Submit your Club News & Events to share with District 9685 via email
February District News includes...
DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S UPDATE
ACTION AGAINST DOMESTIC & FAMILY VIOLENCE
DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2025
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LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
ROTARY DISASTER RELIEF
COMMUNITY SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
CARE IN THE MIDST OF CONFLICT
YOUTH PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY
INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATION AT RYPEN
THE WORLD'S GREATEST MEAL
CALGARY ROTARY CONVENTION
DISTRICT GOVERNOR FOR 2027-2028
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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF WORLD HERITAGE : 27 FEB
AVOCA BEACH THEATRE FOR ROTARY : 27 FEB
CASTLE HILL ROTARY 60TH ANNIVERSARY GALA : 7 MAR
Club News resumes on 20th February
Please share your club social and community event successes from over the break
by 18th February to communications@rotarydistrict9685.org.au
DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S UPDATE
“We would like the entire grade from our school do this.”
We have had not just one, but three teachers say something along these lines in response to the Pitch for Purpose invitation to schools in the district. There are many practical reasons why this initial enthusiasm will get tempered down by the time actual registrations and payments for the program get locked in. But the very fact that the first reaction shows such eagerness is telling.
Despite intensive curriculums and busy lives, teachers are welcoming of one more thing to do when it strikes the right chords with their own objectives – to provide effective and fun learning experiences for students in topics aligned to the curriculum.
We were able to come up with a new program that fits the bill and do so in a very short timeframe. What does that tell us about ourselves?
We can move fast when we put our minds to it. We now have a schedule of around 20 schools, 8 days of preliminaries across 7 different locations, 18 Rotarian Facilitator volunteers, and somewhere between 200 and 250 students expected to go through the prelims. All this has been organised from a standing start, while the rest of the conference planning and club projects continue at full pace.
We can come together across multiple clubs when we put our minds to it. The Pitch for Purpose team is spread across more than a dozen clubs. Many have never met each other except on Zoom. (Though we hope to fix that soon and have some fun and fellowship).
These two strengths, and many others, will be on display at the conference too. Whether you are bullish about Rotary or hold concerns about our future (I am in both camps!) the conference will bring you tangible ways to participate in the evolution of Rotary and to nurture our ability to serve communities.
At the conference, you will hear from experts, from people making a difference, and from students yearning to make their own mark. You will see the power of two-way partnerships with charities. Last but not the least, you will experience the impact when we tell our story effectively. In short, you will experience The Magic of Rotary!
So, register now and don’t forget – bring a friend, get a discount. (Friends can be your own connections and / or supporters of the club from your local communities)
And about that “effective and fun learning experience for students” - those who have registered in Pitch for Purpose have placed their trust in Rotary to do that. Now we must deliver.
The next bulletin on the 5th of March will be shortly after the Preliminaries have been completed and finalists identified – you will hear from me again on how that went!
Yours in Rotary, Niranjan District 9685 Governor
Rotary Club of Beecroft
ACTION AGAINST DOMESTIC & FAMILY VIOLENCE
As you may know, our District Respectful Relationships Program team are collating a database of the projects that clubs are doing or supporting in relation to our District (and Zone-wide) campaign against domestic violence.
We would like to update that information to provide a report at the District conference, and across the Pacific Zone.
The last set of statistics was very impressive and showed that we are indeed committed to this important cause as a district.
Could each club please send us a brief update on what your club has done and indicate if:
It is ongoing from your initial project or activity
A new project or activity?
Please include contributions of dollar amounts or a close estimate as this forms part of the report. Thank you in advance for your time spent gathering this information
Janelle Craig Respectful Relationships Program Coordinator
District 9685 Learning & Development invite you to join in our Expert Sessions series of events. This series is designed to give you access to experts in various fields in Rotary work, practical guides and powerful information to enhance your Rotary experience and impact.
Our next Expert Session is Saturday, 15 February 2025 at 10:00am on Zoom (register here). The topics will be:
Growing Rotary with New Clubs hosted by our New Clubs Director Ubah Gabris
Crafting the Message: Your Perfect Media Plan with Chief Storyteller Liz McDougall
TRAINING FOR 2025-2026 ROTARY YEAR
To prepare for the 2025-2026 Rotary year, could all incoming Presidents, Secretaries and any other relevant board members please ensure your ClubRunner Executive list is up to date. If you require assistance, reach out to Communications Chair Kathryn Dodd or Administration Chair Lindsay May.
