Co - President's Notes Tom Atkinson & Murray McKay
Dear Rotarians and Friends,
One of the most pleasing aspects of volunteering in Rotary is the direct support we are able to offer fellow non-profits. At our recent board meeting, the Applecross Rotary board approved the following contributions to valued partners:
$2750 to Wheelchairs for Kids- In recognition of the continued great work this organisation does, led by our Associate Member Greg Hebble and Senior Australian of the year Brother Olly Pickett. This contribution will build and distribute 10 specialised wheelchairs to children in need across the world. Wheelchairs for Kids is a project of Scarborough Rotary club, having built and distributed over 60'000 wheelchairs over the years. We are very proud to support this terrific Rotary initiative.
$2000 to Wheatbelt Youth Mentoring - as a continued supporter of this terrific regional program, Applecross Rotary is pleased to provide this funding which will allow 5 wheatbelt students to attend a leadership camp in Perth. Led by Karen Strange, another Associate Member of our club, WBYM is a high quality leadership program that has provided countless opportunities for students in remote and regional areas to connect with mentors across WA, with the Perth leadership camp just part of the year round program offering. Thanks also goes to long time supporter and AxR member John Kelly for his continued connection to this program.
$1800 to Every Daughter Matters - Members may remember Darren from EDM presenting a compelling story to our club last year. Focused on rescuing girls and women from human trafficking on the Nepal/India border, EDM set up information booths with specially trained staff who identify at risk women crossing the border and sensitively intercept them, dramatically limiting the damage done by both innocent family members and more sinister organised groups. This contribution will allow 10 individuals to be saved from human trafficking.
These donations are only possible due to the hard fundraising work done by members and supporters at Perth Makers Market, Jacaranda Festival, Rotary Art Show and other fundraising events. Thank you to everyone who supports us and our community!
Yours in Rotary,
Co-Presidents Murray and Tom
Visiting Rotarians
We had four visiting Rotarians at our recent meeting, Sue and Ian Spencer from Tunnamurra NSW, and Jacques Phillips and Wendy Campbell from Perth Rotary.
Sue and Ian are relocating back to Perth, and looking for a new Rotary Club. They are good friends of Liz and David Palmer so we hope they can convince Sue and Ian that Applecross would be a good choice. First reaction was that we were a younger looking club than the others they have visited. Oh, and Sue also won a bottle of wine in Heads ’n Tails. Just coincidence of course 🤣
All in all we had 32 members and guests at our meeting, the best attendance for this year (so far).
Liz Palmer (R) introduces Sue Spencer to (a young) President Tom
Prospective member Aaron Hoffman (L) with Perth Rotarian Jacques Phillips
Are you intending to come to the conference at the end of March? Have you booked?
Help your conference team in planning the logistics of making the best weekend possible for you by booking now.
Join us for an inspiring weekend with incredible speakers at the world-class HEART venue. In this video see the speakers we have lined up to challenge you, entertain you, and help you understand what differences you can make to the world by being a Rotarian.
Invite your friends to register....they are welcome.
Click on the image to see information about our speakers and activities on the weekend.
Ros Marshall is the chair of our District 9423 Aboriginal Reference Group, AND a Charter Member of a relatively new Rotary Club, Perth City, which meets at the WACA. But that’s not why our Co-President Tom chaired Ros’s presentation. Just a coincidence! Anyway, have a look at Perth City’s website - it’s great! https://www.cityrotaryperth.org.au/
Ros is an educator - at various times she has been a high school humanities teacher, coordinated the schools visits to the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library at Curtin University, and developed education programs at the Wanneroo Regional Museum.
Ros told us that WA high school curricula were changed in the 1990s, and apart from some classes that were critical for admission to a university, the rest were made optional. In practical terms this means that it is entirely possible for students to graduate from secondary school with no knowledge of the fate of the original custodians of the land on which we meet each Tuesday morning. One wonders how many young people know about the WA Protector of Aborigines, A O Neville, that the CBD had a curfew for Aboriginals from 6pm to 8am each day, that they were forbidden to speak their local language (Noongar in the southwest lands including Perth), no right to pensions, no right to vote, and they even needed permission from the Protector to marry!
