Rotary International's theme for February is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution, a significant month marking Rotary's founding on February 23, 1905, now celebrated as World Understanding and Peace Day, focusing on fostering global understanding, goodwill, and addressing root causes of conflict through service, education, and dialogue. Clubs use this month to highlight efforts in peacebuilding, leadership training for conflict resolution, and humanitarian aid, connecting to Rotary's core mission.
Key Aspects of February's Theme:
Focus Area: Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution is one of Rotary's seven areas of focus.
World Understanding & Peace Day: February 23rd commemorates Rotary's first meeting, promoting unity and peace.
Activities: Clubs organize events, invite speakers, and undertake projects related to peacebuilding, addressing poverty, inequality, and lack of education as conflict drivers.
Goal: To create environments where peace can be built and maintained through sustainable efforts and leadership development.
Port Phillip Rotary and Pam Dittmer's company, Book Systems, each contributed towards the sponsorship of Rachel Jayne Cassidy's book, Perfectly Matched. The launch was held at Parliament House and was attended by Christine Newton, Bronwyn Maddock, Pam Dittmer and Wendy Stirling.
Rachel Jayne wrote:
I would like to sincerely thank the Rotary Club of Port Phillip for the club members kind support of the Perfectly Matched book launch. Your contribution made this very special occasion possible. I hope you enjoyed the event.
The Board of Rotary PORT PHILLIP proudly announce the decision to continue the sponsorship of Sreypich's education for the 2026 year.
Hello Sue and members of the Rotary Club of Port Phillip I hope you are doing well and staying healthy! I’m excited to share with you about the wonderful activities I have done this month. I have gone through many activities, but I've chosen the best to share with you, and I hope you like it.
Jim Finlayson (second from right) with Bentmoor Community Members
In a Salesian-run vocational school in Dili, Timor-Leste, students are now learning with tools that began their journey in a shed in Bentleigh. The collaboration between the Bentmoor Community Men’s Shed and the Timor school was made possible by the Rotary Club of Port Phillip and a Rotarian recycling and logistics operation, facilitated by a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in St Kilda.
It started when the parishioner, Jim Finlayson, a retired carpentry teacher, was approached by Timorese contacts at the Don Bosco Centre vocational school. Having been a volunteer teacher there, he knew what would be most useful for the students. Jim used parish and other contacts to collect tools and educational material, but needed help beyond his local network to get the goods—four cubic metres’ worth—across the ocean.
‘A member of the club, rang me up and said, “Can we help, Jim?”’ recalls Chris Hendricks, of the Rotary Club of Port Phillip. The electrical engineer and past president has decades of Rotary service under his belt and was an ideal contact, as he knew exactly who to call. He got in touch with Donations in Kind (DIK), Rotary’s logistics arm in Footscray, to see if the pallets of goods Jim had collected could fit on the next of its regular sea containers going to Timor-Leste.
