Stories

Wishing Tree Gift Giving Project

Posted by Jenny SELWAY

by Mikayla Van Loon , Lilydale Star Mail -- reproduced with permission

Rotary Lilydale - Wishing Tree Gift Giving

Having started with just 14 businesses who put their hands up to collect presents, project organiser Gerry Van Horick said that it has since doubled to 30 businesses this year.

With the community engagement growing in the project, so too is the need to provide presents at Christmas to young people living in transitional housing or who just need some extra support.
That’s why Rotary has partnered once more with Anchor and the Yarra Ranges Proactive Policing Unit, "to spread joy across the region to those who might be needing it the most" Anchor’s partnership and development lead Lauren Gordon said.
The staff at Anchor have been collecting ideas for presents and with Rotary Lilydale has created a tag system, so that gifts reach various age demographics and interests based on what has been asked for or mentioned by the kids themselves.

“On the tags are things like a Christmas tree or decorations. We never expected a chid in their teens to ask for a Christmas tree,” Mr Van Horick said. “It shows they’re not only thinking about themselves but their family too.”

Leading Senior Constable Luke Egginton said the presents will go to those who are involved in youth programs the police run, particularly in the 14 to 16 age group, as well as to children that schools have identified as needing some extra support. “We’re involved with many schools at the moment and we have targeted programs for kids that are struggling in the form of positive leadership programs

Children’s House of Early Learning (Mount Evelyn) owner Cheryl Mackay has not only seen the positive impact a present can have on those that receive it but also on the giver. “The kids love to get involved and the children understand that they’re giving something to people who aren’t in the same situation as them,” she said.

Presents for Anchor will be collected by Rotary Lilydale at the end of November, to ensure they can be handed out at the annual ANCHOR Christmas party in early December.
Vouchers and presents for the Proactive Policing Unit will be collected until early December.
Supporting businesses include Genesis Health and Fitness, Cire Chirnside Park, Yarra Junction and Lilydale, Harrow and Harvest, The Running Company, Evelyn Ridge Retirement Village and many more across the Yarra Ranges.

For more information please email

contact@rotarylilydale.org.au

Primary Schools Speech Competition 2023

Rotary Lilydale ran their annual Primary School Speech Competition on August 30th. This event was generously sponsored by Community Bank - Mt Evelyn . Thank you to all the students that participated for a wonderful evening and very high standard of public speaking. The winning students then attended our club meeting to present their speeches with great animation and conviction. The Rotary district finals will be held on 15th November - we wish them a great night!

Donations in Kind and Rotary Lilydale

Rotary Club of Lilydale (RCL) member Des makes regular deliveries to Donations In Kind Inc (DIK) with donations from members and businesses in Yarra Ranges. RCL has been a financial supporter of DIK Inc for 5 years.

For more information about DIK please go to https://rotarydik.org/ If you have goods suitable for donation, please contact us.

Volunteers from Rotary Lilydale collect a Dental Chair from Manchester Road Dental . The chair will go to DIK and be checked over, before being sent to a community in need overseas.

FICE - First Impressions Clothing Exchange High Tea


	Rotary Lilydale Volunteers ran the catering for the FICE High Tea and Fashion Parade Fundraising event . The First Impressions Clothing Exchange - is a program delivered by Cire Services. It aims to empower women to achieve their goals by providing training, support and an extensive range of affordable clothing. Message from Renee at FICE - "We are thrilled to share the amazing news that FICE was able to raise over $6,000 thanks to the incredible support of our community and wonderful supporters. This success wouldn't be possible without the help of Lilydale Rotary, whose generosity helped us tremendously in achieving our goal. We want to express our sincere gratitude to all the local businesses who went above and beyond in donating incredible goods and services for our auction. We are truly grateful for the outpouring of love and support for FICE and our mission to provide programs and services for women in our community. Thank you all so much for your continued support!"

Anzac Day 2023

ANZAC Day 2023

Members of Rotary Lilydale were up bright and early on ANZAC Day. President Jenny and President Elect Arun attended the Dawn Service at Lilydale and laid a wreath. Other members attended the service, and cooked the Gunfire Breakfast BBQ for the Lilydale RSL veterans and community members.

"We will remember them" "Lest we forget"

Feedback from the Lilydale RSL -

"ANZAC Day saw our first sausage sizzle with the team from Rotary Lilydale.

To Des, Barb and the team for an amazing show of professionalism. The service you provided us was like you had been doing this for years.

To see our Veterans, families and friends of the RSL being served so well by your team and our ladies was truly heart-warming.

On behalf of the Executive Committee and members of the RSL, we thank you for your assistance this year and look forward to a continued relationship in future events."

Janet McGregor

Service- Be part of the Community

Are you interested in volunteering with Lilydale Rotary?

We are seeking community minded people who want to engage with the community and have fun at the same time!

If you think maybe this is you , please click here

Donation In Kind and Rotary Lilydale

Donation in Kind and Rotary Lilydale

For more information about DIK please go to https://rotarydik.org/ If you have goods suitable for donation, please contact us.

Volunteers from Rotary Lilydale collecting a Dental Chair for transport to DIK. The chair will be tested and then sent overseas to a community in need.

Lilydale Craft and Produce Market

The Lilydale Craft and Produce Market is held on the first Sunday of the month (excluding January) from 9am till 2pm.

If you would like to volunteer at our market, or are interested in a stall - please email lilydalecraftandproducemarket@gmail.com or call 0423 558 833.

We are seeking people who can assist for a couple of hours each month to help pack up the market - 2-4pm. Please call or email if you can assist us (Regular or one off help appreciated)

https://www.facebook.com/LilydaleCraftandProduceMarket

Rotary’s Response to the 1918 Flu Pandemic

An estimated 500 million people worldwide became infected. Many cities closed theaters and cinemas, and placed restrictions on public gatherings. Rotary clubs adjusted their activities while also helping the sick.

This is how Rotary responded to the influenza pandemic that began in 1918 and came in three waves, lasting more than a year.

The Rotary Club of Berkeley, California, USA, meets in John Hinkel Park during the 1918 flu pandemic.

Photo by Edwin J. McCullagh, 1931-32 club president. Courtesy of the Rotary Club of Berkeley.

Rotary at the Start of the United Nations

Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.

During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter.

Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.”

Young Inventor Eco-Friendly Bricks Come Full Circle

Every hero has an origin story. “I was 10 years old when the entire journey started,” explains Binish Desai. It began with a cartoon called Captain Planet, an animated TV series from the 1990s about an environmentalist with superpowers. Desai can still recite the show’s refrain: Captain Planet, he’s our hero / Gonna take pollution down to zero! “That tagline stuck in my mind,” he says. “I wanted to do something to help Captain Planet.”

History of Women in Rotary

Women are active participants in Rotary, serving their communities in increasing numbers and serving in leadership positions in Rotary. The 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary.

“My fellow delegates, I would like to remind you that the world of 1989 is very different to the world of 1905. I sincerely believe that Rotary has to adapt itself to a changing world,” said Frank J. Devlyn, who would go on to become RI president in 2000-01.

The vote followed the decades-long efforts of men and women from all over the Rotary world to allow the admission of women into Rotary clubs, and several close votes at previous Council meetings.