For a club our size, we are very active and generous - but that doesn't just happen.  It requires each of us to make a conscious effort to make it happen.  Here are just some of the things we have already done this Rotary year: 

• Sponsoring Donations in Kind

• Supporting and sponsoring the Royce Abbey Foundation (including the nomination of 2 Royce Abbey Awardees)

• Sponsoring 2 RYLA candidates

• Supporting and sponsoring the Homeless World Cup

• Sponsoring 2 Lord Somers Camp candidates

• Sponsoring YAA for the 2009 calendar year

• Sponsoring the RC Echuca Moama back to school project

• Supporting and sponsoring Rotary International to meet the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge which must be completed by 30 June 2012

• Sponsoring the Australian Afghanistan Development Organisation's (AADO) costs of transporting a container of supplies to Afghanistan

• Purchase of a ShelterBox

These activities have kept the club busy but they are not free.  Just the projects above cost the club over A$12,000.  There are many projects yet to be completed. 
These include:

• Street Soccer State Camp and Championship

• Ambulance Emergency Booklet

• RYPEN  Ryder Cheshire Foundation - Klibur Domin

• Westgate Park

The to-do list will cost the club another A$12,000.

Dedicated funds previously raise for the Bali project is intended to be completely spent by the end of June 2009.  The total spend from this account in the Rotary year will be in the order of A$60,000, with A$16,000 already dedicated to a water project. 

Where does the money come from?  In short, they are sourced from the fundraising efforts of the club in previous years.  We have not had a significant fundraising event this Rotary year yet but, as you can see, our contributions are significant.  I have, in recent meetings, sought the support of members to assist in our fundraising efforts but have yet to receive any response.  We need to find a way to raise funds to replenish the club's coffers.  PP Philip has a luncheon project to be held on 16 April with Gill Hicks and Christine Nixon as guest speakers which no doubt will raise a lot of funds.  Those funds, however, will not benefit Southbank's projects as they are dedicated to the Bushfire Appeal.

What I need from each of our members is an indication of their willingness to support the club's fundraising effort and to generate discussions and ideas about how we can raise funds for the club.  We have done a lot of good work but we need to be able to raise more funds if we are to continue serving the community in a similar manner to what we have been doing.  I look forward to your support of our fundraising effort.

Yours in Rotary,
Gabe

Thanks to Gordon for outstanding scribe notes!

Meeting Date: 17/03/2009
Meeting No: 474
Scribe’s Name: Gordon Hastie

Dinner was announced by PP Wendy Bennett
The meeting was called to order at 18:30 by Sergeant-at Arms Nick Kane who proposed the traditional toasts to “Australia” and “Rotary International”. He then introduced President Gabriel (Gabe) Hau.
President Gabe introduced the following visitors:
Gordon Brice, visiting Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Onkaparinga, South Australia
Richard Randla, our guest speaker, General Manager, North Metro Region CCS, Corrections Victoria, Department of Justice, State of Victoria
Tek Randla, son of the guest speaker and potential member of RC Southbank
Narina Amvazas, ex-Rotaractor and soon to become a member of RC Southbank
Vicki Klunyk, guest of PP Philip Archer

President Gabe then called for reports:

PP Philip Archer gave a comprehensive report on the District 9800 Rotary Conference held in Launceston, Tasmania 12-14th, March, 2009.
President Gabe gave a report on the work RC Southbank is doing with the RC Echuca Moama with the drought relief program and called for volunteers to find work experience for young Echuca high school students.

PP Philip Archer announced a fundraising lunch to be held at the MEC on Thursday, 16th April, 2009, with guest speakers Gill Hicks and Christine Nixon. Proceeds will go to the Bushfire Appeal. Details are on the District 9800 website and will soon appear on the RC Southbank website.

President Gabe announced a joint meeting with the RC Glenferrie on Tuesday, 19th May, 2009 to hear an excellent guest speaker Gemma Sisia AM who founded The School of St Jude in Tanzania and will speak on the subject of “Fighting Poverty through Education”. By a show of hands the Club agreed to attend. President Gabe will announce more details in due course.

PP Gordon Hastie gave a report on this year’s YAA project to be conducted jointly with RC Melbourne and commencing “work” in May 2009. Gordon is also On-to-Conference Chair for 2009-2010 and announced the dates for the 2010 District 9800 Conference to be held in Perth, WA, 4-7th March, 2010
Sergeant-at-Arms Nick conducted a spirited fines session.

Steven Aquilina gave us a great Members Moment in which he detailed a visit to a Rotary District Conference in Malaysia. It was interesting to hear of the cultural differences between our two countries with the connecting thread being of course Rotary.

Our Chair for the evening Mandy Pearson introduced our guest speaker Richard Randla.

Richard gave us a detailed presentation on Community Correctional Services (CCS) in Victoria. This is an alternative to custodial sentencing. I think that most members were surprised by the number of prisons that are actually in Victoria. CCS takes many forms and is tailored to the offender to best suit the needs of the community.
At the conclusion of his presentation Mandy presented Richard with a “Penny for Polio” which is a long standing tradition of our Club.

President Gabe then returned to the rostrum and gave us what has become a “tradition” for his presidency not one but two Thoughts-for-the-Week viz:

“Birds of a feather flock together” and

“Opposites attract”

The meeting was the closed at 19:50.
 

Street Soccer was the magic word of this weekend!

