As I work on the annual report and look back on our changeover event and the past year, I just want to say it's been an honour and a privilege to have been president of the Nunawading club. We have a club packed with people who work to make the lives of others safer, cleaner and healthier, to make the world a better place. That's a rare thing to have and we should all feel very lucky to be part of it.
Changeover Night 24 June 2026 - from President Mike to President Elect Shia Smart
We had a great turnout at the Box Hill RSL that included noted Rotarians, with friends and family:
District Governor Elect Emma Clarke from RC of Emerald and District, Past District Governors Ken Miller, Malcolm Chiverton, Alma Reynolds (also District Foundation Chair) Rotary Foundation trustee Dennis Shore, Karen Allardice (daughter of late member Bob Allardice), Granddaughter Sophia, Mark and Monique Smith from Rotary Club of Boronia - Mark did a great job playing saxophone. Visitors attended from Rotary Clubs of Belgrave, Mount Waverley, Emerald and District plus members and partners of Rotary Nunawading. Chelsea Deacon from the Bendigo Bank Blackburn South Branch attended.
Rotary Nunawading Board Members: Bob Laslette, Katy Evans, Janette Etherington, Shia Smart, Mike Finke, Coral Page, John Lynch.
Mike gave an overview of the years achievement, emphasising the great achievements of the Youth Committee.
Paul Harris Fellow recipients:
Judith Eadon - PHF + 6
Russell Warmington - PHF + 5
Gabby Knaepple - PHF + 6
A tribute to the amazing contribution of our loved late member, Bob Allardice. Bob was inducted in 2019. He took on the much maligned Rotary Overseas Repurposed Playgrounds from the Rotary Club of Flemington. Bob loved RORP and what it achieved. Bob sadly passed away on 11 June 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Mike, Rob Jackson and Russell Warmington gave very heart felt tributes about Bob and his friendship and impact on their lives. His wife Coral spoke about Bob's love of life and Rotary.
Bob's daughter, Karen Allardice, made a significant donation to the Rotary Foundation - the donation will fund 20,000 polio vaccinations.
Dennis Shore and Alma presented Bobs family with a major donor certificate and crystal.
President Shia then gave her overview for the new Rotary year:
serve with purpose
strengthen the club
build partnerships to achieve more
Shia would like to add congratulations to Mike on the year that was, and to thank everyone who came to Changeover. It was a great night, there was a real buzz in the room.
I am looking forward to a sensationally fun year ahead.
Upcoming Umbrella Dementia Cafe 10 Year Anniversary Gala Ball - Saturday 19th September 2026 at the Box Hill Town Hall
Kirsty Porter (CEO & Founder) is celebrating the impact Umbrella Dementia Cafés has had over the past 10 years and the people, community and organisations that have got us here. However, before we start selling to the general public mid-July, Kirsty would really like to reserve a table for the Rotary Club of Nunawading crew. As we only have 18 tables, I suspect they will go rather quickly. The evening will be a black-tie event, featuring:
A three-course meal and bar A celebrity MC A live band Dancing and celebration A silent auction hosted through GalaBid. Hosted in the beautiful federation style, main dance hall. Tickets will be sold at $1,700 for a table of 10 or $170 per person.
We would absolutely love for members of the RCN to be part of this very special evening. I’m keen to fill the room full of people who have helped UDC before promoting more broadly, please let me know as soon as possible if the RCN is interested in attending or reserving a table.
2026 BUSINESS FORUM Forum is Aug 9th, 9 AM-4 PM at Box Hill Town Hall, free registration required.
"Expert advice. Practical outcomes."
The Whitehorse Business Group, in partnership with the Suburban Rail Loop Authority, invites you to a dynamic day designed to inspire, educate and connect local businesses and professionals from across the region.
Why Attend?
✓ Hear from inspiring keynote speakers
✓ Choose the workshops most relevant to you
✓ Learn from industry experts
✓ Make meaningful connections
✓ Visit local business stalls
✓ FREE to attend - must register
✓ Food Provided
WHEN
Sunday August 9th
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
WHERE - Box Hill Town Hall 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill
Keynote Speakers
Wendy Jenkins OAM speaking on the science of smarter work.
Nabil Salameh speaking on the topic of 'should I stay or should I go?'
Interactive Workshops
Social Media hosted by Sue Ellson, LinkedIn Specialist.
AI hosted by Sara Esposito from Optirank.
HR hosted by Montanna Denouden from Ouden Consulting.
Finance hosted by Ratangit Singh from Auspac Finance.
Connections and Partnerships hosted by Rachel Sietzema from UchangeU.
Community hosted by the Whitehorse Business Group.
Marketing Panel
Stephen Louey from Webcatcha Digital Marketing Agency
Alexandra Fulton from Little Duck Insights
Swarn David from Dreamworx Marketing
Leave with practical strategies, new contacts and fresh ideas you can implement immediately in your business.
Update on Jets Junior Footy Club activities - Ian Evans
Sunday 28 June 2026
Family day, and in the pastmembers who are able toattend have arrivedaround 3.00pm to experience activities which include a number of footy club members volunteering or having a bucket of icetipped over them all to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
MND was the disease that former AFL player and coach Neale Daniher tirelessly campaignedto raise funds for ongoingresearch to find a cure for this disease. He famously dubbed the disease “the Beast’
[MND is a progressive and currently incurable condition that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Over time, these motor neurones degenerate, causing muscles to weaken, waste away, and lose the ability to move, speak, swallow, and eventually breathe. Average life expectancy usually is 27 months, however Neale battled the diseasefor 13 years while dedicating his life to co-founding the FightMND Foundation to raise funds for research and care.]
Tuesday 14 July 6.30pm / 7.30pm
and
Wednesday 15 July 7.00pm / 8.00pm
Outside the Locker Room [OTLR] 2 sessions at the Jets footy club which our club is a sponsor.
Please let me know if you would like to attend on Sunday 28 June and or one the 2 OTLR sessions on Tuesday 14 July or Wednesday 15 July, at the club located at Heatherdale Reserve off Purchase Street.
Meanwhile earlier this month, three S(MAC)K Talk presentations were held on Wednesday10 Junefor younger players, parents and older players and thanks to Katy Evans for being able to attend one before heading off to a club meeting.
[SMACK (Spreading Messages of Affirmation, Compassion, and Kindness or the "SmackTalk" mental health initiative) is a powerful, highly regarded Australian presentation focused on suicide prevention, online safety, and youth mental health. It was founded by Melbourne-based advocate Wayne Holdsworth in memory of his son, Mac, who tragically died by suicide following an online sextortion incident].
Blackburn Lake Wetlands Regeneration Project Completion Community Update
The Blackburn Lake Wetlands Regeneration project is nearing completion!
To celebrate the completion of this exciting project we will be hosting an event for the community to hear about what we have achieved over the 2.5 years of the project.
The event will include a walk to the wetlands to see what has been done, and a presentation to hear about the project followed by an afternoon tea.
Sunday 28th June 2.30 pm.
•2.30 walk to the wetlands
•3.00 presentation
Afternoon tea
There is still more planting to be done to complete the Wetlands project.
Guide links to information on the District 9815 website to help people obtain a better understanding of the different roles/areas of focus within Rotary.
The Blackburn Lake Wetlands Regeneration project is nearing completion!
To celebrate the completion of this exciting project we will be hosting an event for the community to hear about what we have achieved over the 2.5 years of the project. The event will include a walk to the wetlands to see what has been done, and a presentation to hear about the project followed by an afternoon tea.
Blackburn Lake Sanctuary