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October District News includes...
DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S UPDATE
---------------------------- PUSHUPS FOR POLIO
CYCLE FOR RECYCLING
THE MAGIC OF ROTARY GALA
2024 SHELTERBOX CHAMPION AWARDS
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EXPERT SESSIONS SERIES
RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS GARDEN PARTY
DISTRICT VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION UPDATE
THE ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
MEDISHARE WITH RAWCS
FOOD PLANT SOLUTIONS ROTARY ACTION GROUP
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UPCOMING EVENTS
OTHER ROTARY NEWS*
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DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S UPDATE
What is our impact footprint?
How exactly are we as Rotarians building a better world? Who is benefiting, and in what way? Why do they need our help? And where are they?
Driving from one club meeting to the next (33 meetings and counting), there is time to reflect on what I learnt. The inspiring work at each club feels like just the tip of the iceberg. Each project is impactful on its own, and yet the visits have made me wonder what would happen if we were able to join the dots across all the work.
So, I went digging for some data. The picture that emerged was thought-provoking. Below is a map of the world with pins indicating where we as District 9685 are making a difference in people’s lives through one or more of Rotary’s areas of focus, like education, disease prevent, water and sanitation, peace building and more.
District 9685 impact footprint
This is based on data from the Foundation Global Grants system, and from Rotary Australia World Community Services (RAWCS). There are many projects that don’t feature on either of these lists, plus the work of other related entities - significant amongst them being Australian Rotary Health (ARH) and Rotary Overseas Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) - that have their own footprint. And then there is the world-wide campaign for eradicating polio, where the pins would effectively cover the entire world map! Suffice to say this picture is indicative and not exhaustive. The true picture is even more compelling.
Beyond this geographic footprint lies the world of numbers - how many people, how many schools, water wells, water filters, check dams, toilets, vaccinations, hospitals….and of course how many dollars. On just the Foundation component, our district contributed more than $1 M AUD, and in return we were able to shape, control and direct projects worth $3 M AUD. Yes, this is not smoke and mirrors – this is the magic of Foundation grants and their ability to amplify the scale of our work. Ask Haran Ramachandran – he will explain how the math works!
And most importantly, there is the world of individual stories. Of people whose lives changed for the better. Of the child in Moree (regional NSW) who can now experience the joy of reading books. Of the young man in East Timor who creates a path to a better life with the leadership skills gained during our youth events. Of the young mother in Cambodia who can now contribute to rebuilding that nation ravaged by genocide only a generation ago. Of the village in Nepal ravaged by landslides that is now rebuilding itself. Of the villagers in India and Sri Lanka and Tanzania who can now get two crops a year on their land instead of just one, of girls who can continue their schooling instead of dropping out at puberty because of lack of toilets. And of the woman escaping domestic violence right here in Sydney, who can now access a scholarship to re-skill for a new career and re-start her life.
If we could collect all this impact data, if we could see what is the total impact of Rotary on the world, how inspiring would that be? I hope to have some answers one day. Digging for that data has started. Watch this space for more information.
And come to the District Conference in March 2025 on Sustainability and Humanitarianism where we will share more and bring you some of the individual stories of impact and inspiration, as told by those who have experienced the stories as their own.
Central Blue Mountains Rotary Club in NSW Australia will be conducting a fitness project called ‘Polio Pushups / Paces’ between 3rd October - 24th October, 2024. This Challenge is open to anyone, anywhere in the world. You do not need to be in Rotary. The entry fee is very affordable ($10 AUD ).
Help us reach our goal of raising $15 000 AUD for Polio Plus. For every dollar you contribute, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match with an additional two dollars.
Did you know a Rotarian is cycling almost 750km along the Oodnadatta Track in South Australia to raise funds for sustainable solutions to the plastic crisis in the world’s largest ocean plastic contributor, the Philippines?
Duncan Powers of the Rotary Club of Gawler Light in SA faces over 10,000m in elevation change, a range of wildlife and desert conditions. Learn more & donate to support Duncan's efforts online here, or contact the Rotary Club of Gawler Light for other ways to contribute.
THE MAGIC OF ROTARY GALA
Coming up on Wednesday 20 November, we are having a special 'The Magic of Rotary Gala' Dinner at Rydges, Norwest, a celebration of Rotary and the incredible difference we make together across the globe. On this special evening, we will come together to honour the profound work of the Rotary Foundation.
As we celebrate the accomplishments of the Rotary Foundation, the Gala will also highlight the “Magic" that happens when Rotarians unite—turning dreams into reality for those in need.
Our distinguished guest speaker is Ms Noémie Fox - 2024 Paris Olympic Gold Medalist. She will be interviewed by Sydney Morning Herald sports journalist Tom Decent.
The evening will have a magical atmosphere filled with inspiring stories, entertainment, gourmet dining, and camaraderie.
Be a part of the magic. Together, we can continue to make lasting change in the world. This is a joint initiative of the Rotary Clubs of Castle Hill, Norwest Sunrise and Kenthurst as well as Rotary District 9685.
Join us on online on Wednesday 9th October at 7pm AEDTto hear about the incredible work of Rotary around the world in disaster relief.
The ShelterBox Champion Awards is an annual event that showcases the dedication and commitment of Rotary Clubs in helping people who have lost their homes to disaster and conflict. This year’s ceremony will take place via a national video conference, where all Rotary Clubs and members can share the moment.
Hear from special guest speaker, Alex Youlten, ShelterBox Rotary Partnerships Manager as she reflects on the achievements made possible by the partnership between Rotary International and ShelterBox.
