Share your Rotary Club's stories with District 9685 via email by the 18th of each month
QUICK DISTRICT UPDATES
Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) needs a District 9685 Chair!If you are interested in supporting ROMAC's work through speaking with clubs and helping connect clubs with ROMAC projects, please reach out to DG Niranjan to volunteer for the committee or Chair roles.
RYLA Applications are open!
Rotary Youth Leadership Award's are a transformational 7-day program facilitated by Rotary, the world's leading volunteer service organisation. Open to young people with leadership potential based in North/North-West Sydney through to the Central Coast. Encourage your local community to apply here.
Pitch for Purpose - District Conference Innovation Challenge
Pitch for Purpose innovation challenge - an exciting opportunity for school students to hone their skills in innovation and design thinking while solving real-world problems related to environmental protection—one of Rotary's core focus areas. For more information, visit the conference website.
Your club can sponsor a school team to experience the power of Rotary at this challenge in February, with the finals held at our District Conference in March. Registrations are due 22 November, so act soon!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Carols on the Common : Sunday 15th Dec
The Rotary Clubs of North Ryde and Macquarie Park are the annual hosts of Carols on the Common, on Sunday 15th December. Every year this is a major community event in the area, and an opportunity for Rotarians to work together and support Rotary projects.
Gift Wrapping at Top Ryde City : 12th - 24th Dec
The Rotary Club of Ryde raises funds and talks with the local community about Rotary's work in the world by wrapping gifts for donations in 2 hour shifts at Top Ryde City. Volunteers need a WWCC as we have help from school-age volunteers at each shift.
Other Volunteering Opportunities
If your club is hosting events or otherwise has scope to include volunteers from other clubs in our District when they're available, please submit to Club News by the 18th of each month.
THE GREAT ROTARY WHITEWATER DUCK RACE
It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning for the Great Rotary Whitewater Duck Race at Penrith Whitewater Stadium. The event was a great success, with so many families cheering on thousands of little rubber ducks, all speeding down the rapids and all for a great cause.
This annual event for Penrith Rotary raises funds for the amazing local charity organisations that support our community. Olympic champions Jess and Noemie Fox joined Penrith Rotary at 9am to start off the day, with other local celebrities including Royce Simmons and Luke Priddis heading the countdown and letting the ducks go.
INTERNATIONAL MEN'S DAY BREAKFAST
Norwest Sunrise Rotary Club's International Men's Day Breakfast was held on Friday 15 November at our usual venue, The Hills Shire Cafe at 7.00 am.
The IMD 2024 theme, Men's Health Champions, helped to shine a spotlight on both the problems of men's health and the people delivering the solutions, with the help of four sub-themes: Building healthy communities! Look out for your mates! Take Action, Stay Healthy!
We had three incredible keynote speakers:
Ned Narouz, CEO of Ready 2 Change, a youth organisation dedicated to empowering youth to reach their full potential.
He talked about their success in taking young men recently released from youth detention and with no significant male figure in their lives and integrating them into their communities, willing and able to make a difference. https://www.facebook.com/ready2change.org.au/
Mario Rodriguez, director at Positive Vibes Foundation. They collaborate with the community to raise awareness and encourage open dialogue around mental health. Through Positive Vibes’ four core programs – The Hills Women’s Shed, Paw Visits, the Young Healthy Minds Forum and Community Engagement – they are working to make deeper connections and increase the conversation around mental wellbeing.
Mario provided those present with practical ways that they can make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of those around them. https://positivevibes.org.au/
Aaron Huey, Tradies Wellness. Aaron provided confronting statistics on the mental health challenges faced by tradies. Aaron is a Men's Coach and Mentor. He moved from Life Coaching to specialising in coaching "Tradies".
As a carpenter, father and failed ex-husband Aaron has been through his own journey with his mental health and personal growth. Working his way up to management he's seen the highs and lows of construction and the impact that fast paced, pressure driven work can have on tradies at home and onsite.
Aaron is dedicated to giving back and helping motivate and empower other men in the industry to improve their mental health, wellness, and their outlook on life, as well as improve their relationships and drive them towards their goals and dreams of living and creating a happy and thriving life through personal development. His practical approach to tradies were quite inspiring. https://www.tradiemagazine.com.au/your-tradie-mental-health-questions-answered/
All present were inspired by our guest speakers and left the event with practical ideas to use in their own lives as well as the knowledge of three effective local groups worthy of support.
All three of our guest speakers will present at our club's Mental Wellbeing Connect event at the Harvey Lowe Pavilion at Castle Hill Showground on Sunday 9 March 2025. Members of the public are invited to attend and learn more about 30+ organisations and groups working in The Hills in the mental health space.
Robert Bredin
Vocational Service Director Rotary Club of Norwest Sunrise
AUSTRALIAN GOLFING FELLOWSHIP OF ROTARIANS
The Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians in Australia is a week of golf, fellowship, and good fun for golfers and partners, conducted at golf courses around Australian States and Territories on a rotational basis. Next year in April, the tournament will be held at Goolwa in South Australia, at the mouth of the Murray River.
The golfing tournament is also a great fund raiser for clubs hosting the event each year. For example, Merimbula Rotary Club hosted the tournament in 2023 and raised $29,500 which went towards all ability play equipment for children with disabilities.
Details for 6-11 April 2025 and the registration form are online here.
TREES OF JOY
Trees of Joy have been a standout Rotary project across our District for over 35 years. In recent years Ryde Rotary have made strides connecting the Tree of Joy and our partner shopping centres and local community support service recipients with local business, government, and multi-lingual communities.