Please read below of all the fantastic events that took place during these last couple of days:

2009 State Street Soccer Camp/ Lancefield, 20-21 March

We started off with the 2009 State Training Camp. For the second time RC Southbank and the Big Issue facilitated this Camp for the Victorian Street Soccer Players. This year we had a terrific time at Camp Weekaway in Lancefield. 40 players from all over Victoria, Big Issue Staff and many members and partners of RC Southbank met on the beautiful grounds of this Campsite for training, bonding and companionship. Sunny days, delicious food and beautiful landscape turned out to provide excellent conditions and the fact that there was no mobile phone or internet access brought us even closer together.

Leading up to the weekend PP Tracey spent a considerable amount of her time with staff of the Big Issue to organise and prepare for these two days. And it payed off.
Thanks to Tracey for all her effort and energy to make this Camp a big success!

After arrival and welcome on Friday night everybody met for dinner in the Mess hall. Outdoor and indoor activities and a movie helped to break the ice before the first group activities started next morning.

After breakfast all players and the Big Issue staff followed Rotarians into the bush to face some colourful tasks. The groups had to succeed in more than one challenge before morning tea amongst them climbing through a mobile spider web without touching it, walking a maze blindfolded and balancing on trunks. It was obvious that everybody had a lot of fun and the laughter scared off even the most curious kangaroo who normally inhabit this area.
After morning tea players met their coaches for a panel session moderated by George Halkias whilst Rotarians prepared 55 give away diaries for players and coaches.

After Lunch it was time for real soccer training. (Well, give these guys and girls a ball and they will play everywhere and anytime anyway)
Accompanied by Steve from Events Australia, Bertha the red Street Soccer pitch had made her way up from Melbourne and been set up on the grounds. Teams spent some time playing and to learning tactics with their coaches.

Late afternoon Rotarians and Big Issue Staff competed in mixed teams in a street soccer fun game. Cheered by the "professional street soccer players" some Rotarians like President Gabes wife Aurora showed impressive talent and stamina in the heat of the sun. At the end the result was not important but we had a great time kicking the ball ourselves with a long lasting result - we all felt the fun in every bone of our body even the morning after!

The day finished with another impressive trivia night conducted by our PP Richard who had a hard time to keep the excitement and noise level down to a degree where we could actually understand the correct answers. Questions about sports, music, general knowledge and the Simpsons raised the stress level of all teams. Specialists were needed to win this and only some teams managed to raise up to the challenge.

After the game every player received his personal memorial diary and most of them started to collect autographs and dedications immediately.

Before Bedtime George, the National Coach, reminded everybody of next days Championship and recommended early sleep. Next morning after breakfast the teams made their way down to Docklands to compete in the 2009 Street Soccer State Championships:   

____________________________________________________________________________

State Championships 22 March Docklands

Inspired by last years Homeless World Cup in Melbourne more and more Rotarians of DS 9800 get involved in this fantastic program. At this years State Championships at Docklands about Rotarians from the Clubs of Central Melbourne Sunrise, Williamstown, Chadstone/East Malvern and Caulfield joint the Rotarians from Melbourne and Southbank to support the event. In a variety of different roles from cloakroom attendant, ball chaser, pitch coordinator to time and score keepers they enjoyed being part of the program. Late afternoon members from RC Albert Park assisted us with their famous BBQ trailer and served sausages to all hungry participants.

Very different to last year we all needed sunscreen instead of thermal underwear and raincoats.
The Weather was great and so, surrounded by stands of the Docklands Sunday Market,  the two colourful Soccer pitches encouraged many spectators to stop and watch the games.
As prologue to the Street Soccer Championships a group of Corporate Soccer teams from Banks and other Branches demonstrated their soccer skills in a small but energetic tournament.

Then at 1 pm the Street Socceroos started their competition with a challenging Round Robin to identify this years State Champions.
The Street Soccer program keeps expanding and some new teams have taken up their weekly training sessions since last year. So for the first time soccer players from Ballarat and Dandenongs competed with players from Melbourne, Geelong and Bendigo. And who believed that these new teams would need some special advise to  win against the experienced teams was in for a big surprise. Not only did all the new players show great dedication and commitment to the program they also turned out to have excellent soccer skills. And not to forget the women!  Established in 2008 the women's team had the chance to participate in the Homeless World Cup. Since then they have already improved a lot and lead by their newly assigned coach Jill took it up with the mixed teams. At the end the Dandenongs won a fantastic final over the Melbourians but all players honoured themselves by demonstrating great team spirit and sportsmanship.
At the final presentation players received their medal from the Victorian Minister of Housing, Richard Wynne MP, who expressed the Governments support for this program as one of many initiatives to improve the conditions of Homeless people in Victoria.
The National Champions ships are yet to come and will probably be in Queensland this year before the Australian team, that has yet to be chosen, will leave for Europe to compete in the 2009 Homeless World Cup in Milan/Italy.

What started off as a small project of RC Melbourne and Southbank as part of the PACE program has developed roots into more Rotary Clubs since then.
Rotarians have been named and thanked for their engagement several times during the tournament and players and Big Issue staff have expressed their gratitude at many occasions. 

As Southbank Rotarian who has participated in all Street Soccer Events since early 2008 I would commend this project as one of the most awarding local Rotary projects I have seen so far. It has forced me to step out of my comfort zone and to engage with people that we normally are too scared to get involved with. I have met great characters and made some new friends during this time and I have learned that much is possible if you believe in yourself and take a chance that is offered.
In times of financial crisis homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse are more than ever a threat to many people. The Street Soccer Program addresses these issues in a successful way and Rotarians can help to make it work. 

If you would like to learn more about it feel free to contact James Pullar from the Rotary Club of Melbourne or Tracey Browne from RC Southbank.

Bettina Harlos