Happy International Women’s Day
I’m incredibly thankful for all the wonderful women I know through Rotary: mentors, friends and people I continue to look up to and learn from every day.
Please take a moment today to acknowledge the women in your clubs and those who lead throughout District 9800, particularly our Club Presidents and District Leadership Team.
Club Presidents
Sally Armstrong, Macedon Ranges
Pennie Cornwell, Kew
Michele Kennedy, Chadstone/East Malvern
Faye Kirkwood, Caulfield
Seema Lal, Wyndham Harbour
Teresa Liu, Glenferrie
Vera Maljevac, Essendon
Donna Martin, Bacchus Marsh
Sue McDonald, North Balwyn
Judy Miatke, Bendigo Sandhurst
Kate Miller, Echuca-Moama
Sue Moses-Critchley, Fitzroy
Cheryl Nash, Laverton Point Cook
Fabienne Nichola, Camberwell
Terri Oprean, Daylesford
Janice Peeler, Richmond
Helena Peng, Rotaract E-Club of Melbourne
Merlyn Quaife AM, Bendigo South
Lynette Robinson, Gisborne
Shraddha Sharma, Flemington Kensington
Sainab Sheikh, North Melbourne
Maria Silber, Footscray
Debra Sloggett, Keillor East
Deborah Tucker, Eynesbury
Vera Vasilchenko, Brunswick Tullamarine
Heather Watson, Rochester
Edda Williams, Canterbury
District 9800 Leadership Team
Anne King, District Secretary
Justine Murphy, District Secretariat
Marjorie Gerlinger, District Secretariat
Lili Teichmann, Director, Service
Sue Foley, Director, Fundraising
Sarah Overton, Chair, Vocational Service
Rosemary Waghorne, Chair, Club Service
Sue Vincent, Chair Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Kitty O’Connor, AG Beachside
Alison Bacon, AG Goldfields North
Anthea Rutter, AG Stonnington
Anne Frueh, AG Port Philip and Riverside
Mary Barry, Chair Host Organising Committee
Thank you to everyone who supports women in their clubs, community and in Rotary!
Our flood-affected communities
As flood-affected communities move into the next phase of recovery, clubs such as Rotary Rochester are investigating and getting a better sense of ongoing requirements. Useful items are being arranged and delivered by local Club and District 9800 team members, funded by donations from D9800 District, RAWCS, clubs and members. Your donations are still the most effective way to contribute, providing local members and agencies the flexibility to respond to requirements as they surface. Please rally your club to raise much-needed funds and donate to RAWCS dedicated fund at donations.rawcs.com.au/31-2022-23
Congratulations also to Rotary Bendigo and Rotary Brighton North for partnering with The Rotary Foundation and Starthrower Wellbeing Project to respite-host six women from flood-devastated Rochester in Queenscliff/Point Lonsdale last week.
District 9800 – in collaboration with RAWCS – recently travelled to Kerang in neighbouring District 9780 to pack meal kits for people affected by the floods. Spurred on by our D9800 official DG cluster visits, Rotary Kerang set a new packing record of 300 packs in 30 minutes. Over lunch we chatted with local community partners about ongoing requirements such as mental health and family safety, which RAWCS is pursuing.
Melbourne Celtic Festival
Friday 17 March, Mission to Seafarers, Docklands
Time to enjoy being a Rotary member! The pipes are calling! The craic is 90! Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with 16 bands across three stages, Irish singing workshops, fully licensed bar and more! This annual knees-up is a public fundraiser for Australian Rotary Health and The Rotary Foundation. Grab your mates, doors open from noon. Congrats to Sue Foley and Alison Jones on putting on this amazing event.
Check out the full program and get your tickets at
melbournecelticfestival.com.au
A night to celebrate! Rotary Gala Dinner
6.30pm Thursday 1 June, Plaza Ballroom Melbourne
Let’s celebrate a successful Rotary International Convention and year at a prestigious gala dinner with Rotary International President Jennifer Jones and Lord Mayor Sally Capp at the iconic Plaza Ballroom. Enjoy a special acoustic set by the legendary Jack Jones and finish the night off on the dance floor with The Baker Boys live band. This event is open to Rotarians from around the world, so don’t delay in purchasing your tickets or booking your club tables. Tickets are selling fast so book now, decide who is on your table later!
Book now at rotarygala.com.au
Rotary International Convention 2023 Melbourne
Saturday 27–Wednesday 31 May 2023
Countdown is on: 80 days until kickoff - have you got your ticket yet?
Rotary International has announced two speakers, with more being coming shortly:
- Leymah Roberta Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate, Liberian peace activist, trained social worker and women's rights advocate
- Nakeeyat Dramani Sam, renowned climate change advocate, environmentalist, and Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Youth Ambassador
Get your tickets now at convention.rotary.org/en/melbourne/register
Host Organising Committee events
Celebrating Melbourne’s renowned sport and culture, check out the AFL at the MCG, Victoria Golf Club, Melbourne Museum, Flemington Race Course and Melbourne foodie events. For a limited time, non-convention attendees can be part of these fantastic events.
Introducing District Governor 2025-2026: Peter Shepheard
Congratulations to Peter Shepheard and Rotary Altona on his selection as Governor, Rotary District 9800 2025-2026!
A 20-year Rotarian and President of Rotary Altona and Assistant Governor for multiple terms, Peter has delivered 12 District Conferences and served on several District committees. Peter is a true community leader both within Rotary and sporting, cultural and community organisations across Melbourne. Peter has a strong background in volunteering, governance, finance, project management and sustainable development, with a career in retail management, currently managing Queen Victoria Market.
DGND Peter is welcomed to the G-train by DG Amanda Wendt, DGE Ron and DGN Michael Lapiña, and has dived right into team conversations. Please welcome and support DGNE Peter, and read more about Peter’s career and contributions in the article below. I look forward to your club getting to know DGND Peter better over the next two-and-change years as he prepares to lead us all.
Introducing Rotary Activate
On the back of District 9800’s service strategy to connect clubs with more volunteers, I’m chuffed to announce our initiative to help clubs activate those volunteers into members. Rotary Activate is our live demonstration of the Grow My Club membership principles (growmyclub.org) in action. Offering volunteers the opportunity to develop their personal/professional chops as only Rotary can, Rotary Activate shows what volunteers are seeking from membership of a community organisation, and how to offer it. It’s based on statistical and interview-based research, and validated by new members. Visit the website to copy-paste ideas, inspire your own satellite club and discover how to partner to gain project volunteers, mentees and members. The club has gone from launch to chartering in six weeks.
As always, be sure to check https://rotarydistrict9800.org.au regularly for new articles as they’re posted. Thanks to our wonderful District Club Service Chair Rosemary Waghorne for keeping us all so enjoyably up-to-date! Submit your articles to be published at networker@rotary9800.org and share articles on your Facebook page.