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 make sure you stay in the loop.
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.
🌟 Club Update – 10 July 2025 🌟
What a fantastic night we had on Tuesday at Afghan Hayat Restaurant! A huge thank you to John Peck for organising a relaxed evening filled with delicious food, great conversation, and plenty of laughs. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the friendships we’ve built over the past year.
🔥 Bunnings BBQ – New Date
Please note the Bunnings BBQ has been rescheduled to Saturday, 26 July. This is always a great fundraiser and a chance to get out in the community. Keep an eye out for Phil’s rostering email and be sure to put your name down early.
🌳 Get Ready to Get Your Hands Dirty!
The Rotary Club of Berwick is hosting a Tree Planting Day on Sunday, 10 August in Cranbourne. It’s a fantastic opportunity to help transform a bland landscape into something vibrant and lasting.
Even better, it’s a great way to engage with neighbouring Rotary clubs. This year, we’ll be making a big effort to connect with like-minded neighbours and strengthen relationships across the District. Let’s get behind this initiative and make a real impact together!
A flyer and registration link will be included in this newsletter, and an event has also been created in ClubRunner to make signing up easy.
🕺 Club Changeover – Book Your Spot!
If you haven’t yet booked for our Club Changeover on Saturday, 19 July at Stella’s Kitchen, don’t miss out!
The night starts at 6:30 pm and includes dinner, fellowship, and a live 70s/80s disco cover band—so bring your best moves and your dancing shoes. It’s going to be a fun and memorable evening!
📋 Looking Ahead
The new board will hold its first meeting next week, and we’ll have some exciting announcements to share shortly as we kick off a new Rotary year with purpose and energy.
Yours in Rotary, John Ternel
Caretaker President
Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills
Saturday, 12th July District Changeover
📍 Pakenham Racecourse, Tynong
Celebrate the incoming District team and connect with fellow Rotarians.
🎟️ Bookings essential via Humanitix.
Saturday, 19th July Club Changeover
📍 Stella’s Kitchen, Lysterfield
Come along as we celebrate the past year and welcome our new Club leadership team. Click to view the Video Invitation 🎟️ Bookings via TryBooking.com.
Saturday, 26th July Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser
📍 Bunnings
We need volunteers for our Bunnings BBQ fundraiser - even a couple of hours makes a big difference!
Tuesday, 29th July Club Meeting – Police Presentation on Crime and Scam Prevention
📍 Dandenong Club
Hear from local police about staying safe and informed on current crime and scam trends.
NB: Where Club meetings are listed as TBC, please refer to the Events Calendar on our club website for the latest updates.
Upcoming Guest Speaker 29th July 2025
Crime & Scam Prevention with Victoria Police
We’re pleased to welcome Victoria Police Officer Brett Owen as our guest speaker at our upcoming club meeting on Tuesday, 29th July. Officer Owen will present an informative session on Crime and Scam Prevention, sharing valuable insights into current local crime trends, common scam tactics, and practical strategies to keep yourself, your family, and your community safe.
This is a fantastic opportunity to stay informed, ask questions, and learn how to stay one step ahead of criminal activity.
Interact Recruitment Day: Monday 28th July, Time TBA
It would be great to have as many club members as possible attend this event and help with the BBQ, which is a fundraiser for Wheelchairs for Kids.
Our club will be taking the BBQ and providing sausages, bread, and sauces for the event.
Wheelchairs for Kids wheelathon: Friday, 5th September
The club will also be providing a BBQ for this fundraising event; we'd appreciate as many members as possible assisting on the day.
The Interact club members have been planning both of these events throughout Term 2, designing flyers and coming up with innovative fundraising and fun activities.
CORNERSTONE:
Cornerstone Trivia Night: Wednesday, 30th July
It would be great to have representation from Rotary at this event, making up at least one table.
All members, partners, friends, and family are invited to the Trivia Night at Cornerstone Contact Centre, 25 James Street, Dandenong, on Wednesday, 30th July, for a night of laughter, community, and connection.
