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.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
The meeting on Tuesday night was at the Men's Shed and we were guided by Howard and Hans around all the equipment available to all the members for working on group or individual projects.
It's a great set up and well used by their 100 plus members.
We sat down afterwards and enjoyed some pizzas and good fellowship.
Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed Visit
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Tuesday night, members of our Club had the pleasure of visiting the Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed.
The evening offered valuable insight into the incredible work the Men’s Shed is doing to support local men, providing a safe, welcoming space to connect, learn, and contribute through hands-on projects. We were treated to a tour of the facilities, met some passionate members, and gained a deeper understanding of the Shed's positive impact on mental health and social well-being in the community.
A big thank you to the team at the Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed for their warm hospitality.
Turning Timber into Community Impact
Thanks to a generous donation from local business Just Wood Australia Pty Ltd, managed by Trevor Blake, our Club has been able to deliver high-quality timber off-cuts to two valued community organisations: the Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed and the Dandenong Community Learning Centre.
With the assistance of our President-Elect, John Ternel, the timber was collected and delivered to both locations last week. These materials, which would have otherwise gone to waste, will now be repurposed for woodworking programs, community projects, and hands-on learning initiatives.
Although I wasn’t able to attend Tuesday night’s Men’s Shed meeting, I’ve since heard some great feedback from several members. They were particularly impressed with the thick Oregon slabs I recently sourced and supplied — a type of timber that’s become increasingly hard to find at local suppliers, including Bunnings.
Interestingly, what we call Oregon here is known as Douglas Fir in Canada. That detail clicked for me only after Allan Collier gave me a call to say how impressed he was with the quality of the Douglas Fir I’d brought in. At first, I wasn’t sure what he was referring to — until I noticed a packing slip from a delivery I made [Wednesday]. It turns out that Oregon and Douglas Fir are one and the same, just different names depending on where you are!
It’s great to know the timber was well received. Supporting the Men’s Shed with quality materials is always a pleasure, especially when it brings this kind of positive response.
Regards,
John Ternel
President Elect
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.
Lyndale Secondary College Mental Health First Aid Training
The course held at LSC is being funded by our club and a matching District grant . The total cost is $9,000 which is money well spent and greatly appreciated by staff and students at the school.
There are 82 Year 10 students and 15 staff who will benefit from this course by gaining practical skills, understanding and confidence in addressing challenges which often arise when dealing with mental illness.
Please see the report we received from the provider which is very positive from all points of view, along with the flyer which MHTraining created for the school and photos taken on the day the course was completed.
The outcome from this initiative is that the course was so well received, we hope to roll it out to other clubs in the District for club Youth Chairs to implement in schools they are dealing with and also for Rotarians, partners and friends.
Photo: Pauline Neil - Director of MHTraining, the trainer, Loren and Leanne.
URGENT: Support Needed for New South Wales Flood Emergency
We are all very concerned for the welfare of those affected by the devastating floods in New South Wales. Our District will be making a $5000 donation from our Disaster Relief Account to support those affected communities.
The donation will support Rotary District 9660 and their disaster coordination efforts.
If you or your Club would like to make a donation, please see the details in the message below.
Our thoughts are with all those affected.
Best regards,
Colin
As communities across New South Wales face one of the most devastating flood emergencies in recent memory, we are once again called to act with compassion and urgency.
In just two days, parts of the state have received four months’ worth of rain, triggering flash floods that have inundated homes, cut off entire towns, and tragically claimed lives. Over 50,000 residents have been warned to evacuate or prepare for isolation, with major flooding affecting areas such as Taree, Wingham, Dungog, and the Mid North Coast.
Emergency services are stretched thin, conducting hundreds of rescues while many residents remain stranded. The full scale of the disaster is still unfolding, and the need for coordinated support is growing by the hour.
Rotary District 9660 is mobilising to assist affected communities. Disaster coordinators are being appointed, and collaboration with local authorities is underway. As with the Queensland response, mental health support will be a critical focus in the recovery phase.
How You Can Help:
There are two trusted ways to contribute:
District 9660 Disaster Fund Account (For immediate use by clubs and districts – not tax deductible)
Rotary Foundation Disaster Response Fund (Tax-deductible in Australia – ideal for individual donations,in support of the Disaster Response Grant application that is being prepared by the district) DONATE HERE
Your generosity will directly support those in need, helping to provide emergency supplies, shelter, and long-term recovery assistance.
Thank you all, across our region, for standing with our Australian communities during this time of crisis.
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.
The Rotary Club of Matilda Bay, WA recently hosted its annual Mental Health Awareness Golf Day, raising $2,500 in support of Australian Rotary Health. The club has proudly supported at least one ARH Indigenous Health Scholarship recipient each year for the past eight years.
This year’s scholarship holder is Kirby Hobbs, a student at the University of Western Australia. Now in its seventh year, the club’s Golf Charity Day has, in recent years, adopted a strong focus on mental health awareness. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined and contributed - your support truly makes a difference!
Lift the Lid Walk - Rotary Club of Sunnybank Hills!
Another successful LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health was recently hosted by Rotary Club of Sunnybank Hills. All of the money raised from the event goes into mental health research focusing on children aged 0-12 years. Thank you to all the generous sponsors, volunteers, participants and Rotarians who made this event happen!!
2025 Multi-District Impact Summit
District 9800 Chair, Dr Suresh Marcandan, was a speaker at the conference on Australian Rotary Health and also set up the ARH stall at the 2025 Multi-District Impact Summit in Adelaide, hosted by Districts 9510 and 9800. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Suresh Marcandan for attending the conference and continued support in promoting ARH. Pictured: D9800 Chair Dr Suresh Maracandon and DG 9800 Michael Lapina
Each May, Rotary International shines a spotlight on one of the most dynamic and impactful areas of service – our youth. Youth Service Month is a time to recognise, celebrate, and actively support the young people in our communities, empowering them to become confident, capable leaders of tomorrow.
Our club is proud to support and engage with youth through meaningful programs and initiatives. Whether it's supporting Rotaract, Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) or Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN), our club is committed to offering opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills, build confidence, and connect with mentors who care about their future.
Youth Service is more than just investing time – it’s about building hope and resilience in a rapidly changing world. By offering guidance, platforms for expression, and a sense of belonging, we help shape not only better individuals but stronger communities.
As part of Youth Service Month, we encourage all members to reflect on the role we play in shaping the next generation. Whether it’s through school-based projects, scholarship programs, career mentoring, or simply being a positive influence, our involvement matters.
Let us continue to lead by example – inspiring, supporting, and standing beside our youth as they take bold steps towards creating a better tomorrow.
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.
Shed and we were guided by Howard and Hans around all the equipment available to all the members for working on group or individual projects.
