rotary club of bendigo strathdale inc....rotary club of bendigo strathdale inc. annual report 2017-...

Rotary Club of Bendigo Strathdale Inc. 40

th Annual Report

2017-18

Rotary District 9800 Rotary Club No. 18308 Chartered 23rd October 1978 Sponsor Club: Rotary Club of Bendigo President: 2017-2018 Ken Longford PHF Incoming President: 2018-2019 Greg Penno PP, PHF

ROTARY CLUB of BENDIGO STRATHDALE Inc.

Annual Report 2017- 2018

President’s Report Ken Longford, PHF.

Thank you all for the privilege of being your President for the Rotary Year 2017-18. A little scary as we came to the end of our line of succession from Pam to Peter, to Lyn & then to me & what was almost the end of our Club with no President Elect in the wings & along came Greg. Unfortunately due to financial reasons within Latrobe University we came to the end of a fortunate life at “The Nancy Long Dining Hall” catered for by the wonderful People from “Food for Thought”. So I end my year with us taking up residence at the Bendigo Club for our weekly Meetings.

Thankyou Susanne Rea for sharing with us the enormity of the “End Polio Now” campaign which started back in 1979. 2009 saw Bill Gates come on board & from 2013 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have matched Rotary Dollars 2 for 1, donating some 35 Million Dollars annually, totalling around 1.6 Billion Dollars reducing polio by around 99.9% & reaching more than 2.5 Billion with the Vaccine, & yes “We Are This Close”, as we helped by having a joint meeting with Bendigo for “The World’s Greatest Meal” & our film night.

We opened the 2018 Year with our first meeting at Mandurang Valley Winery, Thanks Pam & Wes Vines.

Julie, Liz, Greg & I, attended an afternoon Tea Party at the Invitation of Governor Of Victoria, Linda Desau AC along with some 8-900 other Victorian Rotarians to meet with the RI President Mr Ian Risely.

Another year of successful fundraising with our annual Trailer Raffle run by our two Johns, our efforts at the Swap Meet under the guidance of both Jan Walklate, Gary Jones & other members, the 4th year of the Community Raffle in the early part of the year, Our Christmas Market, BBQs & other efforts.



These funds allowed us to continue for the third & final year our commitment to our signature MEC Project, the $25,000.00 with RAWCS necessary to support the Everleigh Family in their quest to obtain a Smart Pup for young Lexie. The purchase in conjunction with RAWCS to purchase 2 Defibrillators for the young 6 year old boy with the diagnosed Heart Condition & a third one, we paid half for Holy Trinity at Flora Hill.

As we did in Lyn’s year we’ll be supporting Food for Dairy Farmers again, Fun Flights whose motto is “Every Child Can Fly” and in line with RI President Ian’s wish to “End Trachoma by 2020”.

During the year I was able to visit Rochester’s Pie & Port Night, twice; their Road & Farm Safety Expo, Foundation Dinner at Kangaroo Flat Sports Ground President Cluster meetings, the opening of Camp Getaway’s new Kitchen & probably the highlight of visits was the Annual Conference at Warrnambool.....Challenging.

Thank you to everyone for your help throughout the year with special mention of Julie, Mary, Pam, my wife Liz who supported me immensely throughout the year, also Bryan, Peter Kilpatrick & Bruce. Thanks Michael for being there when I needed guidance and answers.

We’re having an early Changeover this year with both the Pennos & the Longfords representing our club at the International Convention in Toronto.

All the best Greg as you take on another year as President & this year being the 40th Birthday of our Club.

Thank you Ken Longford



International Report Director Hans Schajermann PP, PHF.

This Rotary year started off well with the anticipation of a successful year for the Clubs signature International Project, the MEC PROJECT. We had been working for the previous few months in bringing an afternoon of song to the community by Gina Hogan, a woman who was born and raised in Bendigo, being a well-respected entertainer who has performed widely in Musical Theatre productions across the country and overseas. Gina brought her show, ‘THE WOMEN OF THE 60’S’, to the ‘The Capital’ on Sunday 31st of July. From a Club and Community perspective it was a successful event even though funds raised could have been better had this event received greater support from members and the community. This event raised in excess of $3600.00 and Gina made a personal donation of $400.00 to The MEC PROJECT from the sales of her CD.

