Welcome to 2026! I hope everyone has had a great start to the year.
As I write this, so many people across Victoria have had a very rough beginning to 2026, with homes lost to the devastating fires over the past few days. It is truly heartbreaking. While our incredible first responders continue their amazing work, I look forward to hearing about ways we may be able to help and support those affected.
I’m looking forward to seeing you all on Tuesday (at the Quarry Park) and hearing about how your holidays have been.
A reminder to please bring your costumes with you if you have them (don’t panic if you don’t), and we can work towards finalising what we’re doing.
See you soon.
Yours in Rotary
WEEKLY REMINDERS
REMINDER - Annual Fees are now due. If not already paid, please pay yearly/half yearly at your earliest convenience. Thank you to those members who have already paid. :)
ATTENDANCE
Please use Club Runner to manage your attendance. If you are unable to attend and/or wish to bring additional guestsfor a special event or partners night please do so by 5pm Monday night. We need to give Knox Club numbers and pay for meals even if you do not attend.
If you would like something to be included in the website please advise Jim Sly. He is always looking for content and pictures of hard working rotarians is his favourite.
We have received notice from the Knox Club that our meal charges will rise from 1st January, which means we will have to increase the price we charge to members and their guests. From our first meeting back at the Knox Club the prices will be $32.00 for adults and $16.00 for children. Speakers and other invited guests of the club will still be offered complimentary meals.
Upcoming Events - Click on Event to Register/Decline
In these last ten years Rotary has sent off 840kg of coins plus a large number of notes valued at $29,908.60 and we now have 7.6 kg towards our next 60kg shipment. We have had valuable contributions now from five Australian Rotary districts. We also organised for Star Casino to send coins they’d collected which were valued at $4,705 and were credited to us, making our total contribution to UNICEF $34,613.60.
When we first contacted UNICEF back in 2015, the UNICEF Partnerships Manager Eamon Bryant emailed “We see Rotary and UNICEF as a perfect match, a dream fit”. UNICEF works in over 190 countries for the rights and welfare of all children. It supports children’s health needs, clean water and sanitation, quality basic education, and protection from violence, exploitation, and HIV. It has the same ideals as Rotary.
This project contributed over $32,000 to the Rotary Give Every Child a Future centenary project set up in collaboration with UNICEF to immunise 100,000 children in the Pacific which is now completed https://everychildafuture.com
UNICEF pointed out that they partner with very few organisations. They only want their names linked to world class organisations. Qantas and CBA are just about the only ones apart from Rotary.
In summary, this is a NO COST project for Rotary, apart from the effort of all those people who donate the coins and notes. Over 40 Rotary clubs have contributed along with some churches, some branches of the Bendigo Bank where clubs hold their accounts, a Sikh temple, a Hindu temple and of course the many friends of Rotary. The coins and notes are sent in secure courier bags to a company Change Global Exchange Pty Ltd who pay all transport charges. They value them and give A$’s to UNICEF. www.changeglobal.com.au
The Ride for Medical Research is organised by the Rotary District 9815 Ride for Medical Research Team. Over the past 40 years, Rotary Districts 9810 and 9820 have raised an incredible $2,476,285 for Australian Rotary Health, supporting vital medical research across the country.
The next annual ride will be held 22–27 March 2026, marking 40 years of dedication to funding life-changing research. Riders will cover approximately 578 km, setting out each day from the Bendigo base and spending six days exploring the surrounding countryside.
On Friday 19th December, a group of volunteers helped out at Westfield Knox, wrapping Christmas presents for a donation. Lots of fun was had. It was great communicating with the public and spreading the word of Rotary and our amazing Club. Thank you to everyone who turned up and helped out.
A big thank you from the Ferntree Gully Library staff and Knox Infolink to everyone who donated to our Share the Joy Christmas appeal in the lead up to Christmas.
Ferntree Gully's Tech Support Officer, Laura, is pictured (left), with Peter from Rotary Boronia (right) along with all the Christmas goodies.
On Friday 12th December, DG Peter Behm launched the District 9815 Rotary cinema advertising campaign at the Palace Dendy Brighton Cinema's. Ray Siegersma & Monique Smith attended with over 50 other members from our District to watch the debut screening, followed by a complimentary movie 'The Choral'. It was a great night, and what a great way to showcase "Rotary in Action", featuring our amazing Youth Skills Shed project. Click on the link below to watch the ad.
The next Coffee Catch-up at Montano's Patisserie Cafe is on Saturday 17th January, 10.30am.. Please let us know you are coming by RSVP on Clubrunner, or let Geoff Griffin know.
Call out for players, teams & sponsors. We also need lucky number prizes if you would like to donate. Please contact Penry Green for further details - penryg@gmail.com
WHAT CLUBS ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY ?
Our community (Group 4) leader is Guz Rozycki (Belgrave) and our fellow community clubs are
Belgrave
Bunyip Garfield
Emerald & District
Ferntree Gully
Healesville
Koo Wee Rup Lang Lang
Lilydale
Monbulk & District
Pakenham
Upper Yarra
Wandin
DISTRICT NEWS VIDEO - Rule Foundation
Welcome to our next instalment of Rotary Connections, where you can listen to one of the AFL greats in Ted Whitten Jnr, along with our very own Rotarian Greg Mossop and CEO from RULE Foundation, Mark Harrison.
This is the latest podcast, which contains information on a heartfelt, Men’s Health project, that has the potential to improve the lives of men right throughout the community.
If members are unable to attend Tuesday night's meeting, please decline on ClubRunner by 5pm the Monday before. This is important for Knox Club staff and catering purposes.
You can update or find information on this website or contact Monique Smith to register or update your details. *Please remember to list Rotary Club of Boronia as a place you volunteer.
Our social media platforms are a great way to see what our club is up to and share our progress with others. If you're not yet connected, just click the icons below and follow.
Riders will cover approximately 578 km, setting out each day from the Bendigo base and spending six days exploring the surrounding countryside.
appeal in the lead up to Christmas. 
