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Welcome to the

ROTARY CLUB of MOE

Serving the Moe Community since 1949

Presidents

July to October - Lyn Cassar

November to February - Alan Bishop

March to June - Ross Maxfield

During the 2026–2027 Rotary year, the club presidency will be shared by three co-presidents, each serving a four month term. Lyn Cassar will serve from July to October, followed by Alan Bishop from November to February, and Ross Maxfield for the final four months of the year.

Working together to 'Create a Lasting Impact'

Wheelchair for Kids

Rotary Junior Community Award Program

Pride of Workmanship Awards

You can make a difference in your Community

How ..... Join Rotary ..... Do Good ..... Volunteer ..... Help others

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Club Activities – September & October Overview

Guest Speakers – Early September

Our guest speakers for the first meeting in September were Enzo Cecere, CEO of Willow House, accompanied by Directors Melissa Booth and Gemma Hodge. Enzo provided an excellent insight into the operations of this not‑for‑profit organisation, which delivers vital support to individuals and families through food relief and mental health assistance.

Blue Light Disco – September

During September, our Club partnered with the Rotary Club of Morwell to assist at the Blue Light Disco held at the Moe Town Hall. The event, coordinated by the Proactive Policing Unit, welcomed students from Baringa Special School and Traralgon Special Development School. It was a lively and rewarding evening for everyone involved.

Youth Programs Commence – October

October marked the beginning of our Youth program commitments, with both RYPEN and RJCA activities underway.

At our first meeting of the month, we welcomed our 2026 RYPEN participant Molly Turner, RYPEN Leader Kellie Bedggood, and RYPEN Co‑ordinator Barry Rogers. They provided an engaging overview of the recent RYPEN camp held at Mt Martha. Molly shared her experiences, highlighting team‑building activities, workshops, and the confidence she gained while forming new friendships.
The RJCA program has four participating schools. As the program nears completion, students are invited to present their Rotary journey at our meetings. Elizabeth Street Primary School led the way, with 15 students delivering well‑prepared and confident presentations to parents, families, friends, and Rotarians. Their efforts were outstanding and warmly congratulated.
As Willow Grove Primary School had one participating student, Program Chair Roger visited the school personally to present the certificate.

Next week, we look forward to welcoming the remaining participating schools — Albert Street Primary School and South Street Primary School — to share their RJCA experiences.

World Polio Day - 24th October

ONE DAY, ONE FOCUS: ENDING POLIO

World Polio Day 2026 will be observed on October 24^th. This day is dedicated to recognising the global efforts to eradicate polio and the importance of vaccination.

It represents an opportunity to share stories of progress and to call for continued commitment to polio eradication efforts and recognises health workers, communities, donors and leaders going above and beyond to reach every child with the polio vaccine.

The fight to end polio is led by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which includes Rotary, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Gates Foundation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and governments of the world, with the support of many others around the globe. By working together with our partners, governments, and communities around the world, Rotary has been instrumental in immunizing over 3 billion children in 122 countries.

Polio is a highly contagious and dangerous disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. One in 200 infected people face the risk of permanent paralysis, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). This is why World Polio Day is an important occasion to continue to raise awareness for polio vaccination in the efforts to eradicate polio.

The wild poliovirus remains endemic only in 2 countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan. If eradication efforts stopped, polio could again paralyse up to 200,000 children annually with 10 years.

Polio eradication is within reach. We must step up efforts – not step back – to deliver on the promise of a polio-free world.

(Submitted by Diane Wilkinson, International/Foundation Chair).

Social Night out with the Inner Wheel Club of Moe

The program for our fifth Monday of the month was a social night at Moe Thai, where members enjoyed a relaxed evening of fellowship. We were delighted to be joined by members of the Inner Wheel Club of Moe, adding to the friendly atmosphere and making it a wonderful night of connection between our two Clubs.