The Rotary Aboriginal Reference Group was formed in 2006 to bring Rotarians and Aboriginal people together, and created a "Third Space” to enable collaboration between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, to understand each other’s unique cultural perspectives, and facilitate the advancement of all Western Australians. It recognises the value of Indigenous knowledge and world views. The goal is to create a space, the Third Space, where both groups can walk together to find solutions that benefit everyone.
Ros encouraged us to look at the Reference Group’s website,and check out some of their projects to get a better sense of the mutual benefit of walking together.
Women were not allowed to join Rotary clubs until the 1980s, following a series of court cases in the United States. In 1989, the Council on Legislation voted to allow women to join Rotary clubs worldwide.
1987: The Rotary Club of Duarte, California jumped the gun and elected the first woman into a Rotary club anywhere in the world
1990: The number of female Rotarians had increased to over 20000
2010: The number of women members worldwide reached 195000
Applecross Rotary welcomed its first woman member, Lorri Brazier, in 2003 after several years of sometimes heated debate. In 1998, the then President even refused to allow a discussion at a Club meeting about admitting women to Applecross Rotary membership. Lorri’s stellar service to Applecross Rotary was celebrated by awarding her our Club’s first Honorary Life Membership last year.
A year after Lorri was admitted to membership, Melodie Kevan joined our Club and later became our first woman President in 2010-11. Melodie went on to become our District Governor in 2015-16.
Lesley Combes joined our Club in 2008 and later became President in 2015-16. Lesley was also an Assistant District Governor 2018-2020.
We currently have 7 women members listed on Club Runner, with another ‘in the wings'.
International Women’s day is celebrated on the 8 March every year.
On this date in 1917 Russian women began a strike for "Bread and Peace" in response to the death of over 2 million Russian soldiers in World War 1. Opposed by political leaders, the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday February 23 on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was March 8.
Sunday the 23rd of November this year is the date of our annual JacFest.
Not just any old annual Jacaranda Festival, rather the 25th Anniversary of what has become Applecross Rotary’s signature community activity.
What started out in the year 2000 and 2001 at Heathcote as a community fair, and under the guidance of George Mavros and then President Greg McKenzie, was relocated to Applecross Village which has been its home and venue for the past 22 years.
Which brings us to 2025 and our 25th fantastic community event… and a ‘well done to all’ over the years who have contributed to what has become one of Perth’s finest street festivals.
In Rotary terms, it is one of the well known enduring Rotary WA activities, as it is for the City of Melville and its community highlight events.
As the event has grown, Applecross Rotary has concentrated on putting together a real ‘Project Management’ approach, with little left to chance in terms of community engagement and enjoyment.
And so is the case now, with Chris Whelan overseeing the framework settings for future success with a special emphasis on this, our 25th Anniversary.
The meeting this Wednesday at 5pm in Logan’s Acton Belle office in Kearns Cres. is important so pls have a good look over the summary of ideas for discussion and make sure that the next 25 years are just as successful for Applecross Rotary and our community.
In autumn each year South of Perth Yacht Club with support of Kiind (a support organization from Perth Children’s Hospital) and other sponsors including Applecross and Melville Rotary has staged “Cruising Butterflies” to take children with life-long health issues onto the Swan River on members boats to enjoy a morning of fun on the water.
Working with Kiind, over 150 children along with their parents, siblings and carers are expected to attend this special day in the lives of the children that gives their families a short respite from the 24-hour a day caring duty.
After the morning on the water there will be a sausage sizzle lunch, a live ukulele music band, guide dogs, and special guests and events. The day will wind up early in the afternoon.
Applecross Rotary have ben tasked with the BBQ duties, cooking and serving sausages in a bun and assisting in car parking, both inside SoPYC and on the Heathcote Lower Land. We have been asked to bring our Rotary branded marquee and banners to make it colorful and to promote Rotary.