In the previous Rotary year, the Clubs’ Board had agreed to fund the MEC Project to

at least $5,000.00 for the next three years. With this in mind and a contribution of $1,500.00 from the Rotary Club of Bendigo South giving us $6,500.00, we were able to apply to the Rotary Foundation for another grant on the basis of fifty cents in the dollar raised for an International District Grant totalling $9,750.00. This application was successful with the wonderful support that we receive from the District 9800 Foundation Committee and their advisor for our cluster Past Assistant Governor Anne Peace. This amount was forwarded to our ‘Twin Club’ the Rotary Club of Phnom Penh in March this year, and will be utilized when the French team of surgeons arrives for the next round of surgeries in June.

We have supported the District 9800 International Committee’s efforts to Showcase International Projects in the community, firstly at the Australia Day celebrations at Lake Weeroona on the 26th of January, and again in April at Federation Square Melbourne. As I write this Report a further Showcase event is planned for the long weekend in June at the Echuca-Moama’s Steam Rally at Rotary Park Echuca.

After a fair bit of time and effort we were able to have The MEC PROJECT registered

with Rotary Australia World Community Service or ‘RAWCS’ as we in Rotary tend to refer to it. Registering with RAWCS has given the project recognition across the country as well as providing a tax deduction for contributions. To access all one has to do is look for: rawcs.org and donate to Project No. 40 of 2016/2017- THE MEC PROJECT.

To date this has generated $2,100.00 towards the Project with two individuals contributing a combined total ($100.00 and $1500.00 respectively).



The MEC PROJECT has given us the opportunity to support children in Cambodia on an individual basis however, this year was also sad because the house run by the Cambodian Children Against Starvation and Violence Association, (CCASVA), in Phnom Penh was closed ending an association of almost ten years. Over this period of time, our money for housing, education, support and equipment was used supporting almost a thousand children who had been subject to many forms of abuse.

There are two main reasons for its closure, firstly the downturn in the economy and the loss of purchasing power against the U.S. dollar in Cambodia, combined with the fact that the Cambodian Government were taking a hard line on institutions and welfare organisations, including orphanages, that were seen to be exploiting the needs of children and their families.

The Government’s view is that children should be cared for at home within the family environment. Unfortunately they fail to recognize that some children are at grave risk within that environment. Whilst those involved are satisfied that there were no issues with the management of the house by CCASVA it appears that they were caught up in this new governmental approach.

The Australian Cambodian Children’s Taskforce (ACCT), that was set up to fundraise

in Australia for the house, and other projects in Cambodia, is still established and they are assisting the past House Manager Vannak Prum to keep a watchful eye over many of the children, and their families. Vannak is in the process of getting a school up and running for the displaced kids, so there may be opportunities to continue support into the future.

In November our Club strongly supported the combined Goldfields Clusters Foundation Dinner at the Bendigo Racecourse with a large contingent of members.

Thank you Hans Schajermann.



Youth Services Report Director Lynne Cooper. PHF.

Youth Services has been very active all year with great outcomes for our local future leaders. Our quarterly Bendigo Cluster Youth Directors meetings ensure good communication and developing liaison with Echuca, Castlemaine and Rochester clubs.

Many thanks to our club which actively supported the following programs.

National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)

A lot of time is spent assisting local students to apply. Youth Directors met with interested students and their parents for a combined clubs information session assisted by past NYSF students and parents. We were able to show an excellent video presented by staff and students from BSSC to promote the NYSF to those considering application for 2019. Once again the cluster agreed to pool financial resources for the students who were accepted. This year nationally an additional 200 places were on offer with increased places available for our D9800 students. 4 BSSC, 2 CCB students, 2 Rochester SC, 1 Echuca student and 1 Castlemaine student were successful and we have had excellent feedback from them since they attended NYSF in Canberra and Brisbane in January. Due to the record number of 6 successful Bendigo students our club applied for a government science industry grant and received a very generous and much needed $6,000. Many thanks to Helen Steele who also assisted the RC of Rochester to receive a grant under this scheme. Yasin from BSSC applied and was accepted to the London International Youth Science Forum in August. Our club has undertaken to raise the funds to assist him to attend with the support of other clubs both in Bendigo and in D9800. Many thanks to Greg Penno for his successful application for a Rotary grant.

