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Cire supports bushfire initiative with Wandin Rotary

Cire donated more than $700 to Wandin Rotary to directly support their initiative to aid those impacted by the devastating bushfires in the Corryong and Upper Murray region of northeast Victoria.

The money will help offset a $10,000 donation by Wandin Rotary to assist the Rotary Club of Corryong which is working tirelessly to help the local communities and individuals rebuild their lives.

Money raised by Rotary goes directly to those in need, without administration costs and other fees.

Whilst Cire staff contributed to appeals earlier in the year, the Rotary donation comprised of subsequent funds raised at a funky hair day by our Hubs and Children’s Services teams, which was then matched by Cire itself. The Wandin club’s pledge is from its major annual fundraisers including its Wandin Custom Car and Bike Show, the final night of which is on Wednesday evening 18 March.

“Cire is one of Wandin’s first organisational members and we are proud to be able to support the club in this way,” said Cire CEO, Gus Seremetis.

“Wandin Rotary is a small club but incredibly active in supporting the local community as well as reaching out to others in need.”

In commending Cire for its generous support, Wandin Rotary President, Dennis Hoehne, said the club chose to donate $10,000 to the Corryong Club so the funds would go directly to those most in need.

He said the Corryong Club had indicated that was most needed in the community was access to cash.

“Many people’s livelihoods have been taken away with little alternative income available. So far the Club has distributed $30,000 of its own funds to people who have either lost their homes or their properties have been severely damaged. The President of the Club lost his own home to the bushfires’’ Dennis said.

He said it was at times like these that the Wandin Club particularly valued organisational members like Cire who could help harness even more support through its staff and the communities it serves.

He said the club was always looking to expand its membership base so it could continue to provide and expand its work in strengthening local communities and helping those in need.

For further information about Wandin Rotary, please visit http://www.wandinrotary.org/

Christmas Twilight Market 2019 – Activities, Food Trucks & Stalls!

Welcome to the Cire Services and Yarra Ranges Council Christmas Twilight Market!

Cire Services is thrilled to be opening the doors of our Chirnside Park Community Hub, at 33 Kimberly Drive, for our first-ever festive market event. We are immensely proud to be hosting over 60 stalls and food trucks, showcasing the talent and hard work of local business owners from across the Yarra Ranges. By shopping local, you are directly benefiting your community and taking home unique, one of a kind treasures that can’t be replicated.

The Christmas Twilight Market will span four zones: The outdoor area, the foyer, the hall and- of course!- Food Truck Park. We will also have plenty of activities available to keep the kids entertained, from pourable art by Mixable Creations to sustainable Christmas crafting run by Cire Hubs’ very own placement student, the talented and lovely Linda. If you’re lucky, you might even see the famous Santa himself wandering around the stalls as he tries to track down the perfect gift for Mrs Claus!

Cire Services will be providing a sausage sizzle, courtesy of a generous donation from Coles Chirnside Park, with sausages for $2.50 and cold drinks for $2. Every dollar raised will be used to fund programs, events and initiatives at our not-for-profit community hubs. Make sure to pop by and say “hello” to our wonderful Cire team.

Thank you to our amazing local business owners, Coles Chirnside Park and, most of all, our hard-working Community Hubs team for bringing a touch of Christmas magic to Chirnside Park this Friday.

 

 

Zone 1- The Outdoor Area:

 

Stall Offering
Little Fox Ceramics Handmade ceramics such as cups, tumblers, bowls, vases
Handmade Jems Hair Accessories
Intimo Lingerie and clothing
Easy Peasy Garden Tools Gardening and cleaning tools
Yarra Valley Bath and Body Bath and Body gifts
Leadlight by Vas Leadlight suncatchers
Craftorium Crochet Toys
Vitamin Earth Natural Threads Boho fair-trade clothes
Spectrum Journeys Bracelets,  books, t-shirts, calming bottles
Tanache by m&m Handmade jewelery and clothes
Tennis for Life Information on joining their local tennis club
Peony and Sage Essential oils
Tupperware Storage solutions for the home
Thermomix Demonstrations on cooking with your Thermomix
Sherlock Designs Homewares and pop-culture products
Polyanthus Handmade Jewellery made from books
Uncle Mungo’s Bottled hot sauce and other chilli products
Mixible Creations Craft kits and free craft activities
Opals Gems and Jewellery Opal and semi-precious gems set in rings, bracelets, anklets, pendants
Indie Resin Resin homewares, jewellery, art and alcohol ink art
Barnden Doll clothing, blankets, library bags, toy bags
Felix and Wise Children’s jewellery and charms, squishies and toys, stress relief toys, bags, dress-ups
Little Blossom Boutique Hand-made items
Nerea Li Santi Handcrafted silver jewellery
Rhonda’s Family Amusements Pony Rides, Jumping Castles
Cire Services The host of the market, Cire, will be sharing information on their wide range of community initiatives and services
Sparkle and Twirl Face Painting
CFA Fire Truck Kids big and small all love a visit from the fire truck! The CFA will be in attendance, offering fire education and awareness.

