Congratulations and thank you to Ian Thomson for an amazing 60 years of service to Rotary and the community.
In 1963 Ian Thomson was invited to join Corio Rotary as a charter member. He was told that he would be only invited once to join! (How things have changed!)
The Corio Rotary Club chartered with 35 members and was the first club to serve alcohol at their meals. This was not accepted by many of the older members in other clubs. The Rotary Meetings were held at Aberdeen Chateau and many members met before and after the meetings at the Gold Diggers Hotel - a little extra fellowship which was always a great part of Corio Rotary. Ian has been involved in many of the Club's activities and fundraisers during his time in Rotary and has served in all executive and director positions and associated committees within Corio/Corio Bay, except for Secretary and Bulletin Editor.
His committee work and philanthropic and practical support of club projects saw him elected by the members as the Club President in 1987 – 1988 and his service to the community as a volunteer, and to the Rotary Club was recognised with the awarding of a Paul Harris Recognition.
Throughout his 60 years in Rotary, Ian has maintained his attendance and roles within the Rotary Club of Corio (and Corio Bay), providing assistance at fund raisers, the Rotary Art Show, manning the gates at the Geelong Races to earn money for the Club, selling raffle tickets, and providing support wherever and whenever he is asked to. He has been a Youth Exchange councilor on six occasions (Four outgoing and 2 incoming) with help from his wife Noelene and family.
Ian was heavily involved with the growth of Probus in District 9780. He served on the 9780 Probus District Committee, and in five years, seven Probus Clubs in the Geelong area were formed. Ian served with the late Mary Elliott on Rotary District 9870's organ donor awareness sub-committee, which has been promoting the donation of organs since 2001.
Ian has also been involved with the Windmill Jelderks Trust from 2010-2020 as a former Chair, and now as a Trustee.
What an amazing contribution to his club and community.
PROBUS is a Community Service Activity of Rotary clubs
Many Probus Clubs have been initiated by D9780 Rotary Clubs, thus providing members of the community who are no longer working full time with an avenue to keep their minds active, stay healthy and remain connected through activities. This reduces isolation and loneliness by expanding interests and provide them with enjoyment and fellowship of newfound friends. But numbers of clubs have reduced from 156 to 135 due to the age of Probus members and clubs, so there is a perfect opportunity to reconnect with Probus Clubs that your Rotary Club may have sponsored in the past and for Probus to grow again in our District.
So, What’s in it for ROTARY?
A chance to;
make a safe environment for our seniors – A Community Service
develop and nurture the relationship between Rotary and Probus
find new Rotarians through Probus members, their children and grandchildren
potentially have access to volunteers to assist Rotary projects
Grandchildren- potential Rotaractors, Interact, National Youth Science Forum, RYLA,
RYPEN, Pride of Work, Volunteers, Rotary Youth Exchange, etc.
Rotary Clubs are encouraged to maintain some contact with their sponsored Probus club(s)? such as sending a quarterly flyer of the Rotary Club’s projects.
Attendees at the new Interest & Foundation meeting of the Alfredton Lucas Probus Club sponsored by the Rotary Club of Alfredton and Management Committee of the new Probus Club elected and ready for the second meeting of the club.
Contact District Probus Chair for your sponsored Probus Club details.
In April 2023, the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation approved a new kind of grant for deployment in Australia and Brazil—Corporate Social Responsibility Grants, or CSR Grants.
CSR Grants provide a straightforward way for corporations to engage with Rotary in the delivery of mutually agreed outcomes.
For example, if a corporation has a focus on making a difference in the education of children in indigenous communities, chances are there’s a Rotary club that will have very similar aspirations—along with the ‘feet on the ground’ to bring the project to life.
In other cases, an Australian Rotary club may, as an example, be looking for funding for a project that will deliver outstanding outcomes in the growth of small businesses in a country where the corporation is doing business. Rotary’s network of over 35,000 clubs, in almost every country in the world, can help make this possible.
ROTARY CLUBS AND DISTRICTS IN AUSTRALIA ARE ENCOURAGED TO UTILISE CSR GRANTS TO:
deliver much greater impact
expand their reputation for delivering amazing outcomes
build stronger connections with the business community.
Each of these outcomes helps Rotary clubs and districts to grow and prosper while truly ‘making a difference in the world’.
More information about CSR Grants can be found here.
Southern Region Chair Steps up to New ROMAC Position
Congratulations Jill Oliver (Alfredton Rotary) who has taken up the new position of Australian Operations Manager. We wish Jill well in this new voluntary role after her five years as Southern Region Chair and are sure her previous experience will be extremely useful in the new role.
To read more about roles still to be filled and patients assisted, click here.
ROMAC is still requesting clubs and individuals make donations to allow them to assist the many young patients from our regional neighbours who are in need of life-saving or dignity restoring surgery. Donate here.
Reminder about this amazing opportunity to see what the world of Rotary can do and meet Rotarians from around the world. Enjoy a 3-day pass, free of charge, to the House of Friendship, where you’ll be able to connect with thousands of fellow Rotary members from around the world and have access to hundreds of Rotary project booths, vendors, food and entertainment at the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Australia. That’s right! A complimentary pass valid Monday-Wednesday, 29-31 May, for the House of Friendship*. No additional purchase is required. For more info about HoF and how to redeem this special offer, click here.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
