Our guest speakers were Charmaine Wong and Ryan Wong who we sponsored for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) which they completed over 6 days at Phillip Island, in July. They shared with us that there were a number of presentations and a number of workshops focusing on communication, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, leadership and the styles that are needed in different circumstances, and the importance of “connection” in business and with the community.
Charmaine told us that she has been somewhat reserved, and quiet, but the experiences she had developed her confidence amongst others and her big takeaway was that leadership styles should vary from “Being a Leader and a Role Model” to “Stepping back and being supportive of others to take the Lead”. Ryan said that he had appreciated more the importance of Community, Structure, and Communication in structuring your life. It was amazing to see the confidence they both showed in their presentations.
Our third Speaker was Harris McNamara, School Captain and Interact Leader at Doncaster East Secondary College, who recently chaired the District Interact Conference at Camberwell. Harris showed us the huge benefits of being involved in Interact, and in particular the importance of pursuing Environmental and Sustainability actions to make a real difference in the areas of carbon footprint and recycling. He also shared with us the practical actions that his school was taking in planting, mulching, recycling, and raising funds for those in need. His confident and extremely engaging presentation, was stunning.
Over the next two weeks we have some really great topics featuring speakers on the Rotary Foundation and International grants, and then a Projects night, when we will cover the final preparations for the Family Festival at Ruffey Lake Park, which kicks off on 25 October.
Remember all members need to have Working with Children Check as we have a number of active projects involving children. If you haven't had the chance to get your free volunteer WWC, the link below takes you to the site
Rotary Manningham City welcomes the Manningham Community, and the wider community, to the Manningham Family Festival and the Walk for Youth Mental Health on 25th October, to be held at Ruffly Lake Park in George Street, Doncaster East from 9am to 4pm. Parking is accessible from King Street. We have partnered with Scouts Victoria and the City of Manningham to promote the importance of Youth Mental Health in association with the Manningham Family Festival.
The Walk is to raise awareness and support this critical cause to de-stigmatise mental health. Bring the family along for a stroll around the park. Sign-in commences at 9.30am for a 10am start, pre-registered walkers will all get a free hat. To register, type Rotary Manningham City into your search engine to find the registration, and also register for the Scouts World Activity Zone, including the Festival Carnival for the kids.
Don't miss this fabulous Festival Day for families with a huge range of craft stalls, fresh produce, plants and more. We have a full-day program of entertainment with local groups performing drama, music and dancing. Lots of activities for kids with an animal farm, and a huge range of carnival rides. A range of food stalls featuring many cultures will be provided, so make sure you can spend a great day with the family. Check our facebook page for updates.
As indicated in the flyer Rotary Club of Box Hill Central are keen to hear from those who wish to participate in the WWW (We Cant Wait) trip this November.
This week at Beverly Hills Primary School, led by our Rotary Member Kathy Monley and the EarlyAct Team, we saw funds raised for Wheelchairs for Kids. Rotary Members Barry and Wally cooked over 700 sausages and raised over $5K. Well done everyone.
Registrations are now open for the Rotary South Pacific Conference 2026, 30 Oct–1 Nov in Melbourne. This year’s theme — People • Planet • Peace — brings together an exceptional lineup of speakers. Members will leave with practical tools, fresh ideas, and renewed confidence in Rotary’s future.
Clubs and members are encouraged to also consider:
·President’s Breakfast (Sat) — an energising session with incoming RI President Larry Lunsford, designed for current and future club leaders. Registration Link
·Rotary Foundation Masterclass (Fri) — with Past RI President and incoming TRF Trustee Chair Gordon McInally, focusing on mental health, impact, and how clubs can use Foundation grants more effectively. Registration Link
·Saturday Gala Dinner — Unmasked: Masquerade Ball A spectacular evening featuring performances from classical musicals, a professional jazz band, a Phantom‑themed surprise duet, and a dramatic all‑guest unmasking moment. Clubs may wish to book as a group via the main conference registration site.
·Friday night fellowship dinner – an informal opportunity to socialise with members from across the region. Registration Link