President Elect Learning & Development will be held on Saturday 8 March 2025, 8:30am to 4pm. Attendance is mandatory for all incoming Club Presidents, regardless of whether or not you have served in this capacity previously. Please register your attendance now.
District Assembly will be held on Saturday 5 April 2025 - incoming Club Boards, please watch your inboxes for the registration link coming soon.
ROTARY LEARNING CENTER - NEW LEARNING PLAN ALERT!
The new Service Project Essentials Learning Plan includes great courses for any club member looking to start a new service project in their club or to ensure your current projects are following best practices!
Take all the courses at once or take one course at a time, reflecting on what you learn, and taking steps outlined in the course before moving to the next course.
YOUTH PROTECTION UPDATE
Club Youth Protection Officers and current Presidents are reminded to undertake the Protecting Youth Program Participants 2024-2025 course in the Rotary Learning Center at your earliest convenience.
DGN Michele Ellery
Learning & Development Chair
Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains
ROTARY DISASTER RELIEF
The Rotary Disaster Relief Committee (in District 9685) are ready, willing and able to step up and assist should any major weather event or other incident occur. We are really hoping we need to do nothing over the coming months!
However, with summer well underway and weather events hitting us recently, we are reminded we must always be prepared.
Our involvement in helping support communities is after first responders have acted.
At this stage we imagine we would contact the Community Service Chair in each club should we need assistance, with either financial or material donations.
We would be interested in having a list of other people who may be able to assist – especially those with vans or 4-wheel drives to transport goods. This is where we hope you can assist by letting us know of anyone you are aware of, or by asking when you are in touch with clubs in your RCG.
The process as it stands is that, if a disaster event occurs we contact the DG and COTA and get the go ahead to respond. We then contact the club/s in the vicinity of the event and find out if they need help. The next step is to approach the clubs in our District and ask for any offers to contribute. Simple!
Congratulations to the Rotary Club of North Ryde - one of the two girls sponsored by the Club from Marsden High at Meadowbank in Sydney is an Aboriginal student at the school.
As our coordinator of First Nations' Partnership programs, I have been advocating for this to happen across the District for some time. I had canvassed the Ryde Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) as well as my contact at the school, including its Aboriginal liaison teacher. Not all schools have a significant number of Aboriginal students to draw from but a quick ring around would identify them.
We know that RYPEN has a profound effect on its participants. Let's use the power of Rotary to effect change in the lives of all students but also take steps towards closing the gap for this particular cohort. Feel free to contact me.
Bob Selinger District First Nations Partnerships Coordinator
Rotary Club of North Ryde
COMMUNITY SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
December is a busy month but also provides some time out for our members to relax and refresh for the new Rotary year.
I’d like to highlight the many clubs in our district whose community service helps make Christmas special in many different ways. Clubs that:
Hold community carols - so much organisation goes into putting on a carols night, those joyful events that are so important in bringing residents together at this special time of year,
Sell Xmas trees – a great fund-raiser but also something that the local community has come to rely on each year. Nothing beats the smell of pine needles that a real tree provides,
Organise ‘Trees of Joy’. So many people in our society are struggling, and providing an opportunity for local shoppers to contribute helps everyone feel good,
Clubs that collect hamper donations to be distributed to those who may have less money to spend on Christmas treats,
Run Christmas Raffles to raise funds,
Organise Santa runs – children get so much excitement when Santa drops by,
Organise Santa photos, creating special family memories,
Clubs that provide a gift wrapping service,
Provide BBQs for community gatherings and
Engage in many other activities for the festive season such as Crows Nest who held a Christmas Giving Night.
Thank you all for your community service and I hope that you were well-rewarded
yourselves. I look forward to hearing more about your community service over the next six months.
PDG Mina Howard
Community Service Chair
Rotary Club of Blackheath
CARE IN THE MIDST OF CONFLICT
Help RAWCS project Building a Healthy Congo (#47-2015-16) get desperately needed funds to our project partner HEAL Africa Hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. The city is under control by M23 rebels. The 350-bed hospital is overwhelmed by civilians injured in the fighting and medicines are depleted. In addition, the hospital desperately needs:
Generator fuel (the city is without electricity)
Internet service
Water is scarce, risking outbreaks of cholera and Mpox
Food supplies
Tax deductibility is available through www.rawcs.org.au, Project 47-2015-16.
Lucy Hobgood-Brown
HandUp Congo E-Club of Greater Sydney
YOUTH PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY
The next Windeward Bound trip up the East Coast of Australia is 15th April and trips are scheduled through until 29th November. 2025. A full itinerary is available at this link.