Guest Speaker - Vicki Hamilton

Our special guest speaker for last Monday night’s meeting was Vicki Hamilton from GARDS (Gippsland Asbestos Related Disease Support). Vicki delivered an informative presentation on asbestos exposure and its long‑term effects on people in the Latrobe Valley.

She explained how workers in the power stations and other industrial sites were routinely exposed to asbestos, and how the material remains present in many everyday products — including building materials, car parts, walls, floors, insulation, and exterior cladding.

Vicki also spoke about silicosis, a dust‑related lung disease caused by activities such as cutting or breaking concrete, mining, tunnelling, and sandblasting.

Through GARDS, Vicki provides vital support to individuals and families across the Gippsland region who are living with asbestos‑related and silica‑related diseases, offering guidance, support, and compassionate assistance.

Pictured above - Vicki Hamilton and President Lyn

2027 Ride for Medical Research

At last Monday’s dinner meeting we welcomed Peter and Janet Wallis from the Rotary Club of Traralgon, who presented an engaging overview of the upcoming Annual Ride for Medical Research 2027.

Janet and Peter shared that the next ride will take place in February 2027, with the route centred around Traralgon and covering approximately 564 km over six days.

While the event is designed to be enjoyable and offers plenty of sightseeing opportunities, its core purpose is raising funds for medical research supported by Australian Rotary Health.

For further details or to support the ride, visit: https://rotaryrideforresearch.raisely.com

Pictured L to R: Peter Wallis, President Lyn Cassar and Janet Wallis

Wheelchairs for Kids - Update

Our Wheelchairs for Kids project continues its success into the 2026–2027 Rotary year.

The goal of raising 30 chairs last year was not only achieved but exceeded, with a total of 43 chairs funded.

With ongoing support from our Club, other Rotary and Service Clubs, local businesses and the wider community, a total 111 wheelchairs has been achieved over the past 3 years.

For the coming rotary year, our club has set a goal to buy 10 more wheelchairs which will go towards making a difference in the lives of mobility impaired children and their families around the word.

Each child’s smile is reason enough to work towards this year’s goal of another 10 chairs.

"To get kids up out of the dirt"

Helping one person may not change the whole world, but a wheelchair will change the world for one person

If you would like to help us, please scan the QR code and make a tax-deductible donation.

To find out more about Wheelchairs for Kids please visit the website: Wheelchairs for Kids | Children's Wheelchairs | Home

Snow Train arrives in Moe

For several years now, the Snow Train has travelled from Melbourne to Traralgon, stopping at Moe for passengers to disembark and board buses to Mt Baw Baw, Walhalla and Old Gippstown where they enjoy a few hours exploring the mountains and our local heritage park.

This year, a fully booked train arrived on Saturday morning with many excited passengers ready for a full day of adventure. On their return later in the afternoon, our members were on hand to serve tea, coffee and noodle cups to passengers as they waited to board the Steam Train for their journey back to Melbourne.

Changeover 2025-2026

The Rotary Club of Moe recently celebrated its 77th Changeover at the Moe Hotel, joined by Rotarians and their partners.

Special guests included Past District Governor Bill Degnan and his wife Judy, along with Tania Whitehead, Guest Service Manager at Gippsland Rotary Centenary House. Also in attendance were representatives from the Rotary Clubs of Morwell and Hazelwood, the Inner Wheel Club of Moe, and the Probus Clubs of Moe and Newborough.

In another first for the Club, the Rotary Presidency will be shared in the 2026–2027 Rotary year, with three Co‑Presidents each serving a four‑month term. President Lyn Cassar will serve from July through to October, Alan Bishop will take the reins from November to February, and Ross Maxfield will lead the Club from March to June.

Outgoing Presidents Len Cairns and Alan Bishop provided a summary of the Club’s achievements and highlights from their respective six‑month terms in office. Outgoing President Alan expressed sincere thanks to the Board, acknowledging their dedication and valued contributions throughout the past year.