We will need a team of at least 6-8 for the BBQ (10.30am to 1.30pm), 7 or 8 for parking (7.30am to 9.30) and several for set up and pull down of our infrastructure. This is an activity where our effort is needed rather than our money.
Please note the date and watch out for the roster so that you can volunteer your time.
Gordon Dunbar is the Applecross Rotary contact for this event.
An Exchange, District 5300, California and Nevada, USA,
with District 9423 Western Australia
A message from District Governor Patricia
An Exchange Team of professional people from USA is coming to Western Australia next month.
The focus of the exchange is on Human Trafficking, Forced Labour, Sexual Slavery and associated crimes.
Attached is a brochure, detailing the intent of the exchange, and the team members' profiles.
This exchange is being facilitated through the Rotary Foundation, but is being funded by interest accumulated from a generous donation by Rotarians Herbert and Elezabeth Hezlep, who came to Western Australia on a Group Study Exchange, and set up a Foundation Endowment Fund. The interest from the fund is specifically used for Vocational Exchanges between District 5300, USA, and Rotary Western Australia.
A team from Western Australia has previously undertaken the exchange in the USA, led by Rebecca Tolstoy AM.
Program
The team will be here for three weeks, during which time they will be meeting with local groups from several Government Agencies, such as the Department for Communities, Australian Federal Police, Welfare Agencies and Community Groups, to share knowledge and experiences in dealing with these social issues.
Rotary Meetings
Whilst here, there will be opportunities for all Rotarians to share in the team’s experiences by way of several joint club meetings being arranged, by Swan Rotary on 10th March, Willeton Rotary on 17th March, Perth Rotary on 21st March, and Rockingham Rotary on 24th March. Other joint meetings may also occur.
Rotary Conference
The Team will also be present at District Conference in Margaret River, and will be making a presentation as part of the program
Home Hosting.
During the exchange, home hosting will be an opportunity for all Rotarians, for a period of up to 5 nights, whilst the team will be undertaking their exchange roles during the day.
All Rotarians are invited to register for home hosting, and gain the experience of sharing your lifestyle with one of these professionals, each committed to the elimination of human trafficking practices around the world. An opportunity that rarely comes around.
All metropolitan Rotarians are encouraged to participate in this hosting program.
Please take this opportunity, by contacting the Foundation Committee VTT Chair, David Uhe from Swan Rotary, on:
It's on again and it is not too late (only 2 games played) so join now at the below link and have a chance of winning the BIG prizes by registering in THE GAME as well as bragging rights by joining the AxR comp!
The combined Applecross / Melville Rotary Clubs will be hosting the annual Art Show from 8th to 15th June. The event is held in the display area of the Westfield Garden City Shopping Centre in front of Woolworths.
This event provides a wonderful platform to promote our local artists.
We normally have around 450 paintings on display and in so doing promote about 150 artists.
The setting up, the manning of the display – and finally the dismantling, consumes considerable time and effort. Consequently your support would be appreciated and it’s the old saying “….many hands……”.
Applecross Rotary's responsibility is for the setting up, the manning of the display and finally dismantling on the Sunday afternoon. Also manning the display on the Monday ,Wednesday, Friday and the Sunday morning, with Melville Rotary responsible for the alternate days.
A blank roster will be circulated at the end of the month. Roster stints include a range of options ie: morning / afternoon and evening in 3 hour time slots. This way the roster caters for everyone.
The purpose of this note is to ask you to diarise a day /days and then once the roster is out you can indicate what times best suit.
In closing – as this is our 50th year so can you give some thought as to how best we can advertise this achievement.
Rene Breuer from Frankland Olives will explain why Australia is now one of the top exporters of olive oil in the world - after Greece, Italy and Spain. Is it our mediterranean climate? Rene is bringing some samples with him but to get them you have to be there when he is speaking!
Ros Marshall is the chair of our District 9423 Aboriginal Reference Group, AND a Charter Member of a relatively new Rotary Club, Perth City, which meets at the WACA. But that’s not why our Co-President Tom chaired Ros’s presentation. Just a coincidence! Anyway, have a look at Perth City’s website - it’s great! 
