SPOKE 'N' WORDS

Issue 18
15 January 2026
 
 
Join our dinner meeting most Wednesdays at The Beaconsfield Club, Holm Park, Beaconsfield, Victoria, Australia. 
 

6.30 pm for 7.00 pm

Enquire by Email:
Visitors and Rotarians are very welcome.
 
Welcome to our vibrant and relaxed Rotary Club, where community spirit thrives alongside a sense of ease and camaraderie. Picture a place where laughter mingles with purpose and friendships are forged through shared experiences and meaningful endeavours.
 

By the way, this Bulletin is Best Viewed Online 

 
President's Ramblings
Hello,
 
Hello and welcome back to Rotary for 2026. I hope you are enjoying a well deserved rest with friends and family. 
 
A big thank you to Di and Geoff who over the holidays picked up and delivered a food donation cage to Casey Central who are collecting food and school supplies to donate to Casey North Community Information Services to give to families in need before the school year starts.
 
Kraan BBQ
WHERE
9-10 Garden Crt, Narre Warren South
 
WHEN
Wednesday 21 January 2026 6:30pm - 9:30pm
 
WHAT
BYO Meat, Drinks, Nibbles, Chairs, Plates, Glasses and Cutlery and a Salad or Dessert to share.
 
You should all receive an invite soon, please let us know if you can attend. Let's kick off the new year in our usual style with fun, fellowship and friends!
 
Cemetery Clean Up 2026
The Annual Berwick Cemetery cleanup and BBQ. Celebrating 61 years of community service by this club to the Berwick and Harkaway Cemetery Trust.
 
WHERE
Berwick Cemetery – Corner Inglis & Buchanan Roads.(Please Park in Arch Brown Reserve near the tennis club (gateway through fence into cemetery) – entrance off Buchanan Rd.
 
WHEN
Wednesday 28 January 2026, from 5.30pm onwards.
 
WHAT
Paint wrought iron on old monumental graves.
Bring …gloves, tin to put paint in, old clothes. Paint and brushes supplied.
Clean up debris (including Xmas decorations) etc. from grounds.
Bring gloves. Wheelbarrows supplied.
Water roses and trees (weather dependant).
Bring watering cans. Hoses supplied.
Dead head roses.
Bring secateurs & gloves.
 
A BBQ dinner and drinks will be provided to our hard working crew.  
Bring a chair and a jumper (it can get cold when the sun goes down).
 
High Tea
Please see below an invitation from the Rotary Club of Sorrento who is organising a High Tea to be held at the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron on the 20 February 2026.
 
Thanks
 
Jen
 
Save the Day
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Kraan's BBQ
Jan 21, 2026
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
 
View entire list
Member Birthdays
Ted French
January 9
 
Louise Jackel
January 17
 
Penny Williams
January 25
 
Gary Evans
January 27
 
Louise Carter
January 28
 
Wendy Moseley
February 5
 
Sam McCurdy
February 11
 
David Button
February 25
 
Andrew Somers
February 27
 
Spouse Birthdays
Pat Edwards
February 16
 
Join Date
Ted French
January 17, 1985
41 years
 
Jim Wilson
January 27, 1994
32 years
 
Andrew Somers
January 28, 2021
5 years
 
Shoey Schumacher
February 2, 2005
21 years
 
Geoff Double
February 5, 2004
22 years
 
Michele Somers
February 8, 2023
3 years
 
Terry Pollock
February 21, 2024
2 years
 
Tim Moore
February 27, 1997
29 years
 
Our Sponsors
Executives & Directors
President
 
Treasurer
 
President Elect
 
Secretary
 
Immediate Past President
 
Rotary Foundation Chair
 
Membership
 
New Generations
 
Service Projects
 
Fundraising
 
Club Protection Officer
 
On to Conference
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Club Learning Facilitator
 

Ravishankar Dakoju pledged that he and his wife and fellow club member, Paola Dakoju, would donate approximately US$50 million (4.5 billion Indian rupees) to The Rotary Foundation.

 

Rotary International president-elect emphasizes effective action and ‘embracing the world with open arms’

 
 
Meet new friends
 
Rotary is a great way to expand your network.
Make a difference
 
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Continue learning
 
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