Len was delighted to award a Paul Harris Fellow to one of the Club’s long‑term volunteers, David Wilkinson.

Len explained that David has consistently been willing to lend a hand at many of our hands‑on projects over the years, making him a truly deserving recipient.

Len Cairns was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation following his announcement that he was resigning from the Club to pursue other interests. He was also awarded an Honorary Membership which he accepted gladly.

During the evening, a donation of $5,000 was presented to Gippsland Rotary Centenary House, reinforcing the Club’s strong and ongoing commitment to supporting this vital service in our community.

Both Lyn and Alan were formally inducted as Co‑Presidents by PDG Bill Degnan. Ross was unable to attend the evening and will be inducted in the new year, closer to the commencement of his term of office.

On behalf of Co‑Presidents Lyn and Ross, Alan introduced the Rotary International Theme for 2026–2027 and shared with guests the Club’s goals and plans for the coming year.

President Lyn presented both Len and Alan with Certificates of Service and then introduced the new Board.

"Adopt a School" - Banyuning, Bali

The Rotary Club of Moe has continued to support the Banyuning School in Bali through our International program. We have recently completed our most recent project which delivered two new toilets and a septic tank to help meet the needs of the increasing number of students at the school. The toilets were constructed by local contractors, with regular reports provided back to the Club until completion.

Past President Michael Koch is the main contact person in our Club for the Bali “Adopt A School” program and maintains regular contact with the school. The cost of the toilet project was met through Rotary Club of Moe funds and donations. We greatly appreciate the financial support that has been received from businesses and individuals which has significantly helped to complete this project.

Read more about previous projects supporting the Bunyuning School in Bali.................

President Elect Training and Development Seminar

PE Alan Bishop, PE Lyn Cassar, PE Ross Maxfield and Secretary Roger recently attended the Pre PELDS (Presidents Elect Learning and Development) Seminar in Sale.

The attendees gained valuable information which will assist in the planning for the new Rotary year.

Botanic Garden Project

The next stage............................

Recent developments at the Moe Botanic Gardens include the addition of 10 cubic metres of soil to the round garden bed by landscaper Luke and members. Banksia 'Birthday Candles' have been positioned along the perimeter, while Hebe Buxofolia and Nandina Moon Bay occupy the centre.

Planned enhancements involve the planting of Rotary Roses—Joy of Life and Joy of Health over the next couple of months.

Gippsland Rotary Golf Classic 2026

This year marked our 26th Gippsland Rotary Golf Classic, and we are very proud to have maintained this event without interruption over all these years. From our Club’s perspective, we believe we have delivered another highly successful Golf Classic—both in terms of the golfing experience and our fundraising efforts. We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support all our sponsors have provided throughout this time.

96 players, representing 32 teams, competed, followed by raffles, dinner, an auction of donated goods and services, and the major raffle draw.

Due to the generous support of sponsors, golfers, Rotarians and their families and catering by Inner Wheel Club of Moe Ladies, the annual charity fundraiser was extremely successful. Proceeds are to be earmarked for distribution amongst local projects.

The raffles and auction were well supported and provided spirited bidding. It was gratifying to witness so many golfers remain after the event to support the fundraising activities.

This year's golf presentations went to:

Best Team - Danny Edebohls Property Sales - Clinton Taylor; Jarrod Cook; Stuart Wildblood

Runner Up - Miss Hits - Dennis Hicks, Loretta Booth, Kerrie Davey

Third - The Opals - Chris Robinson; Jedd Murdoch; Greg Boorer

Ladies' Winners - Team SDS - Sue Caldow; Samantha Caldow; Donna Mellon

As usual, raffle sales were conducted in the Moe CBD for 8 weeks leading up to the golf day and it was wonderful to see our local community continue to support our Club by purchasing tickets during this time.

