Serving the Community since 1985

In Gear 2017—2018

ROTARY CLUB OF BEAUMARIS WEEKLY BULLETIN Number 33 12 March 2018

Presidents Report Next Meetings

We were back at Victoria Golf Club on Thursday evening, I THURSDAY 15 MARCH
hope everybody was satisfied with the room lay out and the SPEAKER: MARY/LEW RIMINGTON
quality of the meal. Mine was certainly very good. Our speak- TOPIC: MORDIALLOC BEAUMARIS CONSERVATION LEAGUE
er was David Spitteler assisted by his wife Yvonne from The CHAIR: CHRIS WERNER
Asylum Seekers’ Centre in Dandenong. David gave us a very AV: BRIDGET HAGE
real insight into some of the issues facing asylum seekers and CASH DESK: TBA & MARTIN FOTHERGILL
refugees and how his wholly volunteer organisation is able
provide practical help. THURSDAY 22 MARCH
Thank you and well done to PE Heather for taking the Presi- SPEAKER: JAN SIGLEY
dent's reins for the meeting on International Women’s Day. TOPIC: RECYCLED SOUND
CHAIR: ANTONY NIXON
We were also joined by an international visitor, Liz Millman AV: DAVID HONE
from the Rotary Club of Bangor, North Wales. Liz is planning CASH DESK: KERRIE GEARD & FRED HOFMANN
to spend some time here in Victoria visiting family and friends
and will be joining us at meeting whenever she can. Please THURSDAY 29 MARCH
say hello and make her welcome. She is also keen to foster FELLOWSHIP
links between organisations in our area and Beaumaris on An- TBA
glesey, North Wales (See separate article later in In Gear).
We had some good news in the week; we were successful in THURSDAY 5 APRIL
obtaining a District Grant of $1,200 to go towards the purchase SPEAKER: MELISSA KING
of clothing for the Nippers at Beaumaris Life Saving Club. This TOPIC: PARKINSONS VICTORIA
matches the amount that we have committed and will cover the CHAIR: MALCOLM SAWLE
purchase of 100 Rip Curl Rashies and subsequent printing AV: DAVID LEA
with includes the Beaumaris Rotary logo on the back. CASH DESK: CHARMAINE JANSZ & BOB MCARTHUR

I don’t yet have anything new about the Multi District Confer-
ence scheduled for 15th to 17th February 2019. It will be at the
Melbourne Convention Centre. The main conference program
is on Saturday 16th and the morning of 17th February. The pro-
visional cost is $225 with a discounted rate of $175 if you pay
before the end of November. First time attendees will get a
special rate of $125. There will be a gala dinner on the even- Unless stated otherwise venue is
ing of 16th February at the Convention Centre which will be a Victoria Golf Club 6.30 for 7.00
separate ticketed event. Prices are not yet available. Once I
have more information I will ask for expressions of interest so Contents
we can get an idea of the numbers likely to attend and think 1 Presidents Report
about our logistics. 2/3 Notices / Photos
4 This Week’s Speaker
The Farmers Market went well on Saturday despite the heat 5 Club Structure / Photo of Week
and a reduced number of vendors showing up. The gate re-
ceipts and BBQ income were both good and the raffle of the
two cycle helmets painted by Amunda Gorey raised $465
which will go to the End Trachoma 2020 project (picture Page
 R OT AR Y C L U B OF BE AU M AR IS B U L L ET IN – SER VIN G T H E COM M U N IT Y SINC E 1985