The event start time is 6:30pm
Cost: $25 per person, or a table of 8 is $200
CORNERSTONE MEAL SERVICE set to resume again with two dates locked in: Thursday 31st July and Thursday 30th October.
Full details to be published in the next edition of the Gateway.
Leanne Byron
President Elect (2025-2026)
Satellite Club Chair (2025-2026)
Rotary Club Greater Dandenong & Endeavour Hills
Phone: 0402 242 743
Shining a Light on Cornerstone Contact Centre
If you’re looking for a reason to book your table at the upcoming Cornerstone Trivia Night, here it is.
Cornerstone Contact Centre, based in Dandenong, is a grassroots community organisation that’s been making a real difference for over 30 years. They provide vital support to some of the most vulnerable members of our local community — people experiencing homelessness, poverty, isolation, or disadvantage.
From free hot meals and emergency food relief to help with clothing, referrals, and a safe place to connect, Cornerstone offers a warm welcome to all who walk through their doors. It’s not just about practical help — it’s about dignity, compassion, and inclusion.
Many of us may not realise just how many people in our area are doing it tough. That’s why supporting events like their Trivia Night is so important. Not only is it a fun evening out, but it’s also a chance to help fund the ongoing services that so many rely on.
We encourage all members to get behind this initiative — bring your friends, test your knowledge, and know that every dollar raised will help build a stronger, more connected community.
We’ve received a request for volunteer support at the upcoming RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) day on Tuesday, 5th August, at the Sandown Greyhound Complex. The participating school will be Killester College, and we’re looking for six volunteers to assist from 9:00am to 2:30pm.
If you haven’t been involved in RYDA before, it’s a truly rewarding Rotary initiative that equips young people with the tools and knowledge to stay safe on the roads. Having participated myself, I can confidently say it’s a life-saving program that makes a visible impact.
If you’re available to help, please get in touch with Alan Collier as soon as possible on 0418 355 607.
Upcoming Bunnings BBQ
Volunteers Needed!
BBQs are not only a great fundraising opportunity for our club, but also a wonderful way to build fellowship among members and connect with our local community.
Our next BBQ is scheduled for Saturday, 26th July, and we need your help to fill the volunteer roster. Even just a couple of hours of your time can make a big difference.
Here’s the current roster and the spots we still need to fill:
8 am - 10 am volunteers: Phil / Colin / …….. / ……… 10 am - 12 pm volunteers: Richard D / …….. / …….. / …….. 12 pm - 2 pm volunteers: …….. / ……… / ……… / ………. 2 pm - 4 pm volunteers: John P / Joe / ……. / ……...
If you can assist, please get in touch with Phil Thurgood as soon as possible. Ph: 0407 325 241
Soap Aid Tour – More Photos
3rd July 2025
We’ve received a few more great shots from our recent visit to Soap Aid’s recycling facility.
A big thank you to Howard de Zylva for sharing these with us!
CLUB EVENTS
DISTRICT EVENTS
ANNUAL CHANGEOVER DINNERS
Save the Date – 2026 District 9815 Conference
The 2026 District 9815 Conference will be held in Hobart, Tasmania at the Hotel Grand Chancellor from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th March 2026.
Important: To access the discounted conference rates, use the ‘Access Conference Rates Here’ button at the bottom of the page — not the ‘Search Availability’ function at the top.
Pathways to Peace and Prosperity is 2025 Programs of Scale Grant Recipient
Rotary International’s newest Programs of Scale grant will foster people’s capacity to build and sustain peace in Colombia. The US$2 million grant, the fifth that Rotary has awarded, was announced at the convention in Calgary. Read more about the latest grant.
July issue of Rotary magazine delayed
In the news business, we sacrifice deadlines now and then to bring you last-minute developments. Read about the decision to delay the July issue of Rotary magazine when the president-elect resigned and a new 2025-26 president was quickly selected. The updated issue of Rotary’s flagship magazine will arrive at the end of July. Find the latest Rotary news on the Rotary Voices podcast and the magazine’s webpage.
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.
