At this week's breakfast meeting I will lead a club discussion with members on matters related to Regionalisation and our opportunity to provide input into our club's future direction and relationships within the wider Rotary community. I encourage all members to read the information previously distributed and contribute to the discussion. It is the desire of the board to continue to present a strong local front for Rotary in collaboration with other local Rotary Clubs, while also seeking greater relationships with Rotary clubs capable of significant impact projects locally and internationally. I look forward to member's feedback and a productive discussion.
Yours in Rotary,
Tom Atkinson
Applecross Rotary
President 2023/24
0433 117 568
PDG John Kevan is very adept at connecting organisations to improve the lives of needy people in overseas communities. He demonstrated this capacity several times while a member of Applecross Rotary and is continuing to do this with his current club, Mandurah Districts.
The Water Connections and Malaria Prevention Project brings together Rotary (primarily through his club and RAWCS), Lab Without Walls (key participants Barry Mendelawitz and Tim Inglis) and a Swiss based charity, the Fair Future Foundation (FFF). Dr Alex Weinstein (pictured with John) founded FFF 15 years ago, “to serve as a vital lifeline to families and individuals imperilled by poverty, public health crises, natural disasters, and essential shortages in food and water”. The aim of this current Rotary project with FFF is to provide clean water, build toilets, and remove malaria from several villages in East Sumba. Dr Weinstein manages all FFF activities, coordinating the medical interventions, building projects, and the volunteers.
Dr Alex Wettstein, wife Ayu and John Kevan distributing soap, donated by a Bali shop.
I first started on the community giveback trail when I was about 15 or 16, helping my folks at the local community gymkhana sell tickets on the chocolate wheel and raise a quid or two….as it was back then! Then Rural Youth and Apex in Victoria, and on to Lions in South Australia, helping to establish the now nationally significant Lucindale Field Days in the mid 80’s and then to Rotary on moving to WA in the early mid 90’s.
As you do, you take on Board and leadership roles and hoping to create a better future for those who follow.
And now, with Rotary and Regionalisation and the 3-year Pilot Project, of which we are part, we do need to understand that this also is about creating a stronger future for those who follow us on the Rotary community pathway.
The decisions that we are about to make on positioning for the future, whether it be at a Club, Rotary Community of Clubs or Rotary WA level, are indeed critical to our future.
* We/Rotary WA, and Applecross Rotary, are facing an aging demographic, declining numbers and in a community where we struggle for broader essential relevance.
* We well know that the combined efforts of Rotary at Club, group, State… whatever level you want to consider, has never been more in demand in a community seeking its own relevance, and over encouraged to rely on help from others.
* The way forward is never certain, but we know that if we don’t take action, then we can only expect more of the same.
For this reason, we do need to work with our District Leadership and shape our tomorrows, and make sure that decisions that we make are both in AxR’s and the greater good for all Rotary interests.
Can I ask that we, as Applecross Rotary, think deeply about our place in the changing Rotary landscape. Please don’t leave it to others to shape it for us because we didn’t see it as important.
This was my university college’s motto - it means, Both the New and the Old.
And that’s what the capacity attendance at our recent meeting was treated to.
One of our older projects is called Wheatbelt and Beyond Youth Mentoring (WBYM) and its Club Champion is John Kelly. It was originally named True Blue Dreaming and managed from Perth, but the decision was taken to transfer its management to the people who operated and benefitted from the project, and it has grown quite quickly ever since. It is based in Bruce Rock and for many years Applecross Rotary has provided some of the funds necessary to link up country junior high school students with university student mentors. These mentors provide advice and guidance to year 10 rural students at 6 local Junior High Schools regarding continuing their schooling to year 12, and maybe on to TAFE or university. Janine Dayman, Deputy Principal at Bruce Rock Junior High School visited our recent meeting to express the sincere thanks of WBYM for our club’s support.
We were also treated to a return visit from two former Applecross Rotary Presidents, Melodie and John Kevan, both of whom also served a term as District Governor.
John spoke to us about his current club Mandurah Districts’s project in Sumba, an Indonesian island between Bali and the NW Coast of WA. Its western half is famous for its surfing and luxury resorts, but the eastern part of the island is home to hundreds of quite poor villages which have virtually no facilities like clean running water and toilets.