Applications are now underway for the 2019 round. We are partnering with Bendigo

Discovery and Technology Centre and holding our information sessions there with the support of their director Jonathan Ridnell and Alissa Van Soest, past NYSF participant.

The Conocophillips Science Experience

Sam Timpke and Isaac Mavromoustakakis from BSE College attended different university programs and we will keep in touch with them in regards to NYSF in the future. Thanks to Tamra Blakely at BSE for her teaching support.



Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN)

We have been most disappointed that our efforts to send students to both the March and October camps were unsuccessful. Youth Directors recommend we target community groups rather than schools to try to locate students who will benefit. We have renewed contact with the Bendigo Navy Cadets for this purpose; Glenn Madden from RC of Bendigo South was co-ordinating.

Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA)

The cluster sent a group ably co-ordinated by Joy Bruce from RC of Bendigo and

our Club sponsored Jessie Munzel, a Latrobe University student. Georgia Smith, ‘Friend of Rotary’ went as a leader again - a big commitment. Well done Georgia. We are thrilled to be able to present Georgia with a PHF at our annual changeover in recognition of her services to RYLA over the past 6 years. Nathan Jordan and Jaiden Brandy our participants from the previous year have also worked on camp. Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA)

RC of Bendigo Sandhurst Martin Ruffell was co-ordinating MUNA this year but despite

our concerted efforts no local colleges enlisted teams. Rotary co-ordinator Newton

Langford in Melbourne decided to cancel the MUNA program due to insufficient D9800

numbers. He is working on a plan for next year. It seems that this program conflicts with

existing secondary school MUNA programs held in May in Bendigo.

Science and Engineering Challenge

An initiative of the Rotary Club of Bendigo South took place on May 16 and our club again contributed $500 to assist with costs. The program is held at BSE College. Another example of Rotary supporting science programs in our community.

Awards were given to four schools

Late December in 2017, funding of $250 per school was allocated again to be used for support programs identified by the school staff. Mary Preston and Greg Penno presented the grants at staff meetings. All agreed this is a more effective and manageable way to assist our local schools for the present time.



Most of our students have presented talks at our club meetings with excellent feedback. We do try to keep in touch with them and seek their participation in club functions. Robert Stephenson, Head of Campus at Latrobe University and a FOR was moderator at our second Youth Q&A. Georgia, Jessie, Yasin and Tony (parent of Emily - NYSF) all participated in a very engaging discussion about the programs they had attended.

Each Bendigo Cluster Youth Director has agreed to continue co-ordinating one of the major youth programs. While all Bendigo clubs still participate this means a shared approach to the administration work involved in managing advertising, recruitment and transport for the students who attend youth programs. Cost sharing is regularly discussed and managed. NYSF will remain a cost shared program with all clubs agreeing to budget $1000 in preparation.

My appreciation to our Board for their support and to the other Cluster Directors for terrific teamwork. Once again our thanks to the many Rotarians involved and especially the experienced, dedicated members who nurture these amazing programs.

Thank you. Lynne Cooper



Vocational Report Director Brian Owens

We had a great visit to ‘Fortuna’ and we were all amazed at the work being done by the Banks family in restoring this house to its former glory. Following our visit, we went to the National Hotel for a meal. Our second excursion was to Camp Getaway to view the new kitchen installation, a credit to all that helped with this project over many years and from our members a special thanks to Peter Kennedy for all his work at the camp.

At our latest day out, we had a very enjoyable lunch at the ‘Sky Dancers Cafe’ at Barkers Creek, followed by a visit to Doug & Kerrie Hansford’s collection of Horse Drawn Vehicles and other antique artefacts. After an awe inspiring wander and sharing of information by Doug & Kerrie, we enjoyed afternoon tea of scones & slice in the warm surroundings down in Strangways. Thank you

Brian Owens



Lexie’s Smart Pup Report Greg Penno PE, PP, PHF.