Check the 2025 East Coast Youth Leadership Challenge to find all the details and how to apply.
THE WORLD'S GREATEST MEAL
The idea is so simple.
Plan a meal, dinner, or virtual program to raise funds for End Polio Now. Enjoy the event, take pictures, raise funds, and report details of your event to The World's Greatest Meal team.
By joining together in a world-wide event, many have greatly enjoyed international fellowship. All monies collected go straight to the Rotary Foundation End Polio Now account with full credit going to your Club.
Susanne Rea OAM
World's Greatest Meal Team Leader
CALGARY ROTARY CONVENTION
As of 20 January, 14,914 registrations have been paid globally, with 238 from Rotary South Pacific. Calgary is on track to be the largest in-person convention post-covid.
Westjet and Air Canada have announced flight discounts for all Rotarians.
If you are looking to share accommodation, Bruce Livett from Rotary Melbourne is keen to share with someone who has already secured accommodation close to the venue. If this is you, please connect with Bruce directly on blivett08@gmail.com.
Keep up-to-date with the latest speaker announcements: David LaMotte (Musician, Speaker, and Author), Philip Muneer Flindt (DJ and Rotary public image coordinator Zone 18, 2022-25), Katherine Hayhoe (Climate Scientist), plus several familiar Rotary faces, have been announced.
PDG Marilyn Mercer
2025 Rotary Convention Representative
E-Club of Greater Sydney
DISTRICT GOVERNOR 2027-2028
Regardless of the outcome of Regionalisation and the proposed restructuring of Rotary in our zone we need inspirational leaders to guide and assist our clubs.
Rotary International has requested that each district select a District Governor Nominee (DGN) for 2027-28.
That role may evolve into something different from the present so we are looking for flexible and visionary members who have the desire and drive to be that person who is willing to motivate and inspire a group of clubs in our geographical location.
When was the last time you dressed up, ate a three-course meal, and danced the night away to a 10-piece jazz band? Better yet, when was the last time you celebrated 60 years of community service, fellowship, and meaningful impact?
On Friday, 7 March 2025, the Castle Hill Rotary Club is hosting its 60th Anniversary Gala Dinner at Rydges Norwest, and it’s going to be the kind of evening that reminds you why local organisations like Rotary matter so much.
Let’s set the scene. The ballroom at Rydges Norwest will be dressed to impress, with the air buzzing with conversation and connection. The music? Courtesy of ‘The Swing West Jazz Orchestra,’ a dynamic 10-piece band that’s guaranteed to have you tapping your feet—or hitting the dance floor.
And while the dinner (a fabulous three-course meal) and entertainment will certainly make it an evening to remember, this event is about more than just the glitz. It’s a celebration of six decades of Castle Hill Rotary Club making a difference in the lives of countless people—both here in the Hills District and around the world.
Honouring the Past, Looking to the Future
“This isn’t just about looking back,” says Dr. Juanita Ruiz, President of the Castle Hill Rotary Club. “It’s about celebrating the lives we’ve impacted and getting excited about the projects still to come. It’s about connection, community and impact—past, present, and future.”
That connection will be at the heart of the evening, with Community Service Awards presented to honour local heroes and an inspiring showcase of the club’s ongoing work.
If you’re a past member of a Rotary Club (or a family member of one), this is your chance to reconnect with old friends and celebrate the legacy you helped create. And if you’re simply someone who’s passionate about community service, this is the perfect opportunity to see what Rotary is all about.
A Table for Everyone
Want to make an even bigger impact? Organisations, businesses, and community groups are encouraged to purchase a table for the event. Not only will you receive a special mention during the evening, but you’ll also have the chance to showcase your support for the Hills District community.
A Partner with Heart
The Gala is proudly supported by Arada, a property development company with a heart for revitalising communities. Arada believes that when people and spaces connect, incredible things happen—and their vision aligns beautifully with Rotary’s mission.
“We’re thrilled to have Arada as a partner,” says Dr. Ruiz. “Their work highlights how meaningful connections can create ripple effects that strengthen entire communities. That’s what this evening is all about.”
Reserve Your Seat
Tickets are $99 per person, and seats are limited. The price includes a three-course meal, live music, and an evening packed with inspiration and celebration.
Whether you’re a longtime supporter, a curious newcomer, or someone who simply loves an excuse to dress up and dance, this Gala is your chance to be part of something special.
