One meeting which was also the club's AGM, was held as a 'hybrid' which also enabled several members who could not join face to face to join us virtually. This meeting enabled the club to review our equipment and setup to effectively hold 'hybrid' meetings and as a result we were successful in an application for a grant from District, to purchase some additional equipment to improve this facility.

The club was very grateful to receive this grant which will support purchase of supplementary speaker and microphone which will be put to good use in 2022, as we move forward with our membership recruitment, and be able to offer options for member participation at meetings.

In 2022, Rotary Clubs from Districts 9810 and 9820 are sponsoring a ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS (RYLA) Leadership & Development Program. This involves participation in a personal, professional development seminar program for young people aged between 19-29. The program is delivered at a 6 day residential camp and focuses on enhancing leadership, communication, motivation, teamwork and interpersonal skills as well as building self-awareness of mental health and well-being, knowledge of a sense of community and a sense of belonging.

The Rotary Club of Hampton is sponsoring a participant in this program to be held next January. We will be introducing the participant to our club, inviting him to meet with our members, become aware of our community based project activities and ultimately hear of his experiences at RYLA at a subsequent club meeting.

District activities/ meetings supported by the club during the month included:

• Attendance at the District 9810 Presidents meeting and AGM
• A presentation was made of our Tonga Hearing Project to RC Beaumaris
• Participation in District International Service Committee strategy meeting
• Discussions with 2022 District Conference Organising Committee regarding a promotional visit.

During the month we held another successful Bayside Farmers’ Market and plans are well advanced for our special Christmas Bayside Farmers’ Market.

The 2021 calendar year has been disruptive due to the impact of covid and lockdowns. I would like to personally thank all club members for their continued support and participation and wish all a restive and enjoyable holiday season.

Likewise, I would like to thank all readers of this magazine for their interest and support and best wishes for 2022.

Regards

Peter

December 2021 Club News

Recent Events

Club Meeting - November 9 with guest speaker, Donovan Smith, from Amalocal

Donovan Smith, from Amolocal, gave us an interesting and thought-provoking talk about his business and concerns around food production and general sustainability.

Amalocal provide fresh produce to the door. Their aim is to source local food, explaining that fruit and vegetables begin to degrade from the moment they are picked – the sooner they are eaten, the better the nutritional benefit. Their fruit and vegetables last longer at home than store-bought produce, which has been in transit and storage for up to 7 days before consumption. This saves the customer money and reduces the amount of food that is wasted and sent to landfill…….an increasing problem in these times. This has generated the smallest environmental footprint of any produce – keeping our atmosphere and our beautiful Bayside environment clean and healthy. Their local farms are all within 50km (most within 20km), so food miles and vehicle pollution generated are significantly lower than other store-bought produce.

Their produce is also competitively priced with our local supermarkets and greengrocers…and delivered free. Also, their milk comes with a promise: when you buy it, you are directly supporting Gippsland farmers. This happens in two ways:

Farmers are paid a fair price for their labour and a percentage of Gippsland Jersey profits go towards supporting farmers who may be struggling with their emotional and mental well-being.

Pantry items are also available from Bayside’s local food stores, thus keeping our local providers in business. Don also suggested we all try to grow as much as possible at home, utilising veranda pots, or using our street verges.

The Rotary Club of Hampton are always interested to hear about our local business.

Club Meeting – Tuesday November 16^th – Club AGM

The Club’s Annual General Meeting was held at the Brighton Bowling Club. The Club is also pleased to announce that PP Amanda Hill will become the Club President for 2022-23 Rotary year.

Club Social Evening – Tuesday November 23^rd – Dinner at Cilantro Restaurant

Members were excited to meet socially, and enjoyed the fellowship at the Cilantro Restaurant, a hospitality training venue for students from Holmesglen College. The students and staff produced a beautiful meal once again. We will be back!

November Bayside Farmers’ Market – Saturday 27^th November

The November market, held on Saturday 27^th November, was another great day out. The weather was fine and we were all enjoying our new found freedoms. Stallholders this month featured a wonderful array of Christmas goodies and treats for hampers and Christmas tables, and the Sandy Scouts also had a pop-up stall taking orders for real Christmas trees this month as well. We also welcomed back our musicians who helped everyone get into the festive spirit.

A special thank you to the wonderful Bayside community who came out to support the market. We’d also like to thank the volunteers who helped at this market – Club members/family and friends, as well as support from Brighton North and Sandringham Rotary Clubs. All volunteers did a fantastic job to ensure the market once again ran very smoothly, so a big thank you to everyone involved.