In May Last year Kerrie Eveleigh came and addressed the Club with regard to her daughter Lexie and seeking support. Kerrie explained that her daughter was born with a rare chromosome imbalance, so rare that she is the only person in the world recorded with the same set of numbers, 1p36.33 micro deletion syndrome, and 16p.13.3 micro duplication syndrome.

The parents Kerrie and Daniel who lived in a small town in New South Wales, had no idea the there was anything wrong with Lexie until she was born. Kidney dilation, severe hypotonia, where her spine, neck, muscles and connective tissues, were so floppy that she was like a ragdoll in her mother’s arms. After two months of exhaustive testing the imbalance in Lexie’s chromosomes was discovered. It was feared that Lexie would never be able to hold her head up, let alone walk, talk, or eat on her own, and that in fact, severe intellectual and physical disability was a foregone conclusion. To keep up with the exhaustive testing that was required, Kerrie and Daniel moved to Bendigo for better health services support, and to be close to family.

Within a month of arriving in Bendigo and with the assistance of physiotherapists

Lexie’s capabilities started to improve, within a month she was sitting up and was eventually able to stand and walk with the aid of a walker. Kerrie explained that she was trying to raise money for a support dog to further assist Lexie’s development and to help her socialize with other children her own age.

Kerrie told us that the owner of ‘It’s Her Gym’ in Mollison Street Bendigo, Sue Walton

had agreed to assist with fundraising and they had enlisted the support of the Bendigo Kiwanis Club. Kerrie and Daniel by this stage had been accepted to receive an assistance dog trained to Lexie’s needs by Smart Pups Incorporated, in Pomona Queensland. On communicating with the CEO of Smart Pups we were advised that the pup would cost $20,000.00 and that the family was expected to pay an additional $5,000.00 to support the organisation.

The then President Lyn Comer took up the challenge and $2,000.00 was donated to

Smart Pups on Lexie’s behalf. I was always aware that the Philanthropist Dick Smith had donated one million dollars to Rotary and be used for community purposes. Upon investigation I discovered that this money was being controlled by Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and was in an account named Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS) where all RABS projects have DGR Status with the Australian Tax Office, and specifically we could apply for a Rotary Australia Compassionate Grant, (RACG) subject to certain conditions.



Upon perusal of the documentation I found that the Eveleigh family’s quest to obtain

an assistance dog for Lexie clearly met the criteria and after forwarding an application to RAWCS the Project ‘Lexie’s Smart Pup’ was established as Project Number 81 of 2016 – 2017, which gave a tax deduction to donors who were supporting the Project.

With some lobbying to other Bendigo based businesses and organisations we

received donations from Inner Wheel $500.00, realestate.com $1,000.00 and Bencourt Care $2,000.00. In the space of 6 months from our Club funds, and with the assistance of our Community Raffle Tickets, we were able to raise $12,410.47, and we received a Matching Grant from RAWCS on a dollar for dollar for the first $10,000.00, meaning that we were in possession of a total of $22,410.47.

We were aware that the fundraising effort by Kerrie and the members of ‘ It’s Her

Gym’ had raised in excess of $6,000.00 and that this amount had been deposited with Smart Pups Inc., effectively covering all costs.

Our Club made the decision that $20,000.00 would be paid by RAWCS to Smart Pups,

whilst the $2,410.47 would be paid directly to the family, to support travel costs to Queensland.

In raising this total in the space of six months I am grateful for the support of

President Ken and Immediate Past President Lyn, Julie Vecht and members of the Club for embracing this project and giving support where it was needed. As a Club, we greatly appreciate the support of President Marlene, Inner Wheel, Jackie Mullan, Manager, Bencourt Care, Glenn Penno, Account Manager for Realestate.com, and lastly Damien and Mary Anne Carew, proprietors of APCO Strathdale, who generously allowed us use of their premises to sell raffle tickets, in support of this Project.

Thank you Greg Penno



Treasurer’s Report Director Bryan Barras. PP, PHF.

