Last Monday we had our first Rotary meeting for this year at the Canterbury Neighbourhood Centre. It was nice to see so many members back ready to have a great but also a productive year.
John Wolmesley chaired the meeting and told us about his wife’s nephew who has just moved to Birregurra in Western Victoria, only to have to deal with the raging fires in that part of the country. He has joined the CFA and John portrayed some of the frightening situations that he has experienced recently although fortunately he has not lost his home. Johns words were a reminder of the horrors that much of Victoria has been and is still experiencing. Several emails have been sent out by the Rotary community in detailing help that may be required in the form of financial aid, goods or physical effort. Please read those emails before attempting to contribute because it is important that the communities receive what they need rather than what we think they need.
I will add that Nora is up at Tallangatta , with this being an area that has been heavily hit by the fires as well, and she has been involved in providing help to to the local people whose lives have been affected and it will be interesting to hear her perspective as well.
We did not have a speaker this week because I wanted to address the club about my plans for the coming year. We have a well motivated, active club but I wanted to stress the need for keeping all members active and busy with either social or community activities , and especially engaging our 10 new members. Interested parties join Rotary to be busy and involved and although we have some great projects there is certainly there are many more that we could be involved with.
There is a chart included in this summary which lists the projects that we are involved in or have the possibility of involvement. We need member participation to be able to continue our projects but also develop different projects within the club . Hopefully the newly discussed committee structure will enable this to happen, without the burden being carried by too few members. I also discussed the need to have committee members able to provide backup support when required.There is some work to be done and this will be discussed at the board level next week.
On a lighter note I was able to congratulate Benji on the expected arrival of a new little son in July this year. Hunter will have a little baby brother. On an even lighter note I will be announcing those who have had a birthday in the week before our meeting and this happy member will receive a free raffle ticket and hopefully win the prize.
Lastly, I I listed the Rotary and social events coming up in the next couple of months and hopefully members of our club will participate. These events will be listed in the bulletin weekly. Elizabeth Shephard also spoke at length about the benefits of attending the Rotary multi District conference which is to be held in Horsham in late March. It would be nice to see some members of our club attending but I need stress that it is necessary to be proactive because there is certainly limited accommodation around Horsham
Once again, thanks for attending the meeting and hopefully it will be a year where by members of the club are able to actively participate and feel wanted.
President Jill has laid out plans for The Rotary Club of Canterbury, asking lots of questions about why people join Rotary, how many activities The Rotary Club of Canterbury undertakes, as well as the committee structures which underpin all these activities.
Many questions were asked as follow-up , based on the presentation-
1. The way new members can learn more about Rotary International and our Rotary Club.
2. The possibility of having a Rotary Club of Canterbury stand at the Sunday Market in Camberwell.
3. Attendance at the District 9800 Summit ( upcoming 27-29 March)
Presentation title: Improving Strength for Healthy Ageing
Hannah Reed and Frank McCormack are a Physiotherapist and Exercise Scientist at Kieser Malvern, with a shared passion for helping people stay strong, active, and independent as they age. They work closely with individuals to support confident movement, manage aches and pains, and continue doing the activities they enjoy. In this talk, Hannah and Frank will explore the importance of strength training for healthy ageing, share practical and accessible tips, and explain how building strength can improve everyday function, balance, and long-term wellbeing at any age.
The Canterbury Rotary Club lunch usually meets bi-weekly at 12.30 for a meal and some fun.
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.
It's on again: the highly successful Songs at the Silos in Rochester. This annual event run by the Rotary Club of Rochester will feature our PDG Michael Lapiña and a host of fabulous singers including Alex Lapiña. Bendigo Rotary and the Lions Club of Rochester will be running gourmet BBQs with coffee from Mum and Me and the local Scouts providing soft drinks and water. So BYO picnic chair and enjoy a great evening of food and entertainment.
The Rotary Club of North Balwyn is hosting Golf Day on Monday 2nd March 2026 at Kew Golf Club in East Kew, with all proceeds supporting Rotary projects that help people in need. The day will feature an Ambrose competition with great prizes for top teams, longest drive and nearest the pin challenges. Players are asked to arrive by 7:30am for a shotgun start at 8am, with a BBQ lunch, presentations and raffle draws to follow. Entry is $150 per player including green fees and lunch, with a discount available for Kew Golf Club members, and places are limited so early registration is encouraged. Entry form was emailed to our members in early January.
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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