Club Social Evening - Saturday December 4^th, Christmas Dinner at Amanda Hill and John Skerritt’s home.

Thank you, Amanda, and John, for hosting our Christmas party once again. The food, all prepared by Amanda was superb! The Kris Kringle provided much hilarity, gifts of books and wine were popular. A hangover from COVID perhaps?

Club Projects

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Course

During November, the second training course on Youth Mental Health First Aid was held for adults in Bayside working or volunteering with youth.  This project was generously supported by Rotary Foundation with a District Grant, so the Club is very grateful for this financial assistance to offer this very worthwhile course for adults in our community. Over a full two-days, the course trainer shared the signs and profiles of a range of mental health problems that youth can exhibit and then, through case study videos and group discussion, outlined the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan. With almost 27% of young people aged 16-24 suffering from a mental health problem at least once, this course certainly helped to boost the participants’ understanding, confidence and competency to help young people who may be showing the signs of mental health problems or illness.

Further enquiries about this project can be directed to:

Christine Lindsey

Chair – Youth Committee

Email: Christine.lindsey@gmail.com

Donations to BayCISS for Disadvantaged Men

Following discussions with Karyn Doyle, manager of BayCISS, the Club sourced toiletries and associated products for men who make use of the centre’s services. In all, 50 packs were sourced, assembled and packed into bright Christmas carry bags by Geoff & Prue Tickner.

All were delivered to BayCISS on 6^th December.

BayCISS is the Bayside Community Information and Support Services organisation and assists people from the Bayside and Glen Eira Local Government areas.

The Club repeated the exercise it undertook last year which Karyn described as a huge success. The centre receives considerable help with donations of food, children’s toys and clothing, and women’s clothes and toiletries, BUT no toiletries for men.

Geoff Tickner and Karyn Doyle agreed on a list of suitable items which were purchased locally. The Club would like to acknowledge the support also of Simon Kenny Pharmacy who were exceedingly generous in their assistance.  

Hampton Rotary Club Donates to Generic Toilet Project in Indonesia

PDG Graeme Woolacott (D9810 Indonesia Coordinator) spoke at a club meeting on September 14 about a Generic Toilet Project in D3420 Indonesia. Our Club donated $500 to the project and DG Cindy Bachtiar has sent her gratitude together with images of the progress of the project.

Volunteers Needed for the Bayside Farmers’ Market

Our Club is currently recruiting volunteers to assist with our monthly Bayside Farmers’ Market.

The Bayside Farmers’ Market is the main fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Hampton and is one of the longest running and most popular markets in Melbourne. It is held on the 4th Saturday of every month at Trey Bit Reserve, Sandringham, located off Jetty Road near the Sandringham Yacht Club. The entry donations to the market all go to worthy causes, and contribute to funding Rotary projects, both in the local community as well as overseas.

By being a volunteer, you’ll get to be involved in a fantastic local community event as well as enjoy the opportunity to meet other wonderful locals. Many great friendships have started with volunteering at the market!

Volunteering at the market could include helping with the market set-up and pack-down, collecting gate donations or assisting with traffic management. The commitment is only 4 hours per month, so if you are interested, then please contact Jenny Fox at 0411 108 248 or email: admin@hamptonrotary.org.au

We’d love to hear from you and welcome you to our team of volunteers!

For more details about the market, you can also check out the market website here: https://BaysideFarmersMarket.com.au

Upcoming Events

Next Bayside Farmers’ Market – Saturday 18^TH December, 8am-1pm – Trey Bit Reserve, Sandringham

The December Bayside Farmers’ Market will be held a week earlier than usual, on Saturday 18^th December. This will be our final market for the year and will feature a visit from Santa as a special treat for the kids.

We look forward to seeing you at the market so join us to shop for the best in-season produce, as well as an amazing range of artisan and gourmet products….and all at a fabulous beachside location in Sandringham at Trey Bit Reserve.  The market runs from 8am-1pm.

More details about the market are also available at the market website: https://BaysideFarmersMarket.com.au

Other Upcoming Events

December 14 - Club Activity

Club members will meet at Liz Ware's home for a barbeque or Pizza (weather dependent). Bring your supermarket bags full of goods for the Salvos. Samantha from Bentleigh Salvation Army has indicated that a mix of Christmas goodies and staples would be appreciated. They will be delivered to the Salvos on December 15.

We will also be assembling bags of lolly treats for the Farmers' Market on December18.

December 21 - no meeting

January 4 - no meeting

January 11 - Board Meeting

January 18 - Social Event TBD

District News