Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd. (RAWCS) was formed to enable Australian Rotarians, Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs to assist communities and individuals through humanitarian aid projects. In our Community Group we have three RAWCS projects currently operating. One of these is the Eyes for Africa project established by the Rotary Club of Milton-Ulladulla.

Well, October disappeared quickly!  So much going on and the culmination of course, was our District Conference held in the Southern Highlands.  The District Peace pole was opened and dedicated on Friday afternoon and situated right outside of the Wingecarribee Shire Council Chambers.  This was followed by a Civic Reception put on by the Council.

• I had lost my Rotary mojo but your Conference has inspired me again – Thank you!
• This conference opened my eyes to the Internationality of Rotary and that we as Rotarians are most definitely a part of this family and we CAN make a difference!

• It is a transformational 7 day residential program, that offers a unique opportunity for participants to develop and enhance skills in effective leadership.

• Sessions take multiple forms, including outdoor recreation, team coordination and planning tasks, as well as opportunities for personal reflection.

• Many participants who attend RYLA express an interest in joining their local Rotary or Rotaract clubs. Others demonstrate a newfound appreciation for Rotary and its initiatives that they share with others.

• RYLA provides an opportunity for young people to get involved in Rotary or other volunteer organisations that create a lasting benefit for your local community.

 

• “Attending RYLA was a game-changer! It is more than just a leadership program; it’s a catalyst for personal growth and lasting connections. From honing communication skills to activities of self-discovery, the workshops and activities provided a perfect blend of theory and practice to equip me with a plethora of practical leadership skills.”

• “RYLA was a transformative experience, fostering not just leadership skills but a supportive community. The mentors’ dedication and guidance were invaluable. The diverse activities and genuine connections formed made it a truly heartwarming journey.”

• Rotaract Club members

• Previous participants in Rotary Youth Programs (eg. Youth Exchange, RYPEN, public speaking, NYSF)
• TAFE/Educational facilities
• Community organisations
• Various workplaces
• Sporting clubs, musical clubs, hobby groups
• Community leaders
• Organisations your club has supported
• Young Ambulance, Fire Fighting and Police officers or volunteers at local stations.

The worsening problem of Domestic and Family Violence in Australia

In 2023, more than 58 women/children died through domestic and family violence in Australia.

Along with that terrible record:

• 1 in 5 women (22%) has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.

• 1 in 2 women (53%) has experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime.

Read More

Regionalisation in Rotary Zone 8

A pilot agreed by Rotary International (RI) in February 2019

BREAKING NEWS: CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOW CLOSE 5PM - MONDAY 16 OCTOBER. NO FURTHER EXTENSIONS.

  Download the final Conference Program

             Please Register Here

Neville Thompson OAM was born: 8 June1930 and died 3 February 2023 - Aged 92 Years 

He was sponsored into Rotary Club of Temora by Gordon McGeorge PHF and PP and was inducted on 14th June, 1976.  His classification was Agriculture – Beef Farming.  Neville served as President 1979/1980.   Neville was the son of former member of our club, Past President the late Eric Thompson who served as President 1954/1955.  When Neville became president in 1979/1980 he created club history by becoming the first Rotarian in our Club to be inducted as President and son of a former President. 

Join us for a fabulous evening to celebrate the end of the year and launch our new Rotary 9705 Indigenous Health Grants program in collaboration with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.

You’ll enjoy champagne on arrival and savour a delicious three-course meal in excellent company with the backing of live entertainment. There will be two bottles of wine on each table and a delightful gift from our friends at Guylian for every guest. 

There will be raffle prizes throughout the evening and an Indigenous art auction. All proceeds from the evening will help improve Indigenous health.

For more information about the evening and the auction visit: https://aussiepeacewalk.com.au/indigenous-art-auction/

Book early to reserve your place. Tickets are $85 pp or $800 for a table of 10.

As a global network that strives to build a world where people unite and take action and has to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity and celebrates the contributions of people of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, colour, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

• Expanding our reach
• Enhance Participant Engagement
• Increase our Impact
• Increase of ability to adapt

Adam's letter below is self explanatory.  Congratulations and well done to all who gave of their time and resources at this critical time.  You certainly lived the Serve to Change Lives theme for this Rotary year.  And I must add another thank you to all the Clubs and Rotarians who donated to the RABS appeal. And a special mention to the RC Canberra for their donation to the Helping Hands project from the JC Olsen Trust.