Our major raffle winners were:

1st Prize -Jan Curtis

$2000 accommodation voucher at Bellevue on the Lakes

Pictured L to R: Jan Curtis; President Alan Bishop

2nd Prize - Peter Jonston

$1000 Furniture Voucher at Moe Betta Home Living

Pictured L to R: Shen Guo; Peter Jonston; President Alan Bishop

Rotary Foundation Education Scholarship

The Rotary Club of Moe has provided Lowanna College with a $1,000 grant to assist students with their education expenses. The scholarships are made available through joint funding from the Club and the Rotary Foundation through Rotary District 9815.

The purpose of this grant is to assist students, who could not otherwise afford it, to participate more fully in school life. The scholarships are awarded by the school and can be used for direct educational costs, such as items of equipment required for specific subjects, provision of uniforms, school excursions or camp expenses or similar forms of support.

Pictured above (from L to R)

Kristy Bannister, Assistant Principal; PP Rotarian Len Cairns; Bernadette Cropper, Acting Principal; PP Rotarian Diane Wilkinson; Club President Alan Bishop; and Michael Lakeman, Science Teacher.

Paul Harris Awards

Congratulations to PP Lyn Cassar on receiving a Paul Harris Sapphire pin, and to PP Robin Noakes on being awarded a Paul Harris Double Sapphire at our recent meeting.

Both Lyn and Robin were recognised for their ongoing support of the Wheelchairs for Kids program.

Kicking off 2026 at the Botanic Gardens

2026 commenced with our new President, Alan Bishop, welcoming members and guests back to Rotary at our recent Welcome Back BBQ in the Moe Botanic Gardens.

This first gathering of the year provided an opportunity to update everyone on the program and activities planned for the coming months with the main event being the Gippsland Rotary Golf Classic scheduled for Monday 30^th March.

Pride of Workmanship Awards 2025

Since 1996, the Rotary Club of Moe has proudly presented the Pride of Workmanship Awards to local students. Each year, teachers nominate students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, perseverance, and personal growth throughout the school year.

This special occasion is celebrated at Old Gippstown, where all nominated students and their families are invited to attend. Rotary members host the evening by preparing and serving a BBQ tea before the formal presentations begin.

Congratulations to this year’s Pride of Workmanship recipients, who were each recognised with a framed certificate and a $50 cash voucher in honour of their achievements.

Alongside the Pride of Workmanship presentations, the John Dwyer Citizenship Award was also announced.

This award celebrates students who exemplify leadership, responsibility, and community spirit.

Congratulations to Declan Osborne, nominated by Lowanna College, who received a framed certificate and a $200 cash voucher from the Rotary Club of Moe in recognition of his outstanding contribution.

Rotary Junior Community Awards for 2025

The Rotary Club of Moe has proudly sponsored the Rotary Junior Community Award program for the past twelve years, engaging Grade 6 students in four key areas of personal development throughout the school year: Community Service, Physical Recreation, Social Experience, and Skill Development. With guidance from parents and teachers, students design a non-competitive program tailored to their interests and abilities and maintain a diary to document their progress.

As part of the program, students are invited to attend a Rotary Club dinner meeting to present their achievements and share highlights from their journey.

In October, students from Elizabeth Street Primary School, Albert Street Primary School, and South Street Primary School visited the Club to showcase their projects, which included cooking, woodworking, Anzac Day commemorations, and sporting activities.

Elizabeth St Primary School

Albert St Primary School and Rotarians

South St Primary School

Willow Grove Primary School students (pictured left) recently shared their projects with Club members during a school assembly.

Club members were delighted to hear about the students’ accomplishments and the valuable experiences gained through their participation in the program.

A formal ceremony was held on the 12th November to celebrate and acknowledge all students who successfully complete the Rotary Junior Community Award.

50 years of Service above Self

Following our April celebration honouring three members who reached their 50-year Rotary anniversary in 2025, we were delighted to recently acknowledge Julian Yeatman, who achieved this remarkable milestone in October.