 

Zone 2 – The Foyer:

 

Stall Offering
Cosy Cards Christmas Cards
Created to Cherish Soy candles, melts, tea-lights & cards
Lee’s Chocolate House Handmade Chocolate Houses
Bebe Beauty Nutrimetics brand skincare and beauty products
Harmonia Grove @ Taggerty Olive oil and  olive products
Ines McSweeney DoTerra oils
Intelex Australia A wide range of beautiful imported fabrics
Gray Arch Designs Polymer clay jewellery
Crafted by Bees Raw, local honey
Sweets & Treats by Michael Delicious sweets and treats
Sugar Shack Candy Rock Candy, candy straps, liquorice and all things sugar!

 

Zone 3- The Hall

 

Stall Offering
YV Hampers Gourmet Yarra Valley Food Hampers
Yarra Mist All-natural essential oil-based products
Saroma Natural Therapies Repellents, skincare, deodorants, gels
Norma Rose Cakes Cupcakes, Christmas baked goods, toffees
The Avenue Gifts Gift hampers and locally made goods
La Cire Candles Natural soy wax candles with natural oils
Poppysmack Artisan Asian sauces and meal kits, with gluten-free, vegan and low FODMAP options available
Swanella Creations Nappy cakes, baby rompers, t-shirts and hair accessories.
J Creations “Baby I Spy “Bags, burp cloths, bibs and key fobs
Jan’s Art Smocks Handmade art smocks and children’s wear
Wishkart Pty Ltd Children’s light-up LED toys
Charlie and Sparrow Jewellery, handbags and scarves
Brain Gym Brain gym for learning, living & healthy ageing
Vintage Flourish Eco-friendly and natural products
TJL Creations Hand made jewellery, hair accessories and bead chains
Close to My Heart Cards, doll’s clothes and knitted goods
Cathie’s Crafty Creations Crocheted and knitted goods

 

Zone 4 – The Food Truck Park

 

Food Truck Offering
Smoothie Planet Smoothies and juices
Ablaze Woodfire Pizzas Pizza and ice-cream
CJ Mobile Café Coffee and hot chocolate
Real Fruit Ice Cream Vanilla yoghurt/ice-cream mixed with fruit
Honey Dee Loukoumades Greek deep-fried doughnuts served with honey syrup
Golden Poffertjes Dutch pancakes with a variety of toppings

 

Teddy Bears Picnic – celebrating children

Cire Services was a bit like the Pied Piper of the Yarra Valley recently when it hosted two fun-packed festivals at its community hubs to celebrate national Children’s Week.

Hundreds of pre-schoolers and their families including mums and dads and grandparents, and the local young-at-heart, gathered for the festivities which focused on the 2019 theme of ‘Children have the right to be healthy, safe and happy. Richer countries should help poor countries achieve this’.

With a teddy bears picnic theme, all who attended enjoyed a full program of activities at the Chirnside Park and Yarra Junction hubs on Tuesday and Thursday, 22 and 24 October respectively.

Teddy Bears Picnic - celebrating childrenHighlights included performances by educational theatre company, The Flying Bookworm, the musical magic of local drummer Kofi Kunkpe, storytimes with Bookaburra and Eastern Regional Libraries, energetic dance classes with Count Me in Dance Company, badge making, plaster mould painting, playdough, robotics, and cut and paste and sensor activities and lots more.

It was also one-stop shopping for information about local services and activities with stalls promoting Cire Children’s Services, Cire Training, Cire Community Hubs; the CFA complete with truck; local pre-schools and primary schools, Yarra Range Council Family and Community Services (FaCS), EDVOS, Healesville Hospital and Yarra Valley Health, Eastern Regional Libraries, Brain Gym, and Count Me in Dance School.

