Chairman PP Norm Thomas opened the meeting and asked for the Loyal Toast from PP Tom Buxton. He then welcomed Pres David Frauman to the rostrum to present his first meeting as President. Pres David thanked everyone for attending the meeting especially keynote speaker Darren De Bortoli, Managing Director of De Bortoli Wines.
Apologies:
Pres David then announced apologies:
Graeme Watson, Angie Biggin and Geoff Cunningham.
There were no Secretary's announcements.
Pres David welcomed guests and they included
Member's partners: Lesley Kearns, Amanda Freeman, Jill Barr, Helen Buxton, Maria Hicks, Onur Cam and Heather Stacy,
and special guests Brian McGuinness (Rotary Club of Nth Balwyn),
Munmuch Chuol, Daniel Oyay, Joel Sinden, Juliana Frauman,
Rod Rabinov and Peter Sneddon.
Meeting Highlights
Rotarian of the Year Award
PP Colleen d'Offay asked Keiran Cromie to come forward and she presented him with The Jack Joel Award - Rotarian of the Year.
Keiran was overseas doing his African Adventure and missed Changeover.
Colleen said thatKeiran is the go-to person for everything operational. As Meeting Manager, he handles the RSL logistics and tech support. He also serves as the Logistics Manager for our flagship fundraisers: the Kieser Great Bayside Swim and the Brighton Classic Car Show.
Congratulations Keiran on this much deserved award.
Sergeant's Session - PP Julie Avery
All who didn't attend Changeover: Keiran Cromie, Di Allan, Eric Barr, PP Tom Buxton, PDG Dale Hoy, and John McKell all fined.
Extra fine for Keiran: Fined for the Rotarian of the Year Award.
Di Allan: Fined for looking suntanned and so relaxed.
PP Colleen d'Offay: Fined for looking way too happy
and relaxed at being a PP.
Anthony Langley: Fined for swanning around Europe and UK for
2 months. He missed lots of fines so Sarg asked him to pay double.
Pres David Frauman: Fined just because he was now the President.
Peter Sneddon: Fined because we hadn't seen him for a while.
Helen Buxton & Lesley Kearns: Fined for being seen at the Rotary Ladies Lunch on Tuesday.
Maria Hicks: Fined for being seen in gorgeous glittering gold pants at then West Brighton Club recently.
John Schmoll: Fined for showing off his Fiji suntan.
Stuart McIntyre: Fined for PHF Award at Changeover.
Ian Stacy: Fined for hosting the Changeover at WBC.
Speaker Darren De Bortoli
Managing Director De Bortoli Wines
After graduating, Darren was appointed Chief Winemaker at De Bortoli Wines and with the backing of his father the late Deen De Bortoli, made what has become Australia's benchmark sweet white, Noble One.
Darren has been active in winemaking organisations including the Riverina Winemakers Association and was Inaugural President of the NSW Winemakers Association. He has also been involved in many community functions and charities and was the Chairman of the Griffith Festival Committee for a number of years. Darren is married to Margot and they have three children.
As the family's wine and business has grown increasingly sophisticated, the De Bortolis have become high profile national and international players. But their success has come at a cost to local loyalties, straining community ties that go back generations. With each vintage, tensions mount. Economic realities have seen the family cut back on the grapes it buys, and the price
it is prepared to pay.
Expansion: Darren has seen De Bortoli Wines expand from 7,000 tonnes crushed in 1982 to more than 80,000 tonnes crushed in 2004. During the past two decades Darren has been largely responsible for De Bortoli's expansion not only in Bilbul but into other regions as well including the Yarra Valley, King Valley and most recently the Hunter Valley. Darren has also overseen the establishment of office/distribution branches in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney as well as offshore branches in the UK, Europe and North America.
Growing up at the family winery in Bilbul southern NSW, Darren understood from his grandfather Vittorio at very early age that he was destined to become a winemaker. After finishing school Darren moved to South Australia to study winemaking at Roseworthy, Australia's premier winemaking school, attaining his degree in Applied Science in Oenology in 1982.
Today: According to reporting by The Australian Darren De Bortoli has decided to pull out more vines, some up to 40 years old, from vineyards in Riverina and Rutherglen.
“It is very tough obviously, it is a continuation of the same saga for the last few years and it is just a question of have we hit the low point yet?” De Bortoli told The Australian.
The Australian said that De Bortoli believes the nation’s wine industry is “in a tragic state with no hopes of any near-term improvement”.
He told the publication that the vines pulled were mostly Shiraz,
with the decrease in red wine consumption a driving factor
behind the decision.
De Bortoli said that lighter wines such as Prosecco in King Valley and other varieties in Yarra Valley were performing better.
Sources: Saxton Speakers & The Australian
Last week's Raffle Results
The raffle was run by Maria Hicks with help from Helen Buxton.
The winners were Merve Boztepe and Heather Stacy.
2026 Science and Engineering Challenge
at Monash Clayton 17 July 2026
This joint project in conjunction with the Rotary Clubs of Balwyn, Brighton North and supported by Rotary District 9800 Foundation, BAE Systems & Suburban Connect, saw approximately 200 students from eight schools competing (Elwood College, Koo Wee Rup College, Nossal High School, Star of the Sea, St Leonard’s College, Bentleigh Sec, Mac Robs and Camberwell Girls Grammar). Generously hosted by Monash University and led by the amazing Alice and Chris from the Uni of Newcastle’s Science & Engineering Challenge team with 40 intergenerational volunteers helping out (including Rotarians from Brighton, Brighton North, Balwyn, Flemington Kensington, Box Hill, Canterbury, Passport Melbourne, EClub of Melbourne and UniMelb Rotaract, plus Suburban Connect, Engineers Australia and Monash Uni), students were able to test their critical thinking, problem solving skills and team work in a range of exciting, hands on STEM activities.
Congratulations to all the students, teachers and volunteers who took part in this initiative! Well done to St Leonard’s College who have qualified to compete in the state finals! Thanks to all the volunteers and supporters! From this fun filled day and experience, we hope that
some of these young people may be inspired to be part of Australia’s next generation of STEM talent.
Yimba Uganda Update
We have received the latest Yimba Uganda Newsletter from Anne-Marie and here is page1. If anyone would like to receive the full document (4 pages pdf) please let me know and I can send it to you by email.
