Thank you for visiting Rotary Albert Park's website.
Rotary Albert Park (part of Rotary International) is a group of neighbours, friends, and community leaders providing humanitarian service, encouraging high ethical standards in all pursuits and helping build goodwill and peace locally and worldwide. Our club was established in 1992 and has a long history of service. We have a membership of 56 with a 50:50 gender balance.
Join us for Dinner where we can introduce you to the Club & its members, and answer any questions you may have about membership.
Coronarvirus COVID-19 Update - Cancellation of Club Activities
In response to the State of Emergency declared last Monday morning for Victoria due to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic and on the advice of Rotary International, our District Governor and AG, the Board has decided to cancel all club activities for at least after Easter. This includes normal Club meetings, committee meetings, BBQ's and other fund raising/fellowship activities.
The majority of our members are in the vulnerable demographic and, while not large in numbers, we meet in public places where we cannot guarantee you will not be exposed to the COVID-19 virus. However, some Club activities will continue including St Silas Sunday Suppers and our Bookstall at Gasworks Farmers Market. These activities will be carried out under social distancing and personal hygiene guidelines.
Climb for Kids - Kilimanjaro November 2020
ARE YOU READY FOR THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME?
Join us in November 2020 as we climb to the top of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro!
Two climbs are planned, starting on 3rd and 14th November, traversing different routes around the mountain before arriving at the summit.
Visits to local Rotary projects in Arusha and Moshi are also planned before and after the trip, to see the work of Rotary in East Africa. Coincidentally, there are three projects at the foot of Kilimanjaro that are supported by clubs in D9800!
All proceeds and profits from our adventure supports Winds of Hope’s Primary School project in Uganda, Africa. For further information, go to https://www.climbforkids.org.au/
Training sessions have now begun, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/climbforkids/events/ for details and to book. Hikes and walks around Victoria are being held on every second Sunday.
Update on Bodhi Tree Special School - 1 April 2020
We received intimation from the Director of the Bodhi Tree School of the problems they are facing due to the lockdown in India and the depletion of funds. We have put through a funds transfer request of $ 4,900 from our funds with RAWCS to be telegraphically transferred to Bodhi tree asap. Situation is bad everywhere and we need to help those in need in any small way.
If you would like to help out, go to https://www.bodhitreespecialschool.com.au/donate
or for further information, go to https://rotaryalbertpark.org.au/Stories/bodhi-tree-report-june-2019
Regards
Ish
Sovuzwa Educare Centre in South Africa
As you know we recently started a fundraising campaign for the Sovuzwa Educare Centre in South Africa. We've had a great response, but obviously with the current pandemic people's focus is understandably elsewhere. The facility is located in an informal township outside of Khayelitsha, itself just outside Cape Town, which has been hard hit by the virus. The situation in the area is dire, with even water becoming a rare commodity.
I am pleased to advise that we have transferred AUD$595 (less $9 SWIFT fees) to Rotary Club of Newlands, for distribution to the Sovuzwa Educare Centre. This will make a huge difference to Nomonde and the children she cares for in the Centre, especially in these difficult and uncertain times.
Thank-you for everyone who supported this campaign!
Best regards,
Matthew
International Services 2019/2020
International Services 2019/2020
Solar Smiles Donates Supplies
As you know we are dedicated & committed to our community in Maubisse, Timor Leste. COVID 19 is scary enough for those of us living in well developed cities. However our hearts and minds are never far away from our Maubisse friends & how COVID19 may effect their (our) community.
It is with this in mind the Solar Smiles team have decided to on donate all our masks, gloves, eye protection, hand sanitizer, hand soap, tissues that we hold in our Maubisse storage unit for the use of the frontline Doctors & Nurses at the Maubisse Referral Hospital to help keep them safe and treating patients during this pandemic.
See Rotary and the Gates Foundation extend funding match for polio eradication
Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced on 22 January that their long-term fundraising partnership, which generates up to $150 million annually for polio eradication, will continue. Under the agreement, Rotary is committed to raising $50 million a year over the next three years, and each dollar will be matched with an additional two dollars by the Gates Foundation.
In a video address at the 2020 Rotary International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA, Bill Gates told incoming district governors that the partnership with Rotary needs to continue.
The partnership between Rotary and the Gates Foundation has yielded $2 billion, and Rotarians have given countless volunteer hours to fight polio since Rotary started its PolioPlus program in 1985.
Be a part of the fight to end polio and have your donation matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Visit endpolio.org to learn more and donate.
Book Project Certificate of Appreciation
Certificate of Appreciation to Priscilla Jones Cafe for use of their space on market days. Pictured is Andrea Brook, cafe owner, with Carol and John at the Gasworks Saturday Market.
