Good afternoon to my fellow Mornington Rotary Club Member's and their partners. To start off this weeks Bulletin, a piece of good news comes our way that was conveyed to all of us via our President at last weeks Club Meeting, and I speak of one of our loved Member's partners in Betty Corke, who is going along well after a number of setback's and is recovering well under the watchful eye of young Dennis. Get well soon Betty and we hope to see you up and about at one of our forthcoming meetings. At last weeks meeting we had a brief report from Judy Seager on the recent Lift The Lid, walk/jog/ride event that was conducted last week on Sunday 28th Feb within the very picturque surrounds of the Point Nepean National Park at Sorrento. This was the inaugural event of Lift The Lid's "physical nature " to be held within the Peninsula Cluster and attracted some 150 participants. The Rotary Club of Sorrento aims to have a number of other Rotary Clubs in our District stage a Walk for Mental Health to be scheduled for October each year to coincide with Victoria's Mental Health Month. Thanks to Judy for your report and hopefully as this concept develops we can all get out there at participate. Today Monday 8th March 2021 marks a very special event globally whereby we celebrate International Women's Day and also on a local focus today we also have a significant event in Clean Up Australia Day, which was the brainchild of Ian Kiernan some 28 yeas ago. Just a few facts about this day since its conception, as a nation we have had: 8.3 million people in our country donate their time, a total of 36 million hours of time spent collecting rubbish and a staggering 380,000 ute loads of rubbish collected !!! On a club note, Pam Hall informed us that later this year she will be " retiring from the workforce", this begs the question Pam, what better way to fill in your retirement time than a few Rotary projects ✔︎ 👍 😃
Guest Speaker - Last Week - " The President's Indulgence " accompanied by Mr Graeme Rocke
At our Club Meeting, last week, we had our President who was accompanied by Graeme Rocke present a project that has been " in the making " for some time now and I speak of the Bay Trail. For most of us we are now pretty familiar with this major project that has been ongoing over the last few years with many many hours of very diligent and passionate research and development presentations to many Peninsula Volunteer, Business and Council orgainistaions by Ross. The ppt presentation that Ross delivered was very comprehensive and focused on a large number of positive aspects of this project that can only enhance not only our local " Mornington backyard " but the greater Mornington Peninsula. All our fellow Cluster Rotary Clubs are now "on board " with the Bay Trail and have working groups and/ or a Club Representaive's all working in conjunction to further research and compile informative with the view to possibly action resources and personnel should the project go ahead. The overall view of our fellow Cluster Clubs is the Bay Trail is being strongly supported as "our Major Rotary Centenary Project. The Bay Trail already exists throughout a number of Councils that ring The Bay, but there are still many " missing links " along its way, and the Mornington Peninsula has quite a few of these void paths yet to be developed. One of the major groups working towards a completed trail along the Peninsula is the Mornington Community Safelink. Our " accompanied Guest Speaker", Graeme Rocke is the driving force behind this volunteer organisation, and their focus is " part of the Peninsula Bay Trail, alongside the railway line from the end of the Peninsual link Trail at the Moorooduc Station into Mornington, its for walkers. joggers, families and cyclists. It will safely connect schools, homes, shops, community open spaces, workplaces and sporting precincts. Walking and Cyclist trails of this nature already exist in a large number of Metropolitan and Rural councils throughout Victoria and all are a great source of community infrastructure and attract a vast number of tourism to their respective centres. What better way to enhance our Mornington community resources and tourism opportunities with a completed link thru our town. Graeme informed us that every single Councillor on the Peninsula has been approached and is fully aware of the final concept of a " completed Bay Trail ", and the support has now gone to State Government level with the current Minister for Transport, who has been approached and is conversant with the Peninsula arm of the Trail. The concept of the Bay Trail for cyclists only is somewhat of a misnomer, as such a trail path is also there to offer a pathway that can be used for school groups, disabled groups, walking clubs, family outings and many more members of our community of all ages and interests to exercise, stroll away from the traffic and find a quite space in which to enjoy nature and the beautiful surrounds of one of Melbourne's scenic treasures, our Mornington Peninsula.
A very big thanks to our President, Ross and Graeme from Safelink for a very comprehensive, informative and enlightening presentation, well done.
Our Next Club Meeting - Wed 10th March 2021, at The Mornington Hotel.
This week will once again gather at the Mornington Hotel at 6;00pm for 6;30pm, for a Club Meeting with a presentation from Mr Andrew Taylor who is from the New Peninsula Community Caring. We hope to see many members turn up for an informative presentation on a subject from within our local community.
Birthdays / Anniversaries
A special congratulations, this week goes to Geoff and Sandra Cuthbert to mark their Wedding Anniversary, on behalf of our President, The Board all our Members and Partners we wish a very happy Anniversary with many, many more to come, well done Geoff and Sandra.
💘
President’s Report – 08th March 2021
This week, our Guest Speaker is Andrew Taylor who is General Manager of New Peninsula Community Caring. He will explain what they do, and in particular their Private Rental Assistance Program, aimed at preventing people becoming homeless.
On the night you can also expect an update on both the Ranch Motel and Fusion bathroom projects, and also on the Healing Garden and new Community Centre, as a result of several meetings.
The good news is that we have been awarded a District Grant of $5000 towards the Fusion bathroom.
(If you cannot make it please let Eileen know).
The following week, the 17th, we have the Mayor, Despi O’Connor.
Last week I hope you enjoyed the presentation on the Bay Trail and our Australian Centenary. Our immediate challenge, should we want to support it, is to identify members who are interested to play a lead role, and identify an initial project that can be delivered this year. As “people of action” I am sure we can do this!
Australian Rotary Health – PHD Scholarship. As you know the Club has committed to funding a PHD candidate on the subject of Bowel Cancer. An offer was made last week to a student with a very relevant project that potentially provides a more accurate test than that currently used by the National Bowel Screening Program.
Leave of Absence – Fran Chambers. Fran has advised she will be taking three months leave of absence as the recovery from her injuries is taking much longer than expected. . We all wish her well.
Mens Shed – no updates on the Mens Shed request for some funding towards the completion of a boat they want to donate to the Sea Scouts.
The growth of Rotary Membership? I am pleased to advise that Jo Davie will represent the Club at the first meeting of the Cluster working group on Membership Growth - to assess both the project and our ability to contribute.
Regards
Ross
