The Rotary theme for February is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month. Rotary members take action to address the causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of access to education.
Rotary's actions to prevent conflict:
Training: Rotary provides training to help communities resolve conflicts
Service projects: Rotary addresses the underlying causes of conflict through service projects
Peace fellowships: Rotary offers fellowships to address the underlying causes of conflict
Scholarships: Rotary offers scholarships to address the underlying causes of conflict
Youth Exchange Programs: Rotary's work fosters peace and understanding through youth exchange programs
Rotary's priorities
Rotary's key priorities address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, disease, and lack of education. Rotary also helps protect domestic violence survivors and their families.
Hello Sue and member of the Rotary Club of Port Phillip
I hope you are doing well and staying healthy!
I am excited to share with you about my activities in February. This month, I have the opportunity to join in many activities and I hope you are happy to read them.
Martin Rogers and Chris Hendricks recently visited Mac Robertson Girls’ High School to deliver bags for the Stationery Drive and also badges for the two co-presidents, the secretary and five directors of the Interact Club sponsored by Port Phillip Rotary. Martin and Chris were greeted by Fathima ZIYAD who is the staff representative of the Interact Club at Mac Rob. Rehana
(Fathima), invited both Martin and Chris to attend a full meeting of the Club. Martin was introduced as the Youth Committee member for Port Phillip Rotary, and Chris as Port Phillip Rotary’s president, addressed the group. They were both warmly welcomed by the group of 100 girls at the meeting and 100 girls who zoomed in.
St Kilda Town Hall is a heritage landmark that was built in 1890 by local architect William Pitt. The classical portico was added in 1925. What a fitting space to welcome new Australian citizens on 26thJanuary 2025.
Two of our members, Marg Hamilton and Wendy Stirling, have recently been laid up with injuries. The flowers that arrived at the respective addresses were very much appreciated. They both send a heartfelt THANK YOU for your kind thoughts and wishes for speedy recoveries.
When supporting someone through a mental health problem, it’s natural to want to connect through shared experiences. We might say, ‘I’ve been through something similar,’ or ‘I know exactly how that feels,’ with the best of intentions – to reassure, to show empathy and compassion, or to reduce stigma.
But while personal stories can be powerful, in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, one of the core principles is to keep the focus on the person you are supporting – not on yourself. When we centre ourselves in the conversation, even unintentionally, we risk shifting attention away from the person who needs it most.
This doesn’t mean you can never share anything personal. The key is to do so in a way that supports or responds to the person’s needs.
So, when is it helpful to share, and when is it better to simply listen?
You may remember that we have had a happy association with Emma Cutting and the Hart Gardening Program. We were heavily involved in the Towers pollinator corridor extension, creating a beautiful floral garden at Bank Street Towers and along the nature strip. ESRAG (Environmental and Sustainable Rotary Action Group) became involved with the Heart Gardening Program, in particular the Pollinators Corridor from Port Melbourne to Southbank. Emma Hart has rebranded to hearts to Heartscapes. Here are some excerpts from her latest newsletter.
The year might be cranking again for us humans but it didn’t stop for the critters like our native bees and butterflies! They have been super busy through summer, foraging, setting up the next generation and, of course, pollinating!
After our fantastic end to the year with blue banded bees sighted at six Melbourne Pollinator Corridor (MPC) sites, and our successful fundraiser (thank you again to everyone who supported us!), we have been pumping too.
Throughout summer, we have been managing the gardens of the MPC, writing grants, organising events, and working out how we can work smarter (though of course that never stops!).
Here are just some of the things that are happening…
Above: Looking through to Melbourne city from The BEE Gardens with a splendid ochre butterfly (Trapezites symmomus) on the pink valerian. This was about 9 AM in the morning in the middle of the three days heatwave - this butterfly certainly took its time on these flowers!
