News

What is Fellowship?

I’ve got mail! I am so glad I asked the Rotary New Farm conference delegates to share their thoughts and photos from the Rotary International Convention May 26 – 31st. Sue (President 2022-23), Graeme (Financial Systems 2022-23), Denise (Secretary Elect 2023-24), Lucia (Treasurer 2022 -23) and Denis, Monica (Secretary 2022-23 and President Elect 2023-24) attended the five day event proving the convention’s thesis 100% correct, a resounding ‘yes’ to ‘renewing connections, networking, discovering fresh perspectives and joining breakout session discussions, and most importantly practicing ‘Fellowship”.

You can read a little more about the conference line-up on our Instagram post here.

Lucia (above) explained, “The Rotary International Convention opening was amazing, especially the flags ceremony. The break out session ‘Peace in the Middle East’ included speakers, a Palestinian, a Christian and a Jew coming together, presenting and demonstrating that we can all work together for the long term benefit of humanity”. You can read more about two incredibly resilient and forgiving men coming together here. That session would have been most remarkable.

Image left to right: Denis, Lucia, Monica and Denise rugged up outside the Rod Laver Arena.

Monica’s response really got to the heart of Rotary’s service areas: “Thank you for this opportunity. I enjoyed looking over the House of Friendship exhibits, meeting new people and old friends also. General Secretary of RI John Hewko, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and an environmental activist inspired participants on Monday at the general session about how they can build more peaceful societies and combat climate change. Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian peace activist, social worker, and women’s rights advocate, shared how the dream of a future without war taught her a new understanding of peace. Gbowee said her dream of a better world is what propelled her to start the ‘Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace’, a campaign that helped bring about the end of the civil war and led her to become one of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureates. She urged participants to “make our dream of a peaceful and safe world a reality. I noted there is a fine line between being a humanitarian and a politician”, Monica added.

 

Denise, never on the shy side nor a member of ‘few words’ recounted a fantastic experience! “My takeaways? Awareness of Rotary being a global organisation and not just a dozen or so people we see around the RNF table. Our ability to make a difference in the world through the 7 focus areas. Becoming aware of the projects being conducted over the world through the breakout group sessions and the House of Friendship displays. Becoming aware of the many Fellowship groups available to join that match our hobbies and interests. Listening to the incoming Rotary International President Gordon R. McInally’s vision and focus for ’23-24′ around ‘mental health’. Networking with fellow Rotarians and listening to their projects and successes, challenges and a feeling of belonging to the 13k attendees because we share core values through Rotary International. The audio and visual graphic displays on PowerPoints and slides were exceptional based on an Indigenous artist’s designs of elements (patterns, lines and dots ) and the vivid colours. (The incredible logo designs were designed by Riki Salam, a Queensland based artist and graphic designer specialising in contemporary Indigenous art, design, and communications). A great theme matching the ‘Aussie’ venue, The Rod Laver Arena facilities were world class. I admired the National dress from regions of the world, interesting to note that the countries near the equator obviously geared their delegates with warm clothes like ponchos and berets and in large groups they looked terrific! I photo bombed the Taiwanese group photo!”

Denise continued, “The closing ceremony just like the opening was fantastic – we saw ‘the greatest show on earth’ filled with dancers and circus like performances plus a tribute concert to 25 years of The Bee Gees. I will be going to the Rotary international conference 23/24 in Singapore as a direct consequence of experiencing Rotary in Action in Melbourne. I loved telling fellow Rotarians  about our RNF club and why we make a difference in our community we serve”. You can see some of Denise and Sue’s ‘greatest show on earth’ snaps below in the conference gallery.

President Sue (2022-23) ever ‘looking out for others’ wrote, “My most memorable moment at the Convention was meeting beautiful Slyvia a Midwife from Uganda, now living in Massachusetts USA. It was our last evening Graeme and I were sitting in a little laneway cafe. I noticed opposite me an African lady sitting and eating on her own. Meals finished and I couldn’t see any badges but felt she was a Rotarian. I held my Registration regalia up in the air and made signals indicating, ‘Are you one of us ?!!’ She dived into her bag held up her Rotary ID, I  said,  ‘ Come join us!’ ROTARY CONNECTS THE WORLD’ A beautiful finish to an awesome Closing Ceremony day”.

Image below: Syliva and Sue ‘connect the Rotary world’.

As I read the recounts I thought these all have something in common: Fellowship. But, what is ‘fellowship’ and why is it important for group cohesion and sustainability? It is pretty fair to say ‘fellowship’ is the ‘cement’ that holds us together. Without this, we’d implode!

Fellowship is friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests. An example of its use provided here:

“They valued fun and good fellowship as the cement of the community.” https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/

 

What’s coming up? ChangeOver is on 5th July at the Brunswick Hotel. Auction items are needed, please help our Club by donating suitable items like wine, chocolates, latest book or florist vouchers, or perhaps an item you’ve hand-made, like a painting, crochet or knitting. Book your tickets on Trybooking – see our invite below and the live link.  Click here. for the Changeover ticket link purchase. I have mine! Let Denise know if you can assist with raffle prizes – she’ll be delighted! Contact via email denisebuckbyrotary@gmail.com

Who does not love a sausage sizzle?! We are ‘owning’ the Bunnings BBQ on July 22nd – we need Members to step up to organise this event.  Would you like to volunteer? Please let Gary know if you can organise or help make this event a success.  Gary’s email is grbruce64@gmail.com

There needs to be at least 2 shifts of 8! Diarise Bunnings BBQ on July 22nd – we need members to step up to help with this event.

Our next meeting is June 14th, 6.45am for 7.00am start at the NEW FARM NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE, 967 Brunswick Street (next to New Farm Bowls Club).  We would love to see you there!