Leo Farrelly, DG9705

Dear Presidents and Secretaries of the ACT

Please forgive an open letter this time!

Covid lockdown brought many challenges but it also brought empathy and generosity.  A great example of that empathy and generosity was the response of Garry Malhotra and his team in providing food to those who needed it, the project known as Helping Hands.  And we, as Rotarians across the ACT, played our part in that.

There is this last week to go.

The provision of daily cooked food will cease with the end of lockdown – on Friday 15 October life goes back to the new normal.  The Rotary roster of drivers closes at that point, our District’s response ceases at that point.  We close the charitable RABS account.  Looking back, we helped make a difference: some 80 people put in 1400 or so hours volunteer effort to deliver across the ACT (and into Yass) … and so far over $23,000 in financial support from clubs, individuals, the JC Olsen Trust and Hands Across Canberra.

1. Community education

• Share information from local and regional health authorities and support their efforts. 
• Contact your local health department to determine where assistance is most needed.   

2. Equitable distribution 

• Connect with local health departments/agencies (including WHO and UNICEF where applicable) to advocate for and support their efforts to ensure all communities receive equal access to the vaccine.  

3. Combat misinformation 

• Disseminate accurate, fact-based information (as provided by local health agencies). 
• Advocate by spreading the word that #vaccineswork. Use Rotary’s work on polio eradication as a key example. 
• Invite a medical professional or local health department official to speak virtually at a club meeting. 
• Engage with local media (e.g. letters to the editor) in support of local efforts. 

4. Stop the spread of COVID-19

• Continue to engage in projects supporting mask-wearing, social distancing, proper hygiene practices, and donation of PPE.  
• Lead by example (wear masks and practice social distancing at all times) and share images online that reflect these behaviours.

5. Encourage vaccination 

• Get vaccinated as soon as your country’s system permits and share your experience online. 

2021 AWARDEES

This year’s winners of the ACT Emergency Services Community Awards are Rohan Scott and Christopher Puschak 

Before assuming the position of Chief Officer at the ACT Rural Fire Services, Rohan Scott spent 20+ years as a volunteer Firefighter and held several leadership appointments, including Captain. He led a team of 400 people through the 2020 Black Summer Fire Season and played a crucial role in maintaining their health, wellbeing, and morale throughout the strenuous period. 

Chris Puschak has been involved with the emergency services over the past 24 years and is currently working as Treasurer of the Hall Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade while also being an active volunteer Firefighter. He played a vital role in the 2019 fire season where he defended regions of Nerriga, Adaminaby, Tumut, and Orroral Valley. Here, he volunteered to do additional shifts and also stayed back to support the wellbeing of his crew, some of whom had limited operational experience. 

Are you interested in being involved in a volunteer training and mentoring opportunity supporting paramedics and health workers in the Dhading District of Nepal?

• Training capacity in any health field
• Women’s Health –particularly Cervical cancer screening, Prolapse uterus
• Physiotherapy
• Nursing
• Nutrition

This story is at the District Club Runner Workshop in Young

Are you aiming to enlist a corporation or business to support Rotary's drive to end polio? Whether you're targeting the local, regional, or national level, the best way to begin is to identify a key contact and simply ask.

Aziz Memon, chair of the Pakistan PolioPlus Committee, did just that. In 2010, he approached Zohair Mehmood, director of external affairs at Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan, asking that the company consider sponsoring billboards across the country to promote polio eradication during National Immunization Days. The company agreed to the request as part of its corporate social responsibility program, and went on to sponsor ads in the Pakistan End Polio Now newsletter.

But the new partners both had something bigger in mind. "In 2012, the Pakistan PolioPlus Committee and Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding to raise awareness about polio [and to] facilitate activities related to a clean environment, better sanitation conditions, water conservation, improved education in schools, and other community-based initiatives," says committee project manager Asher Ali.

Work soon began on a reverse-osmosis water filtration plant in Malir Town in Karachi, Sindh, which opened in January, giving 20,000 people access to safe water.

