With less than two weeks of the Rotary year to go, and similar to the last Networker, I thought I would highlight some of the District events that Maureen and I have had the privilege to participate in during the month of June. This included MUNA, Wynspeak, Bayspeak, and the 'End of an Era' celebration for Rotary Glen Eira. And coming up on Saturday we have our District Changeover.The District 9800 public speaking competition finals continued. We attended the final of the 2022 Wyndham Youth Public Speaking Competition, (Wynspeak): its eighteenth year of competition after two years of COVID restrictions. This year the competition was expanded with other Rotary clubs joining the original partnership of Rotary Hoppers Crossing and the Apex Club of Hoppers Crossing with several new colleges involved in the event. Rotary Altona City hosted the Hobsons Bay round and the Rotary clubs of Caroline Springs and Melton combined to run the two Caroline Springs rounds. Wynspeak is a wonderful Rotary project involving a number of Rotary clubs, many schools to the benefit of the many students.
Based on the success of the Wynspeak competition, Bayside Rotary clubs (initially led by Rotary Brighton) launched Bayspeak. After three high calibre hotly contested public speaking heats, Maureen and I attended the final which was held on 8th June at St Leonards College’s very impressive new hall. See the article in this edition of Networker for more on the event.
On Saturday morning, I joined Rotary North Melbourne which hosted the 2022 Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) held at Mercure Hotel, North Melbourne over the weekend of 18th and 19th June. Secondary students from across Victoria, representing twenty-two countries, took part in this great event. Over the two days, students in teams of two were assigned a particular country. Each team passionately debated topics with an intention of maintaining international peace and security. There was an impressive array of high-quality speakers. Well done to Rotary North Melbourne, MUNA Chair Neville Page, President Sainab Shelk, and the volunteers who ran this amazing Rotary Youth project. A special shout out to Brett Lefebvre (Rotary Kyneton) who acted as the United Nations Secretary-General on Saturday and Kammy Leung on Sunday. A very impressive well organised student development event.
Finally, at the Caulfield Park Pavilion on Saturday evening, 18th June, Maureen and I had the privilege of attending the Rotary Club of Glen Eira’s “End of an Era” event celebrating nearly 35 years of community service. The club was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Caulfield (a lunch club) in 1987 to offer the local community a club that met in the evening. We learned about the club’s service in the community and impact on many people’s lives over those nearly 35 years including:
- community events such as Indian and Japanese annual festivals
- consistent contributions to Rotary leadership and personal development programs such as RYLA, RYPEN, MUNA, NYSF, Youth Exchange
- actively addressing community needs, including assisting the sick, the aged, and young people, internationally helping provide school equipment to East Timor, computers to Brazil, medical supplies to Peru, and ShelterBoxes to disaster-recovery efforts.
- over many years hosting Rotary youth exchange students from across the globe as well as being actively involved with Group Study Exchange for young professionals, and Ambassadorial and Peace Scholars.
The evening was hosted by current president Roberto Ortiz and his wife fellow Rotarian Carla Ortiz. We were joined by Osanan Barros, Honorary Consul of Brazil, Edith Ornellas, Honorary member. founding member and charter President, Geoff Oscar, Kurt Langfelder (past president), and local Member of Parliament for Glen Eira David Southwick.
Final Club donations were presented to Leon Landau on behalf of Chevra Hatzolah, Fran Thomas representing the Smith Family, Thomas Szczupak for the SES, Alan Samuel OAM on behalf of Impact for Women, and, Geoff Sussman for Project Rozana.
Congratulations to all current and past members of the Rotary Club of Glen Eira ensuring Saturday night was a celebration of Rotary’s community service and a celebration of all that the club had achieved. It was pleasing to know that most members will be continuing their Rotary service in other Rotary clubs in the area.
The last District Networker for the 2021-22 Rotary year will be issued late June with a brief review of the year and photos from the District Changeover.
And on that note, Maureen and I look forward to welcoming those of you who can join us at the District Changeover.
