President's Message 

As we are in the middle of this pandemic viruses COVID-19 Delta Various, our country border is lockdown locally, nationally, and internationally. The only way we could be free is if people get tested and get vaccinated at least 70% or 80% of our population state-wide or country. I encourage everyone to do so.

Rotary is a service organisation, and the aim is to bring together business, multidisciplinary professionals, leaders to provide humanitarian service and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. It is a non-political and non-religious organization.

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 and part of the engagement and attraction of new members is to have a compelling service initiative that stimulates people to get involved. 

As we have discussed last club meeting, we will continue to brainstorm the idea that Neville Page has suggested so we could plan how to organise the event to organise fundraising to our club as we couldn’t do many other activities (BQQs) that we could raise money due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Last week we had Yidan Xi speak to us about her life and Neville is providing more detail on that.

Also, you would have seen the previous week we had Mr. Ariel Valent as a speaker. He is the Manager of The Centre Mr. Ariel Valent and talked about the history of The Centre and Neighbourhood House and how it started.

The week before that we had speaker Mohamed F Mohideen, OAM, MASM from the Department of Health and he is the Manager, Engagements and Partnerships – COVID 19 Response team. His presentation was full of information and a lot was taken from it.   

I would also like to share with you (THE GOOD NEWS) that we will organise lunch with 4 incoming new members to our club from next coming weeks and we will induct them as soon we have our first in-person meeting so guys hug on there.  

Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for both community service and friendship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group of professionals who share your drive to give back. Our Rotary Club of North Melbourne accepts new members. You only need to reach us.

Update our club activities and donations that we have provided so far is included:

  • We have donated $250 to the Dignity Project supporting refugees

  • We have donated $250 to the Afri-Aus Care Food Relief program

  • We are still providing ongoing support to Ozanam House

  • We have had an article published in the local Voice of North &West Melbourne Newspaper

  • We have submitted an article in the other local paper NWM News

  • We have at least 2 more members to induct as soon as we get back to meet in person.

  • annual subscription for the web page - Club runner subscription $420.70.

In conclusion, as the former president, USA John F Kennedy stated, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing” Our club is open to partnership opportunities to collaborate and work with any other clubs who are interesting in projects locally and internationally. Please reach us so we could share what we have in mind.

 

neville's message 

Last week was another great meeting with Yidan Xi speaking about her life as an immigrant and a Rotarian.

We ended up with over 30 attendees including Rotarians from at least 8 different countries. It was all the more special to have Yidan speak to us last Thursday as last Friday was her 30th Birthday.

Once again on our attendees was the editor of the local City News, Spencer Fowler Steen

A summary of his report on Yidan's report is:

I’m a first-generation immigrant and have been at Rotary since 2016. I hear James Long has been here for 20 years. I was born in Wuxi in China, close to Shanghai. The only child in my family. In 2005, I was the rep for maths in my class. My teacher and vice-chancellor asked me on a trip overseas to Singapore with other students. That trip opened my vision to the whole world. It’s much bigger than I imagined. And the future could be fascinating. After two years I told my parents I’d like to study overseas - they’re traditional and said no. I tried a few times and said I’d accept the consequences. I picked Perth. Perth is the most isolated place in the world and thought that would be the best place to study. I finished my first degree in Perth, then a master's in Gold Coast. When I was a kid, I lived in a very big village, everyone was sharing the same family name and everyone helped each other. Community-minded. For my 21st birthday, I didn’t party, instead, I donated blood. I was in Perth at the time and all the staff said Happy Birthday to me and that’s very memorable. I’ve started volunteering since uni. I enjoy combining the community together for inspiration. In 2016, I was invited to a few Rotary meetings and I was inspired by the philosophy.

Joined the Rotary Club of Gold Coast in 2016. When I finished my first degree and moved to Gold Coast for my master's. I also worked in construction in Sydney because I was starting my master's in construction. I realised construction was not something I was looking for. I was invited to an event for a property company, and the developer looked like George Clooney so I talked to him a lot and he offered me a role. I was happy that I could work in an office with beautiful views and still finish uni. I was approached then by a senior property company in Melbourne, but I said no because I was happy with that company. Later the company was merged, and at that point, I was thinking it was time to have a change and accepted the role and took the role of assistant. Because my academic background was finance, I was involved in mergers and acquisitions and planning. I was travelling between Melbourne, Sydney, and Tasmania all the time.

I was offered some options, but I refused again. I’m a loyal person if I’m happy at a company. I lost some of my life with traveling, so I thought I’d love to live in the city. It’s not healthy to travel so much. I took a marketing position at the Chateau Yering and became the general manager two years ago. I’m a big fan of history.

It’s very hard for hospitality these days and I have confidence we can get there soon.

Apart from delivering an interesting presentation she also did it in a manner that I know that at the end everyone could tell what a nice person she is and I know our members really would like to see her again especially in person where we will celebrate her birthday again.

I had a contact out of the blue a couple of days ago from Andrea Mayorga from Columbia. Not sure if she couldn't sleep as was 5.30 am in the morning her time. I couldn't help myself and asked her if she was still in love and she was quick to confirm she was. Then when I asked if there was a wedding coming up next year she said she hopes so. Judy and I have always told her when she gets married we will be there so we might have a trip to South America next year. Maybe Ted might get some business eventually? In the end, she said she was actually after a referral letter to support a government grant.  She sent an email with all the details and as usual, started it with "Hello Dad".  The grant is directed to an organization called Coalar which stands for The Council on Australia Latin America Relations. The actual Grant she is applying for is called The Women’s of Art and Entrepreneurship which will bring together the sacred practice of art with expertise in entrepreneurship to promote cultural connections and business opportunities between Australia and Colombia. 

The Women’s of Art and Entrepreneurship will sponsor the inclusion of 60 women artist entrepreneurs who wish to advance their skills and business opportunities. The course will run simultaneously for 30 Aboriginal women artists in the Northern Territory, Australia, and 30 Wayuu women artists in La Guajira, Colombia.

The course will have local mentors in each country to cover the themes of innovation, business development, sustainable fashion, and cultural empowerment, which will be taught in the community for a duration of 2 months. The course will sponsor a cultural exchange where artists from Australia and Colombia will be able to connect, share experiences and learn about cultural practices in each country.

At the end of the course, the artists will have access to various platforms to showcase and sell their art and to continue developing their skills as artists and entrepreneurs. 

Andrea is perfectly placed to get this off the ground and everyone that knows her will not doubt her tenacity to get this done.

May be an image of text that says 'ROTARYA Rotary District 9800 SAVE THE DATE DISTRICT CONFERENCE 30 April 1 May 2022 Keep the date free for D9800 Rotarians to connect throughout that weekend. It is planned that this will be in-person District Conference in regional Victoria but this will depend on restrictions at the time. More information to follow.'

Thursday 9 September 2021 at 7 pm on Zoom 

Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 828 8560 5624
Passcode: 585402

Thursday 16th September 2021 at 7.30 pm on Zoom - Board Meeting - Members Only

Thursday 23rd September 2021 at 7.00pm on Zoom - Herbison Sing

Thursday 30th September 2021 at 7.00pm on Zoom - Dorothy Gilmour

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