Wednesday 23rd September 2026 (Sep. 20, 2026)

Volume 44, Edition 39 Wednesday 23rd September 2026

RI International President 26/27 – Olayinka Hakeem Babalola

District Governor 9815 – Emma Clark

Regional Community Group Four Leader – Gus Rozycki

President	Tim Manders
President Elect & Club Service
Vice President	Peter Johnson
Secretary	Ben Vallence
Treasurer	Ray Barrett
Attendance	Jeanette Jensen 0432 106 101
Membership	Paul Martin, Peter Johnson
Program	Bailey Hodgson
On to Conference	Tim Manders
Youth Protection	Ben Vallence
Club Bulletin	Bailey Hodgson jkrakowski007@gmail.com
Photography	Garry Byrne
Fellowship

Board Members

Youth: - Peter Johnson (Chair)

Vocation - Anita Wood (Chair)

International - Alan Henderson (Chair)

Community - Gavan Mcintyre (Chair)

Car Show - Paul Martin (Chair) Ray Barrett, Peter Johnson, Garry Byrne,

Alan Henderson, John Hasan, Max McWilliam,

Tim Manders, Anita Wood

Appointed as Life Members: Alan Sharp and Peter Manders

Appointed as Honorary members:

Fred Hadley, John Moody, Kevin Parker, Pam Sharp, Neil Tassell and Anne Wettenall

Current Honorary Members:

Warwick Bisley, David Gamble, Cliff Riseborough and Les Sharp

Calendar

WANDIN CUSTOM CAR & BIKE SHOW

!! SPONSOR OF THE WEEK !!

Hi Everyone,

This week we had the annual primary school speech contest hosted by Woori Yallock Primary School.

Yet again this was a truly inspiring event.

Seven pupils from Woori Yallock, Don Valley, Wandin North and Yering Primary Schools presented with some very close results.

A significant amount of preparation has gone into the speeches and the winner was Dixie-Schaak Taylor for her second year in a row. Dixie will go onto the district contest.

There was a great turn out of parents and friends, as well as fellow Rotarians to cheer on the kids.

This week we will be having a fellowship night at a location to be confirmed in this weeks agenda.

With the September school holidays in full swing, be safe out there and have fun in the sun.

Yours in Rotary,
Tim

All of our participants in the Primary School speech competition and

Our MC's Vice president of Wandin Rotary Peter Johnson on the Far right

and On the Far left Marlene Sinclair Of Toast Masters

From Left to right the winners are (3rd Place Charlie Mitchell, 2nd Place Amelia Hughes and 1st Place Dixi Schaak-Taylor)

Principal of the Host School Woori Yallock Primary

Oliver Thockloth

Our MC's Peter Johnson and Marlene Sinclair joined by

our Amazing three Toast Masters Judges

In the Fore Ground Judith Tanaloa,

On the Far left Annie Martin

And right next to her Ronece Dobrowolski

Thank you For being outstanding judges for this competition

ROMAC News

SOUTHERN REGION – AUG 2026 REPORT

R-1577 JOHN NAUKA (5 yo from Tanna Vanuatu, right club foot)

Arrived 8/09/2026 with his adopted mother, Mary Namal.

Hosted by Linda Koerner at Yarrambat.

First Dr’s appointment was on 12/08 for examination. X-ray & CT scan were ordered.

John had X-ray & CT scan done at Lake Imaging in North Melbourne on 13/08 Cost $356.75.

A 2nd Dr’s appointment was on 18/08. The doctor reviewed the X-ray result & CT-scan and decided on a treatment plan A total reconstruction of the foot would be required But prior to the operation, there will be 3 castings done to try stretching the foot as much as possible.

This will help make better result for the surgery.

John’s right foot was put in cast immediately on 18/08.

The next 2 castings will be done on 01/09 and 18/09, followed by a surgery approximately 2 weeks later.

The surgery is estimated to be in early Oct, to be confirmed.

There is a whole group of people in Melbourne supporting John & Mary. RC of Wandin is the sponsor club.

But during winter, most people in this club are away until end of Sept. I am doing what I can before I depart on 2/09 for an overseas trip for 2 months.

I have made arrangement with my Keilor East RC club President, Sally Armstrong, and a member of the Wandin RC, Warwick Bisleys, to stand-
in during Sept.

After this time, Gavan and Dianne McIntyre, D9815 Chair, will take over John’s case.

Despite my absence, I will be in regular contact via WhatsApp & email for John’s case.

John and Mary are very pleasant people. John was clinging onto Patrick (Linda’s husband) as soon as Patrick comes home from work.

An obvious sign of needing father’s love.

John was adopted by Mary when Mary saw him being abandoned by a mother who had been suffering a serious mental disorder, perhaps as the result of a marriage break-up.

John was left with not having parents or siblings.

John is a very lovable boy, easily adapting to new things, a quick learner and gives others his pleasant company.

His right foot now is in cast with a special shoe, making his walk more uncomfortable by the look. But John said he was OK.

Until the next appointment on 01/09, John and Mary are enjoying their time at Linda & Patrick’s house. Linda and Patrick are doing a great job, providing John and Mary and homey environment.

They have already taken them out on the Queenscliff ferry. They were amazed by wonderful new things.

(I will be away from 2/09 to 25/10)
Best regards to all.
Minh
20/08/2026

Please see below for update on john from Thursday 17th

These two grant outlines were submitted to our district for consideration. It is planned to conduct a forum at the club meeting on 5 August in order to flesh the WYHO outline into a full grant application.

Project Name: Wandin Youth Homeless Outreach (WYHO)

Youth homelessness in the outer east is often hidden, with young people couch-surfing or sleeping rough across semirural areas like Wandin, Lilydale, and Warburton.

WYHO proposes localized early intervention and prevention operating directly in the Yarra Ranges, focussing on a ‘dropin’ hub.

By partnering with existing regional networks, the program would provide on-the-ground assessment and mental health support.

This project has developed from Wandin’s leadership in the District 9815 Safe Communities Program.

Project Name: Primary School English and Rotary Speech Competition

We seek a grant to partially fund a regional primary school public speaking program which directly addresses Victorian Curriculum Level 5 and 6 English standards by teaching students how to plan, rehearse, and deliver presentations using varied vocal tones, language features, and non-verbal strategies, focussing on the annual Wandin Rotary Speech Contest.

We aim to assist the transition of classroom work into real-world civic engagement. The project embeds professional Toastmasters coaching in the 6 outereastern Primary Schools, culminating in a live showcase evaluated against the Rotary Four-Way Test.