An Update on our last 12 Months
With all the social restrictions of COVID now behind us the Rotary Club of Mornington has moved forward at "high speed" and over the past 12 Months we have delivered some very notable projects within our local Community and also beyond. As we move into a New Year there are a number of projects in the planning stages and as we have done over the past 75 years, we will strive to serve our Community well into 2024 and beyond. Our Club provides a diverse and a very interesting range of Guest Speakers for our regular Wednesday night Club Dinner Meeting's, for which we encourage and offer members of the Mornington Community to attend. We invite all Mornington community members to join us either in participating in a Club Project or coming along to one of our Club Meetings.
To find out more detailed information about Mornington Rotary, please contact one of our Club Board Members, as listed on the Left Hand side of this webpage, and by clicking on their name this will put you in direct contact with a Club Executive, and finally to read the full and expanded version of each of our Web Page articles please click on the tab Read More.
So what projects have we been up to in the last 12months and what is coming up?
Mornington Art Show Our 51st Art Show, from January 20 to 26 continued the growth in the success of this major community event. It’s our major fundraising activity. Thank you for the support of over 150 artists, 40 sponsors, 40 volunteers, 1500 visitors, the Mornington’s Men’s Shed, the Bays Hospital, and of course the buyers. Planning is already underway for next year. Details at https://morningtonartshow.com.au/
Santa Train Ride In early December we chartered the Mornington heritage steam train and hosted over 100 family members, invited by the Mornington Community Support Centre. With great help from Mt.Eliza Rotary Club our guests enjoyed both the return train trip to Moorooduc, Santa and Mrs Klaus with presents for all the kids, a BBQ, ice creams, and lollies.
Environmental Project During 2022 we undertook an environmental restoration project at Hunters Crossing over Tanti Creek. We were assisted by a grant from SE Water and the Tanti Creek Friends Group plus some local residents.Mornington Community Support Centre (MCSC) We have just funded the MCSC to produce a video that helps them tell the story of people facing the challenge of finding a home in our community. This will assist them in both raising awareness and financial support for this cause. It’s a cause we have contributed to several times in the last few years.
The Moondah Project We are currently working on a major project to raise significant funds for the MCSC. It involves the clearance sale of an extensive range of furniture, fittings and art. We are enjoying support from Mt.Eliza and Mt.Martha Clubs with this.
Local community park infrastructure. We funded, in partnership with Council, and the Federal Government, an elaborate roof over the Long Table in Mornington Park.Supporting Youth in our community through our schools We continued our close working relationship with all our local schools. We made available to them both a number of Rotary Youth Programs, and also some scholarship and prize funding for their students.
Interplast Along with the other seven Rotary Clubs on the Mornington Peninsula we have committed to funding an Interplast Team to Tonga in May this year. The Interplast team consists of specialist doctors and nurses who will both conduct and train local doctors in reconstructive surgery. More at https://interplast.org.au/
Disaster Relief We contributed funds to both Flood relief in Australia and the victims of the Ukraine War, via our Rotary District Disaster fund.
Bays Hospital We are working with the Bays Hospital to identify a major project we can assist them with over the near term, related to the development of their new cancer facility.
The Peninsula Trail We have been working with the community, the Council, our State and Federal politicians and the seven other Mornington Peninsula Clubs in advocating for the Peninsula Trail. It’s a network of around 130klm of safe off road walking and riding trails to connect both our resident communities and visitor destinations. The connection from Moorooduc to Mornington will provide a safelink, offroad, to our homes, shopping centres, schools, sports grounds and work places.
Australian Rotary Health Mornington Rotary were instrumental in founding this national organisation that has raised over $50m for medical research. We have continued that relationship by contributing funds to “Lift the Lid” their fundraising program for kids mental health research, and also supporting both an indigenous medical student, and a PHD project investigating better, earlier detection of bowel cancer. More at https://australianrotaryhealth.org.au/ 
Rotary International Foundation We have made significant financial contributions to the Rotary Foundation for the elimination of polio in the world, and its work across its 7 areas of humanitarian support. We also contribute a local Rotary project that gathers resources such as hospital equipment for re use in developing countries. We are investigating a solar energy project for deployment in village in the Pacific.Fundraising – Bunnings BBQ’s and Car Parking As always our fundraising has been supplemented by holding Bunnings BBQ’s and local event car parking duties.
Meetings and guest speakers Most Wednesday nights we have met at 6pm for 6.30 at the Mornington Hotel for a dinner, and a guest speaker. Our range of speakers has included CEO’s of Mornington Peninsula businesses, Hospitals, Charities, Councillors, politicians and people with interesting life stories. We conclude by 8pm and normally have guests who are most welcome. (pic. Dr Gobinder Kashmirian who spoke on Skin Cancer) Other social events Besides our normal meetings we have enjoyed both an evening and a day visit to Beleura House and Garden, nights at local restaurants, movie nights, home visits and a picnic in Mornington Park,
Conclusion and Invitation All of the above has been in the last twelve months!. If you have any interest in finding out more, or getting involved please contact us …Pam Hall , Ian Horton, Jo Davie , Ross Kilborn by clicking on the names on the LH side of the home page of our website.
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