Hi all
What can I say, life's tough at the top!
I will handover to the Secretary to summarize the last month in the Rotary calendar year.
Looking forward to seeing you all at changeover.
Paul, the very relaxed acting President.
Despite Bunnings BBQs in hiatus for 3 month's we had a busy month to close out the Rotary year.
We completed our obligations to the Highton RC and their nature strip project. Great to see one of our members taking the initiative to utilise this offering on their own naturestrip.
An excellent guest speaker in Mischa Coleman CEO of Interplast and a tour of the new Arthur Reed Photos premises on Marshalltown Rd closed out the month. The club was featured in the Grovedale Grapevine this month.
Committee updates
From John
Science and Engineering Challenge
The Challenge for 2026 was held on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 June at Deakin Waurn Ponds Campus of the University. Our club supported the event with myself, Peter Codd & Christine volunteering time along with the club's $1000 sponsorship towards a total cost of the event approx $14,000.
Belmont High scored top score on Tuesday and the team from St Josephs were the winners on Wednesday. They now progress to the State Final to be held in Geelong at Deakin Waurn Ponds in September. The National Final will be held in Canberra at Parliament House in October.
Please speak with me if you are interested in volunteering for the September State final.
From Jan
This month our Committee gained Board approval that we donate $1000 to Shelterbox.
Right now, over 120 million people around the world have been made homeless by disaster and conflict. ShelterBox is working to change this.By providing emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster, we’re transforming despair into hope.
A $500 donation from the club to Foundation was also made.
From Peter
This is my first update as the new leader of the committee. I am very happy to be taking on the role; however, I certainly have big shoes to fill following Paul and David Carlyle, who have both done an outstanding job over many years.
Nature Strip Project
Over the past month, we have assisted with the Nature Strip Project, organised and coordinated by the Highton Rotary Club. Five members from our club contributed by collecting and delivering mulch to various sites. Paul and Bill collected mulch from Lara and completed the delivery and spreading at their allocated site.
I, together with Gary Clark and David Carlyle, assisted with spreading mulch at four additional sites. Additional support from Barb and Michael from the Highton Rotary Club was greatly appreciated.
The mulch was collected from Acorn Services in Leopold, with the Nature Strip sites located in Moolap, St Albans Park, Thomson and Newcomb. It continues to be a wonderful initiative, and the recipients were delighted to have been selected to receive the mulch for their nature strips.
I also had some additional help at the final site from my three-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Charlie. Charlie was a fantastic little helper and certainly earned his keep!
Plastic Lids
A big thank you to Barb at Mercy Place Rice Village, along with members of the club, for continuing to support our collection of plastic lids for recycling. We are very fortunate to be able to take them to the South Barwon Community Centre's Recycling Station.
Finally, thank you to everyone who continues to support and assist with our various service programs. Your willingness to help makes these projects possible and is greatly appreciated.
No Bunnings BBQ this past month.
In case you missed it
A fascinating guest speaker in Mischa Coleman CEO of Interplast. What a story this woman has cramming so much into her life starting on Mornington Island off our northern coastline to South Africa, Gaza and now Pacific Islands. Heading up Interplast she has seen diabetic foot triple in the last two years. Fresh produce is very expensive with Vila market tomatoes selling for $30AUD a kilo. These types of prices plus our government initiatives where they provide large tax breaks for companies that donate to these types of organisations results in high volumes of processed food being donated. The cost of fresh produce exorbitant and processed food much cheaper this is contributing to their poor diet.
Misha thanked our club for providing $5000 over the past twenty years to support Interplast.
Our last meeting for the month was an interesting tour of the new Arthur Reed Photos premises. Not only did we get to view this $8m build we also learnt how they are investing in the future as digital & AI continue to challenge. It was very evident they are very staff focused ensuring quality service.
A few points of interest: 9 units in all in new build which was completed by a local builder in conjunction with local commercial real estate input. One unit has been sold and another leased at this point in time. 25 staff in production & admin. During peak times they can use up to 48 photographers. Two are fulltime, two part time and the rest contracted. Technology is amazing as the photographers are taking photos they are landing in the staff inbox for screening eliminating complaints & call back to schools. Photographing 400 schools a year, 12 schools a day, 230,000 students in Victoria requires a very seamless operation and they are looking at expanding into NSW! Premier Sports Photos is a secondary Company where they handle team sport photos.
Club membership $220 due 1/7/26
EFT to 633-000 108810045 with your name in reference field
OR pay Ken at the door @ changeover by eftpos, cash or cheque.
Until next month............
