🎉 Rotary Club Marks 90 Years of Service in Dandenong
The Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills celebrated an extraordinary milestone on Saturday night — 90 years of Rotary in Dandenong.
The centenary-style celebration, held at the Dandenong Club, brought together Rotarians, councillors, families, and friends for an evening filled with history, fellowship, and pride in decades of community service.
Club President John Ternel described the occasion as “truly inspiring — a proud moment that captures the very essence of Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self.” His remarks echoed the enduring spirit of Rotary, honouring those who have served the community across generations.
Guests reflected on the club’s formation in 1935, when Rotary’s founder and President Emeritus, Paul Harris, personally attended its very first meeting — a historic moment that continues to inspire Rotarians today.
📸 Historic photographs, documents, and memorabilia were proudly displayed, offering a fascinating glimpse into the club’s early years and its long-standing contribution to the Dandenong community.
Adding a special touch to the celebration, Past District Governor Ken McDonald and his wife Margaret joined the gathering via FaceTime to share their reflections and congratulations.
The Club extended heartfelt thanks to Deputy Mayor Sophie Tan, Cr Rhonda Garad, and Cr Lana Formoso for attending and showing their support for Rotary’s ongoing mission of community service.
It was a night that honoured the past, celebrated the present, and looked confidently toward the future — continuing 90 proud years of Rotary’s Service Above Self.
🤣 Rotary Fun Moment
“In 1935, Paul Harris attended our very first meeting. Fast forward 90 years, and our club meetings now feature FaceTime calls, quizzes, raffles, and someone always forgetting to mute themselves on Zoom 📱.”
🧠 October is Mental Health Awareness Month
October is Mental Health Awareness Month, so put on your wildest hat 🎩 and host a party for this great cause!
This Hat Day, you’ll be making a difference for mental health simply by having fun with friends, family, or coworkers. Whether it’s a BBQ 🍖, dinner party 🍽️, or trivia night ❓, all proceeds go toward mental health research focusing on children aged 0–12 years.
Join the fun:
🎉 Plan a creative event
🎩 Rock your loudest hat
📸 Share your photos with us at news@arh.org.au
See the Donations in Kind Presentation – Fun Hat Night Tuesday in this newsletter for details on how to get involved.
📅 Tuesday, 14 October – Dandenong Club
☕ High Tea – Fundraiser for Monash Children’s Cancer
📅 Date: Sunday, 12 October
🕑 Time: 2:00–5:00 pm
📍 Venue: Lifestyle Kaduna Park, 45 Heytesbury Drive, Officer South
🎭 Theme: Dress in Black & White ⚫⚪
💌 Come along, enjoy an afternoon of fellowship, and help save lives! Every ticket purchased and every dollar raised brings us closer to giving children with cancer a brighter future.
Flyer at the end of this newsletter. For more info, contact Leanne Byron.
✨ Your attendance isn’t just joining an event — it’s making a tangible difference in the lives of children and families who need us most.
👏 Interactors’ Celebration – Thursday
On Thursday, we celebrated the enthusiasm, leadership, and community service spirit of our Interactors.
It was a fantastic event attended by Leanne, and we commend all the young participants for their dedication to serving others and making a difference in our community.
🌟 Star News Coverage – Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills
The Dandenong Star News recently featured our Club in a piece published on 21 September 2025, showcasing our ongoing commitment to community engagement throughout August.
Highlights included:
🌱 Reinforcing vegetable garden beds at Afri-Aus Care
🍕 Supporting a Cornerstone pizza night for local families
🚗 Running RYDA safe-driving lessons for Year 11 students
🔥 Hosting a Bunnings BBQ fundraiser, supporting local youth initiatives
The article also featured a photo of President John Ternel with Casey Deputy Mayor Melinda Ambros and fellow Rotarians at the BBQ.
We are grateful for this community coverage — it helps showcase the many ways our club members live out Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self.
🔗 Read the full article in the Dandenong Star News.
🗓️ Next Board Meeting
Board Meeting #4 – Monday, 13 October
📍 Venue: Dandenong Club – Darts Room
🕠 Time: 6:30 PM
🎩 Donations in Kind Presentation – Fun Hat Night
📅 Tuesday, 14 October – Dandenong Club
Attendees will have the chance to see and learn about DIK’s sustainable projects and discover the incredible community impact of Rotary’s volunteer-driven global network.
Our guest speaker Colleen from Rotary Donations in Kind (West Footscray) will share inspiring stories of how DIK transforms surplus goods from companies, hospitals, and schools into life-changing resources for communities in need around the world.
We’ll also raise funds and awareness for mental health through Australian Rotary Health, with an evening full of fun and purpose:
🎩 Crazy Hat Competition – $5 if you wear one, $10 if you forget (spares available!)
🧠 Quiz Time – Friendly competition and laughs guaranteed
🏇 Social Night – Calcutta Night (Caulfield Cup)
Let’s make this a night to remember! Join us for a lively social event combining great company, a delicious two-course meal 🍽️, and a live Calcutta auction tied to the excitement of the Caulfield Cup.
📅 Friday, 18 October
💰 $40 per person (includes two-course meal; drinks at bar prices 🍹)
📍 Venue: Dandenong Club
Reserve a table of 10 with friends, family, or fellow Rotarians!
What to expect:
🏆 Live Calcutta auction – fast, fun, and competitive
🍽️ Two-course dinner included
🥂 Drinks at bar prices
🎉 A great night of fellowship and excitement
🐵 Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia – Tuesday, 28 October
Join us for an inspiring evening with guest speaker Mark Jones, a business leader and philanthropist whose passion for wildlife led him to make a global impact through the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF).
Mark will share his remarkable journey — from a fundraising trek in the Sumatran jungle to volunteering at the BOSF rehabilitation centre, where he served as Infrastructure and Maintenance Project Manager.
His story highlights the profound truth that “giving of yourself is something that is immeasurable.”
Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired by Mark’s experiences and see how your own skills and passions can drive real change.
🔨 Activities at the Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed (EHMS)
Our members continue to make great progress at the Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed, where every week brings new projects, teamwork, and a good dose of laughter.
On Tuesday, 7 October, President Ron, Paul, Ian, Stan, and Wal shared updates and plans for upcoming events and projects. Meanwhile, Stan, Graeme, and Bruno fired up the BBQ and treated everyone to their signature egg and bacon rolls on fresh buns — a lunchtime favourite! 🍳🥓
The afternoon was filled with project work, music practice, and plenty of laughter as activities continued well past 4 pm. (Photos missed this time — we’ll be sure to capture the fun next round! 😄)
Fast forward to Thursday, 9 October, the “Naughty Boys” took charge, hosting another delicious lunch while members enjoyed a few friendly billiards games and great camaraderie.
Fun Fact: Did you know the Endeavour Hills Men’s Shed has gone through over 40 dozen eggs this year keeping up with BBQ lunches and breakfasts? That’s nearly a hen-dred reasons to keep coming back! 🐔😄
It’s fantastic to see the EHMS spirit of teamwork, humour, and fellowship alive and thriving! 👏
