🌟 WELCOME TO OUR ROTARY FAMILY, JANET BELL! 🌟
We are thrilled to welcome Janet Bell as the newest member of Southern Mitchell Rotary!
Janet brings a wealth of experience, a passion for service, and a heart for making a difference in our community. We can't wait to see the incredible contributions she'll make as we work together to create positive change. Please join us in giving Janet a warm Rotary welcome! 💙
11-12-2024
11-12-2004
Christmas breakup at Darraweit Guim Cidery.
Pres Elizabeth inducts Janet Bell
The team enjoys an orchard visit.
08-12-2004
Working Bee at the Beunhe Memorial, north of Kilmore. Planted 10 native trees, tidied up around the Memorial and the area in general.
Rotary Stands United for Change!
This year, Southern Mitchell Rotary is proud to support the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global movement to end violence and promote equality for all. Together, we are taking action by raising awareness, supporting survivors, and working towards a future free of fear and harm.
What is 16 Days of Activism?
From November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day), these 16 days are a call to action for individuals, organisations, and
communities worldwide to join forces in the fight against gender-based violence.
How Rotary is Making a Difference:
Hands on helping at public awareness functions
Supporting local shelters and survivor programs
Advocating for systemic change and equality via social media
Did You Know? 1 in 3 women globally experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. This is not just a women's issue—it's a human rights issue.
Join us in creating change! Share this post, volunteer, or donate to organisations making an impact. Together, we can break the cycle of violence.
The Gordon Hastie Bursary is given to three local secondary students by Southern Mitchell Rotary each year, and each has a value of $250 to go towards their educational needs.
The presentations were awarded to two of this year’s students at a recent Southern Mitchell Rotary get together.
Pictured L to R
Cathy Coppinger (Assistant Principal) Aeysha Galea (GHB recipient), Rotarian Angelina Cirelli-Salomone who is our Youth Director, Alexander James Donald Harris (GHB recipient) and Tania Pearson Principal Broadford Secondary College.
SAY NO TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!
Southern Mitchell Rotary is actively working to promote peace and prevent conflicts, including addressing domestic violence. By supporting local organisations and raising awareness, we can create a safer society. Join forces with Rotary to combat domestic violence and stand up against it in all forms. Together, we can make a difference and ensure everyone has the right to live free from fear and harm.
SUNDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2024
A small team of high achievers from Rotary source grants and donations to make this annual event virtually free. They then plan and co-ordinate all the activity and put in the hard yards on the day, so more than 70 seniors have an enjoyable outing.
SCHOOL WELL-BEING WAGONS
Southern Mitchell Rotary has introduced what we call Well-Being Wagons. They are like a little garden wagon that is filled with activities such as colouring pencils, books, jigsaws, games, balls etc. These are now in two of our local primary schools; - Beveridge Primary and Kilmore Primary, two wagons for each school, age based, so the first will be based for ages 5 to 8 and the second 9 till 12. These will be utilised during playtime and lunchtime for those children that find themselves sitting alone with no friends etc.
SCHOOL WELL-BEING WAGONS - KILMORE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Recently, Rotarians Rose King and Ian Dempsey presented the Kilmore Primary School with 2 Well-Being Wagons full of fun games and activities. Vice principal, Julie Smith, and a number of students happily received the Wagons and soon had them stored away ready for use at recesses and lunch breaks.
These Well-being Wagons are a direct result of the hard work of the Rotary Volunteer Team at our Kilmore
ROTARY RECYCLE OP SHOP
84 Sydney Street, Kilmore.
SCHOOL WELL-BEING WAGONS - BEVERIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Southern Mitchell Rotary were thrilled to deliver two Wellbeing Wagon full of activities to Beveridge Primary School today (Fri Nov 1).
We were greeted by Miss Allwell (what a fabulous name for a Wellbeing Coordinator!) and students Zane & Virginia. Also pictured is Janet Bell, who is soon to be our newest Rotarian.
It was the pavement chalks that proved the biggest hit! It certainly was great to hear the students’ excitement… - Giant Jenga! - Wow - Lego!
