peninsula peoplea caring community Support of the local community is fundamental to the Rotary Club of Frankston Sunrise s philosophy and a major beneficiary this year is PenCOF Peninsula Community Ownership Foundation .
Operating under the guidance of Open Family, this locally driven initiative provides vitally important support to homeless and at risk young people in the Frankston Mornington Peninsula region.
With over 60 young people homeless in the region on any given night, the need is great.
The Rotary Club of Frankston Sunrise has an outstanding tradition of providing both physical and financial support to a wide range of local and overseas charities.
From working bees and garden building for special schools, to computers for local schools, to donations for natural disaster relief in Australia and around the world, through to supporting the fight against Malaria and Polio, the Club provides vital support in the true Rotary tradition.
The Club held its first meeting back in November 1990.
In its 21st year, the club continues to thrive.
Its current membership of 40 reflects a diverse group of guys in ages from 26 to 86 and a diverse spread of occupations and experience.
Frankston Sunrise members represent a wide range of professions and trades from across Frankston and the surrounding Peninsula suburbs, including a doctor, retailers from hardware, heating, auto parts, through to fashion, draughtsman, physiotherapist, carpet cleaner, dentist, builder, solicitor, pharmacist, financial advisor, caterer, banker, psychologist, security specialist, to mention just some.
This diversity works to provide a vibrant club that knows how to enjoy itself and it certainly isn t all hard work in Rotary.
The Club s weekly Wednesday breakfast meeting provides a great opportunity to catch up, share a joke or two , learn about upcoming club projects and activities and hear from a great range of guest speakers.
The Club s members and their partners enjoy a great mix of social opportunities.
Recent activities have included restaurant dinners, theatre nights, weekends away and a fishing trip.
While the fun is being had, the Rotary Club of Frankston Sunrise has throughout its history made an important contribution to Frankston, the Mornington Peninsula and indeed around the world.
Again its diverse membership brings a wide range of skills and experience to its various community based initiatives.
This activity has included fundraising events and also physical projects that make a real difference in the community.
Some highlights beyond the club s annual fundraising golf day include - an annual RAM Swim, a bay swim from the Oliver s Hill Boat Ramp to the Frankston Pier that raises funds for Rotarians Against Malaria, a global Rotary initiative - beyond its cash donation from the Golf Day, an annual working bee weekend at Blackwood Special School - The Club s members in a joint initiative with the Rotary Club of Port Vila, have built school classrooms in the village of Tanoliu, Vanuatu and maintain an ongoing association - a successful trial program on Frankston Council s War On Graffiti, where the club adopted Ballan Park and trialled a series of Graffiti removal techniques, leading to the Club recently being awarded a Frankston City Council Community Service Award.
- The Club mans the gates at VFL home games of the Frankston Dolphins - funds are donated to a wide range of important causes, with a few examples including Polio Plus, Rotary s Polio Eradication Campaign Disaster Aid Australia, a Rotary program that provides emergency housing kits to disaster affected areas around the globe Christchurch Earthquake Victorian Queensland Flood Appeals Support of Peninsula Hospice Aqua Box, an initiative providing drinking water to overseas communities An orphanage in Ghana Support of the Peninsula Wigs Library - In an early project of the club, the members used their talents to build a house in Mornington that was auctioned with the profits going to the Peter MacCallum Institute - The Club has also built mobility gardens at the Frankston Rehab Centre and at St John Of God s Nepean facility and done extensive tree plantings at Beauty Park - Rotary s Youth Exchange Program, sees the Club currently hosting Frida, from Sweden for 12 months.
In late June the Club will celebrate its annual Changeover Dinner as outgoing President Brian Mellady hands over the reins of the Club to incoming President, Shane Thomas.
If you are interested in great fellowship, plenty of laughs and the chance to give a little back, The Rotary Club of Frankston Sunrise is open to new members.
Meetings are held Wednesday mornings, 6.45 for 7am start at Daveys Bar Bistro, Nepean Highway, Frankston.
Meetings conclude no later than 8.30am.
You are welcome to join us for breakfast.
For more information, contact Peter Cracknell, 0430 671 474.
Local and international charities are again the beneficiaries of the hugely successful Golf Day run by the Rotary Club of Frankston Sunrise.
Now in its 15th year, the conditions were perfect on a beautiful autumn morning, April 1 at the prestigious Peninsula Country Golf Club.
With players and sponsors digging deep, the day netted over 37,000 all of which goes to charity.
The Club s organising committee under the guidance of member David McKenzie, has been very successful in maximising the funds raised on the day, this year attracting some 60 sponsors from across the Frankston and Peninsula business sector.
Sponsors like Mitre 10, Drummond Golf Frankston, Ritchies, GIO, Core Fitness and Optus have been long time sponsors of the event as have many others.
Those sponsors, together with 124 golfers dug deep for sponsorship , charity auctions, raffles, and the opportunity to challenge our golf pros.
Joining us on the day were Brett Ogle, Peter Croker and Chris Beckett.
14 good life - june, july, august 2011