A roster will be circulated soon. There is potential to involve Genazzano students as part of a Rotary promotional initiative. I will follow up on this opportunity.
BALWYN CENTENARY GRANTS
Report presented by Kevin Walsh – funding has been approved.
—Glenferrie Rotary – $30,000:
Solar-Powered Water Reticulation Project for Primary School, Sierra Leone
The project aims to establish a comprehensive water storage and reticulation system at Aladura Primary School A solar-powered pump will draw water from the existing well into newly installed rainwater storage tanks. The system will also include the installation of drinking fountains and porcelain wash troughs in the school’s two existing toilet blocks.
—Morisset Rotary – $10,000:
Bridging the Digital Divide: Morisset High School Laptop Project
The Laptop Project aims to provide digital devices to students at Morisset High School whose families are unable to afford suitable technology for learning. In its first year, the project plans to supply 100 laptops, supported by funding from community organisations, local businesses, and private donors. The Lake Macquarie region has a high proportion of Aboriginal and Pacific Islander students, and currently, only 25% of students have sole access to a laptop for their studies.
It was noted that application numbers were low this round. Future rounds should be better promoted, including via Rotary Down Under through an article and advertisement.
CLUB AUDITOR
Members are invited to suggest potential new auditors. Please forward names to Cath Stahel by mid-May.
SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATIONS —Queensland Flood Relief Appeal
The Club will contribute a total of $50,000 to the District 9560 Disaster Fund, made up of $27,600 raised during the Market’s Special Flood Relief Day and an additional $22,400 allocated from Club funds.
—Short Film Grant – Millie
The Board approved a grant of $22,100 to the charity To Be Loved Network to support the production of Millie, an educational film designed for professionals working with families experiencing high-conflict separations, as well as for parents themselves. All screenings of Millie will acknowledge the support of Balwyn Rotary
The Board discussed the need for improved visibility, branding, and oversight of all Balwyn Rotary grant projects.
BALWYN ROTARY SATELLITE CLUB
The Board has passed a motion to establish a Satellite Club. A general meeting of the Rotary Club of Balwyn will be held on Tuesday, 20th May at 6:45pm at Green Acres Golf Club to vote on the proposal.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Brian Pollock has resigned from the Club after more than 20 years of outstanding service. Brian has been a fantastic contributor and will be greatly missed. We hope to continue seeing him at future Club events.
We look forward to welcoming Bo Cui as a new member. Induction is pending.
4-WAY TEST PUBLIC SPEAKING SHOWCASE
Seven schools, including two high schools, are participating in the preliminary finals. Volunteers are needed to assist with the Presentation Night on May 27th. The Club will cover the meal costs for each participating student, their teacher, and one parent.
BULLETIN PUBLICATION TEAM
The team includes: Cath Stahel, Angela Ciliberto, and Kevin Walsh.
06-MAY: CLIFFORD COOKSON-PROTECT YOURSELF: STAYING SAFE FROM SCAMS
Join us for an engaging presentation by Cliiford Cookson (Tech instructor at ReadyTechGo), who will walk us through the latest scam tactics, how to recognise the warning signs, and what to do if you—or someone you know—gets caught up in one.
TRIVIA NIGHT BRINGS LAUGHTER, COMPETITION, AND COMMUNITY
Our recent Trivia Night was a fantastic success, drawing a great crowd, including a strong contingent from the North Balwyn Bowls Club and their Bridge team. The atmosphere was buzzing with friendly competition and laughter.
Dave, our Trivia Master, was in fine form — delivering a set of challenging yet fair questions that kept everyone on their toes. By the end of the night, three teams emerged as top contenders, with Ian Davidson’s family team taking out the top spot. Clearly, there are some bright sparks in that family!
Delicious pizzas, expertly ordered by Marc Mirams, were a crowd-pleaser, and the NBBC barman kept spirits high with excellent service throughout the evening. It was a terrific night of fun, food, and fellowship — a true Balwyn Rotary community celebration.
ANGELA CILIBERTO
1. What’s the best strategy when you don’t know the answer in trivia?
A) Loud confidence
B) Whisper and hope no one hears
C) Blame the question
D) Randomly shout “42”
Answer: A) Loud confidence (bonus points for being confidently wrong)
2. What’s a surefire sign your trivia team is struggling?
A) You have more team names than correct answers
B) You start bribing the quizmaster with pizza
C) You’re arguing about whether Pluto still counts
D) You answered “Avril Lavigne” to every music question
Answer: Trick question — it’s all of them
3. What should you never do during trivia night?
A) Yell “Bingo!”
B) Google answers under the table
C) Blame the guy who said he was good at geography
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above (unless you want to be banned forever)
4. Where did the word “trivia” originally come from?
A) A board game invented by Socrates
B) A Roman rest stop where people shared gossip
C) Latin for “three roads” — a meeting place for casual talk
D) Ancient Twitter
Answer: C (But honestly, D feels real these days.)