These Well-being Wagons are a direct result of the hard work of the Rotary Volunteer Team at our Kilmore
ROTARY RECYCLE OP SHOP
84 Sydney Street, Kilmore.
ROTARY ISN'T ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING. WE LIKE FUN AS WELL!
Our Rotary Cup Day BBQ was hosted by Peter and Judy Appleton in their lovely garden on a sensational Kilmore day (weatherwise). As usual, we pretty much fixed all the world's problems except that election in the USA.
WORLD POLIO DAY 24TH OCTOBER
Our Oct 23rd October get-together celebrated World Polio Day (Oct 24) with a funny hats night and our own Rtn Marie Gerrard speaking about her trip to India earlier this year to help with giving Polio oral vaccine to children.
It was a fun evening along with lots of learning and the raising of funds to assist in the Rotary focus to eradicate Polio from the world.
PLEASE HELP US WITH A DONATION: www.rotary.org/en/donate
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
09-10-2024
GUEST SPEAKER
Dean Sattia – Final Embrace Funerals
Dean very kindly joined us when the scheduled speaker cancelled. After his informative talk, the questions came one after the other. Indicating as usual that death/funerals is a topic often avoided but still requiring plenty of research and consideration (prior to the event if possible).
08-06-2024
MELODY CREATES A TAIWANESE FEAST CELEBRATING THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
Southern Mitchell Rotary says a fond farewell to our Taiwanese Exchange Student, Melody. Melody Ku you have been a fabulous Rotary Exchange Student, an excellent representative of your country and a very talented Taiwanese chef. Thank you and all the very best.
OUR EXCHANGE STUDENT, MELODY FROM TAIWAN,
PLANTS A TREE AT OUR ARBORETUM BEFORE GOING HOME.
This activity occurred at the Rotary Arboretum on Tuesday, June 4th at 4:30pm under the watchful eye of past District Governor, Phillip Clancy.
Tree type - Bhutan Blue Pine.
Pinus wallichiana is its Latin name.
Can reach maybe 40 metres in height.
13-04-2024
12, 13 & 14-04-2024
Our Exchange Student, Melody at 98.3 FM
13-03-2024
Our Exchange Student, Melody from Taiwan, was a special guest of local students, Matilda and Ruby on OKR 98.3 FM today.
A spirited conversation was had, with lots of questions to Melody about her home country and her integration to our very different Australian society.
COLLECT TO PROTECT (our environment)
At a recent Get-Together, we all became involved sorting lids and bread tags for our Collect To Protect project, which is all about environmental recycling. A fun night with fun friends - a bit like playing with Lego. Did you know that when your plastic milk bottle is recycled, the cap isn’t? It pops off and goes to landfill!
14-10-2023
INTERNATIONAL DINNER
Our Annual International Dinner is to raise funds to support our current international activity, which as Project Lemur. This is to support 1500 primary school children and their teachers in 5 year drought devastated Southern Madagascar.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT PROJECT LEMUR
Our guest speaker, David Ensor, CEO of International Needs Australia (INA). Gave an insight into what they do for our international community. INA works in 9 countries where women & children are some of the most marginalised: India, Myanmar, Philippines, Ethiopa, Cambodia, Laos, Uganda, Sri Lanka and Nepal. David presented some more sobering information to back up why he is so passionate about trying to change the livelihoods of marginalised people.
710m people live in extreme poverty -less than US$1.90 daily
258m children of primary and secondary school age are out of school
Only 50% of children worldwide in early childhood education
60% of chronically hungry people globally are women and girls
With TOTAL net assets of $13,389 you are in the wealthiest 50%
If you have $212,471 of total wealth, you are in the top 10%
The bottom 50% of adults have less than 1% of total global wealth.
David then went on to explain why INA concentrates on women and children and gave us many case studies to show how successful his organisation is, such as the toilet blocks they build for girls at secondary schools so young women can deal with sanitary issues and don’t need to stay at home as is the norm for them. Once again, he backed up his processes with great data.
The other "arm" of INA is to set up interest free loans for a community to establish enterprises to improve their communities eg Group borrowers (Farmer Associations, Cooperatives, Self-Help Groups) / 15 - 90 members - $8,000. Individual borrowers: Grocery shops, tailoring shops, hair salons, etc - $1,000.
