What a thrill on Monday it was to have our meeting room packed with people doing good in the world! The occasion was a reunion of the members of Canterbury Rotary’s 26th medical mission to the Philippines and the speakers were the four Orthoptics students; Bianca, Kathy, Stephanie, and Yanathan, who were sponsored by the club to participate. The youngest member of the team was Hunter Brundin (8 months) who charmed everyone he met. Most of the more than 50 people present had attended at least one PMM, many have been more than ten times!
It was clear that those who give also receive priceless gifts of learning, experiences, friendships, confidence, overcoming challenges, fulfillment and patience.
There was a huge number of items brought on the night to be donated to the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre (SHNC) Pantry, a project initiated by Steve Clarke and Jules McLean. Thank you everyone for your support, and many thanks to Wayne for delivering the items to SHNC. You are getting to be a welcome, familiar face to people there.
A short, but very important, part of the evening was the Annual General Meeting of the Club. It was great to have members vote in the next Canterbury Rotary President, President Elect and Board members. We wish Jillian Woinarski and the 2026-2027 Board best wishes and ongoing support from members. Congratulations and thank you to David Chivers for being elected as the President for 2027-28.
Thank you to the members who keep our other projects humming along - those who cover the three, six hour slots on the Sunday Market each week (and the roster co-ordinator John Pocock); Tte FORaMEAL team lead by Nora, Doug and Val (Last Thursday’s event packed 20000 meals); those who volunteer at RIMERN; the environment team lead by John McCaskill; the Wednesday lunch group organised by Alan Stevens while David Zrna is on holidays; as well as the members who are driving new and existing projects in the Philippines and locally.
Thank you to those who work to enable every meeting, led by Rob Simpson, to- set up and pack up our meeting room each week, money collection, name badges, raffle, attendance, meeting chairs, certificates, table cards & run sheets, IT, speaker co-ordination.
Thank you, John Braine and Joe Flinn for your ongoing behind the scenes work as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Also, thank you John Braine for taking on the extra role of Editor of the Canterbury Buzz to fill the position once Tony Laycock transferred to RC Drouin, you have been so patient with this President.
Lastly, thank you my trusty side-kick, Co-President Jillian Woinarski, for your fabulous job as speaker co-ordinator (and ensuring a smooth transition for Michelle when she took over the role in July), being a sounding board, asking many questions, and having lots of ideas. You will be fabulous as President!
Michael Stillwell, our Local Community Group Leader and partner of Co-President Jillian Woinouski, who attended to support our club was most impressed with the night.
Below are the participants in this year's Philippines Eye and Ear mission. Well done to all of you.
The Sight and Hearing Mission to the Philippines took place between 6 and 11 October. Four students, in their fourth year at LaTrobe University, gave a presentation to our Rotary Club - Kathy, Bianca, Stephanie and Yonathan.
The medical mission took place in Negors Oriental ( First District) . There were five days of screenings and surgeries. The orthoptic students were able to observe the surgeries. Sixty percent of the people were seen in schools. Four thousand four hundred and eighty patients experienced the mission both in sight and hearing. Seventy-one percent of the cataract people were operated on. Four hundred and thirty-three pairs of reading glasses were prescribed.
In general, the orthoptic students found that it was beneficial for them in terms of the future paths they would take in their career. At first, they observed what was happening around them. They all remarked that poor vision prevents Philippine students from going to school.
Bianca's perspective included the way people travelled from the mountains. She observed that there was a need for patience to be demonstrated. she was also grateful for the level of care, and found the team work heart warming.
Yonathan found the entire experience unforgettable. He described the eye conditions they treated as being in the advanced stages. The description of the operating room was intense. Six patients at a time were treated in a relatively small area. Each procedure took six minutes, and was completed without anesthetic. Most importantly, the trip led to a dramatic change for the patients for the rest of their lives.
Stephanie marveled at the way limited resources produced such massive results. Each of the cataract procedures was handled relatively quickly. There was a very strong sense of community, which pervaded the entire journey.