3). Thanks to everybody who helped out on Saturday

especially given the heat. It was hard work.
Martin, Peter, Jim and the BRSA team are continuing to
work on the organisation of the Bayside Charity Golf Day
to be held at Royal Melbourne in October. They have
done a great job in finding sponsors and we have on
board, Bayside Council, Jaguar/Landover, PKF and Brian
Lowe. As the day is now double the size it used to be, we
need to get more sponsorship. So if you know someone
or an organisation that could be interested please let Mar-
tin know so the team can follow up.
We will be helping out at the Beaumaris North Primary The Beaumaris Connection
School’s fete on 24th March. This is the school where weAt the last meeting, members of Beaumaris Rotary Club wel-
hold our farmers market so it is important that that we comed Rotarian Mrs Liz Millman (above) who is working with
support them. So far the offers of support have been Beaumaris Town Council in Anglesey, North Wales, to revive
short of what is needed. So please come along and give links between Beaumaris and Beaumaris. Liz brought a Rotary
your support. Banner and good wishes from President Syd and the Rotarians
from her Rotary Club of Bangor Gwynedd which covers the
Our speaker this week is Mary Rimington from the Mordi- Beaumaris area.
alloc and Beaumaris Conservation League. The league is
very focused on the health of our creeks, wetlands and During the past few months Liz and colleagues from Learning
Links International celebrated Australia Day with a Coffee Morn-
coast. Mary will be assisted by her son Lew (Bendigo
ing held at Beaumaris Town Hall, serving Australians treats:
Bank). If you want a flavour of what they are about you home made Lamingtons, ANZAC biscuits and Fairy Bread! The
can download a PDF of their latest excellent Coast & response was good and another event was held in February to
Creek booklet at: http://www.mbcl.org.au/coast-creek- set up Australia Links, see www.spanglefish.com/australialinks.
booklet/ The booklet goes into the history, and the fauna
and flora of our area, has suggested wetland and fore- Liz had spent the afternoon with a contact in Beaumaris and
started to explore and visited different organisations who may
shore walks and a particularly interesting section on the be interested to be involved with reviving the link. She is espe-
Beaumaris Cliffs. I thoroughly recommend it. cially keen to meet anyone who was involved in the original link
Enjoy your week. set up with Bayside City Council. The Sandringham and Dis-
trict Historical Society are interested and Liz will be at their Cen-
tre by Sandringham Library from 2-3pm on Thursday 15th
Yours in Rotary March if anyone would like to call in and find out more.
Liz hopes to be able to attend Beaumaris Rotary Club meetings
Chris over the next few months while she is staying with her daughter
in Victoria and she can be contacted on 0451 638 220 or
email: lizmillman@yahoo.co.uk.

237 Bay Road,

Cheltenham VIC 3192
03 8535 7980

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R OT AR Y C L U B OF BE AU M AR IS B U L L ET IN – SER VIN G T H E COM M U N IT Y SINC E 1985