The following allocations have been made:

Rotary Say No family violence $ 300 Blue Ribbon Foundation $ 150

End Trachoma by 2020 $ 1,000

Donations in Kind -- Shelving $ 1,000

Rotary Foundation $ 3,660

Rotary Aust Benevolent Society $ 5,000

Community Defibrillator Holy Trinity Church $ 2,575

Bendigo Chinese Association $ 175

SPAN $ 200

‘Food For Farmers’ $ 2,585

‘Fun Flights ‘ $ 3,000

Leprosy Mission $ 500

Swap Meet 1/6 share of $ 15,600 $ 2,600 Bendigo Lacrosse Association $ 2,000

Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre $ 2,000

Club’s Youth Support RYLA $ 810

ConocoPhillips Science Experience $ 300

Ride it For Kids $ 660

Learning Discovery Primary Reading $ 764

School Awards 4x$250 $ 1,000

National Youth Science Forum $ 11,291



Raffle supporters Club Christmas Trailer Heartbeat $ 3,000

Righteous Pups $ 3,000

City of Bendigo Brass Band $ 3,000

Wild Life Rescue $ 3,000

Bendigo Dragons Abreast $ 3,000

Vietnam Veterans $ 3,000

Bendigo Animal Welfare $ 3,000

Car Raffle Lifeline $ 3,272

Cambodia Projects

MEC / Cambodia $ 5,846

TOTAL $ 69,588.00

I wish to thank John Stewart for his support to me and the Club as Assistant Treasurer.

Thank you Bryan Barras.



PAST PRESIDENTS

1978-79 Ben McConchie 1979-80 Ian Palframan 1980-81 Graeme Chellew 1981-82 Frank Bourke (Dec’d) 1982-83 Lawrie Draper 1983-84 Kevin Gallagher 1984-85 Graeme Worme 1985-86 Roy Stewart (Dec’d) 1986-87 Alan Neate 1987-88 Walter Griffiths 1988-89 Paul Isaac 1989-90 Robert Doble 1990-91 Graham Nielsen 1991-92 Bruce Ellwood 1992-93 Bob Grady 1993-94 David Blair (Dec’d) & PP Graeme Nielsen 1994-95 Tony Lindrea 1995-96 Murray Turner 1996-97 Robert Shedden 1997-98 Robert Toon 1998-99 Trevor Peake (Dec’d) 1999-00 Graham Skewes 2000-01 Michael Nihill 2001-02 Ian Martin (Dec’d) 2002-03 Mike McKee 2003-04 Peter Deering 2004-05 Greg Penno 2005-06 Gary Jones 2006-07 Jan Pithie 2007-08 Hans Schajermann 2008-09 Peter Kennedy 2009-10 Mary Preston & PP Jan Pithie 2010-11 Jan Walklate 2011-12 Mary Preston PP 2012-13 Greg Penno PP 2013-14 Jan Walklate PP 2014-15 Pam Luxford PHF

2015-16 Peter Kilpatrick PHF 2016-17 Lyn Comer PHF 2017-18 Ken Longford PHF



PAUL HARRIS AWARD

1983 PP Ben McConchie (decd.) + Sapphire 2004 1985 PP Graeme Chellew + Sapphire 2010 1988 PP Albert Cooper (decd.) 1992 PP Kevin Gallagher + Sapphire 2010 1992 Dennis Berlowitz 1992 Ruth Hosking (Community Recipient) + Sapphire 2015 1993 PP Lawrie Draper 1993 PP Graeme Worme 1994 PP Frank Bourke (decd.) 1994 PP Ian Palframan (decd.) 1995 Gary McInnes 1995 PP Graeme Nielsen 1995 Ian Williams (decd.) 1995 Murray Wilson (Community Recipient) 1996 PP Gordon Forbes (decd.) 1997 PP Tony Lindrea 1997 PP Ian Martin (decd.) 1997 Russell Jack (Community Recipient) 1997 Joan Jack (decd.) Community Recipient 1997 Bryan McCormick 1997 PP Trevor Peake (decd.) 1998 Brian Geary (decd.) (Community Recipient) 1998 Christine Stevens (Community Recipient) 2000 PP Bruce Ellwood 2001 PP Bryan Barras + Sapphire 2009 2002 PP Michael Nihill + Sapphire 2009 2002 PP Keith Paul (decd.) 2002 Maryann Beckmann (Community Recipient) 2004 PP Gary Jones 2004 John Stewart 2004 John Hall 2004 Helen Lindrea (Community Recipient) 2005 PP Peter Deering 2005 Richard Dickinson (Community Recipient) 2006 PP Peter Kennedy + Sapphire 2013 2006 PP Jan Pithie 2007 John Lindsay 2007 Jenny Penno 2011 Graeme Meager 2011 Jonathan Ridnell (Community Recipient)



