emergency Service Organisations and advancing workplace mental health research and practice.
She also continues to draw on her experience as a Mental Health First Aid Facilitator, offering guidance and support to individuals and organisations impacted by trauma and suicide.
Tara is also the author of Standing on My Brother’s Shoulders (2nd edition), available in Chinese and French, sharing her story to help others feel seen, understood, and supported.
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.