"Clean drinking water is a dire need in areas where the poliovirus exists due to poor sanitation and hygiene," says Ali. "[The plant] was installed at one of our permanent immunization centers."

Creating a corporate partnership to help end polio is all about building relationships, notes John Burt, a member of the Rotary Club of Orange, California, USA. In 2008, he invited Tim Mead, vice president of communications for the Anaheim Angels Major League Baseball club to speak to members of the Orange club. After the talk, Burt and fellow club member Michael Abdalla, a 2005-07 Rotary Foundation trustee, met with Mead, who then arranged for the two Rotarians to meet with Angels Executive Vice President John Carpino.

"John agreed to give us 50 percent off the [ticket] list price if we sold 500 tickets," says Burt. "We also sold over 600 Angels commemorative caps embroidered with 'End Polio Now'."

Since 2009, that formula has helped Rotary members in District 5320 generate more than $117,000 for polio eradication through annual Angels-Rotary Night to End Polio Now fundraisers. Over 5,000 Rotarians have attended the events, and the district has also provided public service announcements that are aired during TV broadcasts of Angels games.

In addition to establishing key contacts with the team, Burt says that enlisting support from the district governor, appointing Rotarian planning and ticket sales coordinators, and promoting the event to Rotary club presidents all have helped ensure success.

"Orange Rotarians have also sponsored 186 needy kids from the Orangewood Children's Home and Big Brothers Big Sisters," says Burt. "Each kid receives a club-level ticket, an Angels cap, food, and an opportunity to attend Angels batting practice. Many of these kids have never attended a Major League Baseball game before."

District Governor Elect John Glassford, welcomed everyone and gave an overview of the day.  He thanked the speakers on the day,  the help of the Young Rotary Club and all those present for supporting this inaugural event.  The day was John’s idea, so  he was well pleased with the turnout.

• A great event to be continued.
• Clubrunner, Word Press very interesting.  Very interested to learn Zoom and Social Media. Lots of info to practise at home
• Fabulous, informative and interesting day.  Well planned and implemented.  Congrats!
• Very informative in all regards. Well planned.  It was wonderful to not have endure a sausage sizzle lunch!
• Thank you for allowing us to have Inter District sharing.  Hands on excellent.
• Well done ALL!
• The day was pleasurable and informative.
• Enjoyed all activities.  Would like a bit more time on GIMP.  Great meeting new and old Rotarians.  Well done, great day.  Very well present.  Congratulations.

In this Quick News I wanted to share with you my assessment of our District 2016-17 performance against our targets for this Rotary year. In summary, I believe we scored very well on three key Strategies and targets. In these results the % is an assessment of how well we did against the set targets, and they are:

• Develop leaders capable of serving Rotary at the Club, District and International levels  80%
• Improve the organisational and operational performance of the District 90%
• Apply Rotary’s five Avenues of Service - Club, Vocational, Community, International and Youth Programs 85%

But on the other three key Strategies we either scrapped over or under-performed.

• Support Clubs to increase and sustain the District membership base 30%
• Focus and increase educational, vocational and humanitarian service through The Rotary Foundation 35%
• Use the activities of local Rotarians to increase awareness of Rotary 50%

In this Quick News I wanted to share with you the District Board decisions at the end of this Rotary year. Your board considered a number of items and I have picked out the main ones, being

• approval to work on a Vocational Training Team project to focus on Indigenous communities,
• selection of reps for the Council on Legislation,
• some changes to the District Conference funding,
• donation to The Rotary Foundation and managing our District Foundation Project grants, and
• the D9700 Membership Grants

Here is the latest information from Shelterbox on the current flooding in Sri Lanka.  As they don’t yet have a clear picture of the aid required, the best assistance is by making donations to ShelterBox Solutions.  That way the donations can be used to provide exactly the types of aid required.

• It is assessing the need to respond to mudslides and flooding in Sri Lanka.
• They are flying in to assist the Sri Lankan Government led relief efforts, work with partner charities and local Rotary Clubs, and to make urgent plans to help local families and communities recover.
• Their work responding in Sri Lanka last year means they have the best possible experience in how to level and drain sites on the island, and they’ll be working with partners and the Sri Lanka government to share their expertise.