In keeping with the 2019 theme, and to plant the seeds of social justice among our youngsters, Cire showcased a charity it supports in North Bali.  The son of the founder, who was a special guest at Chirnside Park where he wore traditional dress, thanked all those who donated to the Aura Sukma Insani Foundation. Former Cire employee and Yarra Junction resident, Heather Dryden volunteers at the charity which focuses on education, housing and medical care in remote areas.

Cire hosted the teddy bears picnics with the support of Yarra Ranges Council as well as businesses from the region including the Fingers Orchard at Launching Place, Yarra Valley Archery Park, Belgravia Leisure’s Yarra Centre, Oz Tenpin Bowling, Bunnings Lilydale and Croydon, Maroondah Golf Park, and Readings.

‘Cire is proud to partner with others to ensure such an event is successful and that we work together to strengthen our broader community, through inclusiveness and connectedness,’ said Gus Seremetis Chief Executive Officer of Cire, one of the largest not-for-profits serving the Yarra Ranges and beyond and unique to the region.

‘It is tremendous that Children’s Week is helping sow the seeds of social justice with a focus on helping less fortunate children overseas, as well as promoting the rights of children in Australia.’

Ms Seremetis was delighted to welcome Dodi Sukadana from the Aura Sukma Insani Foundation.

‘Cire’s values closely align with those of the Foundation which we actively support,’ added Ms Seremetis.

 

Leadership initiative to drive continued Cire success

Cire Services has launched an innovative Leadership Program to help drive the future progress of the organisation as one of the largest and most respected not-for-profits in the region.

Core to the success of our organisation, Cire’s leadership team comprises leaders from every area of the business including Corporate, Children’s Services, Community Hubs, Education and Training and the Community School. With our focus on continuous improvement, education and professional development, Cire’s Leadership Program 2019 was launched on 19 June.

“With such diversity in our business units and our people, it was essential to build a program that suited Cire specifically. A cookie cutter approach just wouldn’t work as effectively for us,” says Melanie Fisher, Senior Manager – People and Quality.

The Leadership Program was developed from a workshop for the Executive Leadership Team, run by Melanie.

The day focused on drawing out and establishing the leadership traits that are important to Cire, and vital to a Cire leader. The style of learning was also discussed at length and the types of programs that have helped Executives to progress their careers.

Five leadership traits were identified:

Leadership initiative to drive continued Cire success

 

  1. Values Driven
  2. Aware of Self and Others
  3. Motivational on the Journey
  4. Accountable for promises and outcomes
  5. Authentic

From there, three core program modules were developed:Leadership initiative to drive continued Cire success

  1. Knowing Ourselves
  2. Connecting with Others
  3. Business Ready

To be authentic and self-aware as leaders, our people need to understand more about themselves, their style, which makes them better leaders and individuals. We commenced the program with an employee satisfaction survey to measure what people thought of the business, levels of engagement and commitment and what needed work.

With great delight, we engaged Kristen Hansen from enHansen Performance to speak to the team about the neuroscience of leadership and performance, and Heather Smith from Nourish Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching will give insight into managing stress through better health.

Leadership initiative to drive continued Cire successTo supporting leaders in connecting with others, and being motivational on the journey, an internal mentoring program will be introduced as well as ‘spotlight talks’ from each leader about what they do within Cire. Presentation skills training will be key to helping our leaders deliver their messages effectively, and a values alignment program run by CEO Gus Seremetis will give valuable insights as to what living our values looks like day to day. Jarred Kellerman, our Business Support Manager and registered psychologist and Melanie Fisher, a registered counsellor, will be running a program on active listening.

Being Business Ready cements our learnings into operation. Training on leading teams and professional networking skills will get the team ready and refreshed to put their knowledge of themselves, others and the business into practice. To further show how well we can work as a team, a Cire Cook-Off (Masterchef style!) will finalise the program at the year.

The program runs over six months, and Cire is excited to show support for its people, to support their success now and into the future. This, in turn, helps us better support our community, to add value to our programs and work towards our values of quality, respect and integrity.

Cire Services is a not for profit organisation. We are committed to investing our profits in improving service deliveries. Facilities and staff proffesssional development.

Alpacas with Maracas

By Holly Williams – educator at Cire Children’s CentreYarra Junction

With the catchy theme of ‘Alpacas and Maracas’, toddlers from the Cire Children’s Centre at Yarra Junction were well and truly hooked for National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday 22 May.

Alpacas with MaracasOur Toddlers Room joined more than 1,085,587 participants across Australia and New Zealand for the nation-wide reading which is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).  It is the first time Cire has participated and we are already looking forward to future as part of our innovative learning program.

