February saw the club meet at the Racecourse Inn, first meeting of the month our committee meeting evening. For March we will still meet at Rice Village however the Inn is under renovation so we will meet in the bar off the newly renovated dining room. It will be a BBQ catered by ourselves. Note any profit made from these self catered evenings go towards a discount in your annual membership. So please be understanding and complimentary to the chefs. Next week also kicks off our all important footy tipping competition. Frank will be managing this throughout the season so tips into Frank before 5pm of first game. Family all welcome to participate. $10 per head. No tips submitted, you will get away teams.
This was followed by a wet night at Town & Country Pizza. Frank the proprietor, a strong supporter of local community and has been a supporter of ours in the past so always good to return the goodwill.
Our joint meeting with Torquay (whom we chartered) rounded out the month’s meetings with a very enjoyable & successful evening held. The room at White Eagle House was perfect for the occasion. Good fellowship was had by all with all tables mixed with members from both clubs. Torquay inducted their latest member who in the future we will invite to one of our meetings as her story is a very interesting one. President Kelly sought the contact details of House of Hope so the potential for another joint meeting. Torquay have also successfully sourced Ryla candidates for both their club and ours to sponsor for 2026.
Our first BBQ for 2026 was on Thursday 26th. Thankyou to all who volunteered their time to assist. A successful day made $840.
Our BBQ trailer which has been inactive for many years was taken to Ritchie Bros in Corio. A Canadian company they are the world’s largest auctioneer. It is being sold, not auctioned on Iron Globe site with a starting price of $9,500. Ritchie Brother’s will take a commission of 7.5% of sale price. Special thanks to Heather Perkins for removing all the Rotary advertising. Let’s hope we get a quick sale.
The month ahead has two opportunities to bring along your partner’s. 11th March a social evening has us at Davidson’s restaurant and March 25th will see us back in the dining room at Rice Village (catered by Barb) with a guest speaker from one of our sponsored community ventures.
President Bill
Committee updates
From Paul
I attended Rotary Barwon Regional Group meeting last Saturday. Many agenda items but one of interest as Highton RC have been successful in obtaining a grant for $23,900 for the continuance of their nature strip beautification project. President Bill has committed our club to 30 hours of manpower. More info to follow at a later date once they are ready to proceed.
From John
Ryla 2026 - Kangaroobie 12 -17th April
It was shared at our joint meeting with Torquay that 10 students attached to Barwon sports academy are keen to attend & seeking sponsorship. The Barwon Sports Academy see this as a vital step in their development as not all will make it to the elite level of sport and it is important they all build life skills.
Our club will sponsor one student @ $700. We now await details from the District committee as to whom we have been allocated.
From Ken
Constitution changes require myself, the Treasurer to compile a six monthly financial report. Such report 1/7/25 to 31/12/25 shall ne emailed to you all. I will discuss in detail at our committee meeting 4/3.
In case you missed it
Rotary Foundation "Polio-Free World" Service Awards announced
David Anderson, RRFC, with acknowledgement to Rotary media — February 12, 2026
The Rotary Foundation Service Award for a Polio-Free World recognizes Rotarians for outstanding, active service to polio eradication. It honours individuals and is not based on personal donations but on advocacy, fundraising, and volunteer efforts. And two of the awards went to Rotarians in Zone 8.
The Rotary Foundation Trustees established the Service Award for a Polio-Free World in November 1992 to recognise members who have made outstanding contributions to Rotary’s polio eradication efforts. Members can nominate individuals for either a regional (maximum ten awardees per region) or the international service award, of which ten are awarded annually. Sixty Rotarians received the 2024-25 released recently on social media.
Gary Newton from the Rotary Club of Geelong East, District 9780, has been honored for his outstanding contribution to Rotary’s polio eradication efforts. A polio survivor himself, Gary became a Rotarian after he had spoken as a member of the Board of Polio Australia at two District Conferences in the first half of 2018, Sale (then District 9820) and Mt Gambier (D 9780).
He has done what many thought was impossible or at the very least highly unlikely and that is to make the time and effort, as a polio survivor, to participate in a polio eradication campaign in India.
Since joining Rotary, Gary has taken every opportunity to promote and support Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign both locally within District 9780 and nationally across Australia.
Amstrong Creek Probus turned one!
Our club sponsored the start up of Armstrong Creek Probus Club which launched in February 2025. After an initial expression of interest of 70 people their membership has settled at 57 and forms a vital way for older people to maintain a social connection with others following retirement. Congratulations Probus!
Club uniform
If anyone requires a replacement piece of uniform we have the following available, free of charge. Please contact Christine if you want anything.
Caps - 7
Jackets - 3 @ XL, 1 @ 2XL
Polo Tops - 1 @ SML LS, 1 @ SML SS, 1 @ L, 2 @ XL, 4 @ 2XL
Bayside RC & East Geelong RC
Next Tuesday at a special general meeting they will vote on a merger of the two clubs.
Until next month............