Julian was presented with his Rotary International Congratulatory Letter by District Governor Peter Behm, recognising his outstanding commitment and service.

This special occasion was held in conjunction with Rotary Mental Health Hat Day, where members and partners embraced the spirit of the day by wearing a colourful array of hats and contributing a gold coin donation in support of mental health initiatives.

Celebrating 35 years of Service

PP Dave Wood recently marked an incredible milestone — 35 years of dedicated service with the Rotary Club of Moe.

President Len Cairns presented Dave with a Certificate of Service and shared highlights from Dave’s Rotary journey with members.

Over the years, Dave has held many leadership roles within the Club, including Chair of Community, Vocational, and Club Service committees. He also served as Club President during the 1999–2000 Rotary year. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Dave was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow in 2009.

Dave remains an active and highly valued member, generously volunteering his time to support a wide range of Club activities — from coordinating member involvement in the Good Friday Appeal, assisting at BBQs, to helping with ongoing maintenance at the Moe Botanic Gardens.

Congratulations, Dave, and thank you for your remarkable commitment and service.

Moe Botanic Gardens - Round Garden Bed Upgrade

The latest Botanic Gardens project undertaken by members involves the upgrading of the round garden bed. The initial phase of this project will focus on the removal of soil, installation of some drainage and replacement of new high quality garden soil.

This phase of the project will be carried out over the next few weeks and once completed, the project will move to its next stage, which involves selecting and purchasing new plants for the area.

Rotary Community Art Show

The Rotary Club of Moe was proud to partner with the Moe Arts Collective to present the Rotary Community Student Art Show, held recently at the Moe Community Hub during the first week of the school holidays.

Students from across the 3825 district showcased their creativity and talent, with a vibrant display of artworks that brought colour and inspiration to the community space.

President Len Cairns, Peter McLaren, Cr Adele Pugsley

Rotarians Robin Noakes and Ross Maxfield

Artwork displayed by Baringa Special School

We extend our thanks to Cr Adele Pugsley, for officially opening the exhibition and to our generous sponsors: Latrobe City, Energy Australia, Martin Cameron MP, Moe Racing Club, Bunnings, and Curly and George. Your support made this event possible.

Special acknowledgement goes to Moe Arts Collective members Peter McLaren and Ling Wang for their tireless efforts in setting up the show, assisted by Rob Brewster, Rhys Matheson, and Alexander McLaren. A sincere thank you to Lill Cunningham for judging the entries. Prizes were awarded to the winner and runner-up from each participating school, recognising the outstanding contributions of our young artists.

Busy start to September

After a quiet start to the Rotary year—with many of our members enjoying a northern escape for winter—September has sprung to life with a flood of BBQ service requests.

Father’s Day Car Show BBQ

Early in September, our Club was invited to support the Father’s Day Car Show at Old Gippstown by cooking and serving egg and bacon sandwiches. Rotarians Alan Bishop, Ross Maxfield, Len Cairns, Robin Noakes, and Helen Morrison arrived bright and early at 7:30am, ready to prepare and serve breakfast to the many visitors who came to admire the cars on display.

Energy Australia - RU OK day

On Thursday 11th September, Energy Australia invited our Club to support their RU OK? Day initiative by cooking egg and bacon sandwiches for their early morning team.

Rotarians Len Cairns, Robin Noakes, Robin Noakes and Alan Bishop arrived bright and early at 5.00am, ready to serve the 6.00am shift.

Ellinbank Football League Grand Final – BBQ Fundraiser

On Saturday 13th September, the Trafalgar Football Club hosted the Ellinbank Football League Grand Final and invited our Club, along with the Rotary Club of Morwell, to provide a BBQ for the event.

Both Clubs set up side by side, with our members cooking hamburgers and the Rotary Club of Morwell preparing sausages. With a capacity crowd of over 5,000 in attendance, members were kept busy from 9:00am through to approximately 4:30pm.

