Welcome to the first edition of our refreshed Pascoe Vale Post.
You may notice that things look a little different. Over recent weeks, I’ve been working with Reece and Faye on a new approach to the newsletter that better integrates with our website and makes it easier to share news, photos and stories from across the club.
The idea is simple. Articles are published on the website throughout the week, and members receive a weekly email bringing together the latest club news and upcoming events. We’ll also include a link to the club calendar so it’s easy to keep track of what’s coming up.
Members are encouraged to submit articles and photos to bulletin@pascoevalerotary.org.au. To be included in the following Tuesday’s edition, submissions should be received by 12 noon on Tuesday.
This approach gives us a more modern and accessible newsletter, works well on phones, tablets and computers, and helps us better showcase the great work happening across our club and community.
In future, this update will normally come from our President, Aaron. For this first edition, however, I’m helping out while we get the new format up and running.
As always, we’d love your feedback.
Grant Godino
President Elect
Club Assembly Highlights
Thursday night’s meeting was a Club Assembly, providing members with updates on the many projects and activities taking place across the club.
One of the key updates was on Gerard and Colin’s upcoming trip to Cambodia, where they will work alongside local communities to help repair and maintain school buildings and equipment. Members also heard about proposed support for Interplast and ongoing discussions about opportunities to assist communities in Nepal through Rotary partnerships.
Several community projects were also discussed. The Community Art Exhibition Fundraser continues to perform strongly, with more than $6,000 raised to date, while planning is underway for the 2027 STEM Stars Awards, with early feedback from local schools proving very positive. Members also received updates on the Community Mobility Bank and community connection initiatives currently being developed.
Youth Service continues to be a busy area of activity. Planning is already underway for 2027 hearing tests at Corpus Christi, future RYLA and Youth Exchange opportunities, and the expansion of the successful Solar Buddies program to additional schools. The Assembly also heard updates on the Peace Pole program, which remains one of the club’s signature community initiatives.
District 9790 Conference
Planning is underway for the District 9790 Conference in Corowa next March.
District conferences are a great opportunity to learn, connect with Rotarians from across the district and share ideas that can strengthen our clubs and communities.
The club has reserved a number of accommodation options, including king rooms, queen and single rooms, and family rooms. If you’re interested in attending and would like accommodation, please contact Peter Wilson as soon as possible.
You can find out more and register here:
🔗 https://rotary9790.org.au/sitepage/conference-2026-2027/welcome
Congratulations to Sara
Congratulations to Rotarian Sara Murdock, who was recently recognised with the Merri-bek Honouring Women Award 2026.
Sara was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the community through both her pharmacy and Rotary service. Her work includes mental health presentations, community health education, vaccination clinics, free health checks and mentoring women in business and pharmacy.
Sara’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of others is a wonderful example of service above self, and we are proud to have her as a member of our club.
Another Peace Pole Milestone
Tomorrow afternoon, members are invited to attend a Peace Pole Ceremony at:
Coburg West Primary School
185 Reynard Street, Coburg
2.30 pm
A special congratulations goes to Deb, whose dedication and leadership continue to drive this project forward. With tomorrow’s installation, we will have 26 Peace Poles in the ground, taking us beyond the halfway point towards our goal of 50 Peace Poles for 50 Years.
Thank you, Deb, for helping create a lasting legacy for our community.
This Week’s Speaker
This week we are delighted to welcome Fay from Mercy Ships.
Mercy Ships operates the world’s largest charitable hospital ships, providing free surgical care and medical training in countries where healthcare is limited. Their work changes lives while helping build stronger local health systems for the future.
It promises to be an inspiring presentation and a wonderful example of service making a global difference.
All Hands on Deck
This weekend we celebrate an important milestone with our 50th Anniversary Community Celebration.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to planning and preparation. The details are covered in the articles below, but the message remains simple: all hands on deck.
Whether you’re helping with set-up, staffing an activity, welcoming visitors or lending a hand wherever needed, your contribution will help make the day a success and showcase the impact our club has had over the past 50 years.
Thank you for everything you do for our club and community.
This weekend is another opportunity to Create an Impact. 💙💛