Wonderful news! Milla delivered a baby boy Friday 17th October at 9:09 pm. Pedro is 55cm (21.65 inches) and weighs 3.755kg (8 lb 3 oz).
Pedro is just too beautiful and so angelic.
President's Message
Wendy Stirling
OCTOBER'S THEME IS ECONOMIC and COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MONTH
The Rotary theme for October is Economic and Community Development. This month focuses on projects and initiatives aimed at building stronger local economies, reducing poverty, and creating sustainable opportunities for communities. This aligns with the overall 2025-26 Rotary year theme, "Unite for Good".
Focus:
The month highlights Rotary's work in fostering economic growth and community well-being, rather than just immediate charity.
Activities:
This includes supporting entrepreneurs and local organizations to build capacity for sustainable development.
HIGH TEA - BACKPACKS FOR VIC KIDS
Saturday October 18th
2:30pm - 4:30pm, Pam Dittmer and I treated ourselves to an afternoon of goodness for our hearts and souls. We enjoyed live music and heard from a long-time carer about the first nights of placement.
Fiona te Wierik is the Foster Carers Advocate and spoke passionately about her journey and her role.
On October 23, Nick & Nora’s Melbourne becomes a celebration of bubbles, fashion, and confidence — where every glance glimmers with glamour, and every toast told a story of style and purpose. In collaboration withReady Set for Melbourne Fashion Week, this one-night-only soirée redefined luxury with impact — Champagne towers, designer treasures, and the unmistakable elegance of Nick & Nora’s.
What an event! Christine and I had a wonderful time chatting, sipping champers and networking.
Statistics show year on year growth but client feedback is what makes RIMERN volunteers continue to work tirelessly day after day. In 2024/25 we continued to support a significant number of women and children who had escaped family violence and were starting again with nothing. Most of our clients have experienced severe housing insecurity, whether couch surfing for years, squatting in warehouses or sleeping rough, leaving jail with nothing. After a RIMERN ‘shopping for no money” trip, or clients leave us having everything they need to start again in a fully equipped home. For privacy reasons we don’t know the details of most clients’ journeys but when their workers share a small glimpse or our volunteers get a warm hug and big smile, we know that they leave our warehouse feeling happy, relieved and respected with a greater understanding of what Rotary is all about both locally and internationally.
Client/Case Worker appointments continue at the rate of 4 or 5 per day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Stock supplied to clients is still limited by stock donated/collected. While RIMERN supplies over 95% of every order we are continually hampered by lack of availability of wanted white goods, inner spring style bed bases, a range of small electrical appliances and assorted small furniture. Demand will always exceed supply but in this financial year, grants & donations for goods purchases has meant we have improved order fulfilment rates over the previous year.
I am writing to invite you and your members to the 33rd Paul Harris Breakfast at the Windsor Hotel on Tuesday 18th November from 7:30-9am.
The breakfast seeks to increase the awareness of the good work that the Rotary Foundation enables and raise funds.
Proceeds from ticket sales (~$20 per ticket), silent auction and raffle are donated to the Rotary Foundation.
Professor Ross Garnaut AC will be our guest speaker and speak to us about the challenges and opportunities for Australia reducing its carbon emissions.
FMOF is an annual event and based on an ‘open mic’ or cabaret model including a two-course sit down meal. It is held at the St Kilda Bowling Club and is for residents living in Rooming Houses or Special Residential Services. Up to 100 participants attend and there are always many wonderful and engaging performances.
Five Minutes of Fame is facilitated by Port Phillip Community Group and supported by the Rotary Club of Port Phillip. Positive outcomes from this event include participants joining other theatre and performance groups, being employed and/or pursuing other career opportunities.
Save the date: Tuesday 25th November. Grant Travill will be supplying the delicious food.
Victorian Foster Carers receive a Care Allowance which is only a contribution to the household costs of raising a child in home-based care. The Level 1 Victorian Care Allowance (for a child between 0-7) is only $223.48 per week and is the lowest Care Allowance rate in Australia. The Victorian Care Allowance is not indexed to Consumer Price Index (CPI) whereas some States receive an annual increase to align with the increased household cost of living. Consequently, the Victorian Care Allowance has declined substantially in real value in recent years.
