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. It’s been a productive start to the month with three highlights to celebrate: the Board has unanimously approved Mario’s membership application, the club has committed $2,500 to support Kam’s Chinese New Year prostate cancer fundraiser, and we look forward to strong Rotary participation at the Monash Walk for Children on 1 March. Thank you to all members contributing time, energy, and generosity across these initiatives.
🧑⚖️ Board Update – February Meeting
The Board met on Monday evening and unanimously approved Mario’s application for membership. Congratulations and welcome, Mario! He will be inducted on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, and it would be wonderful to see a strong member turnout to celebrate this special occasion.
🎉 Chinese New Year Fundraising Update
The Board has approved a $2,500 club donation supporting Kam’s Chinese New Year fundraising initiative, with proceeds benefiting the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Members who wish to contribute personally are warmly encouraged to contact Kam directly to arrange a private donation.
🚶♀️ Join Us — Monash Walk for Children
📅 Sunday, 1 March 2026
📍 Jells Park
⏰ Event Village opens at 8:30am
Step forward with purpose and community spirit at this year’s walk. The Event Village will be buzzing with activities for all ages — face painting, photo booth keepsakes, delicious food, and plenty of interactive fun. It’s a wonderful opportunity to support children and families while enjoying a vibrant morning outdoors with fellow members, friends, and family.
🚗 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 30 entries in the past week alone!
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
📚 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. 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 Challenge – The Four-Way Test
One of Rotary’s most enduring ethical frameworks.
Answers: Year created: 1932 Author: Herbert J. Taylor
The Four Principles (in order):
• Is it the Truth?
• Is it Fair to all concerned?
• Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
• Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
Bonus: Developed to guide ethical practice in the Club Aluminum Company during the Great Depression.
🧠 Rotary Challenge — Paul Harris Fellow (Next Week)
A recognition that reflects Rotary’s commitment to service and generosity.
Questions (answers next week):
1️⃣ Who was Paul Harris?
2️⃣ What does it mean to be recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow?
3️⃣ What do sapphire or ruby pins represent?
Bonus: In what year was the Paul Harris Fellow recognition introduced by Rotary International?
We expect to cook through 50–60 kilos of sausages, so a strong volunteer roster is essential. Please contact BBQ King Phill Thurgood to secure your shift.
📅 Upcoming Events
No meeting at the Dandenong Club on Tuesday, 25 February 2026. This will be replaced with:
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
Sunday, 1 March 2026 – 🚶♀️ Monash Walk for Children
Tuesday, 3 March 2026 – Scatter Meeting (make sure you attend!)
Dandenong All Holden Car Show – Lead-up Meetings:
Tuesday, 10 March 2026 – Show update
Tuesday, 17 March 2026 – Virtual run-through
Saturday, 21 March 2026 – Site walkthrough
Sunday, 22 March 2026 – 🚗 16th Dandenong All Holden Car Show
Tuesday, 24 March 2026 – 📚 Exercise Book Collection for DIK
May 16, 2026 – 💃 Dinner Dance (Theme TBC)
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.
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.
Something he saw on TV inspired him to join Rotary.
He met his wife at a Rotaract meeting.
He raised $80,000 with a text message.
President-elect Olayinka “Yinka” Hakeem Babalola describes these milestones in his life and talks Rotary priorities in an interview with magazine senior staff writer Diana Schoberg. Read: The game changer.
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.
