Please help with food donations for the Umbrella Cafe
Mike's Message
Hello to all members and to our extended network of Bulletin subscribers,
This past week has been a full-on Rotary experience for me. Coming straight out of the conference in Hobart, we had an excellent membership committee session on Tuesday; our regular Wednesday dinner meeting with an excellent speaker, Dr Gayle Smerdon, who presented on how to handle bad days; and then attendance at the Whitehorse Business Group annual business awards on Thursday night at Box Hill Town Hill.
It's regularly busy for many of our members. We have so many extremely active members of the club, people who do work for the community both inside and outside the Rotary structure. It's therefore very important for all of us to keep an eye on each other and offer to step in and provide backup and support when it's needed -- preferably before it's desperate.
This week we've got the Umbrella Dementia cafe and a tour of the new Metro Tunnel stations. There are still some slots to be filled for both sweet and savoury catering volunteering, and it's probably not too late to get in on the station tour.
This week we'll hear from our own Janette Etherington about Interplast, a program that continues to save and change lives and, maybe even more importantly, build the capacity in hospitals across the region to continue to do the same important surgical work after the experts have gone.
The last Cafe went smoothly, and we had just the right amount of catering.
Dementia cafe celebrated St Patrick’s day on Wednesday 11th March and all participants so grateful for the luck of the Irish coming their way with some delicious sweet and savoury treats. The roster has been working well however we are tweaking it by adding that if there is a problem or change please text Silvana on 0401 690 939. No need to text group who have signed up to volunteer that week.
Thanks to Don, Judy and Shia for their generous contribution (see picture). The next cafe is this Wednesday 25th March. We still need more food donations for this week and on an ongoing basis.
Please add your volunteer commitments to the Sign-Up Liat.
Another punchy advertisement for our Metro Tunnel Excursion.
Come join us this Wednesday.
Learn and appreciate our new Metro rail project.
Appreciate world class public art experiences.
Open your eyes and appreciate what we now have in Melbourne.
A new way of getting around... a project that has prioritised artistry over pure functionality.
So much to see, so much to take in.
Meet at STATE LIBRARY STATION, which is diagonally opposite the Public library in Swanston Street on the corner of La Trobe St.
If you are coming in by train, you can transfer directly from Melbourne Central Station- underground to State Library station without touching off on your MYKI card.
Meet at 10:15am for a 10:30am start at street level. Our visit to the five stations should take approximately 1½ hours. Wear walking shoes and light jacket or umbrella because possible showers are predicted.
We have 12 booked in for the excursion at the moment. We can have an unlimited number - bring a friend. Please contact Stuart via SMS (0417 573 828) if you are intending to join us.
Prolific Documentary film-makers Sue Thomson and Adam Farrington-Williams released their latest award-winning film, “CARELESS”, at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August 2025, to rave reviews. Umbrella Dementia Cafes are featured in the film, and we are hosting a FREE Community Screening on Thursday 26th March, at the Willis Room, Whitehorse City Council, from 10am.
Producer Adam Farrington-Williams will join Kirsty and Jess for a Q&A after the screening, and we would love for you to join the conversation around ageing in Australia.
Seats are limited, so please let me know as soon as possible if you would like to reserve seats. "Funny, heartfelt and fiercely political, CARELESS follows a cast of older Australians determined to stay out of aged care and grow old on their own terms. As ageing becomes big business, the film exposes the absurdities and injustices of a system that often puts profit before people. At its heart is filmmaker Sue Thomson’s personal journey, helping her 89-year-old mother stay at home, and out of “the system.” Blending humour, compassion, and sharp critique, CARELESS is a timely reminder that where and how we grow old should never be out of our hands.”
Over 100 people were in attendance. Speakers included: Matt Gregg, Federal Member for Deakin Sam Rea, Federal Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Representatives from Australian Tax Office (ATO) and Whitehorse Council.
The following Community Service Clubs were represented: Nunawading Rotary. Thanks to Harvey for an excellent overview of our club. Along with Margaret, we had three in attendance. Nunawading Lions. Spoke on club projects and have 28 members. Projects are similar to some of our own projects. Lions had three in attendance. Mitcham Rotary. Advised their Opportunity Shop is now open following the fire and they now meet at Mitcham Hotel on a Tuesday from 12:00 noon and had one member present. Others spoke on seniors and aged care home help, such as services detailed in the My Aged Care brochure, and a more detailed Support at Home, booklet. This could include the likes of; getting dressed or showering, help in preparing meals, cleaning, gardening, provision of equipment like walking frames etc. Also provided was a Seniors and Pensioners Kit which outlines the full range of Federal Government assistanceand a document on how to avoid Scams. An ATO representative spoke on help for individuals and sole traders to protect tax and superannuation information.
Two representatives from Whitehorse Council advised on help available for Senior citizens through the Council.
Picture the incredible power of every club in the South Pacific coming together, each taking on a project that ignites their passion, all on the same day! Imagine the energy as we unite to make a difference and reveal Rotary’s true impact within our communities.
How It Works
In 2025, Rotarians, Rotaractors, and community partners from five continents, eight countries, twenty states, fifty-seven districts, and 539 clubs joined forces in 613 projects, with 6,557 volunteers serving together. Nine of those clubs were in Rotary South Pacific—just think how much greater our impact will be if we step up even further in 2026. The possibilities are limitless, and the ripple effect of our service can inspire real, lasting change!
Save the Date: 16 May 2026 - Epic Day of Service Do a project you’re already doing, just do it on 16 May 2026 and leverage the power of Rotary for global impact. Take this to your clubs, have a think about one of your current projects that you could action on the Epic Day of Service.
Those interested should meet in the Foyer of the State Library Station. It is diagonally opposite the State Library; corner La Trobe St and Swanston Street. From Melbourne Central it looks like a big concrete slab wall with some decoration. Meet at 10.30 am. From there we will take a train out to Arden, then make our way to Parkville and Anzac, and finally back to Town Hall. The excursion will take about an hour and a half. After that we can go to lunch. I am not proposing to book anywhere. There are long escalators-- and also lifts. Bring your MYKI card. There is no need to book but send an email to Stuart to assist us look out for participants.
Dementia Cafe is on this Wednesday, and we are looking for afternoon tea donations, either store bought or homemade, something bite-sized. If you are able to provide some afternoon tea, you can either drop it off on Wednesday morning at Shia's house before 10:00am where Silvana will collect it and take it for you. Or you can contact Silvana directly to arrange collection with her.
State Library Station