Stories

What a great day it was to farewell the Geelong Waterfront Makers and Growers Market, sunshine, light winds and a huge crowd onsite throughout the day.

Stories were shared by stall holders and visitors who came especially to say farewell to this long standing and very much appreciated market.

Colin shared a short video which updated the Garrthalala project the Club was involved in starting in 2006. It was a major project for the club and one that is dear to the hearts of those who were involved.  It was as great to hear from the graduating students in the video and to see recognition of the work done by the Club with this plaque below.

Highlighted in the photos below are the buildings constructed by the Club members:

1. Primary school classroom initially built at the start of the project and 
2. Where one classroom was added to an already built 2 classroom complex.

This is more about the education program conducted at the Garrthalala site taken directly from their Facebook page:

“The Learning on Country Program is a collaborative initiative between Aboriginal ranger groups and several of Territory schools across the Top End, engaging remote Indigenous students in education, with a focus on ‘both ways’ learning through the combination of curriculum and culture.

The success of the program is attributed to students boarding on country at school during the week and returning to their homelands at weekends to fulfill cultural obligations rather than just hanging out as teenagers often do!

This program is a foundational element of Laynhapuy Homelands School's Makarraṯa Senior Secondary program. Check out this special video celebrating the programs support towards the success of Laynhapuy’s 2024 school leavers.”

Learn more:
You can see the full video, which runs for 3.5 minutes, here, (please note it will take you to a Facebook video) 
 

Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of our peace centres. 

Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centres program develops the capacity of peace and development professionals to become effective catalysts for peace. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.

Since 2002, 1,800 fellows trained now working in 140 Countries, many serve as leaders in governments; NGOs; education and research institutions; peacekeeping and law enforcement agencies; and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.

Program Vision

• Sustainable peace
• Encompassing a network of peacebuilders and community leaders
• Dedicated to preventing & resolving conflicts around the globe

Program Levels
Master’s program:

• Those near the start of their careers
• 50 fellows per year (10 per center)
• 15-24 month course with an applied field experience

Certificate program:

• Proven peace and development leaders
• 80 fellows selected next year (40 per center) 
• One-year blended learning program intended for working professionals with a social change initiative

Peacebuilding Education Partners:

Eligibility Restrictions

• Active Rotary members, or Rotaract members who are also Rotary members, and their spouses or lineal descendants are not eligible
• Rotaract club members, who are not also Rotary club members, are eligible to apply.
• Rotary Peace Fellows who have completed the certificate program or a Global Grant Scholarship must wait 3 years between the end date of that program and their intended start date for the fellowship.
• Candidates must have at least 3 years between the completion of their most recent academic degree program (undergraduate or graduate degree) and their intended start date for the fellowship. Candidates currently enrolled or who will be enrolled this year in an undergraduate or graduate program are not eligible to apply.

What can we do as Rotarians?

• Know someone who would be a great peace fellow? Submit their name and email in our referral form and they will receive more information. 
• Use our promotional resources available on the Rotary Peace Fellowships webpages to promote the program within your communities and networks.
• Follow the Rotary Peace Centers Facebook page and share posts and application announcements.
• Recruit local candidates and help them apply. Submit a club/district recommendation form within their application
   

In the final week of February further Rotary toilet block site inspections have taken place in Arambol & Dabal in the Goa region of India. At these inspections (see photos of one of the new toilet blocks & rendered internal work) the contractor was given levels for the tiles, urinals and other finishing work.

Nester Sequeira, Rotarian and supervisor of this international project, states he is happy with the progress. “All the civil work is now complete. What remains to be done is the tiling, plumbing, electrical work, fixing of the doors / windows and the painting,” he said.

The British partners in the project are scheduled to visit Goa from March 17 – 20 and at which time one of the toilet blocks is scheduled to be completed. This project has come about with funds from Geelong Central, Panaji in Goa India, Yarmouth Haven in the UK, District support and a Rotary WASH (Water Sanitation Hygiene) Global Grant.

Recently members of the club completed the loading of a 40ft container with 11 playgrounds which will soon be on its way to Zimbabwe. The container will also include additional items such as 4 wheelchairs which are destined to a shelter for the disabled. These were sourced from RARE (formerly DIK) in North Geelong.

The Rotary Club of Geelong Central made a notable contribution to the 2025 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race by operating their food van at the event. As one of the key community service organisations, they provided a vital service to spectators, athletes, and event staff, offering a variety of food and refreshments throughout the race weekend.

The presence of the Rotary food van not only supported the race's atmosphere but also demonstrated the club’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and fundraising. Proceeds from the food sales are directed towards the club's charitable initiatives, which include supporting local projects and organisations.

The Rotary Club’s involvement in such a significant event highlights its important role in both the local community and at large-scale events. Volunteers from the club worked tirelessly to ensure smooth operations and positive interactions with visitors. This participation further solidified the Rotary Club of Geelong Central as a dedicated and active force in promoting community spirit and charitable work.

October 2025 is the 100th anniversary of the first Rotary Club being formed in Geelong, from which all other local Rotary Clubs are descended, either directly, or from one of the Clubs formed by the Rotary Club of Geelong – the original club.

To mark the anniversary, there will be a dinner dance held at the Italian Social Club on 18th of October. Please keep this date available and place it in your diary. More details to follow.

There is also a fund being established with the Geelong Community Foundation which aims to raise $100,000, which will be perpetual, and proceeds from the fund will go to supporting the local community.  Clubs are being asked to contribute to the fund, but it is also open to business, members, and the public. Contributions are tax deductible.