Gathering outside to enjoy our natural environment and sunshine, we started our Alpacas and Maracas session with an acknowledgement of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. The children joined in with their own actions and appreciation before sitting on the mat, sharing their wonder and interest in the story time.

Using technology, we were able to view the video in Auslan with the story being signed to be inclusive of all our educators and children.

The children shared their joy as they laughed and giggled, joining in on the actions throughout the story and shaking their maracas as we engaged within the group.

As part of National Simultaneous Storytime, every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.

Now in its 19th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children’s book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum.

The aim is to promote:

  • the value of reading and literacy
  • the value and fun of books
  • an Australian writer and publisher

promote story time activities in public libraries and communities around the country, and provide opportunities to involve parents, grandparents, the media and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion.

Cire Children’s Services is one of the four core operations of Cire Services Inc.

We proudly operate a range of quality children’s services at multiple sites across the Yarra Ranges in order to meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve.

We program include long day care incorporating a funded kindergarten program, occasional care, outside school hours care, vacation care and playgroups.

We provide opportunities, skills and support for both children and families.  We believe in the individuality of each child and promote a holistic approach to education and care which encompasses the overall health and wellbeing of every child who attends our services.

Finalist in Telstra National Business Award

Telstra Business Award Finalist 2019Cire Services is delighted to be a finalist in the social change maker category of the 2019 Telstra Business Awards.

Our progress in the award program demonstrates Cire’s credibility as a social change maker and our continuously growing strength and reach in the sector. Winners are expected to be announced in the second part of 2019.

The prestigious awards are now in their 27th year with the social change maker category celebrating organisations that have positive social impact at ‘the core of their purpose’.

Being part of the program highlights Cire’s work as one of the largest not-for-profit organisations in the Yarra Ranges Shire and the diverse needs of residents of all ages that we try to address through our core operations.

Cire is proud of its reputation for providing flexible learning opportunities, education and training and a depth and breadth of community programs and services to help meet the needs of, and empower, people of all ages through the Yarra Ranges and beyond.

Our credibility is further reinforced by the partnerships we enjoy with local, state and federal government bodies and other organisations and philanthropic endeavours through funding and in-kind support and joint projects.

Cire operates across sites in Lilydale, Yarra Junction, Mount Evelyn and Chirnside Park, as well as through outreach. Our core services are:

  • Cire Community School which has pioneered successful educational options and approaches for Years 7 to 12 students requiring an alternative to mainstream schooling.
  • Cire Children’s Services which delivers long day care including integrated kindergarten programs; occasional care; outside school hours care as well as other family and children’s services such as a range of playgroups.
  • Cire Training, our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which delivers accredited and non-accredited short courses and Vocational Education and Training (VET).
  • Cire Community Hubs which offer a diverse range of programs and services in a welcoming and inclusive environment at Yarra Junction and Chirnside Park (formerly Kimberley Place).

Cire has enjoyed a particularly exciting start to 2019.  Our corporate services and Cire Training, our Registered Training Organisation, are now based in offices at 211 Main Street, Lilydale. This has given more space for our Community School and Children’s Services at their Mount Evelyn campuses, as well as creating a dedicated location for our Community Hub at Yarra Junction.

Equally exciting, Cire commenced operating Chirnside Park Community Hub at the start of the year at the invitation of Yarra Ranges Council. Our Mount Evelyn campus was developed after Council invited Cire to take over Morrison House in 2014.

Cire celebrates sustainable living at Ecotopia

Ecotopia, ECOSS’s annual community festival celebrating sustainable living and multiculturalism, was held on Sunday 24th March.

Ecotopia is a celebration of sustainable living in the Yarra Valley and a major yearly event for ECOSS, a not-for-profit organisation based in Wesburn which is situated on a permaculture designed property promoting sustainable living solutions for the Yarra Valley community and beyond.

Cire Services, who is a major sponsor of Ecotopia, was invited to participate, giving us the opportunity to advertise our new direction for our dedicated Community Hub – Yarra Junction, after the move of our head office and training department to Lilydale, and showcase the great ways we plan to grow and support our community.

Cire has recently made the decision to utilise its location in Yarra Junction as a Community Hub.

We aim to strengthen the grassroots of our organisation, which started over 40 years ago, by giving locals easy access to our services in Yarra Junction, and help people to get involved and have local input and knowledge.

