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.
Don’t forget — our Facebook page is a great way to follow what’s happening in real time. If you haven’t connected with us yet, click here to follow us.
PRESIDENT'S UPDATE
Turning Survey Feedback into Action
Tuesday night reminded us why we’re Rotarians: fellowship, projects, networking, and being a positive anchor in our community. The survey reinforced these themes: Goals, Social Activities, Projects, Mentoring, Friendships, Member Involvement, and Community Anchor.
But let’s take it one step further—let’s turn these words into action:
Attend meetings and activities—connect, contribute, and be inspired.
Join a project—big or small, your effort leaves a mark in the community.
Mentor or share your skills—help multiply Rotary’s impact.
Strengthen fellowship—reach out, share a story, or lend a hand.
✨ This is more than a survey—it’s a call to action. Show up, speak up, act—and help shape our community, build lasting friendships, and leave a legacy.
🎲 Two Truths and a Lie
Allan Collier was in the hot seat this week with three cracking tales:
Meeting the legendary Everly Brothers (Fun fact: 35 Billboard Top 100 singles and harmonies that inspired the Beatles & Beach Boys!)
A short-lived football career ended when he told a teammate with a broken leg to "just walk it off" (later promoted to spectator role).
A building apprenticeship forced by his dad—mainly buying pies and coffees for the boys! He later became a top-notch timber salesman, with expert knowledge of Oregon pine and Douglas fir.
🎉 The lie? The football story! Thanks, Allan, for the laughs—Terry Valentine is up next.
💉 Apheresis Therapy – Supporting Children with Cancer
Apheresis Therapy is a life-saving treatment for children with cancer—and you can help make it a reality!
Our Rotary District 9815 mirrors the catchment area for the Monash Children’s Cancer Centre, meaning every child diagnosed with cancer in our area will be referred to Monash Children’s Hospital.
District 9815 is currently working on a Global Grant to fund this vital program.
🌸 Fundraiser – High Tea
Date: Sunday, 12th 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.
🔥 Bunnings Dandenong BBQ – Grand Final Weekend
This Friday, we’re back at Bunnings Dandenong for Grand Final weekend.
Come along, meet the community, and enjoy some great fellowship while serving others.
🎉 90th Centenary Celebration – RSVP Reminder
We are celebrating 90 years of Rotary in Dandenong at the Dandenong Club on Saturday, 4th October.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to:
Connect with former Rotarians
Explore our history and projects
Celebrate our achievements with entertainment and surprises
📩 RSVP via ClubRunner today: RSVP Here
🌍 Rotary Foundation Month (November)
This November, we celebrate The Rotary Foundation—turning compassion into lasting change through polio eradication, clean water, scholarships, peacebuilding, and global grants.
David Langworthy will update us at meetings and share ways we can contribute and make an impact locally and globally.
📅 Important Dates
Thursday, 2 Oct – Hobart District Conference Presentation, Keysborough Golf Club, 6:30–8:00 pm ($30 dinner)
Saturday, 4 Oct – 90th Centenary Celebration, Dandenong Club
Sunday, 12 Oct – Apheresis Therapy High Tea Fundraiser, Lifestyle Kaduna Park, 2–5 pm, Dress Black & White
Thursday, 30 Oct – Cornerstone Meal Service, volunteers needed
✨ Your presence, energy, and contribution make all the difference. Let’s come together to serve, celebrate, and support causes that truly matter!
Friday, 26th September Bunnings BBQ We have one more Bunnings BBQ (at this stage) scheduled for Friday, 26th September, which coincides with the Grand Final public holiday.
Plans for our 90th Centenary Celebration are well underway! We’re thrilled to announce that the Dandenong Club is booked. With special guests, great entertainment, and plenty of surprises in store, it promises to be an unforgettable evening. Save the date and celebrate this milestone in style!
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.
In life, we all encounter injustices — things that are wrong, things that simply are not right.
When faced with them, we have a choice: do nothing or do something. If we do nothing, the wrong continues. Nothing changes. It will have zero impact on our own lives, but the injustice remains.
If we choose to act, there will be consequences; an impact on our lives. Change is always resisted. However, refusing to accept what is wrong is the only way to bring about change.
In the end, we all have a choice: to do nothing or to do what is right.
Building Peace Together – International Day of Peace
On 21 September, we observed the International Day of Peace, a moment to reflect on Rotary’s commitment to fostering peace locally and globally. Peacebuilding is one of Rotary’s key areas of focus, and through our work as a humanitarian service organization, we continue to address the root causes of conflict such as poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, and lack of educational and economic opportunity.
The Rotary Foundation plays a vital role in this mission. Thanks to the generosity of members and supporters, the Foundation funds programs, grants, and scholarships that help create environments where peace can flourish. A cornerstone of this work is the Rotary Peace Centers program, hosted at eight partner universities around the world. Each year, up to 130 fellowships are awarded for master’s or certificate studies, equipping professionals with the skills to build peace and prevent conflict. Rotary’s newest Peace Center partner, Symbiosis International University in Pune, India, will welcome its first fellows in 2027.
