29 March 2026

Mike's Message
Hello all,
 
It was great to hear from our own Janette this past week as she explained the work of Interplast. It's one project, established in 1983 by a Rotary club and supported by Rotary International and hundreds of individual clubs ever since. Janette spoke for half an hour and gave a pretty good summary of this one project.
 
So how do we explain all of Rotary and what our club does in three minutes? How do we tell the story of why we're involved, what we think is valuable about Rotary and the impact it has had?
 
Basically, it's by being selective. If we have time to give an elevator pitch about the club and Rotary, the goal can't be a comprehensive understanding. It has to be to create a snapshot and to, hopefully, pique their interest. Here's one possibility:
 
What's Rotary?
  • Well, Rotary is a large service organisation made up of clubs all over the world. My club is Nunawading and there are about forty or fifty members. There are all kinds of projects run by Rotary clubs that help people in the areas of health, environment education -- pretty much anything you can think of.
  • Our club either runs or supports quite a few projects. We provide snacks for a local dementia cafe every two weeks that lets people with dementia along with their carers have an afternoon to relax and enjoy some downtime outside their homes. We recently ran a free hearing and vision testing day for young children to uncover any undiagnosed issues that might be a barrier in their first years in school.
  • We have a bigger, international project as well. When playgrounds are being refreshed and replaced by local councils we work with installers to stop them from winding up in landfill, make up schematics and then partner with Rotary clubs or other non-profits and send them to be installed in places where children haven't had access to safe ways to play.
  • And there are projects too big for any one club, of course, like ending polio or providing surgery and medical training for underserved communities. Our club and many other clubs support those bigger projects by raising money for them.
  • We have a meeting most weeks on Wednesday, but there are project and committee meetings that happen when it's convenient for members. There's a lot more, but that's a taste of it.
You could replace any of these with any other projects you'd like, but that's about as much time as you have, I think. Find a few projects you can speak passionately about and think of those if anybody asks you.

Peter K recently told me he had the chance to explain what Rotary does to somebody he was helping with some tech issues recently, and the woman was so impressed she made a donation to the club. The work we do is impressive. Not every person you speak to will immediately want to be a member, but the more people who know what we do, the better it is for the club and for the work of Rotary.
 
See you Wednesday,
Mike Finke
Vision & Hearing Testing Report - 28 March 2026

Rotary Club of Nunawading’s first hearing and vision community testing on Saturday March 28 has been a great success. Thanks to Mitcham Community House for allowing use of their facilities; the Audiology and Optometry students and supervisors from University of Melbourne and the club Youth Services team and other volunteers.

Twelve post graduate students, six from each speciality, worked in teams of two and tested 23 children aged from 4-6.

Results for vision loss showed 11 youngsters were at risk and required referral, and for hearing loss five needed referral. Two further children had possible loss and needed retesting. 
These results have shown how important this program is, and how worthwhile the efforts of everyone involved. 

Thanks to the Youth Service Committee and Graeme for all their efforts in putting on such a great inaugural event. 

Interplast Update - March 2026

Janette did a wonderful job updating us all about Interplast.

Egg & Bacon Stall - 10 May 2026

It's our club's turn to run the Egg & Bacon Stall at the Farmers' Market on Sunday May 10th.

The times are 7:30 - 9:00am, 9-11am & 11am-1pm
 

Please add your name to the Volunteer Sign Up List if you can assist.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Trivia Night - Saturday 30 May 2026

The club board meeting endorsed downsizing this year's Trivia Night.  More fun, more participant involvement and less emphasis on Fund- Raising.

Please start planning for it now.  We would like to have 100 starters.  Questions and table activities are not designed to make anyone look silly or dumb.  The aim is relaxed fun.  A mix of ages on your table could assist.  We are aiming for table sizes of approximately 8.

Details:  Venue- Aurora School. 96 Holland Road.  Blackburn South.

Start time - 6.45 for a 7 pm start.

Cost:  $25 per person. * 50c booking fee.

BYO food and drinks.... tea and coffee will be provided.

We have had to make some changes this year because a number of the usual organisers and planners are unavailable due to health and other issues.

* We would like some volunteers to be on the organising committee.

* Raffle ticket co-ordinator

* Silent Auction co-ordinator

* Procurer of vouchers/ products etc to use as fund-raisers.

*Room set-up manager Friday afternoon.

* Kitchen- tea/coffee co-ordinator.

All club members can be involved.   Do you have a holiday house that could be auctioned as a Week's holiday?

Do you have contacts that could assist us with items to use in raffle or auction?

You must have some friends who would enjoy a laugh and relaxing Saturday night whilst enjoying the company of the members of Rotary Nunawading.

Past members and honorary members are encouraged to assist and join in.

Please contact Stuart Williams for further information. stucat25@gmail.com  or sms  0417 572 838

SPEAKERS
Apr 08, 2026
City of Whitehorse
Apr 15, 2026
Melbourne All Abilities Cricket Association
Apr 22, 2026 6:30 PM
General Discussion about AI
Apr 29, 2026
ANZAC Day
May 06, 2026
St John Ambulance/AED
May 27, 2026
Impacts of rodenticides on powerful owls and their prey
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Blackburn Lake Sanctuary working bee
Apr 12, 2026
9:30 am – 11:30 am

Please join us for some light work and some socialising at Blackburn Lake Sanctuary.

Blackburn
Blackburn Lake Sanctuary

Bunnings Sausage Sizzle - 2nd May
May 02, 2026
7:45 am – 4:00 pm
Nunawading
Bunnings

Blackburn Lake Sanctuary working bee
May 09, 2026
9:30 am – 11:30 am

Please join us for some light work and some socialising at Blackburn Lake Sanctuary.

Blackburn
Blackburn Lake Sanctuary

Blackburn Lake Sanctuary working bee
May 24, 2026
9:30 am – 11:30 am
Blackburn
Blackburn Lake Sanctuary

2026 Trivia Night
May 30, 2026 7:00 pm - 10:30 pm AUS Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10:00)
GET READY FOR A GREAT NIGHT OUT!
 
The Rotary Club of Nunawading
 
Trivia Night
 
30th May 2026
 
Aurora School
 
$25.00 per person 
 
6:45pm for 7:00pm start
 
Create your own table of eight or
add your name to a table that still has open spots.
 
 
 
96 Holland Road

Trivia Night 2026
May 30, 2026
7:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Blackburn South
Aurora School

View entire list