“I’m really looking forward to growing the Yarra Junction Community Hub and helping to facilitate community ownership and participation. This space is here for the community, and our team have a holistic view of bringing the community together and being proud of the town we call home.” Simone Whitehead, Community Hub coordinator

Our Yarra Junction Community Hub coordinators, Simone and Penny, started the day at Ecotopia setting up an approachable space for people to come and see what our Hubs and the broader Cire community have to offer.

Eliza, Cire’s Early Childhood Education and Care trainer, was keen to help and enlisted the support of some of her Certificate III students to set up an activity to engage families and children through playdough activity tables.

“I was very impressed with my students who contributed their time to participate in a hands-on learning activity. The students made playdough in one of our classes, set up the activity area and interacted with families.” Eliza Lee, Early Childhood trainer

Also on offer was a flag making table where visitors could come and paint their own flag in colours, patterns and symbols that resonated with them.

Cire Community Hub was proud to be a part of an event that celebrated sustainable living in the Yarra Valley and look forward to next years.

If you didn’t get the chance to say hello to us at Ecotopia and would like to know what is happening, are interested in running a course, or hiring out space, please drop into Cire Community Hub – Yarra Junction and introduce yourself to our coordinators, Penny and Simone or contact 1300 835 235.

If you’re lucky, they might even make you a cuppa!

Community garden ‘explodes’

While students were enjoying their school holidays, the Cire community garden at Mt Evelyn has been bursting at the seams with extensive growth.

The tomatoes, pumpkins and zucchini plants have been quickly filling up the beds and we have already harvested more than eight kilograms of delicious zucchinis. In true community spirit, Cire families and staff have shared the zucchinis for use in slices, relish casseroles, salad, grated into pasta, crumbed, filled and roasted and even made into a chocolate cake.

Other crops that have been harvested during the Spring/Summer season include rocket, garlic, silverbeet, snap peas, garlic chives, kale, spring onion, and herbs like parsley, chives, oregano, rosemary, nasturtiums and thyme.

This year we grew four varieties of potato – White, Desiree, Royal Blue and Brake Light. The White has been extremely abundant and large in size. For flavour and versatility, Royal Blue won hands down. Delicious roasted, fried, used in salads or mashed.

The garden has struggled against wild rats and we have done what we can to protect the crops and garden beds from their destruction. It has been devastating to discover their destruction of seedlings and crops such as basil, beans, peas and more recently, the entire corn crop.  However, we are always learning and adapting to our environment and hopefully, we can focus on the positives. We may not be able to harvest any corn this year but we could use the stalks as climbing frames for beans, a shelter for nearby crops and then mulch for the garden beds.

The biodiversity and health of the plants and soil, as well as the lush plantings, have encouraged an abundance of wonderful creatures who all call the garden home and have various roles to play. We have a family of three young kookaburras learning to fly and feed around the garden and also honey bees, hoverflies, butterflies, blue banded bees, lady beetles, rosellas, magpies all calling the garden home with various roles to play.

The students did an amazing job of tending to the garden during classes last year. They have injected their own unique style with art pieces and ornaments starting to appear, adding vibrancy and colour to the garden.

We are reaping many benefits from the garden. It is very productive with the array of self-sown vegetables and herbs, as well as providing seeds to collect and plant next season. The garden is also a peaceful haven for all involved. Such continuously expanding benefits are extremely rewarding and highlight how our garden awards are so well deserved.

We are looking forward to another fantastic and productive year. Happy gardening!

Jillian Dowling
Horticulture Trainer
Cire, Mt Evelyn

If you would more information on our training courses click here.

Cire scoops two awards for Mount Evelyn garden

Cire’s Community Garden at Mount Evelyn has starred in the 2018 Victorian Schools Garden Awards (VSGA).

It topped its category for the most engaging school garden, awarded by Catholic Education Melbourne, as well as winning the secondary schools section for North Eastern – Regional.

The dual awards are a testimony to the hard work and creativeness of staff and students as well as highlighting the flexible and quality learning opportunities Cire provides people of all ages.

The VSGA recognises the importance and value of gardens and outdoor spaces in progressive modern education. Established by Paul Crowe OAM and the late Kevin Heinze in 1977, the program helps promote the joy of gardens and gardening to school-aged children.

