On 25 November 2015, Frankston North Rotary chartered Monteract, the first Interact Club in Rotary District 9820. Frankston North Rotary and Monterey Secondary College met in early July 2015 to discuss the possibility of developing an Interact Club (Interact stands for international action and is a junior Rotary Club for 13 to 18 year old students). Presentations were then made by Frankston North Rotary to the key stakeholders at Monterey Secondary College, including the Student Council: it was important that students were included in all decisions and planning aspects. This resulted in Monteract (the Interact Club of Monterey Secondary College).
District Governor Merv Williams presenting a student with her charter member certificate.
Frankston North Rotary then made an application to the Frankston Community Grants Program for financial assistance and received $500 from each of Councilor Spelman and Councilor Aitken’s discretionary funds to kick-start the club. A steering Committee was formed with the students from Monterey Secondary College and members of Frankston North Rotary and Peninsula Rotaract. Frankston North Rotary provided training for the students in all aspects of running a club, including project management, fundraising, financial control, communication and presentation skills. Members of Monteract ran information sessions to other year levels and conduct a monthly presentation at school assembly with the aim of securing members.
The group is amazing. The students are dynamic, resourceful and have a great understanding of community service and giving back to their local community. They have identified four projects that they wish to tackle in 2016:
- establishing a graffiti wall to encourage street art;
- removing graffiti from the toilet blocks;
- raising money to help purchase school play equipment for Year 7 students;
- developing a community farm on the school premises.
Monteract meets every Wednesday at 3:30 pm in meeting room B3. In the words of the students, ‘Everyone is welcome’.