David finished up with the accountability of INA. It is 1 of 55 fully DFAT accredited NGOs – 5 x match funding. INA guarantees that 80% of its funds go directly to the participants. David's passion for his organisation and its mission was fantastic, and his presentation was most thorough and interesting.
04-09-2023
In the interests of 100% transparency, Southern Mitchell Rotary is pleased to advise we are sharing the profits from our new Rotary Recycle Op Shop with our community.
This is our first distribution of what will be many in the future.
Thanks to Lisa, our Op Shop Manager and her dedicated team of Op Shop volunteers who serve our terrific customers.
23-08-2023
At our get-together, Melody, (our 2023 Rotary Youth Exchange student) was our guest speaker, introducing herself to a packed room of Rotary members. After first telling us about herself and her family, she showed us where home is and proceeded to introduce us to popular foods in Taiwan, good places to visit and much more interesting facts expanding our international knowledge. Pictured is Melody and President Rose exchanging Rotary banners and Melody with her Aussie mum Angelina, who is also our Youth Director.
Chia-Yu Ku or Melody, (her preferred name).
Our 2023 Rotary Exchange Student has arrived and is already receiving a crash course in Australiana by Rotarian Angelina Cirelli-Salomone and her family. Angelina is our Youth Director and Melody's first host "mum" during her stay in Australia. Melody is from the north of Taiwan, is an accomplished drummer and will be attending Assumption College.
Chia-Yu Ku or Melody, (her preferred name).
20-08-2023
BROADFORD CLEANUP
A very small but dedicated band of Southern Mitchell Rotary members enjoyed the sunshine for a couple of hours on a recent Sunday morning, donating their time to clean up a section of High Street, Broadford. The end result was very rewarding.
26-07-2023
SOUTHERN MITCHELL ROTARY WELCOMES A NEW MEMBER
Let's welcome our newest member, Ian (Fozzie) Foster to Southern Mitchell Rotary. Ian was inducted BY Assistant Governor Sharon Fox, and we believe Ian will become a valuable cog in our wheel.
Pictured from left is Ian's partner, Michelle, Ian, Assistant Governor Sharon Fox and Club President Rose King.
23-07-23
ROTARY CLEANS UP EAST ST KILMORE
A handful of very dedicated Southern Mitchell Rotary members braved the elements for a couple of hours, donating their time to clean up a particularly grubby section of East Street, Kilmore. The end result was rewarding.
Op Shop volunteers “meet and greet” with Southern Mitchell members.
06-07-2023
Southern Mitchell Rotary took over the responsibility of their new Recycle Op Shop on 1st July. Today, many Rotary members took the opportunity to meet our highly valued Op Shop volunteers, and together we look forward to moving onward and upward.
LANDCARE & ROTARY TREE PLANTING DAY
Sunday 18 June 2023
3500 trees planted. Over 100 volunteers fed and watered. What an awesome day. And the weather god was very kind to us. Rotary Club Southern Mitchell, a huge pat on the back.
Thank you, Your Majesty, King Charles III for the delightful conversation about @Rotary, female leadership, and the environment. We are so honoured to count you, and your late father, as part of our Rotary family.
Jennifer Jones
President, Rotary International 2022-2023
29-10-22
International Dinner
Kilmore Memorial Hall
Our keynote speaker at this function was the very passionate Jessica Redwood, CEO of the Children First Foundation
Children First Foundation was established when a team of like-minded people shared a dream that all children had access to excellent medical care when they needed it. Together, we wanted to give a helping hand to children from countries without the resources needed to help them.
In the beginning children were cared for by a team of volunteers at donated properties in Melbourne and Kilmore while they underwent surgery provided by generous surgeons and hospitals. But as more children were referred for treatment, plans developed to establish a Foundation with a formal structure so that donor support would be managed appropriately, and the work could expand and grow.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of many people the plans eventually became a reality with the formal establishment of Children First Foundation in July 1999. Rotary District 9790 joined forces with Children First and at the same time Rotarian and Kilmore local Noel Baker and his wife Janis donated 45 acres of land to the newly formed Foundation to build a home where the children could be cared for while they were here for surgery.
