Testimonials

When I was ‘on the outside looking in’ at Rotary several years ago, I had a vague idea what Rotary was about and if asked, I would have said, “doing good around the world”. Yes, in a nutshell, this is a safe elevator explanation if you’ve only got 2 floors worth of time and it’s certainly true in a monumental way.  You could add “Service Above Self’ but to a non Rotarian I doubt if this carrot would be juicy enough to really let them know what they’re missing if they don’t opt for a piece of Rotary action.

When I joined our club I had no idea how much I would personally get out of being part of a group of crazily wonderful and ‘assorted’ human beings that Rotary has brought together in our club at Malvern.

At the front line, you see us fundraising and improving the world in which we live but behind the scenes we are laughing, (at and with each other) heckling at meetings, crying, feeling safe enough and privileged enough to share the private fabric of our own lives and overcoming hurdles that would daunt the most optimistic. We are humbly in awe of our guest speakers as we discover what other human beings are capable of achieving.

Working within Rotary gives us a chance to develop ‘mateship’ and to face challenges together, which in turn, enable us to dig deep within ourselves and bring out parts that we may not have realized were there.  Personal inconveniences are soon forgotten when that look of joy beams up at you from 6 year old Michael, with cerebral palsy but who is able to ride that merry go round because YOU got up early to help him into the saddle. Trust me, you remember every one.

“On behalf of the Lindsay family (Mary, Casey and Jarod) we like to thank you from the bottom of our heart for the wonderful experience that you gave us at Lord Somers camp, we very much appreciate the opportunity that was given to us through the drought relief fund, as we come from a drought effected farm in Thoona of North East Victoria.
Please accept this as our personal thanks and appreciation to your organisation for arranging the fun filled weekend.

Thanks Mary, Casey and Jarod.”

Another member’s perspective of Rotary: “Being a member of Rotary is very rewarding but you do not often get to see first hand how your support helps individuals nor do you usually get to meet them.  ‘Camp Cares’ held at the Lord Somers Camp in Somers was a project that our Club instigated and then managed right up to the implementation stage.  The 15 families we hosted from drought affected areas around Benalla were thrilled to have a weekend at the beach with their families and enjoy some ‘time out’ from the day to day stresses they are facing.  To watch them play with their children, read a book in a quiet corner, dance freely to a live band or just wander along a beautiful beach together, made me so proud of being part of an organization that can give people something as simple and practical as a small holiday.  The smiles on their faces as their buses departed on Sunday will stay with me for a long time.  Rotary really does make a difference to people within our community.

And finally, from a living Rotary archive himself, Clive Elliott, a charter member of our club who has enjoyed and photographed 50 years worth of speaker presentations on every subject imaginable, “I have spent more than half my life in Rotary, 50 out of the 88 years and I consider it a privilege.  It has been an education to have been able to attend weekly meetings to learn the true meaning of "Service above Self".”