And the NEW part is the long awaited arrival of Valentin, our new Rotary Youth Exchange student from Germany.
Valentin presented to a scout scarf from the recent International Jamboree he attended in South Korea, and a banner from his host Rotary club Wolfratshausen-Isartal, to President Tom during Valentin's first Applecross Rotary meeting.
After coming to his first Club meeting on Tuesday, Host Mum Lorri asked co-mentor Graeme Fardon to take Valentin to Scotch College for his induction, and his next three days were spent in school at Scotch. He is doing the International Baccalaureate program as this can be credited to his studies at school in Germany.
So what’s his chosen sport for this term? Water Polo!
And it turned out water became a constant theme for the rest of the week. Firstly a familiar view of the Swan River from King's Park, with Graeme.
Peta Williams took him to the twilight social at East Fremantle Tennis Club on Friday night, with the Swan River in the background.
For someone who hasn’t played the game since he was 8 years old, apparently he showed he remembered enough of the game to play well.
Valentin helping out at the East Fremantle Tennis Club showing extraordinary cooking skills after a big week at his new school and Country!
Then after meeting his first host family for 2024, Aurion and Tom Clarkson and their three daughters, Tom took him sailing on the Swan with the Fremantle Sea Scouts on Saturday afternoon.
And to finish off the weekend, after a lunch with a group of young people hosted by Lorri, co-mentor Connor Ovens took him to City Beach for a picnic with former exchange students, a swim in the Indian Ocean, and one of those unforgettable sunsets, complete with a moon over Gage Roads!
Como Rotary is organising a fantastic Melbourne Cup Calcutta to be held at The Pagoda Resort on Sunday 5 November 12.30-3.00.
Tickets are $60 including Complimentary drinks and 2 Course Lunch. Bookings are thru Trybooking. Your host will be infamous jockey Ross Sweeney and chief auctioneer and race caller is Steve Lally. This will be a fun day with patrons form various Rotary Clubs, South Perth Soroptimists and other Community Partners. Prizes will be awarded for the best fashionistas so glam up ladies & gents!
Let Alan Ramsay Joint President Como Rotary on mobile 0408 090753 or email alram@live.com.au if you are coming and he will organise table seating.
The Rotary convention is where friendship and learning come together to inspire you. In Singapore you’ll connect with people of action from around the globe at Rotary’s biggest event of the year.
We’ll share fresh perspectives, inspiration, and hope – with each other and the world! The convention features world-class dining and cultural attractions, distinguished speakers, energizing breakout sessions, and much more.
Join CHRIS WHELAN on the 25-29 May 2024 in Singapore to Share Hope with the World!
Register by 15 December to take advantage of the early registration discount!
RYLA is an intensive eight-day program designed for 18-28 year olds with leadership potential and a commitment to community service. The program is a unique opportunity aimed to bring participants out of their comfort zone and challenge them to think outside the square while actively using and building on their existing skills and knowledge.
RYLA includes seminars, workshops, physical activities and team games relating to areas including Communication and Public Speaking, Leadership, Team Work and Group Dynamics, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Goal Setting, Time Management and Self Awareness and Emotional Intelligence.
All applications must include the name of their sponsoring Rotary Club, and we expect that applicants have contacted their local Rotary Club to arrange sponsorship prior to submitting the form. The RYLA Committee will assist to put applicants in touch with a Rotary Club - so please be prepared!
Applicants are interviewed prior to acceptance onto RYLA. Successful applicants will have the energy, commitment and motivation to develop their leadership potential and be willing to challenge themselves physically and mentally over the course of the program.
Please note: Applicants who have come to us via a Rotary Club will receive priority acceptance onto the program.
RYLA is held at the Serpentine Camping Centre from Saturday 6th January – Saturday 13th January 2024.
Rotary Club Sponsorship for a RYLA participant is $920, and the participant contribution is $250. This includes all activities, accommodation and meals for the week.
Responsibilities include assisting all St John of God Health Care services across WA, Vic, NSW and NZ (hospitals, pathology, head offices, outreach services) manage and share their heritage collections. This involves establishing a heritage collection policy, ensuring that industry standards are met, writing procedures and guidelines and providing practical, hands on assistance.