Kathy's desire to provide healthcare to all people was her main goal and purpose in undertaking the course at LaTrobe University. She mentioned that what they experienced in the Philippines was to help and support people who did not know what their condition was. She also experienced what can happen when a cataract is left too far on.
She left us with the commentary that healthcare facilities in Australia are something that we should be grateful for.
Kevin retired as a Primary School Teacher in 2019, having taught at Old Orchard Primary School in Blackburn North for 15 years. Prior to that he worked in pastoral ministry for over twenty years in various Baptist Churches and Chaplaincy positions.
In both these roles he gained wide experience in pastoral care and in serving on committees and boards of management. He is the bereaved father of Stephen, who died by suicide in 2001. He has three daughters and four grandchildren, enjoys lawn bowls, cycling and is a member of the Croydon Film Society.
The Compassionate Friends was a great support when Stephen died and he values volunteering on behalf of the organization. He has recently completed 6 years as President of the Board of Management at The Compassionate Friends Victoria and was recently awarded the City of Boroondara’s Volunteer of the Year Award
Tahlia from Carey Grammar on the left and Helen on the right and Doug taking a well earned rest with three packing events at Carey Grammar in a fortnight.
A huge thank you for your support for last week's Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre grocery collection.
The community pantry people were effusive and said in an email to Steve Clarke:
I wasn’t expecting a visit from Wayne today – how amazing! Photos attached.
We were hoping to be able to give pantry participants a bit extra on the final pantry day (4th Dec) to help tide them over while we are closed for the Christmas break, so this is wonderful beyond words 😊!!
Delivery Rotarian Wayne Dong has done a great job again. Thanks Wayne.
Our next Club collection will be February sometime and on 14 March we've scored a Bunnings BBQ to raise some loot for the pantry to buy perishables. Well done Jules McLean who has sorted this.
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.
After more than 20 lunches during the year the rotary lunch group is having a Christmas break.
The dates for the 2026 gatherings will be included in the Bulletin in the new year.
On Saturday 15 November our club supported Rotarians for Bees celebration of Pollinator Week through our stall at the Farmers Market run by the Rotary Club of Glenferrie at Paterson Reserve in Auburn.
Around 800 people during the morning and many parents, children and dogs stopped to learn about the importance of bees and pollination. We had many child friendly activities including a jigsaw puzzle and the apple tree pollinated by many bee costumed children who were then rewarded with a slice of apple to demonstrate the pollination and habitat story.
As always the very colourful Judy Parslow was a huge attraction and, together with Liz McCaskill, worked tirelessly to get our message across about bees and how we can help them. We were very grateful for the support and assistance of club members, particularly David Chivers, Steve Clark , Elizabeth (and Jonathon) and Jill. It was a wonderful morning and another great showcase for our Canterbury club and our environment programs.
Carey Baptist Grammar School Boat House on Boathouse Drive Melbourne.
Best to go to Flinders Street Station by train, bus or tram, cross over the bridge, turn left and walk along river pathway till you reach the Boathouse.
The FAM truck will be parked near the entrance to building. Stair and lift access for supplies. Students and teachers will be assisting.
Set up 8.45am for all events.
First session 10 am to 11.30am then lunch break and recommence 1pm till 2.30pm
Natalie Dixon-Monu from BCO is looking for volunteers to help with the ‘Buy in the store, donate at the door’ Christmas hamper collection again. She is in need of people for the following 2 hour slots at Camberwell Woolworths in November.
For the new sets of cleaning & laundry needs RIMERN has started a fundraiser.
$50 buys a full kit (mop & bucket, broom plus dustpan & brush, laundry basket, clothes hamper & kitchen tidy bin) and every donation over $2 is fully tax deductible.
Every RIMERN client needs a mop & bucket, broom & dustpan, swing top tidy & laundry basket plus clothes airing rack, but none of these are available second hand so RIMERN has to buy them.
A full kit costs $50 and RIMERN needs 10 a week. Can you sponsor one or more? It's Spring, time to help the RIMERN clients with their cleaning! Thank you in advance!
In Rotary, November is designated as Rotary Foundation Month. This month highlights the importance of The Rotary Foundation and encourages Rotarians to contribute to its various programs and initiatives.
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