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 R OT AR Y C L U B OF BE AU M AR IS B U L L ET IN –
Speaker: David Spitteler
Topic: Asylum Seekers Centre, Dandenong
David Spitteler is the facilitator of the Asylum Centre and a Lay
Pastoral Minister, he has Diplomas in Theology and Ministry.
David immigrated from India in 1947 and spent 30 years work-
ing with Telstra before finding his retirement vocation.
The Asylum Seekers Centre is a wholly voluntary (no paid
staff) interdenominational Christian response to the needs of
asylum seekers and refugees. It is currently staffed by 201vol-
unteers consisting of 172from church groups and the communi-
ty, 6 asylum seekers, and 3 students.
The Centre is located at Jesus House Level 1 Hub Arcade,
Dandenong 3175
The centre assists asylum seekers (On-shore applicants for
refugee status) with food packs & Christmas/Easter gift vouch-
ers.
They also run a “Free Op Shop” to assist asylum seekers &
refugees with items such as blankets, clothing, computers,
crockery, cutlery, donnas, furniture, linen, sheets and towels.
The Centre also refer clients to other agencies such as the
Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, Foundation for Survivors of
Torture & Trauma, Lentarra Uniting Care, Legal Aid, Migrant &
Refugee Centres, The Red Cross, Refugee & Immigration Le-
gal Centre and Urban Neighbours of Hope.
The Centre limits its scope to aiding asylum seekers in the
Dandenong and Casey area due to resource limits.
Since February 6th, 1997, the Centre has applied donations of
about $720K to assist 4281 Asylum Seekers ((2,819 Male &
1,462 Female) from 69 countries, ranging from Afghanistan to
Zimbabwe. Currently the Centre has 437 registered partici-
pants of whom 185 are children. 139 are Rohingyan Muslims.
SER VIN G T H E COM M U N IT Y SINC E 1985
Most of the people they assist are fleeing persecution from
their home country. Some of the people they have assisted
now work in the centre supporting while others have created
their own small-scale businesses. Some are highly qualified.
Single asylum seekers receive $479.53 per fortnight from Cen-
trelink compared to a single Age Pensioner who receives
$894.40.
The people attending the Centre are on a Temporary protec-
tion Visa
What is a Temporary Protection Visas (TPV)?
A Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) is one of two types of tem-
porary protection visas available to those claiming asylum who
come by boat. This is part of the Australian Government’s cur-
rent policy that people who come by boat and claim asylum
should not be given permanent protection.
The visa provides protection for three years (compared to the
five years available under the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa).
What is a Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV)?
A Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) is one of two types of
temporary protection visas available to those claiming asylum
who come by boat. This is part of the Australian Government’s
current policy that people who come by boat and claim asylum
should not be given permanent protection.
The visa provides protection for five years (compared to the
three available under the TPV). Its main feature is that people
who hold it must intend to work or study in a part of ‘regional
Australia’.
The SHEV does provide pathways to other types of visas but
you needed a PhD in Bureaucracy to understand them let
alone summarize them.
To read more about Asylum Seeker issues from one side see:
https://www.asrc.org.au/
To see the other side see:
https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan/border-protection
David, wife Yvonne and John Manks;
drawing the raffle.
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ROT ARY CL UB OF BEAUM ARIS BUL LET IN– SERVING T HE COMMU NIT Y SINCE 1985

RCOB Club Structure 2017 - 2018 Club Service & Administration.

RCOB Board. Attendance & Dining. Heather Chisholm
President. Chris D’Arcy Foundation. John Manks
President Elect. Heather Chisholm Program. Lynda Doutch
Hon Secretary. James Glenwright Membership. Adrian Culshaw
Hon Treasurer. Richard Jones Fellowship. Megan Glenwright
Projects Director. Roy Seager Auditor. Tony Phillips
Immediate PP. Malcolm Sawle Club Protection Officer. Ken Mirams
Independent Director. Vivienne Zoppolato Communications. David Lea
Social Media. Kerry, Lynda & Trish
International. John Sime (Chair) Archivist. John Beaty
Fred Hofmann John Manks Almoners. Lois Lindsay, Charmaine Jansz
Ken Mirams Ross Philips Marketing & PR Peter Flude
Robert McArthur Clem Quick Club Photographer. Max Darby
Youth. Chris Martin (Chair) Community. Chris Werner (Chair)
Jan Cooper Lois Lindsay Mary Cunnington Max Darby
Tony McKenna David Rushworth Martin Fothergill Kerry Geard
Vivienne Zoppolato Bridget Hage Tony Phillips Roy Downes
Event Management. Mary Sealey John Beaty
Jim O’Brien Martin Fothergill Richard Shermon Chris Mara
Robert McArthur Geoff Stringer Market Management.
Antony Nixon Vivienne Zoppolato (co-ordinator)
District Service. Heather Chisolm Ken Mirams
Youth Services. Tony McKenna Greg Every Peter Flude
Membership. Trish Smyth Indigenous.
Assistant Governor. Ken Mirams David Hone (Chair)
Heather D’Arcy (Trachoma)
“New” Beaumaris Gaol

The foreboding frontage of the

new Beaumaris Gaol where
Welsh convicts committed of
petty crimes were held for
transportation to Australia.

Photo by Rotarian Liz Millman

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