President's Message   

Eid Mubarak means “blessed celebration”

As we begin the new Rotary Year, we have so much to look forward to that will be exciting and challenging, unique and perhaps unprecedented but as committed and dedicated Rotarians we will determine to succeed against the oaths.

Rotary is a service organization and part of the engagement and attraction of new members is to have a compelling service initiative that stimulates people to get involved.  This year, we will be pursuing a multi-year service strategy that will help us better connect and improve the North Melbourne community we serve.

I would like to ask our Club members to engage with companies and local businesses they know and ask them to sponsor two of their staff to be new members to our club and offer them that we could advertise their products in our newsletter.  My most important goal this year is to attract, retain and engage new and existing members in and to our Club. We need to change lives and try new ways of engaging and increasing our membership.  Without a focus on increasing membership, we will not be able to do our most important work which is service to our North Melbourne community.

Last week on Thursday 15 July 2021 at 6:45 pm speaker was Eli Brooks-Reid and associate Nicole Brown from project dignity and they both presented about the good works of their organization that they do that includes many highlights they have done over the years to the asylum seekers, international students, refugees, etc. although there are many challenges at such a time, the organisation remains strong because of their strong leadership and continued good works.

Project Dignity Australia operates in partnership with other community organisations that have a commitment to refugee support.

 

On Tuesday,10th July 2021. Muslim around the world including Australia was started to celebrate Eid ul Adha.  Those who do not know that is Eid ul Adha means. There are two key Eid’s (Celebration Festivals) in Islam: Eid-ul-Fitr, which signifies the completion of the Holy Month of Ramadan; and Eid-ul-Adha, the greater Eid, which follows the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, at the time of Qurbani (sacrifice). Although Eid-ul-Adha has no direct relation to the Hajj Pilgrimage, it is but a day after the completion of Hajj and therefore has significance in time.

The celebration of Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice is the most important feast in the Muslim calendar. It celebrates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael in submission to Allah's command before he was stopped by Allah. At the very point of sacrifice, Allah SWT replaced Ismail with a ram, which was to be slaughtered in place of his son. This command from Allah SWT was a test of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness and commitment to obey his Lord’s command, without question. Therefore, Eid-ul-Adha means the festival of sacrifice.

The event also marks the end of Hajj, a five-day pilgrimage all able-bodied and financially capable Muslims are obliged to undertake once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage is believed to cleanse the soul of sins and instill a sense of equality, sisterhood, and brotherhood.

Some 2.5 million pilgrims from around the world flock annually to the cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia for the ritual.

This year, however, Saudi Arabia announced it would hold a “very limited” Hajj because of the coronavirus pandemic, with only about 10,000 people living in the kingdom allowed to take part in the pilgrimage

l-Adha 2021: History and significance of this holy festival

I would also like to share with you as my colleagues Mr Andrew and Mrs Susan shared with us earlier about the 'HAND IN HAND WE WILL LIFT THE LID ON MENTAL HEALTH' - GALA CHARITY DINNER 9th OCTOBER 2021.

It is a black-tie charity dinner organised by Australian Rotary Health (ARH) partnering with Freemasons Victoria Holdings Ltd. I guess at that time of the year some of our members have already plans and they will be away so if anyone wants to attend, please so and you should book before the early birds finishes.

I am honoured to be serving as your President and looking forward to an exciting year of transformation, growth, and Connections.

Today's meeting 

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Coming weeks: Below is our speakers
29-Jul-21 Kammy Leung - "Member Behind the Badge" In Person at Mercure Hotel 6.45 pm
5-Aug-21 Board Meeting Zoom 7.00 pm
12-Aug-21 Shawn Cosgrove - "Come on Down" In Person at Mercure Hotel 6.45 pm
19-Aug-21 TBA Zoom 7.00 pm

 

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