This week has been a relatively quiet one, with us recovering from the barbecues and the trivia night.
The teams are gradually being sorted out and hopefully will lighten the load of the directors and also increase member involvement.
Elizabeth Shephard and I will be heading up to Horsham for the district 9800 Summit and hopefully there will be enough petrol for us to return for Monday.
Narelle is organising the Rimern roster and it is imperative that all members read and respond to their emails. We understand that not everyone is able to contribute to the roster but certainly the more we can provide the better.
We are also trying to establish an events committee, as we are trying to develop some activities which could be for fundraising but also club membership .If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact John McCaskill.
Ant has been active in trying to organise a Camp Getaway weekend. This is becoming an extremely popular club activity and weekends are highly sought after, and it may need to be postponed until 2027. We will keep you informed.
Our speakers Monday night were representatives from Education Chances and they presented about this project and reasons for us, as a club to support them both financially and in other ways.
Next week we will be able to report on the summit. I hope you all have a peaceful weekend and may the right footy teams win.
On Monday night, our Rotary Club had a presentation from Education CHANCES Foundation, which does significant work in the lives of many disadvantaged and talented students in the City of Boroondara. Three presenters gave us specific information about ECF - Mel Key ( General Manager, Programs), Nikko Riazi ( Chairperson) and Diana Bao ( an alumnus). Also present was Dorothy Donaldson ( Fundraising and Partnerships Manager).
Mel raised some very specific problems facing some of the students in the City of Boroondara. Social pressures can escalate and anxiety arises due to the financial pressures at school. Students, especialy in Years 9 and 12, want to feel as if they belong to a community. The most basic of needs, such as laptops, which need to be constantly updated. School is an expensive place to be. Mel, previously a teacher and a Deputy Principal, advocates strongly for the power of education in changing students' lives. It is a confidence builder for students, when they are able to fully participate in school activities. Eleven partner schools participate in the ECF.
Nikko is the living embodiment of ECF. She reminded us that ECF has a legacy of eighteen years of transforming lives in Boroondara. ECF is a grass roots Boroondara organization which is local and community led. It is deeply embedded in schools. Nikko is a recipient of ECF, while at Kew High School. Her mother was a single parent with MS. With the financial backing of ECF she gained the ability to experience school life more fully. She acknowledges the power of removing barriers, and how effective it has been.
As far as Nikko is concerned, the next generation should have the same opportunities she had. The experience gives dignity and self-determination for the scholarship recipients. This is not a transactional relationship. This is a connection which is relational, long term and a mutually meaningful relationship. ECF opens up belief in self and the financial barrier is mitigated.
Diana Bao, a student in speech pathology at La Trobe University,, is the perfect example of an alumnus of ECF. At first, she gave up and became inactive, not striving for anything higher.
Once she received a scholarship in Year Nine, she changed the way she approached her life at school. Her entire world was turned upside down. The trajectory of her life was flipped on its head. It gave her a chance to meet her full potential. She sought out positions of leadership at school. Diana's presentation was outstanding, and demonstrated the way ECF reshapes students' lives.
Presentation title: Community Safety in Boroondara
In 1992 Inspector Sandy McIver joined Victoria Police wanting to help people and make a difference, thinking she will give it a go for five years, see how she goes… Almost 34 years later she's still enjoying the challenge!
Inspector McIver has had a rewarding and diverse career across frontline, specialist, education and strategic roles. After her first four years as a general duties officer in the city and inner suburbs, she pursued proactive community engagement roles, working with at-risk young people and priority communities. Inspector McIver enjoyed training recruits at the Academy and working on key organisational projects to improve our service delivery. In 2023, she returned to frontline policing as the Boroondara Local Area Commander, in charge of the police response to improve community safety.
Inspector McIver is looking forward to meeting the Rotary Club of Canterbury members, to talk about key policing activities in Boroondara and answer those questions you’ve always wanted to ask a police offer!
The Canterbury Rotary Club lunch group usually meets bi-weekly at 12.30 for a meal and some fun. Above are members enjoying lunch yesterday at Box Hill RSL.
David Zrna looks after the reservations for the lunch group. Please contact David at david.zrna@canterburyrotary.org or on 0467033092 to advise that you will be coming to a lunch.
The Multi-District Impact Summit will be held in the vibrant regional city of Horsham, Victoria. This isn't just another conference; it's a powerful collaboration where Districts 9800, 9780 and 9510 will Unite for Good.
This year's summit brings together three districts to amplify our collective power and drive meaningful change. The conference be focusing on the incredible things we can achieve when we work together, sharing our successes, and planning our future impact. Check the flyer for information or click on https://www.rotaryimpactsummit.org/
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