Hello fellow Rotarians

It has been a very busy week in Rotary despite there being no meeting tonight due to the Australia Day holiday.

Yesterday started early (though not as early as for those on Market duty) at 8:30 am at the Hawthorn Arts Centre beginning with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country by Colin Hunter the 4th.

Then the VIPs, politicians, award finalists and their guests, Rotary presidents and members of the Boroondara Australia Day Committee came upstairs where we received a Wear the Wattle badge with our name tags then had a cup of tea and a muffin. Meanwhile, downstairs in the foyer of the old Town Hall, the excited people who were to become Australian citizens gathered with their family and friends and created a real hum.

Once we were all seated in the hall (having had a quick chat with our Jess Wilson, the Member for Kew) the Hawthorn Pipe Band marched in playing-very uplifting!

The mayor, Cr Sophie Tormey, began proceedings sensitively addressing the differing interpretations of January 26th but emphasising that today we are all Australians regardless of our heritage.

She then announced the Young Citizen of the year, Angus Aikman (age21), for his work with his SES unit and his work during his final school years at the Camberwell Grammar Interact Club which was Chartered (sponsored?) by RC Canterbury and supported by the Youth Director, Anne Josefsberg. I had a chat with him afterwards and suggested joining our Rotaract Club (if we can get one started). I have his contact details now so another win for the day!

Nora Ley and Val Cunniffe were finalists for the Boroondara Citizen of the Year for their work with FORaMEAL (particularly in schools) and it was great to hear their work being celebrated. The award actually went to Rev Natalie Dixon-Monu from Boroondara Community Outreach so we couldn’t be too disappointed.

Lots of photos were taken by Council people-all publicity is good publicity for Rotary and our club.

The formal Citizenship Ceremony then took place. After reciting the citizenship pledge en masse, the new Australians were called up by name, each one pronounced beautifully by a Council Officer, to receive their citizenship certificate and a commemorative dollar coin.

John Pesutto (Member for Hawthorn), in his heartfelt speech exhorted the new citizens to embrace Australia and become involved in community activities, particularly volunteering as exemplified by the Citizens of the Year, to develop bonds to their community.

After many photos we all enjoyed the refreshments provided and talking to so many different people. What a wonderful experience. Photos below.

Feel like a trip? Want to learn something new about Rotary? This year’s Rotary Conference is coming! From Friday afternoon to Sunday lunchtime, May16-18, the Multi District Conference is in Adelaide. Early bird registrations close at the end of January, so to save $50 each member, go to the district 9800 website and register this week. The venue is at the Morphettville Racecourse which is not far from the lovely seaside suburb of Glenelg which has a great beach, shopping eateries and lots of accommodation nearby.

Regarding Monday’s meeting, our first official meeting for the year, please ensure that you have booked in with me on 0419121059, rather than Rob Simpson, by 4pm this Thursday so that I can notify Jason at Basscare of final numbers and any dietary requirements.

Looking forward to seeing many happy faces, and bags of bottles and cans to recycle, on Monday,

Elizabeth