What a great night at Pentridge prison. Damien, our National Trust guide, showed us around the prison and highlighted such things as attempted escapes. H division was particularly interesting to tour and hear about, yet unsettling. Twenty-six of us met in B division at a lovely restaurant, Olivine. The food was excellent. We look forward to more off site events in 2027.

Congratulations to the 30 walkers from Rotary Clubs of Hawthorn, Camberwell and Glenferrie, who participated in the End Polio Walk recently. The weather was perfect and as the members in their red t-shirts walked through the park they highlighted the need for increased community awareness & the eradication of polio. The walk culminated at the Auburn Hotel.

On a warm, almost balmy spring evening 19 Glenferrie Rotarians accompanied by 10 guests walked through the historic gates of HM prison Pentridge. We were taken back in time by National Trust guide, Damien, to explore the history of this penal facility and to hear stories, mostly excruciatingly sad but sometimes uplifting from previous inmates. It was initially established as the Pentridge Stockade in 1851 with a perimeter fence that could be stepped over! n

Speaker: Kersha Chettri

Topic: “The ABC of Social Media for Glenferrie Rotarians”

Kersha has become our social media “champion” along with Garfield Lee, who has been posting the successful BFM story for years on Instagram.

On 13^th October, and for the first time during a speaker’s address, Kersha had asked us to turn ON our phones! Kersha then took us on an expedition of social media, to enhance our knowledge and encourage us to use it to promote our club’s activities. 

She called it the ABC of Social Media.

The Environment and Sustainability Committee of our club has booked a stall at the Camberwell Market for Sunday the 15th of November. The aim of this stall is to recycle a variety of items donated by club members, which they no longer wish to keep, and to sell them at the market. The proceeds of the sales will return to the club and will be used for humanitarian projects.

I would like to ask members to gather together saleable items they wish to donate for the stall. There will be a collection point or collection at a time closer to the market date.

Items suitable for sale must be secondhand or handmade. These would include secondhand clothes, (especially vintage), scarves, jackets, jewellery, china, glassware, metalware, or other interesting bric-a-brac.

Norman Gale and the men who attend the men's cooking class at Bowen St Camberwell, on a Wednesday from 11.00am - 1.00pm, are very grateful to the Rotary Club of Glenferrie for sponsoring and running the men's cooking class each week throughout the year. The classes are run in six-week blocks with a two-week break in between the blocks. 

Most weeks we have four or five men from all walks of life who enjoy coming along and preparing and eating a healthy meal together.

On the 20th October, Mark Ellis was asked by DIK (Donations in Kind) to examine the ophthalmic gear donated to them. He was accompanied by Peter Stewart OAM (RC Kew and SEP Director) to look at what had been donated.  Peter looked at all the glasses donated. The idea was to “junk” what was not suitable to send.

On 21^st October a merry band of 9 Rotarians gathered at our favourite “Watering Hole”, The Glenferrie Hotel, to celebrate Club fellowship – Cheryl, Peter, Paul, Mark, Don, Garry Alex, Maria (Geoff on camera) Active discussion over a casual lunch and beverage in the sunny courtyard. The conversation was lively with many “tall stories” and much mirth. A great occasion to catch up informally and celebrate the best of the Rotary Club of Glenferrie. The next celebration will be on 18^th November!”