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Introduction
The Rotary Club of Canterbury has been serving our local & international communities since 1987. We have an active social and project program. Our members love being part of our Club and enjoy participating in all our activities. You are invited to come along to:
Once you get to know us, you might like to become a Rotary Friend or even to join the 1.2 million Rotarians as a club member. We will make you feel very welcome.
 
If you would like to have a chat about the Club please call our Membership Director Rob Simpson on 0425746991  or send an email to him at rob.simpson@canterburyrotary.org
District 9800 Environment Sustainability Award
 
Congratulations to Canterbury RC on being one of the two winners for the District 9800 Environmental Sustainability Awards.
 
Special  acknowledgement to the Club members and friends who have worked throughout the year on the environmental projects and activities.
 
Assisting Ukrainians
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Canterbury responded to the call for supplies by Ukrainians suffering under war conditions. During the week ending 2 October the Club sent 10,000 nutrition meals packed in easy-to-use pouches. Each pack contains lentils, rice, oats and a vitamin sachet of essential nutrients. The Club also responded to a request for underwear for the soldiers working in difficult and remote conditions.
 
We are so grateful to be able to assist in this situation. It is so hard to know what to do when people across the globe are struggling. Well done to the entire FORaMEAL team and everyone who donated or contributed to this work.
 
Canterbury RC Change-over 2021-22 
 
 At this year's Changeover there were two dominant themes - Imagine Rotary and a Touch of Orange. There were many VIPs from District 9800, from other Rotary Clubs in the district and those with whom many members of the Rotary Club of Canterbury have a sustained period of connection in very meaningful ways.
 
Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded to:
 
1. Ted Waghorne
2. Naki Khan
3. Rob Simpson
4. Liz McCaskill
 
Rotarian of the Year, aka the Ralph Hartnett Trophy, was awarded to John Braine.
 
Changeover is a time when the words " Thank You" have a real meaning. We express our gratitude for the special individuals who always go above and beyond the basic requirements. We express our gratitude for the members who keep on keeping on, and who are consistently present when they are needed to undertake a task. We say "Thank You", because we really mean it . This is what Changeover is all about.
 
Below are a couple of snaps from the night
 
1 Past President Tony handing on the Feather duster to the soon to be Past President Cathie
2 President Cathie handing on the chain of office to incoming President Edda
3 Rob Simpson accepting the Paul Harris award from District Governor Amanda Wendt
 
 
Bring Back the Buzz Event March 2022
What a great night. 200 Rotarians and friends all there to back a very worthy cause. That is raising funds to educate school children about the power of pollinators and their plight, 
 
The evening was kicked off by a pre-recorded interview between Jonathan Shepherd and the Australian Past International Rotary President, Ian Riseley, responsible for the introduction of the Environment as the seventh pillar of Rotary. The list of speakers included: Fiona Sutton Wilson, CEO Earthwatch; Fiona Chambers, CEO WHEEN Bee Foundation; Alick Osborne, CEO Seasol; and Costa Georgiadis, ABC Radio Host.
 
The committee worked tirelessly to present a beautiful environment.
 
All kudos to everyone on a marvelous, memorable and purposeful event. The Rotary Club of Canterbury, members of other clubs and multiple Friends of Rotary turned out in force.
 
If you would like to make a contribution to assist with the projects, research and education activities of R4B's please click on this Trybooking link https://www.trybooking.com/BYQER
 
Please have a look below at the short video of the event prepared by Past President and video wiz Lili-Ann Kriegler.
 
Rotary Safe Families
 
Dorothy Gilmour at a Club meeting recently discussed a grim issue - abuse. Whilst it  is a dire situation for many Dorothy did not want us to be linger on this and she offered us hope that we can do something about it. Dorothy was keen to point out that abuse is not limited to a specific demographic and happens to all kinds of people in different environments. Abuse represents an exercise of power over a targeted victim making the person feel insecure and can be physical, mental, subliminal etc.
 
Rotary Safe Families was established 3 years ago by Dorothy Gilmour, a member of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, with the aim of the primary prevention of abuse.
 
The strategy adopted is the simplified by the identification of the three R's:
 
1. Recognise the signs of abuse
2. Raise concerns safely with the victim
3. Refer the victim to the appropriate support
 
She passionately emphasised the view that being a passive bystander is not an option. She also asked some interesting questions of the members of The Rotary Club of Canterbury:-
 
1. When have you last discussed abuse?
 
2. Why is abuse such a taboo subject?
 
What Rotary Safe Families advocates for is not money simply to seek champions amongst Rotary clubs across Australia who will spread the word and support others.
 
