The following is a copy of an address prepared by Kellie Carruthers and Michael Josem to summarize the work of their community committee and our Club this past year. (Editor, Ian Ballantine)
Every one of us joined Rotary for the same reason: to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of the people around us. That is the story we are all part of, and I want to show you just how far that generosity has reached this year.
Across our community, outstanding local organisations are doing essential work, often while stretched thin and uncertain about where their next dollar will come from. They care for vulnerable children, feed families who are going without, support people in crisis, and stand beside those who too often stand alone. Their work matters enormously, and it should never have to falter simply for want of support.
That is where you, through this Club, come in, and where the Community Committee has worked to make sure your support reaches exactly where it is needed most. After carefully reviewing applications from a remarkable group of local organisations, I am pleased to confirm that the Board has approved funding across a broad range of projects this year. Your generosity is now supporting the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, Holmesglen Foodbank, the Holland Foundation, Eastern Emergency, SECASA Donations in Kind, the Australian Animal Protection Society, Melbourne All Abilities Cricket, the Moorabbin Air Museum, Psychs on Bikes, our annual Christmas Cake program, and our LEGO community initiatives.
None of this happens on its own. To every committee member and every member of this Club who has given their time, their expertise, and their support to this year's program, thank you. To each of you that gets up at 5am or earlier on a Sunday morning, thank you. You are the reason these organisations can keep doing what they do.
We are also looking beyond this year. Strong organisations need more than a single grant; they need the means to stand on their own feet over time. So the Committee is developing a practical resource pack to help community groups find alternative funding, strengthen their grant applications, and build their own fundraising capacity well beyond what Rotary alone can provide. The aim is simple: that the groups we back today are more resilient tomorrow.
The Committee continues to review new applications and partnerships, and there is one decision still before us. An application from Emerge remains with the Board for final approval, seeking support for its furniture assistance program and the expansion of its Back On Track initiative, work that helps people rebuild their homes and their lives. It is the next opportunity for this Club to extend its reach, and I look forward to bringing it to a decision soon.
On behalf of the Community Committee, thank you for your ongoing commitment to the people and the organisations who make a genuine difference across our community. Because of what this Club gives, families are fed, children are protected, people in crisis are supported, and good organisations are growing stronger. That is the difference you are making, and we look forward to continuing this work together through the next Rotary year.