HELPING MEND THE HEARTS AND PROPERTIES OF THOSE IMPACTED BY FLOOD
Chris has joined fellow volunteers in Rochester, offering hands-on support to locals affected by the floods — helping with everything from gardening to painting.
CHRIS FINLEY
SUOMESTA RAKKAUDELLA (from Finland with Love)
Having already experienced Rotary through RYPEN and volunteering at the Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway, Pin Yi saw applying for the Rotary Youth Exchange program as a natural next step. Driven by a sense of adventure and a strong alignment with Rotary’s values of service, leadership, and global citizenship, she embraced the opportunity to live in Finland for a year — an experience that proved transformative in every way. Balwyn Rotary enthusiastically supported Pin Yi’s application to join the Rotary Youth Exchange program
While initially met with surprise and hesitation from her family, support quickly grew as Pin Yi’s dream began to take shape. That dream took her from a sweltering Melbourne summer straight into the icy grip of a Finnish winter — a dramatic shift that included plenty of slips on snow and a steep learning curve on how to survive and thrive in sub-zero temperatures. Yet, what began as a challenge soon became a source of joy, as the beauty of snowfall and the stillness of the white landscape revealed their quiet magic.
Language proved to be another early hurdle. Immersed in a sea of Finnish — a language completely unfamiliar — the first few months were isolating, but also deeply educational. With patience and persistence, she began to understand and eventually converse, learning to appreciate not just the words but the nuances of human connection beyond language.
School life in Finland also brought new perspectives. More independent and relaxed than in Australia, the Finnish education system emphasized student autonomy, with flexible timetables, informal teacher-student relationships, and even free school lunches. The cultural shift, from calling teachers by their first names to embracing the slower pace of daily life, was both eye-opening and refreshing for Pin Yi.
Bucket-list experiences added to the richness of the year — from feeding reindeer in the snow to discovering the unexpected serenity of ice fishing on a frozen lake. But the crown jewel was witnessing the Northern Lights, a moment Pin Yi describes as peaceful, otherworldly, and life-affirming.
This wasn’t Pin Yi’s first international experience — with earlier chapters spent in Malaysia and Australia — and each country has left a mark: Malaysia for its warmth and food culture, Australia for its laid-back lifestyle, and Finland for its connection to nature and deep calm. Together, these experiences have nurtured a truly global mindset.
Sharing the exchange journey with her sibling — who was also on exchange in Denmark — brought a unique bond. Despite being in different countries, they navigated similar challenges, and late-night conversations comparing host families, cultures, and snow-filled adventures brought comfort and a deeper connection.
Looking ahead, the lessons learned — adaptability, open-mindedness, confidence, and cultural appreciation — will continue to guide her With a new sense of self and an even greater curiosity about the world, her exchange experience has not only changed her life but opened a lifetime of possibilities.
CATH STAHEL
CSM REPORT: 20-APR-25
A modest $1,500 was raised — but then again, it was Easter Sunday! With many people away on holidays, the quieter-than-usual atmosphere was evident in the light customer turnout throughout the morning.
As Officer in Charge, I was fortunate to have two seasoned OICs, Philip L. and Ken McQ., assisting me bright and early. Of course, they tried to tell me how to do the job — but let’s just say I stuck to my own style!
Despite the slow trade, it was an enjoyable morning with no incidents to report.
All members: Philip Lambers sends out reminders a week before your shift.
If you are unable to do your rostered shift, you need to organize a swap and let Philip know.
Shift Times
OIC: 06:15 – 13:00
Set Up Crew: 06:30 – 12:30
Sunday 27th April
John Walker (OIC), Mark Read / Jim Cary, Chadstone E. Malvern
Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway
Arrival time: 10:45
Trains depart: 11:00-16:00
Location: Elgar Park, corner of Belmore and Elgar Roads, Mont Albert North
Rosters are organised by Fred Gibbs and Clarke Ballard.
Any changes or alterations please send an email to bhmsr@balwynrotary.org.au
Rotary Controller: Clarke Ballard
Sunday 18th May
Tony O’Brien, Ed Rayment, Ed Frost, Ian Ridd, Ken McQualter, Alison McQualter, Clarke Ballard
Sunday 15th June
Clarke Ballard, Russell Jones, Philip Lambers, Peter O'Brien, Ed Rayment, Richard Seeley, Pauline Wilson
Sunday 20th July
David Jones, Marc Mirams, John Walker, Bill Goodwin, Michael Curry, Clarke Ballard
Sunday 17th August
Chris Finley, Ian Davidson, Angela Ciliberto, Clarke Ballard
RIMERN
Tuesday 13th May
Peter 0 Brien, Julie Mulhauser
Tuesday 27th May
Chris Finlay, Russell Jones.
Tuesday 10th June
Murray Wilkinson, Ed Frost
Tuesday 24th June
Kevin Walsh, David Hobson
Volunteers
Chris Finley, David Hobson, Ed Frost, Julie Mulhauser, Ken McQualter, Kevin Walsh, Marc Mirams, Murray Wilkinson, Peter Frueh, Peter O’Brien, Russel Jones
