CLUB BULLETIN:  Volume 58 - No 5 

8 September 2026
WHAT A LOVELY SURPRISE
 
This morning we had a surprise visit from our DG, Veronica.  She handed us our own Club Excellence Award - and let us know that only 8 clubs received one for their efforts this past year.  Congratulations to past Club President Jodie for making sure we ticked all the right boxes.  
 
DG Veronica went on to let us know that we have about 78 clubs in the district, with the average age of members just a little bit over 70!
 
Reviews have been underway to ensure that all the programmes the district offers are self funding so we will hear more about the likes of RYLA, RYPEN, Camp Opportunity and The Four Way Speaking Competition as those reviews are conducted.  
 
She was very happy that our District fees only went up by $2 for this year.  
 
DG Veronica reminded us that next year Rotary in WA will be 100 years old, and so we are all invited to be part of some planned celebrations to be held over the weekend of 15 - 18 April 2027.  These events include a gala dinner, a walk, and an opportunity for every club to be involved in a Rotary Showcase in Forrest Place on 17 April.  
 
Thanks Veronica for coming and sharing in our meeting.  I'll make sure to put the dates in our diary for all to see.  Remember you are welcome to come to have breakfast with us any time you are able.
 
 
WE LOVE HANDING OUT PLAYTUBS
 
This morning we had the pleasure of handing over a play tub full of Lego pieces to the Mt Hawthorn Primary School.  Their school well-being officer, Laila was very excited to be collecting the tub on behalf of the school.  She indicated that the students were really eager to get to play with the Lego once she headed back to school.
 
If your school or community group has a Lego Play group and needs some bricks, please check out our Bricktober website and follow the links to apply for some bricks to your members.
 
 
Each meeting we toast a Rotary club somewhere in the world as a way of getting to know what other clubs are doing and acknowledging the work that they do.  We didn't get to do one last meeting so this meeting I had to find a way to toast a club that started with the letters D and E - so I found an E-club that started with D.  
 
This week we are toasting the Rotaract E-club of Downunder.  It was chartered this year in April, is based in NSW and have been around since July 2025 - when it became the first national Rotaract E-Club.   They have about 46 members and are busy as they have held a number of quiz events.  They meet on the last Tuesday of the month at 7.30 pm Australian eastern time, using Google Meet software.
They have supported programmes such as Mullets for Mental Health and Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation as well as providing grocery and supermarket items for local charities.
 
Well done Rotaractors.  We salute the work you are doing.  
 
 
 
 
CLUB ROSTER FOR NEXT 2 MONTHS:
 
September 22:  
Mike Bermann - Host Chair - Guest speaker Chris Merton will talk about Youth Mental Health
Ros McLernon - International Toast - Letter F
 
October 13:
Jodie Sparks - International Toast - Letter G
Jodie Sparks - Host Chair - debrief from our annual Bricktober event.
 
October 27:  
Hugh Langridge - Host Chair - Club Forum
Kerry Smith - International Toast - Letter H
 
November 10:
Ros McLernon - Host Chair - Guest speaker to be decided
Alan Thomson - International Toast - Letter I
 
Can't make a meeting?  send apologies to Attendance Officer, Mike, prior to the meeting to record your apologies. His contact number is 0419 902 041.
 
 
Bricktober is here once again.
 
Put the weekend of October 10 and 11 in your diaries so you can help out over the weekend.
 
Update:
  • Ticket sales are now open
  • Vendors are trickling in
  • Exhibitors are getting their displays ready
  • Request for volunteers will be happening soon.
 
ONE TEAM, ONE DREAM:  END POLIO IN AFRICA
 
Ten remarkable women footballers united during the WAFCON 2026 for a cause bigger than football:  ending polio in Africa.  Though competing for their countries, they 'played' as one team for this shared goal.
 
They joined youth advocates, health workers and public health champions in the #Kick out Polio campaign, calling for sustained commitment and action from leaders and people across the continent to end polio and protect every child.  The African region was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020, but variant poliovirus continues to paralyse children where immunity gaps persist.  There was an outbreak in five countries earlier this year.
 
In 2027, the #KickOutPolio campaign will turn to football's biggest stage, the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, connecting the energy of women's football with the drive to protect every child.
 
RI President, Yinka Babalola, drew a direct link with football:  "Football teaches us something simple:  no one wins alone".  Rotary will stay until the final whistle, because governments cannot finish polio along, health workers cannot finish it alone, footballers cannot finish it alone.  Together we will end polio!
 
 
OTHER CLUB NEWS
  • Peter Richo was an apology for this meeting
  • Guests included our DG Veronica, as well as Laila from Mt Hawthorn Primary School
  • Reminder to members if you have a project idea, please complete the project proforma and submit to the Board for consideration
  • Don't forget to sign up to be a volunteer at Bricktober and encourage family members too.
  • Remember to spread the word that Bricktober is on again and get people to come and see the amazing displays that will be there.
  • Melbourne Cup Breakfast - a social event - will be on at Ros and Gerry's on the first Tuesday of November.
  • Roma sends her regards
  • Looking at organising an afternoon tea at Ron's place - just around the corner from Roma so she can catch up with us all.
  • RYLA nominations are now open - if you know someone who would be a suitable candidate - please let Kerry know.
  • District Governor Nominations close in October if anyone is interested in applying
  • Club has decided to donate $1,000 to the RAWCS Nepal Disaster Fund
  • Ron won the wine raffle this week.
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
 
September 15:  Satellite Club meeting 
September 20:  Rotary 100 Online International Mega Meeting - 6 pm 
September 22:  Breakfast club meeting
September 23:  Australian Rotary Health seminar 6 pm
October 7:  Melville Rotary invitation to attend their meeting to listen to Conor Nicholas, Olympian sailor, 6 pm start
 
October 9:  Set up for Bricktober
October 10 and 11:  Bricktober weekend
October 13:  Breakfast club meeting
October 19:  Board meeting
October 20:  Satellite Club meeting
October 23:  Invitation to attend Perth Rotary's Swan 2 Surf event:   Liquid Gold Polio dinner, guest speaker Barry Marshall, Nobel Laureate
October 24:  World Polio Day
October 27:  Breakfast club meeting
November 15 - Jacaranda Festival
April 15 - 18 - Celebrate 100 years of Rotary in WA