Guest Speaker - Cindy McLeish, MLA, Local member for Eildon, Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention since January 2025, Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence since December 2022,
Shadow Minister for Women since December 2022.
Cindy grew up in a third generation farming family in Yea, her great grandfather arriving in the district in the 1840s. She attended preschool, primary and secondary schools here, before heading off to Melbourne University, where she enjoyed politics, to do her Batchelor of Education. After teaching science at Mt Scopius College, Cindy studied Psychology and used this skill by working in Management and Leadership, under-taking organisational management for big corporates, particularly West Australian mining companies, as well as managements roles for sporting associations.
It was her involvement in the North South Pipeline—Plug the Pipeline campaign, that led her to politics, Cindy and her husband moved back to the farm in Glenburn, and she was elected as the member of the Legislative Assembly for the electorate of Eildon in 2010. Cindy commented that there are great things happing in the electorate and she works hard to attend as many events as possible. Her electorate office is in Yarra Glen, where she is entitled to 2.5 staff to assist.
Cindy spoke of the trials of being female in the earlier years of Australian politics, the days of Enid Lyons, where the challenges of it being a male dominated workplace meant there were no facilities for women and women had to improvise to survive!
Vote of thanks—Tony Jacobs
It was her involvement in the North South Pipeline—Plug the Pipeline campaign, that led her to politics, Cindy and her husband moved back to the farm in Glenburn, and she was elected as the member of the Legislative Assembly for the electorate of Eildon in 2010. Cindy commented that there are great things happing in the electorate and she works hard to attend as many events as possible. Her electorate office is in Yarra Glen, where she is entitled to 2.5 staff to assist.
Cindy spoke of the trials of being female in the earlier years of Australian politics, the days of Enid Lyons, where the challenges of it being a male dominated workplace meant there were no facilities for women and women had to improvise to survive!
Vote of thanks—Tony Jacobs
David & Tippy who are currently in Thailand joined the meeting via Zoom. They have been busy catching up with family and friends, but have also found time to attend several Rotary meetings!
Exchange Student Julie
Julie is on a short term exchange (3 months) and is being reciprocally hosted by Nakaiah Kerr and her mother Cheyenne. Nakaiah was hosted by Julies’ family last year for a short term exchange. 
Julie is from Taiwan and is hosted by the Taipei Everwall Rotary Club for her short term exchange. Taiwan is in East Asia, and she speaks the Mandarin Chinese language, with English as her second language. She resides in Taipei, a major city.
Julie lives with mum, dad, 2 siblings and 3 precious cats.
She is a big fan of baseball, plays the guitar (is a member of the music club at school), loves to draw and plays sports.
She enjoys the culture and festivities of Taiwan, especially New Year and the receiving of red envelopes, night markets, the many Temples and the great variety of food that is available.
Julie is enjoying her exchange and is loving Australia, having visited the Great Barrier Reef with other exchange students, and is looking forward to a visit to the Healesville Sanctuary!
“Thank you Yea Rotary and hosts Cheyenne and Nakaiah for welcoming me”.
Julie is on a short term exchange (3 months) and is being reciprocally hosted by Nakaiah Kerr and her mother Cheyenne. Nakaiah was hosted by Julies’ family last year for a short term exchange. 
Julie is from Taiwan and is hosted by the Taipei Everwall Rotary Club for her short term exchange. Taiwan is in East Asia, and she speaks the Mandarin Chinese language, with English as her second language. She resides in Taipei, a major city.
Julie lives with mum, dad, 2 siblings and 3 precious cats.
She is a big fan of baseball, plays the guitar (is a member of the music club at school), loves to draw and plays sports.
She enjoys the culture and festivities of Taiwan, especially New Year and the receiving of red envelopes, night markets, the many Temples and the great variety of food that is available.
Julie is enjoying her exchange and is loving Australia, having visited the Great Barrier Reef with other exchange students, and is looking forward to a visit to the Healesville Sanctuary!
“Thank you Yea Rotary and hosts Cheyenne and Nakaiah for welcoming me”.
Thank you to Flowerdale Community House for catering tonight!
Great to have you on our catering team
Great to have you on our catering team