Paul Harris Awards continued...... 2012 PP Jan Walklate 2012 PP Mary Preston + Sapphire 2015 2012 Lynne Cooper + Sapphire 2017 2012 Jean Chellew (Community Recipient) 2012 Barbara Gallagher (Community Recipient) 2013 PP Hans Schajermann 2013 PP Greg Penno + Sapphire 2017 2013 Tony Ellwood (Community Recipient) 2015 Julie Vecht + Sapphire 2018 2016 Pam Luxford 2016 Neil Draffin 2017 Lyn Comer

2018 Helen Steele 2018 Georgia Smith (Community Youth Recipient)

2018 Elizabeth (Liz) Longford PHF + Sapphire 2018

DAVID BLAIR AWARD Bendigo Strathdale Club Award

2005-06 Lynne Cooper 2006-07 Veronica Goulding 2007-08 Jan Walklate 2008-09 Bob Moncrieff 2009-10 Wendy Cowling 2010-11 Julie Vecht 2011-12 Pam Luxford 2013-14 Colin McCarthy 2015-16 Helen Steele

2017-18 Bruce Ellwood

ROYCE ABBEY AWARD

Recognition of Club members, in their early years of Rotary.

2005 Mike McKee (PP) 2012 Lyn Comer 2015 Brian Owens



Incoming 2018-19 ROTARY DISTRICT 9800 GOLDFIELDS CLUSTER District Governor Assistant District Governor

Bronwyn Stephens Cliff Downey RC Melbourne South RC Echuca Moama

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2018- 2019

President Greg Penno PP Secretary Mary Preston PP Treasurer Lyn Comer PP Youth Services Lynne Cooper Vocational Service Peter Kilpatrick PP International Service Neil Draffin PP Membership Helen Steele Non Board Positions 2017-2018 Club Service Helen Steele Program Pam Luxford Bulletin Greg Ralph Attendance Pam Luxford Foundation Greg Penno PP Fundraising John Stewart & John Lindsay Protection Officer Bruce Ellwood PP On to Conference Greg Penno



Photos reflecting the year…

Ken, Lyn with Marlene Sullivan, Ken & Mary at one our last meetings at

President Inner Wheel Latrobe Dining Room, with ADG Cliff

& East Loddon Food for joining us!

Farmers group

Trip to Cambodia December 2017 Children who are recovering from MEC operations.

School run by Venkat

Delivering mosquito nets

to villages.

Catching up with past Exchange

Student ‘Milk’.



Christmas Market – December 2017

Liz, Ken & Julie enjoying

the reception at Govt House

for incoming RI Ian Risely.

Ian Risely & Ken.

Pam, Fiona & Julie ensured the

Devonshire Teas were ready! Ken, Liz & Julie at the Govt. House reception

Murray & Greg – the Market

Plant gurus!!

Anne Frueh on her visit.

Catching up with

Jonathon at Discovery Centre

A contented group at Rochester’s RC

Pork & Pie night!



Julie Oberin shared the story of Annie North.

Christmas Dinner &

Presentation of Defib to Carole.

Foundation Dinner time together.

The BBQ crew busy on the “Fun Flight” day.

Enjoying a break at the Swap Meet.

ADG Cliff & Greg.



Lexie’s Pup – “Thank you” night

Lexie having fun!

Presentation of a

Defib at Holy Trinity.

Chef Jeff, Ken & visitor Greg from

Another great exercise Chef Jeff, Ken & visitor Greg

In Bendigo – Boomerang Bags! from Scotland.

Peter & Helen celebrating at Camp Getaway!

During the 2017-18 year we said ‘farewell’ to our Nancy Long catering friends at Latrobe Uni; enjoyed many inspiring speakers and are making ourselves “at home” at The Bendigo Club!

rotary club of bendigo strathdale inc....rotary club of bendigo strathdale inc. annual report 2017-...

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