Both PP Rhys Maggs and I would like to thank the many Club Members, their partners and friends who came along to help with the Christmas party at the Yarra Glen Bushfire Recovery Centre on Saturday.  The play area we sponsored and handed over on Saturday was clearly a big hit with the children and parents who use the centre each week and I think we all had fun helping put the Centre’s Christmas hampers together.

To Mandy Pearson, a big thank you for the toys from your workplace, and I know you are looking at helping us with further gifts over the coming week for the St Josephs Mission and Steps.

Rhys, thank you for organising the day – it was an awesome effort!

I also want to thank Charles Stuart and Bobbi Lehman-Horn for cooking the barbecue.

The live entertainment the Club organised was fantastic and seemed to loosen the inhibitions in many with Judy Parslow and President Elect Bettina leading the way with some very interesting street dancing.

It was a great day and both wonderful yet moving to see the smiles on so many faces, particularly those who have been through so much and still have to face sad reminders in coming weeks.  If ever there was a reason needed why we are Rotarians, Saturday certainly gave it!  Next week we will finish the Yarra Glen project with the delivery of 20 containers, but whilst the project may be concluded, the friendships we have made over the last few months will endure.  I certainly hope to see Leslie Wood and her husband John at our Christmas function next Tuesday, as I am looking forward to seeing you all, along with family and friends.

A reminder that if you took a raffle book to sell, please bring it on Tuesday along with a gift item for our food hampers for St Josephs Mission and Steps.  Also, if you are looking to buy that stocking filler or Christmas tree present, why not purchase a beautiful Timor-Leste calendar or the Relish recipe book.  Both will be available to purchase at the Christmas party on Tuesday.

I look forward to wishing you a very merry Christmas in person on Tuesday!

Philip Archer
Club President 2009-2010

(For more Yarra Glen Christmas Party photos, click here)

Last Week's Meeting

(Thank you to Clinton for these fab notes)

Meeting 511 Scribe Notes

This meeting was quite intimate as we only had our RC family at tonight’s meeting. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and enjoyed by all who attended ...

After the fines session, President Philip showed us the 2010 Timor-Leste calendar supported by our club.  The calendar is made up of photos from pictures of East Timor.  We were able to view larger photos from the calendar and they are fantastic photos!!  Forms were handed out so you could purchase the calendars.

Rhys provided an update and details of the upcoming Xmas party at Yarra Glen for this coming Saturday.  President Philip and Rhys mentioned it might be an emotional day and we might all help with wrapping presents, the barbeque and distributing presents as well. Also 20 containers will be provided by Linfox for families to put their equipment in during their rebuild and the Yarra Glen Committee will organize the distribution of these containers.  Rhys also advised he was able to buy approx 240 socks from last week’s fines session.  These socks will go to the STEPS foundation.

For the rest of the meeting President Philip presented other initiatives the club is currently involved. The following is a summary of these initiatives-

•      Board members have now been appointed for the Kids Foundation
   

•      Update on the Southbank Community Giving Fund
   

•      Hanover House is now requesting volunteers for their regular BBQ
   

•      Future Vision Matching Grant.  Chris talked about the goal of setting up an industry in Timor Leste where we can get the buffalos to produce milk which will provide an income for people living in rural areas.  The milk can then be sold to the government which can then be distributed to the children so they don’t have to drink powdered milk.  Part of this initiative is to also recruit 21 clubs to join in getting a RI foundation grant.
   

•      The first steps youth job search program in association with the government Centrelink jobs expo.  This is to help kids with preparing and finding jobs such as explaining and assisting to create resumes, helping them with job interviews and show how to keep jobs once successful.

... That’s all folks!!