On Monday, I had the pleasure of attending the Canterbury Annual Rotarians for Bees event, joined by 140 other enthusiastic attendees. The special guest speaker was none other than Costa from Gardening Australia, alongside our very own garden team—Murray, Marc, and Julie—who did a fantastic job representing us.
See article below.
This week’s Club meeting featured a captivating and informative presentation on World War I history by Major General Michael O’Brien. His talk was a real eye-opener, reminding many of us just how much more there is to learn about these pivotal events in our past.
Read Tony O'Brien's article below.
Coming up this month—mark your calendars!
April 15 – American Politics and Global Public Health with guest speaker David Dorward
April 18 – Good Friday at BHMSR
A major event—expecting 800 to 1,000 patrons!
April 22 – Trivia Night at North Balwyn Bowling Club
Bring your family, friends, and potential new members for a fun night out. Enjoy a delicious pizza dinner and drinks at prices better than bar!
April 25 – ANZAC Day
Essendon beats Collingwood again? (We live in hope!)
May 3 – Some Election Thing at Genazzano
A team sporting event—BBQ proudly hosted with North Balwyn Rotary.
Enjoy and make use of our new meeting booking system!
Not attending? No action needed.
Planning to attend? Click the link below and pay online by Sunday night.
15-APR: GLOBAL IMPACT OF US HEALTH POLICY
David Dorward will explore the far-reaching consequences of recent policy decisions that have shaped global health outcomes. From international health organizations to local public health initiatives, this talk will delve into how shifts in political priorities have impacted communities around the world.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the complex intersection of politics and public health—and why it matters now more than ever.
Rotarians for Bees is an initiative launched by members of Canterbury Rotary. It seeks to tackle the alarming decline in bee and pollinator populations—a crisis that poses a serious threat to global food security and biodiversity. Operating under the umbrella of the Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group (ESRAG), the project brings together Rotarians, beekeepers, scientists, and community members to protect pollinators and promote sustainable environmental practices.
On Monday, Rotarians for Bees hosted a special event to raise both awareness and funds for their ongoing campaign. The event highlighted the vital role bees and other pollinators play in our ecosystem and encouraged proactive steps to boost their numbers and prevent the spread of devastating diseases.
Why Bees Matter
Bees and other pollinators are essential for the reproduction of many crops and wild plants. However, their populations are in rapid decline due to a range of threats, including habitat loss, widespread pesticide use, climate change, and diseases such as the Varroa mite. This troubling trend endangers global agriculture and the delicate balance of ecosystems around the world.
DELERAM SHARES THE JOY OF NOWRUZ & RAMADAN IN IRAN:
Anne Frueh was delighted to hear from our newest member Delaram who travelled to Iran for Ramadan. She and her family also celebrated Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, which begins with the arrival of spring. It’s a time of renewal, hope, and togetherness. One of their most cherished traditions is setting up a Haft-Sin table at home, which includes seven symbolic items starting with the letter 'S' in Persian—such as sir (garlic), sib (apple), and samanou (a sweet dish). Each item carries its own meaning, representing health, beauty, patience, and rebirth.
The celebrations end on the 13th day of the New Year with a special tradition called Sizdeh Bedar, when everyone spends the day outdoors enjoying nature with family picnics—it’s a joyful and refreshing way to close the holiday season.
We look forward to seeing her when she returns to Melbourne.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR GENERAL O’BRIEN’S TALK ON THE BATTLE OF LIHONS (1918):
Focusing on the Victorian-based 7th Battalion, Major General O’Brien described the battalion’s role in the 1918 Allied offensive, particularly the Battle of Lihons. Before the main attack, Australian troops engaged in “peaceful penetration” raids to gather intelligence.
On August 9, following success at Amiens, Australian, Canadian, and English troops launched a coordinated assault on a German-held hill near Lihons. Despite thick morning mist, which both hindered visibility and protected the troops from enemy fire, the operation was successful. For the first time, troops advanced into a town to capture or destroy enemy weaponry—an 11-inch gun from the battle is now displayed at the Australian War Memorial.
General Monash’s detailed planning and adaptability were pivotal to the victory. The battle marked a shift from static trench warfare, earning high praise—even German General Ludendorff called August 8 "the black day of the German army." The 7th Battalion earned numerous honors for their role.
O’Brien's presentation highlighted valuable resources at the Australian War Memorial, including free online access to the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918.
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 13th April
Marc Mirams (OIC), Ian Davidson / Margaret Silverton, Tony O'Brien Sunday 20th April
David Jones (OIC), Ken McQualter, Phillip Lambers Sunday 27th April
John Walker (OIC), Mark Read / Jim Cary, Chadstone E. Malvern
Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway
18 Apr: All Aboard for a Great Cause!
Come along to a special Public Running Day, where 100% of proceeds will be donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Every ticket purchased and every ride taken supports the life-saving care and groundbreaking research at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital—helping thousands of children and their families each year.
Over the past 20 years, the Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway has raised over $100,000 through their Good Friday Public Runs!
Come ride the rails behind one (or more!) of the wonderful trains on this special day—perfect for young families or those simply young at heart.
🎟️ Tickets: Children under 2 ride FREE!
Let’s make this another unforgettable day—supporting a great cause, one train ride at a time!
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
Friday 18th April
Brian Mathieson, Sebastian Pfab, Kevin Walsh, Jenny Walsh, Rob Poynter, Chris Finley, Ian Davidson,
Brian Mcguinness, Cath Stahel, Clarke Ballard
Sunday 18th May
Tony O’Brien, Ed Rayment, Ed Frost, Ian ridd, Ken McQualter, Alison McQualter, Clarke Ballard
RIMERN
Tuesday 22nd April
Peter Frueh, Kevin Walsh
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
16th April Margaret Silverton
23rd April Mari Deak
26th April Russell Jones
Camberwell Sunday Market Report: 06-Apr-25
No one could complain about the day—it was a fantastic event with a great turnout and a full complement of stallholders, thanks in large part to Paul’s creativity and organisation. Having an extra hour in the day certainly helped (well, maybe not for me!).
I have to thank Ed Frost and Peter Frueh, who kindly covered for my late arrival. Funny twist—Ed Frost was then sent home because he was the wrong Ed! Fortunately, Ed Rayment showed up right on time, as scheduled.
By 7:00 a.m., Frosty and Peter had already completed most of the setup, including both awnings. All other club volunteers arrived promptly and carried out their roles seamlessly, contributing to a very successful day that raised a solid $2,100.
Also, a shoutout to whoever came up with the idea to add “CARD DONATION” to the A-frames—simple, smart, and effective!
