Last Thursday, the Mayor of Central Goldfields Shire, Liesbeth Long, shared her life journey so far leading up to the time that she became our city's Mayor in November, last year. Her story is both fascinating and inspirational. She came to Australia as an immigrant from the Netherlands when she was a child, overcame the stigma of dyslexia as a student, was engaged on her 21st birthday, was married in a lunatic asylum, gave birth to her first of three children in Western Australia, and then built a new home in Katharine NT, only to have it destroyed by the once in a century flood on Australia Day in 1998... Click "Read more..."

Members and partners are invited to come and celebrate one of the main missions of Rotary International - to celebrate and promote good, honest, diligent, workmanship with integrity at our "Pride of Workmanship Awards Night" on THURSDAY MAY 9TH (6 for 6.30pm) at the HIGHLAND SOCIETY. Cost will be $40 for a two-course meal, and we urge all members to pay for their meal by the end of April. No seats will be available at the door. Please make this important night in our Rotary calendar a priority.

Last Thursday, President Elect Bec led the process of listing proposed service projects and fundraising activities for the 2024-25 Rotary year. Around thirty ideas were listed on butcher's paper along with coordinators, and they will form a solid basis for our club's 24-25 service and fundraising programs. Click "Read more..." for the current list of suggested projects and activities. Other ideas can, of course, be suggested and confirmed by the Board during the coming year. Next month, we will seek support from members for each of these projects and activities at our "Program Buy-In Event".

April is now Rotary's Environment Month when we aim to leave the earth as a better place than when we arrived.

Thanks to the over a dozen Rotarians who turned up at the shed last Thursday to clean up the surrounds and organize our collection of bottles and cans for submission to the Recycling depot. A lot was achieved in a small time and a good time was had by all. See more pix in "Read more..."

Pictured is PP Terry Allan who has just delivered our latest collection of recycled materials to the Depot at Madman's Lane. The result was $490 for our local and overseas projects. Thanks and "Well done" to all members who have contributed recyclables and/ or helped out with organizing materials to be taken to the depot.

Over 80 riders attended the March Tri Circuit Bike Ride commencing at the Summerfield Winery on Sunday, March 24th. The weather was great, and an enjoyable ride seemed to be experienced by all. A big "Thank You" to PP Brian Reed for doing much of the organization and to Robyn Reed for her assistance as a friend of Rotary. We must also thank Bec Murray for her wonderful work as manager of the ticketing and booking over many of our recent bike rides, and for her efforts driving the "Sag wagon". Pictured are some of our Rotary team members at 3pm - waiting for the final riders to return - Harold, PDG Anthony, PP Garry, Robyn (Rotary friend), PP Brian, PDG Geoff, Murray and PP Mallee. (Photo taken by PP Meryl) See "read more..." for more pix.

Last Thursday, Service committees met for the final time as part of a club meeting for this Rotary year. Whilst they may need to touch base before the end of June, their plans are basically in place for the 2023-24 Rotary year. There will be a summary of their deliberations as part of the Board Report next week.

Due to the postponement of our planned "Call, Push' Shock (CPS)" Training night last Thursday, PP Garry and PDG Anthony reported on the recent launch of club's new website for family violence information. The site was launched on International Women's Day at the special International Women's Day Luncheon held at the Highland Society. The website is designed to assist people who want quick information about who to contact or where they should go if they are experiencing family or domestic violence. You can check out the site by using the QR code taken from the Web site's new business card.

A dozen members and partners (pictured at our Friday night dinner) travelled to Mt Gambier over this past week-end to attend the District 9780 Rotary Conference. Participants enjoyed some fantastic world class speakers, a world class tenor performance on the Saturday night, a walk for Polio, great food and fellowship with Rotarians from 40 of our District clubs. We'll have dozens of images and videos available at our Thursday meeting and make them available as a slide show on this club's website.

This advertisement has been published in the local "Addie" over the last two Fridays. Could members please assist us by contact any employers you know, asking them to consider nominating one of their employees for these awards by contacting PP Meryl for an application form (or downloading it from our club website) and getting it back to Meryl by April 3rd.

Around twenty Rotarians and friends gathered for a fascinating tour of the Water Treatment Plant in Stoneham Drive last Thursday. A staff member from the plant, a staff member from Central Highlands Water and PDG Anthony provided an overview of the history of the plant in Maryborough and the current process used to treat water before it is released into the local water mains. After touring the Water Treatment plant, we toured the adjacent De-salination plant, which is only turned on as required, and then all participants were presented with a complimentary re-usable water bottle. After the visit, our group moved to the nearby Goldfields Reservoir for a tasty picnic tea. Thanks, PDG Anthony for organizing this vocational tour to help us celebrate Rotary's Water and Sanitation Month and to Central Highlands Water for the water bottles. See "Read more..." for 8 more pics.

Both the Probus Club of Maryborough and the Ladies Probus Club of Maryborough held their Annual Genral meetings early this week. Both clubs have reappointed their current President to take on an extra term as their club's leader. Carol Jackson was reappointed as President of the Probus Club of Maryborough, and our own PP Meryl James was reappointed as President of the Ladies Probus Club of Maryborough. Congratulations Carol and Meryl!

President Geoff and President-Elect Bec both attended an online meeting last Wednesday evening to discuss some key questions as part of the forthcoming Regionalization process. As members will be aware, as from July 1st this year, our club will be part of a new Rotary Community Group that involves Ballarat, Ararat, Beaufort, and St. Arnaud Rotary clubs. Participants at the meeting met in small groups to discuss what we considered the goals to be of our community group, what issues we thought clubs could work on together, what sort of leadership support would be required, and how we could best elect a community group leader. Information gathered on the night will assist District leaders to set up elections for our Community Group's leader in the coming weeks. If any member is interested in this exciting leadership position, please let Geoff or Bec know when the Nomination process is announced.

