***** RECENT (and PAST) EVENTS *****
Last Thursday, we had our third and most successful fund raiser at Peridot. Over 142 attendees had a hilarious night at this comedy about oldies in a retirement village. It was a noisy happy get together with about 60 coming from the Rotary clubs of Nunawading, Boronia, MASH, and Mount Waverley with a few from other local clubs. We are very lucky to be given this opportunity to raise funds at a Peridot preview night. We always opt to charge less than a normal night yet put on a generous spread of biscuits, sandwiches, cakes and slices plus of course sherry, wine, tea/coffee, and soft drink pre show, at the interval, and after the show. Peridot people were so generous with their help on the night, particularly Adam who was “front of house” and Wilf who was “technical”. It was good to see all the actors and backstage personnel mixing with the crowd at the end and enjoying a well earned drink. A number of them asked “Who were the caterers? The food is amazing!”
After expenses, we cleared just over $3,000, including the raffle and selling off the left overs to club members. Most of this is earmarked for the Hope Katolo preschool project in Kenya who are always very frugal in the way they spend money. Although we offer other clubs a substantial amount back for each ticket they sell, they almost all are happy to donate this to Hope Katolo Nursery School in Kenya. A very kind gesture. Peridot theatre are very generous in the way they have offered us these opportunities to raise charity funds. We should reciprocate by going out of our way to support them by going to all four plays during the year and attending their annual weekend One Act plays. And meanwhile, tell your friends to go to this show.
Robbie, Martine and Ron volunteered to help RYDA, Rotary Youth Driver Awareness, at Box Hill Institute Lilydale 13th June 2017. Over 170 students from Vermont Secondary College participated in six interactive workshops and demonstrations to help young adults make better, safer choices when getting into a vehicle. A big thank you to RC of Lilydale in providing the other 3 volunteers. A great example of combining with another club for the community good.
On 7/4/16 sight impaired children from Vision Australia had their inaugural visit to Blackburn Lake Sanctuary to take part in a Bush Experience program. As part of the program the small children's booklet, our old friend Larry the Lorikeet, now produced in Braille, was used. Larry was a Youth Service Project in 2014, initiated by the Rotary Club of Forest Hill and with support from Whitehorse Council. It featured writing and art skills from talented local secondary school children. Larry was produced to support an environmental education program at the Lake. The book features a homeless Larry, looking for friends and a permanent home in the wild. Now Vision Australia children can share his travels, via the braille edition. Close up of Larry in Braille. Larry was produced in 2014 by the RCFH. He still flies at Blackburn Lake Sanctuary and in schools throughout Whitehorse. Now the vision impaired children will also enjoy him. The book of Larry is used in conjunction with hand puppets. The first Vision Australia group of pre-school children enjoyed Larry and other delights at BLS this month.
A group of Rotarians, partners, honorary members and friends spent a happy couple of hours touring this local facility, listening to a 45 min jazz concert and finishing with lunch. Aren't we lucky to have the Australian museum on our doorstop in Vermont.
PRESIDENTIAL CHANGEOVER NIGHT
Gary, Peter and Roger Davis- Newly awarded Paul Harris Fellows
Annual Rotary Conference in Shepparton 2016
BIKE RIDE to CONFERENCE
(raising money for Australian Health Research)
Over 60 of us rode 651kms over 6 days of riding. Starting in Ballarat we headed for Ararat, then had further nights in Horsham, Hamilton, Warrnambool and Colac before returning to Ballarat.. The reason we ride is to raise money for Australian Rotary Health. We have almost made the ONE MILLION DOLLAR mark since starting these rides over 25 years ago.