The Trees of Joy are a great opportunity to be visible in our community, demonstrate Rotary's commitment and action for community service, and provide opportunities for inclusivity.
Browsing online, it is clear many Rotary clubs in our area are making similar effort.
Kathryn Dodd
Public Image Director Rotary Club of Ryde
CHRISTMAS GIVING
This Christmas, the Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville is giving families a chance to both give and receive. By coming to one of two easy locations, Hills families can ‘receive’ a wonderful fresh, real Christmas tree. The ‘giving’ part is that 100% of the profit from your Christmas tree purchase will go to great Rotary works in the local community and beyond.
This year, Christmas trees will be sold on 2 weekends in December. These weekends have been chosen to ensure your tree looks its best for Christmas celebrations:
Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th December
Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th December
The fresh Christmas trees are available on both weekends in two convenient locations:
The Bull & Bush Hotel (car park), cnr Windsor Rd & Seven Hills Rd, Baulkham Hills
The Ettamogah Hotel (car park), cnr Windsor Rd & Merriville Rd, Kellyville Ridge
Both locations have plenty of space to park and select a Christmas tree. The Rotary team will even load the trees for customers. And for those really stuck, arrangements can be made for delivery.
The finest of Christmas Trees are sourced from farms in the Southern Highlands of NSW and are freshly delivered each weekend.
Another way to give back to the community through The Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville this Christmas is ‘The Giving Tree” located at Grove Square (formerly Stockland Mall), Baulkham Hills.
The Giving Tree has supported those in need at Christmas for more than two decades and this year up to 200 gifts will go to children, young adults and women at three women’s refuges. Funds from Christmas Tree sales raised go entirely to projects of The Rotary Club of the Hills-Kellyville. Local programs include literacy initiatives for students and a local community garden.
Further afield the club continues its Bourke Public School Breakfast Club project, helping to increase school attendance. The club continues to be proactive in providing support for drought, flood and bushfire affected communities.
The Children’s Hospital at Westmead purchased new state-of-the-art equipment for their Eye Clinic with funds organised by the Club. On the international front, the Club is also involved in major humanitarian projects in Sri Lanka and India.
The Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville also organises events giving back to the local community such as the Sydney Hills Garden Competition and Jazz at the Pines. Anyone wanting to be part of an inspired group that is making a difference, contact the Club though our website or Facebook page.
Visit us at www.hillsrotary.org.au or for more details about our Christmas Trees, please contact Keith Stapley on 0412 079 014.
John Collignon
Public Image Director Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville
16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM : SOLIDARITY WALK
FRIDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
Willoughby City Council is joining the internationally recognised 16 Days of Activism campaign by inviting residents to our solidarity walk that honours and supports victims of domestic violence.
The walk symbolises Council’s commitment to ending domestic and family violence and supporting survivors in our community.
We encourage walkers to wear purple as a symbol of support.
Date: Friday, 29 November
Time: Afternoon tea begins at 3pm, the walk starts at 4pm
Location: Meet at the Dougherty Community Centre
Registration: Tickets are free but registrations are essential. Please register here.
The walk concludes at Chatswood Mall where the Lower North Shore Domestic Violence Network will host an information stall, offering resources and the opportunity to connect with domestic violence service representatives.
Together, let’s make a difference in our community.
Peter Russell
President Rotary Club of Northbridge
CHRISTMAS TREE SALES
STARTS SATURDAY 30TH NOVEMBER
A combined Central Coast Rotary project of Kariong/Somersby, Erina, Woy Woy, Kincumber and the Entrance Rotary Clubs.
Major beneficiary since 2009 : Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
GIVING NIGHT
MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER
IN CONVERSATION WITH WENDY WHITELEY
TUESDAY 10TH DECEMBER
North Sydney Sunrise Rotary are delighted to invite you to our annual dinner on Tuesday 10 December 2024 at which we are thrilled to bring you legendary ABC broadcaster, Geraldine Doogue in conversation with prominent local and artist Wendy Whiteley.
Wendy’s Secret Garden on Lavender Bay has become one of our most iconic and idyllic locations on the north shore. Its creation has been a labour of love for Wendy Whiteley and an enduring legacy for our community.
Our dinner will be held at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in Kirribilli and for $95 includes a three course Christmas feast.
All funds raised at the dinner will be donated to the Wendy Whiteley Secret Garden Trust which has been established to ensure the future of this precious place.
You can RSVP at https://www.eventbookings.com/b/event/geraldine-doogue-in-conversation-with-wendy-whiteley-the-secret-garden
This will be a very special occasion, and you are very welcome to bring family and friends.
CAROLS IN THE COMMON
SUNDAY 15TH DECEMBER
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF WORLD HERITAGE
THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2025
As we mark the 25-year milestone of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, we invite you to an evening of captivating stories from our remarkable environment.
Join Katoomba Rotary's Gala Dinner for an inspiring evening and hear from keynote speaker Jon Dee, co-founder of Planet Ark.
Vale Ken Burt Founding Member & Past President
Rotary Club of North Rocks
Please email editorial@rotarydistrict9685.org.au to let us know of any bereavements you would like published. It is much appreciated if you can also send a short biography and photo to include in the monthly District 9685 ClubsNews.
You may also wish to inform your Rotary Community Group Leader, the District Secretary, or the District Governor. Remember to also update your clubs member database on ClubRunner