Twenty members and partners gathered at the Bull and Mouth Hotel to celebrated "Leap Day" on February 29th. PDG Anthony provided those present with an update on our Rotary District's efforts to support victims of the recent fires. Anthony explained that RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service) now has an existing fund to immediately provide every family that has lost a property due to bush fires with a Debit card containing $500. Our club will wait to hear recommendations from the District as to how we can best proceed with any donations we plan to make. There was general agreement amongst those present that proceeds from our March Bike Ride could be directed towards fire relief.

Kylie Emonson from the Orange Door Program zoomed into our club meeting last Thursday to provide a fascinating overview of the work of this Family Violence initiative. She explained the scope of the program and how it works and provided some interesting answers to questions posed by members. She congratulated our club on its initiative in this area, and said our #SayNO program was a main reasons why the Orange door has one of its key regional offices in our city.

Members were delighted to welcome new member Geoff Bartlett to our club last Thursday. Geoff was sponsored by Rotarian Trace, and comes into our club with the Classification of "Baker". Geoff's mentor will be PP John Caulfield. New Rotarian Geoff attended last Thursday's meeting with his wife Deidre, and we look forward to working with them both as we seek to create hope in the world. Pictured from left, President Geoff, Geoff Bartlett, Deidre Bartlett and Membership Director, Trace Smith.

Last Thursday, members from both Maryborough and Ararat Rotary Clubs got together to celebrate Rotary's 119th Birthday on February 23rd. We were to have members from the Beaufort Rotary Club as well, but at the time of the meeting, the town of Beaufort was under siege from the extensive Mount Cole Fires. Still, it was great to rekindle the old connections between our Central Victorian clubs. Pictured is President Geoff from Maryborough and Jenny Beales from Ararat cutting the cake.

After a quick meal at the Mill House last Thursday, members moved to Worsley Historical Cottage in Palmerston Street for a talk by Cottage volunteer, Barbara Neilson, and a wander around the recently refurbished facility. The Cottage was originally built and occupied in 1894 by Arthur and Agnes Worsley, one of the contractors who constructed the main drain in Maryborough. Arthur and Agnes lived in the house until 1936. The property was taken over by the Midlands Historical Society in 1976. Pictured are PP Alison, Rotarian Harold and PP Terry in the attached kitchen, the most recent addition to the cottage in the 1930's. Click "Read more..." for more pictures.

As from July 1st, District clubs will be arranged in different groupings. In the past we were part of Group 7 (Ararat, Beaufort, Maryborough and Stawell) , and in the last year or so we have been linked with the Ballarat group of clubs. After the recent District vote where our preference was to be in a group located geographically close to each other, we have been allocated to the new group called, "The Central Victoria Community Group". The participating clubs are listed in the graphic. At last Thursday's meeting when this decision was announced, members expressed a wish that St. Arnaud Rotary Club should be invited to any future gatherings we might initiate with the remaining original "Group 7 clubs".

Governance Committees met last Thursday even though committees were a bit "light on" for numbers. Plans were made to complete the objectives set for this Rotary year with the understanding that in April, Governance committees will set their sights on the next Rotary year. On a positive note for members, PDG Anthony, chair of the Administration committee reported that the price of drinks at the "bar" would remain unchanged for the time being! 

Instead of our Mill House meeting on Thursday, Rotary members turned up early on Friday, January 26th to assist the Shire celebrate Australia Day at the local Community Hub. Our role was to hand our free muffins as part of the Australia Day breakfast provided by the Shire. Out at Carisbrook, one of our members, PP Thea Allan (second from the right) was awarded the Tilly Aston Award for her contributions to the local and district communities.

Our club Service committees met back at the Mill House on January 18th and many plans were made and tweaked in readiness for the last half of this Rotary year of creating hope in the world. PP Martin Mackay, (Youth) mentioned that the committee was looking at the possibility of again offering books for the Grade Four students in the town to promote literacy, of offering places at the RYLA Leadership camp, and planning for NYSF participation. PP Meryl (Vocational) mentioned the Vocational Visit to Worsley Cottage on Feb. 15th, the Pride of Workmanship Event on May 9th., and the nomination of Jade Rogers for the Shine On Awards. PP Leigh Williamson (Community)  reported on a letter from the Pony Club seeking assistance for their history book, the great work of our club in being a catalyst for new developments at the Bristol Hill Tower, the next Bike Ride on March 24th and the arrangements for our collection of cans and bottled as part of the recycle scheme. 

Sixteen Rotarians and partners gathered at Parkview Bakery on January 11th for our first breakfast meeting for 2024. Participants heard reports about the Tower project, the airport issue and the upcoming official launch of the Family Violence Website and its related services. Thanks to the staff members at Parkview for their great service and food. 

On a warm Thursday, January 4th, seventeen members and partners gathered together in Pekin Road to launch our weekly club meetings for 2024. Christmas and new year experiences were swapped, snags, burgers, salads, cheesecake, pav and drinks were consumed, some news of members was shared, and some plans were aired of projects and issues to be considered in the rest of the 23-24 Rotary year. All in all, an enjoyable way to commence our second six months of creating hope in the world.

At our Barbeque meeting last Thursday, PDG Anthony gave a report on happenings at the Maryborough Airport - a report that has implications for our Rotary assets at the site. Anthony reported that development at the airport is to proceed with support from the Maryborough Council and that fairly soon, our club will be informed of the options available to us for our shed facility. Whilst a decision hasn't been made yet, it is likely that the airport area will be set aside exclusively for aviation related assets so Rotary will probably need to move. Hopefully, we will be able to sell our shed because it will be quite a project to have to move it to some other location. See "Read more..."