Ron was our chairperson for today's club meeting with a return to our favourite venue Cilantro. Guests included Kate and Jane from Riding for the Disabled, and our guest speaker Matthew Gibney from Rotaract. Apologies were received from Tony, Linda, Barry, Larry, Dee and John.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS - President Tim
- Social night at Arco Bar on Monday 15/7 - was a great night enjoyed by all who attended. Thank you Sam and the social committee for arranging another successful social event
- Next week's guest speaker - will be our 'own' Kevin Egan who will provide some insights on his trip to China
- PDG Ian Ballantine - did a great job as District Governor and the club wishes to acknowledge Ian and partner Helen for their year of dedication
- High Tea at Onyx - Sat 20/7. Faye advises the event is now booked out. President Tim will auction items to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis. Faye's grandson will give a talk on the effects of cystic fibrosis.
- D9815 District Conference 2025 - will be held in Bendigo 28-30 March 2025. Conference registrations open soon, and Faye is seeking numbers for accommodation. An email will be issued to club members.
- Wednesday 31/7 will be an evening meeting at Cilantro - a guest speaker is still being sought. Attendance numbers are required as numbers will be restricted.
RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
Jane advises Riding for the Disabled is in its 50th year this year - and continues to provide services for clients from disabled schools and individuals seeking an outlet and a unique experience learning to ride a horse in a very caring and supportive environment. Jane thanked the club for its support over the years, adding the horses are aging and will need replacing. RDA has opened a connection with Bayley House in Brighton.
GUEST SPEAKER - Matthew Gibney - Rotaract
Matthew is a Rotaractor who recently returned from Singapore having attended RICON as the Deputy District Representative for Rotaract. Matthew has taken on the 'World of Rotary' with gusto, having packed a lot in his, so far, short journey since joining Rotaract in 2022. He is currently the President of the Rotaract Club of Mitcham. During his time away in Singapore, he even found time to finish his Masters in Environment and Sustainability at Monash University. This was Matthew's first trip to Singapore - which he found to be very green and beautiful. RICON was an amazing experience enabling Matthew to meet up with 300 other Rotaract attendees. He found it interesting how the application of Rotary programs such as RYLA, and New Generation Exchange (Youth Exchange) differs in other regions. At the conclusion of RICON Matthew stayed on to join the annual Asian Pacific Regional Rotaract Conference that commenced a few days later in Singapore. APRR - is in its 15th year, and has a huge following in Asia. 450 other Rotaractors within the Asian region attended the conference which was a mix of cultural and social events. Matthew was one of 6 Australians who joined in although Australia is not part of APRR. Matthew thanked BMC for supporting his attendance at RICON. Moving forward Matthew is looking forward to his involvement as the Deputy Rotaract Representative for Victoria, as a leader in RYLA, and the opportunities open to him through his journey with Rotary. Thank you Matthew for your enlivened presentation that was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present.
ROSTERS - for the upcoming Market and next week's meeting were announced.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Sam who celebrates a birthday on Sat 20/7.
President Tim closed the meeting - with this year's Rotary Theme - The Magic of Rotary.