Finally, a brochure is being produced to record 100 projects that have been completed over the last 100 years by local Rotary Clubs. Each club is being requested to nominate its projects for this brochure.

Please contact President Don if you would like more information

Donation of Fridge

The club donated $1,384 to Outpost Inc. for the purchase of a fridge freezer which you can see being delivered in the photo below. 

The Outpost Inc: Feeding those in need since 1990.

The Rotary Club of Geelong Central welcomes Club members and community members and friends to join our next scheduled volunteering events!

Contact us here!

In recent weeks Rotary’s global funding has finally been received by the Panaji Rotary Club in Goa, India. Unfortunately there have been some logistical issues, but now it seems the plans to build the toilet blocks and renovated facilities will shortly commence. Regular updates will be made over the coming months as the construction gets underway.Geelong Central’s financial commitment to the project was $3200. Last week while in Sarawak, Malaysia, a member of ours read an article about the Rotary Club of Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunie which last month completed a vital water project connecting running water to a remote village in Sarawak.

The connection involved installing a 1.5 kilometer pipeline to the remote village – giving the 75 residents across 30 households a steady clean supply of clean water. Sixteen Rotarians and volunteers travelled four hours to reach the village. The news article featured in the Borneo Bulletin stated “Access to clean water is a fundamental human right. “ Our team was determined to overcome the logistical challenges of working in such a remote location to ensure the people of Pa Adang have this basic necessity,” the club statement said. This is just one of many projects Rotary has been able to assist a group of people in a remote part of the world.  

Did you know that over 2 million people are impacted by domestic violence in Australia? The figures are confronting. It’s 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced domestic violence by the age of 15. It’s a complicated situation, that is impacting many. As part of the Say No To Domestic Violence working group in Rotary, we have been made aware of DV Safe Phone. Their vision is to get a safe phone into the hands of every victim of domestic violence in need. They have helped 5,500 people in need in their first 3 years and looking to positively impact 20,000 by 2026.

If you want to help, please get in touch with Tom Summons (tom@goodbusinessbetter.com) to donate an old phone, or you can find out more and donate directly via https://dvsafephone.org/

During his recent visit to the Philippines, Don met with clubs from 3 other districts:

• Rotary Club of Multinational Manila (District 3810), who installed 1 x playground in Alfonso,
• Rotary Club of Binan (District 3820), who installed 3 x playgrounds in the Laguana region (with 1 still to be installed),
• Rotary Club of Angeles Kulit (District 3790), who are soon to receive 13 playgrounds for the Subic Bay/Angeles/Pampanga area.

We visited the playgrounds originally from Barwon Valley School, Girton Reserve and Ibis Reserve.

The meeting was facilitate so that the Rotary Club of Angeles Kulit was able to learn from the experience of the other clubs – what worked well & what they would do differently next time.

Of particular not is that the Australian playgrounds are larger than the land allows, and where possible, the playgrounds are being split into multiple playgrounds. Therefore the 5 playgrounds sent will be able to be installed in 8 or 9 schools.

He also met with the District Governor & District Secretary of District 3810, who were keen to explore the possibility of more playgrounds, along with the Principal of Alfonso Central School (which includes the regional Special Education students), who was keen to receive playgrounds.  

Every year for the last several years the Rotary Club has donated $1000 to provide food for the very poor in the Philippines, and Don took part in many of these food distribution activities, which included:

Dec. 12 (Tuesday)

Fishgate Foundation Amuyong, Alfonso – rice for 16 poor families assisted.

Social Welfare Department, Alfonso and rice/canned goods/hygiene products support to 4 Children under her care (orphans).

Dec. 13 (Wednesday)

Brgy. Amuyong Daycare X'mas party - 43 poor families assisted.

Dec. 14 (Thursday)

Special Education (disabled) X'mas party, Alfonso Central School - rice to 120 families – educational toys for the school. 

Tartaria, Silang - rice to 100 former farming families who were thrown off their land (after 6 generations) as no land titles.

Dec. 15 (Friday)

100th Sheep Foundation X’mas party in Dasmarinas – support to 80 families.

Rice, toy and financial support to Esther's family in General Trias.

Dec. 16 (Saturday)

Brgy. Taywanak Ibaba, Alfonso X'mas - rice to 71 families.

Dec. 17 (Sunday)

Visit Aeta community in Batangas - rice to 76 families.

Dec. 18 (Monday) 

Tondo High School, Metro Manila X'mas party - rice to 100 families.

The above activities supported 608 families, so our $1000 (along with donations from others) was made to go a long way in the Philippines to help families in need.

In Australia, Domestic and Family Violence is disturbingly common. It is one of the drivers of homelessness among women, children and men. Domestic and Family Violence crosses all boundaries, race, age, financial status, education, sex and the suburb you may live in.

Many victims of Domestic and Family Violence will never report their experience. With many incidents unreported, Domestic, and Family Violence may be much worse than we think.

The 16th days of activism runs from the 25th of November to the 10th of December. The Rotary Club of Geelong Central's market theme will be themed around Say No to Domestic Violence.

You are also welcome to join us at Cook and Conversation! Held at the Lotus Kitchen in the Cloverdale community centre, 5:30-7:30pm on Wednesday the 6th of November.

• We presented Ken Petzerides with a Paul Harris Fellowship, for his fantastic work with Shoulder to Shoulder

• We presented Jan McGowan with a Paul Harris Fellowship, for her work with the Christ Church Meals program for the homeless.