Kellie Carruthers was chairperson for this evening's club meeting at Cilantro, where club members, partners and guests were treated to a wonderful three course meal prepared and presented by Year 4 students of the Cordon Bleu Cookery School.
A special welcome to our guest speakers - Andrew Holden and Clarine Wheeler from SES, and accompanied by Clarine's husband and her parents.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
RYDA Event - Monday 25/8. Julie called for two more volunteers for Monday's RYDA event for students at Cheltenham Secondary College, adding lunch and morning tea will be provided.
BMC Board Meeting - President Grant reminded board members of the next board meeting on Monday 25/8 and to submit their board reports to Secretary Karin by the coming weekend.
GUEST SPEAKERS - SES Moorabbin Unit - Andrew Holden and Clarine Wheeler
Album of pics HERE
Club members and guests were witness to a wonderful presentation from Andrew and Clarine from SES Moorabbin Unit that provides emergency services to local communities in Bayside and Kingston councils.
Andrew thanked the club for the invitation which was much appreciated, and our club's recent donation that enabled them to purchase a state of the art mobile LED emergency light tower. Andrew demonstrated the light tower which can be battery or power operated - an important piece of equipment that is put to good use when required. Other equipment purchased with the club's donation included backpacks for searches, domestic rescue kits, and cutting tools. Andrew explained the SES receives some funding from the State Government with the rest relying on donations from the general public.
Clarine is involved in Community Training and provided a very comprehensive PowerPoint demonstration and videos to outline their operations, and supported with many facts and figures. The VIC SES is celebrating 50 years of service 1975 - 2025, with the Moorabbin Unit established in 1981. The SES is serviced entirely by volunteers to provide emergency services to attend and make safe the immediate surrounds affected by storms, flood, road crashes, and landslides - the most common being damage caused by fallen trees. Records show 40,000 requests for assistance were received in 2024. The Moorabbin Unit has 39 volunteers of varying ages, with 72% being male, and 28% female. Clarine explained the various areas of operation adding comprehensive training is provided for anyone interested. The SES seeks to engage with local community groups citing connections with Bunnings, Neighbourhood Watch, local councils, and Victoria police, and other social and community groups. A challenge is building relationships of trust in communities where there are large numbers of non English speaking residents who rely on translation by friends, relatives and children. The SES is open to ways to engage and promote awareness and understanding of their operations - particularly to cultural community groups. Clarine finished with further operational details of the Moorabbin Unit where she has been a volunteer for 3 years. Thank you Clarine for your fantastic presentation - clearly demonstrating a 'dedicated community heart' and passion for her role.
PHF RECOGNITION
The surprise of the evening was Clarine being presented with a PHF recognition. This was preceded with PDG Ian explaining the background and significance of a PHF recognition - the first of which was presented in 1957 through a contribution to the Rotary Foundation. Ian explained PHF recognitions can be obtained either through personal donations or donations by an individual Rotarian or Rotary club and can be presented to Rotarians and non Rotarians in recognition of outstanding service. President Grant, together with PDG Ian, had the very pleasurable task of presenting Clarine with a PHF recognition, on behalf of her Rotarian brother, Denis Tan - a member of the Rotary Club of Wausau in Wisconsin in USA, and in the presence of her proud husband Chris, and proud parents. In addition to volunteering at SES, Clarine is a wife, busy mother of three children, an emergency secondary school teacher, sends clothes and other necessities to families who are less fortunate to Cebu, Philippines, hosts foreign students, volunteers at food pantries, and has hobbies that include fishing and participating in dog shows, as well as helping care for her parents who have relocated from Singapore to Melbourne. Clarine was totally surprised, and shown to be a very worthy recipient. Congratulations Clarine.
The evening concluded with chef students and hospitality students coming out onto the floor, and acknowledged by everyone present. It was a very good night enjoyed by all.
Album of pics HERE