Today, more than 1,800 Rotary Peace Fellows are actively making a difference—from grassroots community projects to shaping global policy at the United Nations and beyond. Their work is a living testament to Rotary’s belief that when people work together to build peace locally, we can change the world globally.
This day, and every day, we are reminded of the power of service to create lasting peace. To learn more or support this vital work, visit The Rotary Foundation’s donation page.
CLUB EVENTS
DAA Annual Conference 2025 Celebrating 15 Years of Saving Lives and Rebuilding Communities!
Disaster Aid Australia warmly invites you to attend their annual conference, celebrating 15 years of saving lives by rebuilding communities after major disasters and delivering Safe Water for Every Child installations.
📅 When Saturday, 11th October 2025
9:30 am – 4:00 pm | Conference
6:30 pm – 11:00 pm | Dinner
📍 Where The Dandenong Club
1579 Heatherton Road
Dandenong North VIC 3175
🔗 For more information and to register, click here
Support Disaster Aid Australia at the Dandenong Club
Looking for a fun night out while supporting a great cause?
Disaster Aid Australia, in partnership with the Dandenong Club, is hosting a Caulfield Cup Calcutta on Friday, 17 October.
It promises to be an exciting evening of entertainment, with all proceeds helping Disaster Aid Australia continue its vital work.
📍 Where: The Dandenong Club
📅 When: Friday, 17 October
🔗 Find out more and book here:Dandenong Club Event Link
Come along and have some fun at the auction & raffle.
Invitation to
Hobart District Conference Presentation 02 October 2025
We are excited to announce that DG Peter Behm and Conference Chair Monique Smith will be joining us to give a special presentation on the Hobart District Conference, taking place in March 2026!
Your Club is warmly invited to attend and hear first-hand about the exciting events and opportunities planned for this landmark Conference. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and start planning for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.
📍 Venue: Keysborough Golf Club, 55 Hutton Rd, Keysborough
⏰ Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
🍽 Dinner: Two-course meal $30 per person (drinks at bar prices)
Come along, bring your Club members, and be part of the excitement—this is a presentation you won’t want to miss!
WORLD POLIO DAY 24 OCTOBER 2025
Movie Fundraising Offer
This is a courtesy reminder to ensure you have seen our invitation to host a Polio Movie Event this year for Rotary’s number one priority, Ending Polio. Our partner Sony Pictures is making the major release THE TRAVELLERS available for your special events and exciting social gatherings - great opportunities for Rotary members and people in our communities to come together. You might also consider inviting other clubs in your area to come to your event!
With warm wishes,
Anke and The Rotary Foundation Team
ANKE TIMM
Philanthropy Supervisor, THE ROTARY FOUNDATION – South Pacific and Philippines
Rotary International rotary.org
Direct Line: (612) 8894 9840
Office Line: (612) 8894 9800
Rotary 9815 & 9830 District Conference
13th -15th March 2026
Hobart, Tasmania
Welcome to the 2026 District Conference in Hobart, Tasmania!
I am thrilled to invite you to join us from March 13th to 15th, 2026, for an extraordinary event that promises to be both enriching and enjoyable. This year, we are excited to announce that the conference will be a collaborative effort with District 9830, representing Tasmania. Together, we aim to create an unforgettable experience filled with learning, networking, and cultural immersion.
Monique Smith, District 9815, Conference Chair 2025-26
A patch of cement was a launchpad for a Rotarian who brought women’s soccer to Palestine. Honey Thaljieh and a handful of young women played on the makeshift pitch more than two decades ago in college in the West Bank. The effort led eventually to a national women’s team that she captained for years. Thaljieh ascended to a job at FIFA, the international soccer governing body, spreading the message that the sport is for everyone. Visit Rotary magazine online to read how this soccer pioneer found Rotary.
Each September, Rotary shines a spotlight on one of our core areas of focus: Basic Education and Literacy. Across the world, more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate, and an estimated 250 million children lack basic reading and writing skills. These challenges affect more than education alone—they influence health, employment, and the ability to break the cycle of poverty.
Rotary clubs everywhere are working to change this story. From building schools and supplying books, to training teachers and mentoring students, our network helps to open doors to knowledge and opportunity. Literacy is more than just learning to read and write; it is a pathway to dignity, empowerment, and lasting change in communities.
Here at Rotary, we are encouraged to reflect on how we can contribute—locally and globally. Whether it’s supporting school programs, encouraging a love of reading at home, or partnering with organizations that provide educational resources, every effort helps strengthen the foundation for brighter futures.
This month, let us celebrate the gift of education and remember Rotary’s commitment to creating opportunities through learning. By investing in literacy, we invest in peace, prosperity, and 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.