‘VSGA is a great way for us to showcase the types of flexible learning opportunities that Cire provides people of all ages, including our students. We are very proud of our awards, particularly because they publicly acknowledge what we have accomplished and aspire to achieve in the future.’Said Anna-Louise Allen, Executive Manager Education and Training, Cire

Revitalised from a previously neglected community space, Cire’s garden at the Mount Evelyn is a well-organised hub of activity for hands-on learning and engagement for students from the school, Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and kindergarten. As part of our paddock-to-plate program, our VCAL students use the produce to create deliciously healthy meals in cooking class.Cire-Community-Garden Award

It is a constant work/creation-in-progress with the change of each season and the ongoing input from different waves of students who are constantly thinking of improvements/new initiatives.

In addition to the lush range of produce and the resident chickens, there is a focus on sustainability with a water tank and composting, as well the resourceful reuse and recycling of most of the materials used.

We have great plans for the future with a focus on creating a sanctuary for students to connect with nature, their health and wellbeing; a safe space for animals, and a green and productive area. The garden also facilitates greater connection with the wider community through the availability of surplus produce and volunteer assistance.

Recent achievements include:

  • Resource Smart School accreditation with Cire setting an ambitious goal to gain our first two stars including one for waste management. The Vasili's Garden MagazineVictorian Government initiative assists schools to embed sustainability in everything they do, encourages real-life sustainability learning and helps schools save money.
  • Our garden has been featured in the nationally-distributed Vasili’s Garden magazine which promotes healthy and sustainable lifestyles

If you would like further information on our Community Garden please call 1300 835 235.

Pictured: Award-winning Cire gardeners, from left, Hannah, Luke and Rohnan with
Maria Minto- Cahill from Catholic Education Melbourne.

Pictured: with Paul Crowe OAM, VSGA co-Founder and Patron, are award-winning Cire gardeners, from left, students Hannah, Rohnan, Luke and Cire trainer Jill Dowling and teacher Ebony Mackay.

 

Cire joins Rotary

Cire Services Inc. has added further depth to its community partnerships by becoming one of the first organisational members of Wandin Rotary Club.

Cire has welcomed the initiative because it helps build on our existing relationship with Rotary and work even more closely with a service organisation very much driven by similar values and goals.

‘We are honoured to have been invited to join Rotary which is such an enormously respected organisation worldwide,’ Cire CEO, Gus Seremetis.

‘We already enjoy a great relationship, having partnered in various projects and we greatly look forward to more collaborations in the future to help improve the lives and opportunities for others in our region and beyond.’

In welcoming Cire, Wandin RC President, Heinz Budweg, said he looked forward to partnering more with Cire in the future to deliver many positive outcomes for people of all ages. He also commended Coldstream Primary School which joins Cire as the first organisational members with Wandin RC.

Wandin RC’s has provided invaluable support to Cire across its diverse services with initiatives including scholarships for students at the Community School, defibrillators for Cire Community House and our Mt Evelyn campus, and books for Yarra Junction Child Care Centre. Through Rotary connections, the Days for Girls program has been introduced at Cire Community School to help make education more accessible for girls in Third World Countries, and students have assisted with landscaping projects at Yering and Coldstream primary schools. Plans are also underway for Rotary to provide mock employment interviews for our students.

In jumping aboard Rotary, Cire has launched a postal stamp collection drive to support ROMAC – Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children. Please see the end of this article for details.

Rotary International has 1.2 million members and more than 35,000 clubs across the globe who contribute 16 million volunteer hours each year.
The organisation is driven by a philosophy that: ‘Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves… Each day, our members pour their passion, integrity, and intelligence into completing projects that have a lasting impact. We persevere until we deliver real, lasting solutions.’

For more than 110 years, Rotary has bridged cultures and connected continents to champion peace, fight illiteracy and poverty, promote clean water and sanitation, and fight disease.

Eliminating polio has been one of its greatest campaigns with 2.5 billion children immunised against the debilitating illness, particularly in Third World countries.

Another of its projects is ROMAC which funds life-saving and dignity-restoring surgery for young children from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Timor Leste, Vanuatu and Vietnam.

Everyone can help ROMAC by collecting used stamps. All you need to do is cut the stamp off the envelope (please do not peel off), leaving roughly a 2cm border. Once you have collected a few, drop them into Cire’s Yarra Junction office in an envelope marked ‘ROMAC – Sandra Bucovaz’.

A recent comedy night hosted by Wandin RC raised $13,000 for ROMAC!

If you would like further information on Rotary visit www.wandinrotary.org

Pictured: Cire’s Manager of Partnerships and Funding, Sandra Bucovaz, and Coldstream Primary School’s Chaplain, Chris Waizel, with Wandin RC president Heinz Budweg (centre).