World Polio Day

World Polio Day is an annual event held on 24^th October to continue to raise awareness about this insidious disease and global efforts to eradicate it. This year’s theme is “End Polio: Every child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere” which is a reminder of the need for ensuring all children across the world receive the polio vaccine.

World Polio Day is a time for Rotary members, public health advocates and all who want a world free from polio to come together, recognise the progress that has been made in the fight to end polio and talk about what needs to be done in order to eradicate polio for good.

Polio (Poliomyelitis) is a highly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. The virus is spread person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can attack the nervous system and, in some instances, lead to paralysis. Although there is no cure, there is a safe and effective vaccine. Rotary continues to work with our partners to distribute vaccines to children around the world as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Partners in the GPEI include Rotary, UNICEF, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organisation and The Gates Foundation. By working together with these partners, governments and communities, over 2.5 billion children in 122 countries have been immunized. However, to end polio, we must stop the transmission of wild poliovirus in the 2 countries that continue to report cases: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Challenge: Worldwide Eradication

Cases have been reduced by 99.9% worldwide since 1988, but it is critical to continue efforts to eradicate the disease for good. If polio is not fully eradicated, we could see a global resurgence of the disease with as many as 200,000 new cases each year over the next 10 years, all over the world.

In order to end polio, there is a need to increase disease detection / surveillance to ensure the virus is truly gone from every corner of the world. Given that not all cases result in paralysis, the program’s extensive surveillance and laboratory network is essential in detecting new cases.

More information at www.endpolio.org

Diane Wilkinson

Foundation Chair

50 Year Membership Celebration

2025 is a special year for our club as we honor an extraordinary milestone—three respected and valued members reaching 50 years of dedicated service with the Rotary Club of Moe.

Rotarians David Power and Ross Maxfield marked their achievements in March and May respectively, while Julian Yeatman will celebrate his milestone in October.

To commemorate this remarkable occasion, our club recently hosted a special dinner, joined by DG Colin Byron, Leanne Byron, past Rotarians, members, and partners. Both David and Ross received a congratulatory letter from Rotary International President, Stephanie Urchick while Julian will receive his letter in October.

The evening was filled with tributes, as members and past Rotarians shared memories and stories about our honorees. The celebration culminated in the cutting of a cake made by Suzie Maxfield.

The occasion also provided an opportunity to recognise Kishor Manani for his 20 years of service to the Club. Kishor was presented with a Certificate of Service, acknowledging his commitment and contributions over the past two decades.

Friends of Rotary

Our club is introducing a 'Friends of Rotary' program that invites individuals to team up with Rotary for one or two years or beyond. Becoming a Friend of Rotary allows you to share our ideals and objectives without the responsibility or commitment required from a full member. But it does allow you to be part of a Rotary club to contribute to the community and to assist in club projects and events when you are available to do so.

Being a Friend of Rotary allows you to participate in fundraising events and projects and assist in hands-on working bees. It’s an opportunity to enjoy activities and each other's company, catch up with old friends and make or develop new ones.

Benefits of Friends of Rotary

Supporting Rotary service projects that help local or international communities.
A way for those who cannot make weekly Rotary meetings to feel involved in the effort to assist their community.
It can be a stepping stone for someone who wants to invest in the community but does not know a lot about Rotary.
It can lead to full time Rotary membership if desired.

For more information about becoming a Friend of Rotary - please email - info@moerotary.org.au

Areas of Focus

Doing what we can to help our Bali friends

The Rotary Club of Moe International and Foundation Committee recently became aware of the significant impacts that Covid 19 was having on our friends in the village of Banyuning in Bali where our Adopt a School project is based. The situation has been particularly difficult for the elderly in the village who rely on support from family members to buy food and other essential items. Unfortunately, the income of many families in Banyuning has been severely curtailed due to the loss of jobs, resulting in difficulties for them in providing this support.