Bushfire Emergency Response
Experience tells us that donation of money is more effective and provides more flexibility as in can be used to meet targeted and specific requests for support. District 9800 is providing two separate ways for Rotary Clubs, Rotarians and members of the public to provide donations to our Bushfire Recovery efforts.
THE FIRST FUND WILL PROVIDE ROTARY CLUBS AND INDIVIDUALS NOT SEEKING A TAX DEDUCTION AND ALLOW US MORE FLEXIBILITY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.
- Account: Rotary International District 9800 - Australian Bushfire Appeal
- BSB: 633000
- Account Number: 171227895
THE SECOND FUND THROUGH BENDIGO BANKS COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE FOUNDATION ALLOWS TAX DEDUCTIBILITY TO INDIVIDUAL DONORS OR BUSINESSES WHO REQUIRE THIS OPTION. BENDIGO BANK HAS WAIVED THEIR ADMINISTRATION FEES.
For tax deductible donations please use this link:
Rotary District Governors have also agreed to establish a central fund into which all Australians can donate to support the victims of the devastating bushfires ravaging our country. Due to unprecedented interest, we can now take international credit cards. A link to the fund can be found on the main page of the RAWCS website (here)
All moneys raised through our Bunnings BBQ this Friday 10 January, being $1,500 (rounded up), will be directed to this bushfire appeal.
Yaris Bought for Learner Driver Program
The new Toyota Yaris that Rotary Albert Park helped Melbourne City Mission to purchase for their Learner Driver Program. For more photos, go to (here)
The City of Port Phillip program is currently assisting 20 young people from the local area, serviced by MCM St Kilda office. Currently about 60% of the program participants live in public housing in the South Melbourne and Post Melbourne areas.
Rotary volunteer mentors will undergo training by VicRoads and undergo mandatory training with MCM. For further details, see https://www.mcm.org.au/learning/youth-engagement/l2p-learner-driver
Albert Park College - Thanks
I would firstly like to thank the Albert Park Rotary Club for your continued support of Albert Park College. This year one of our AIP priorities has been to build a literacy program for our students to provide support and intervention. This year we developed two year 7 and two year 8 literacy support classes for 2 hours per week. We are pleased to be able to offer this to our students again next year, and are looking to expand the program. I have detailed each of the initiatives below.
Thanks from Winds of Hope
A Taste of Africa - 25th October
A huge thank-you to everyone who attended and helped at our recent A Taste of Africa event. It was a very successful night, and we are overwhelmed by the support of our friends, colleagues and the community for our work in Uganda.
I've uploaded some photos from the night to https://www.windsofhope.
Lakehouse Pop Up Case Study
Women over 50 are the fastest growing group of people experiencing housing instability in Australia – often as a result of pay inequity, little to no superannuation or savings, divorce, domestic and family violence and time taken as unpaid carers. Adequate supply of social housing and affordable housing remains an enduring issue across Australia. Currently there are more than 40,000 applicants for social housing, on the Victorian Housing Register alone.
The Lakehouse is Melbourne's first Pop Up Shelter for women in need of temporary housing. For the Study report, go to (here)
Presentation of donation of $4,500 to One Ball. For more photos, go to (here)
OneBall is a free community program designed for young people aged between 8-18 years. The program provides opportunities for young people from CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) backgrounds across Melbourne to play soccer in a social setting and encourages them to:
- be fit and active, and to enhance both their physical and psychological health and wellbeing
- develop positive cross-cultural relationships with others, and
- feel more connected and empowered to make a positive contribution to their community.
Presentation of $1,000 to Geoff Amor to support Orange Sky Laundry, see https://orangesky.org.au/where-we-are/melbourne/
The shortage of emergency response vehicles is a serious problem being faced in the Western Cape, South Africa, with the numerous fires that need to be contended with. The lack of vehicles often leads to emergency services taking up to 40 minutes to arrive at disaster scenes, especially in more remote areas. It goes without saying that the vital lost time can literally mean the difference between life and death. With the help of Rotary Albert Park, The Rotary Club of Newlands were able to donate a multipurpose vehicle to the Emergency Volunteer Services (EVS).
Below are some stories and video of the project:
Rotary Albert Park runs a book recycling project where it collects books from local libraries and from direct donations, sorts and redistributes them in various ways to benefit the community. On the third Saturday of each month at the Farmers Market at Gasworks Park (weather permitting) we have a wide selection of these recycled books for sale. We are located at the back of Priscilla Jones' Cafe in Graham Street, Albert Park.
For more information on our book recycling project, 
Other Media Pages
The club is also on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter & Instagram. There are often additional posts entered by members and by other clubs, and it is a great way to get notified of events and functions.
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