Dorothy posed the question to the members whether they were aware of two signs that someone is being abused
 
The first one is visible and involves a hand signal which indicates a cry for help – you place your thumb across your palm and close your fingers over it
 
The second one is and may involve situations where someone in a bar is feeling threatened, they can approach the bartender and ask " Is Angela here?" Bartenders are taught this as a sign of distress
 
The organisation maintains an up-to-date website which provides ample resource materials including videos about issues of abuse. There is a link to a you tube video below
 
 
The website for Rotary Safe Families is :
 
 
It goes without saying that Rotary does not condone abuse.
R100 Yarra Park Playground

FAMILY DAY EVENT AT YARRA BANK RESERVE - SUNDAY  21 November 2021

Construction of the new  Yarra Bank Reserve Playground is completed with the installation of the unique Rotary Interactive Play Sculpture which is the centrepiece of the new playground. 
 
The playground was officially opened by the Mayor of Boroondara Garry Thompson and Rotary District 9800 Governor 2021-2022 Dale Hoy at a Family Fun Day on Sunday 21 November  2021. 
 
 
 

 

Let's Stay Connected Project

The "Let's Stay Connected" project came about as a need within the Aged Care sector was identified for some stimulating material to be made available to residents, while in isolation.

Several members and friends of the Rotary Club of Canterbury have written books, some of personal experiences, some researched, for this purpose. 

The books are available in several formats and can be given to individuals to read or the Power Point version can be used in a group presentation. 

Please follow this link to the page with the book titles page/let-s-stay-connected-project

 

New FORaMEAl Website
 
 
 
While the Club has not been able to hold FORaMEAL packaging events, lots still has been happening in the FORaMEAl space.
 
Pallets and smaller parcels of FORAMEAL packs are currently being distributed to those in the community impacted by the Covid restrictions.
 
There has been an amazing take-up with many partner organisations joining with the Club to facilitate the distribution process.
 
To enable the concepts about the  FORaMEAL project to be easily understood, a team which has been led by Club member Kevin Xiao has very quickly established a new FORaMEAL website at www.FORaMEAL.org 
 
There is a very clear objective stated on the website about the FORaMEAl project - "this year, the Rotary Club of Canterbury decided to redirect part of our FORaMEAL effect to help the most vulnerable in the Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions in Melbourne. Our aim simple – to provide 100,000 nutritious meals to Melbournians who are at risk of hunger". 
 
Please take a moment to visit the website and see the details about the great work being undertaken with the FORaMEAL project and how you (or  organisations which you are affiliated with) may assist by becoming a partner and/or  making a tax deductible donation.
 
 
 
Philippines Mission 2019
 
 
 
The Club had a wonderful presentation by four former LaTrobe University orthoptic students at a recent Club meeting who spoke about their experiences as members of the Philippines eye and ear mission in October 2019. We were also joined on the night by several other volunteers who were part of the mission team.
 
Damon Goddard, Bradley Lai, Stinoj Shaju and Rachel Wishart spoke about their typical day, with very early mornings, up to two hours travel, then conducting the eye tests and also assisting/observing the cataract  operations followed by some leisure time, bed and then up to do it all over again the next day. But while the days were long, the experiences were fantastic.
 
They observed that they came across clinical issues they were very unlikely to encounter in Australia.
 
They also spoke about the happiness of the children and the culture which Doug Hawley also noted led to a reluctance by some Philippine residents, who were diagnosed with cataracts, but who were hesitant to undergo surgery.
 
The group then showed the terrific video below which highlighted the experiences from the trip.
 
In conclusion they thanked the Club for giving them the opportunity to be part of the eye and ear mission to the Philippines.
 
 
 
Rotarians for Bees What the Buzz About Bees Event  Video
 
The "What the Buzz About Bees" was first main Rotarians for Bees Event  - it was held at Greenacres Golf Club on 12 November 2019 with three guest speakers and 200 attendees to learn more about protecting our Bees and other Pollinators.
 
Thanks to Andrew McCaskill for taking and editing the video of the night which captures the highlights of the evening. There is a terrific sound track accompanying the video so please ensure that the sound is switched on on the video.
 
 
 
 
Rotary for Bees

The Club over the past months has been working with other Rotary Clubs and a group called Rotary for Bees (R4B's) has been established. This new group is working with the Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group (ESRAG), an international rotary body, to do all they can to ensure the sustainability of bees.
 
Please follow this link page/rotarians-for-bees  on our website to see more details about the group and also links to many useful references and websites. Please find the Rotarian for Bees Website at https://rotariansforbees.org   and you can also find more details on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/395777217740428
 
 
Click to download our Rotary Promo MP3

 

Upcoming Events
Quick Links
Come Along
2 Rochester Road, Canterbury Vic AUSTRALIA (MAP)

Every Monday - Dinner meeting 6:00pm for 6:30pm
Our Next Meeting
On Monday 6 February 2023  the Club speaker will be Mark Squirrell
Mark will be speaking about his journey from Arafat to Mt Everest.