March offers a moment to reflect on a highly productive and inspiring period for our Club.
Our International Women’s Day Breakfast, jointly presented by Rotary and Rotaract clubs in Whitehorse was once again a standout success. Bringing together community leaders, professionals, and students, the event highlighted Rotary’s strength in creating connection, inspiring conversations, and driving community impact. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
Our community work is progressing well. The Whitehorse Community Shed is building momentum, with arrangements for Women’s and Indigenous programs taking shape. At the same time, we acknowledge the legacy of the Whitehorse Friends of Reconciliation, whose work will continue through Reconciliation Victoria—an outcome we are proud to have supported.
Across our Youth portfolio, we are seeing encouraging progress. Engagement with schools such as Box Hill High School and Our Lady of Sion College is opening new opportunities, including the potential establishment of an Interact Club. Programs addressing classroom hunger and student wellbeing i.e. “I Am Mindful” program at Mont Albert Primary School further reinforces our commitment to supporting young people in practical and meaningful ways.
We are also making steady progress in our environmental initiatives. The Community Shed garden development is well underway, with site preparation completed and initial garden beds in place, and on track for completion by mid to late Autumn within budget. The successful refurbishment of the Nunawading Community Gardens shelter has been warmly received by the community, and our ongoing partnership with the KooyongKoot Alliance will see members supporting key revegetation activities at Gardiners Creek through volunteer BBQ events in the coming months.
Internationally, we continue to support Operation Cleft and I Am Someone, while progressing the Bangladesh Nutrition Program. It’s encouraging to see momentum in India, with Past President Mark Ballavisiting sites in Nashik, Udaipur and Piplantri, where the We Can’t Wait – Operation Toilets initiative is underway. The Global Grant GG2690472 project, in partnership with The Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Club of Nashik Road, will commence soon to deliver toilets, hygiene education, and behaviour change programs to four schools.
Looking ahead, we warmly invite members, friends, and prospective members to join our April Nightlights—our Club’s information evening. If you have ever wondered about Rotary or are interested in giving back to the community, locally or beyond, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Box Hill Central Rotary and meet our members. The evening will include finger food and drinks. It will be a relaxed, welcoming, inclusive and obligation-free event—please feel free to invite guests who may be interested in connecting with our Club. Book today.
Ten members made the trip to Hobart for our Rotary D9815 & D9830 Conference at the Grand Chancellor Hotel late March. We staffed two booths in the Expo for Operation Cleft and We Can't Wait, heard amazing presentations from Saroo Brierley, Robert Pennicott and others. Were welcomed by Eric Abetz MP. Dr Jessie Harman representing our Rotary International President. 500 attended. The gala dinner with nautical theme was great. Rotary Exchange students entertained us. Bagpipes sent us out. Well done to the conference team. Thankyou to Kath for organising the Friday club dinner at the Drunken Admiral.
Club member Stephen Fisher rode in the March 2026 Rotary Ride for Medical Research: Woodend to Kyneton. Over six days riding in “The Search for the Centre of Victoria". Sponsorship of 2026 riders has raised over $33,000 for Australia Rotary Health.
Australian Rotary Health is one of the largest independent funders of mental health research within Australia. They also fund a broad range of general health areas and provide scholarships for rural medical and nursing students, as well as Indigenous health students. Australian Rotary Health funds programs that do not readily attract other funding and promotes findings to the community.
Well done Stephen Fisher, Rotary D9815 team and donors.
Saturday April 18 - BBQ support for Kooyong Koot Alliance revegetation volunteers at Gardiners Creek Reserve, Burwood 10:30am-12:30pm. Also needed on July 5. Contact: John 049 762 010
Wednesday Apr 22 - Addressing Classroom Hunger 10-11am Forest Hill Chase - cheese sandwich preparation for local primary kids without lunch. Contact Robyn: 0406 607 310
Past President Mark Balla with Annie Balla and donors Evan (& Karen) Jones visit schools in March 2026, from recently approved Global Grant GG2690472 . The project in collaboration with The Rotary Foundation and Rotary Club of Nashik Road, is valued at $US$66,772 and is to provide toilets and training to improve hygiene and promote behavior change at four schools near Nashik, India.
Team also visited Piplantri, Rajahstan, for Indian style celebration of the Happy Learning Happy School Global Grant.
This US$88,423 Global Grant is in collaboration with The Rotary Foundation and Rotary Club of Udaipur Meera,
and is to improve sanitation and hygiene outcomes, safety and facilities across six schools, supporting 571 students.
These are club facilitated projects of We Can't Wait - Operation Toilets.
Please advise any changes/swaps or regular inabilities to Greg Cooper greg@cooperhill.au. Thanks for your volunteer service.
Chair: Apr 1 Christina Chia, Apr 8 Tim Greenham
Apr 15 Robyn Stokes Apr 29 Brian Martin
Apr 22 Addressing Classroom Hunger - no morning meeting.
Desk Duty: Andrew Munroe, Brian McPhail
IT: Stephen Fisher
Rotary Whitehorse Farmers Market Sunday April 12:
Please register in council offices on arrival for gate allocation.