The Partnership with Rotary International came to the fore again earlier this year, when Rotary proved essential in our response to the earthquakes in Morocco. Recently, in Grenada following Hurricane Beryl, Rotary and ShelterBox worked closely on a coordinated response.
District 9685 Learning & Development invite you to join the first 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.
Expert Session 2 on the topic of Connecting with Business was held on Saturday 21 September with a small but mighty group of attendees. Led by District Sponsorship Chair John Zhang, we discussed different ways that clubs can connect with businesses for different kind of projects or resources, shared our own experiences with business and considered new opportunities.
John gave us a toolkit of questions to ask ourselves as clubs when thinking about how we can connect with business to increase our impact and expand our reach. You can catch up with the slides and recording here.
Rotary International also featured Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) advice this month including 10 tips for business partnerships and another session recording we refer to in Expert Sessions that may be of use to your club available online here.
Our next expert session is on 9 November 2024, with New Clubs Chair Ubah Gabris inspiring us to think about how we can grow Rotary through new and innovative clubs - RSVP here today.
Register here for the next Expert Session on Saturday November 9th!
RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS GARDEN PARTY
What an amazing day we had at the Respectful Relationships Garden Party held at The Vicar Dural on Saturday, 21st September 2024. With the sun shining, splashes of purple abounding and fabulous background music provided by Bernard and Jane O’Connor, around 80 attendees, including Rotarians, community members, politicians and representatives from DFV organisations from across the District came together for the launch of the Program’s latest initiative - educational scholarships.
Often education is one of the first areas abandoned when domestic and family violence occurs. Our inspirational guest speakers, Dannielle Miller, Director of Education for Women’s Community Shelters, and Angela Whitby from CatholicCare, Diocese of Broken Bay, highlighted this point when they spoke of their experiences in working with women and children impacted by domestic violence and coercive control. With the support of Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) we have created two compassionate grants to provide opportunities for recipients to close this gap. Both projects are open for three years and will be allocated District-wide with the assistance of DV organisations to identify students or adult recipients in need. Each grant offers tax deductibility for donations over $2.
For school aged children, Safe Hands Bursaries will provide a $500 bursary to help them experience a ‘normal’ schooling, so funds for education resources, school excursions, after school activities.
For adult survivors of domestic and family violence, Strong Arms Scholarships are designed to enable the attainment of a qualification that can contribute to a career and earning capacity and a sustainable lifestyle. Thus, enrolment in TAFE and University based courses including Cert III and IV, Diplomas and Bachelor’s degrees, and a long term, one-off contribution towards a PHD where the study will contribute to research in the area of DFV (in the fields of medicine, health, social work, law for example).
The Garden Party was a great vehicle to start our scholarships fundraising efforts, thanks to the energy of our MC, Paul Rapp from the Rotary Club of Kenthurst, who managed to shake a hefty bounty out of the pockets of fellow Rotarians during a robust live auction and raffle draw! Excitingly, we also brought on board the first corporate sponsor of the program, Altitude Capital, as a Gold Sponsor. So a huge and successful afternoon all round.
A big thank you to all the Rotarians and Clubs who supported the event, to businesses and organisations who generously donated auction and raffle prizes, and to the dedicated and hardworking Respectful Relationships Committee, especially the Sponsorships Team for their skills in planning and executing a phenomenal event.
If you weren’t at the event, the wonderful photos of Maureen Rose from the Rotary Club of Richmond help to give a feel of the fun and fellowship we shared. If you would like to support this initiative, you can do so by making a personal donation or asking your club to support this cause via the QR codes below.
Janelle Craig Respectful Relationships Program Chair
Rotary Club of West Pennant Hills & Cherrybrook
Hint: If you are reading this on your mobile device and can't scan the QRs, you should be able to press on the QR codes and your device will take you to the links directly!
DISTRICT VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Do you know someone who represents Vocational Excellence of the highest order, and who resides and /or carries out their vocation within the boundaries of District 9685?
The District 9685 Vocational Excellence Awards Committee are seeking nominations for this year’s presentation at the District Conference at the Pullman Hotel Penrith in March 2025.
The Rotary Awards for Vocational Excellence were inaugurated in 1982 by the Rotary District 9685 Vocational Service Committee. The first Awards were presented to three candidates at the 1983 District Conference in Bathurst by PDG Graham Turnidge, and have been an integral part of our District Conferences for over 40 years.
The aims of the Award are:
To recognise VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE of the highest order and to honour outstanding contribution by individuals or small teams of individuals for significant advancement in their vocational field in Australia.
To inspire further enthusiasm and to give added reward to the exceptional achievers.
To set an example to others, particularly youth, of the need to strive for VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE for the benefit of their discipline and Australia.
To recognise outstanding achievement in VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE where public award or recognition may not yet have been received.
Past Awardees have included such luminaries as Associate Professor Lukas Kairaitis - academic nephrologist, David Stratton AM - film critic, journalist, film historian, television personality, Professor Vanessa Hayes - Petre Chair of Prostate Cancer Research and Head of Ancestry & Health Genomics, Honorary Associate Professor Tony Irwin - Chartered professional engineer in nuclear power, Dr Douglas Cato - Marine Scientist, Commonwealth ADSTO, just to mention a few.
If you know of such an outstanding individual and would like more information, visit the District website, click on tab CLUB SERVICES, select VOCATIONAL, then select VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS.
Or contact the Chair of the Vocational Excellence Awards Committee, PP Warren
Soos on wlloyds2104@gmail.com or mobile 0418 960 895.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION UPDATE
Dear Fellow Rotarians of District 9685 Family and Friends
As we prepare for World Polio Day on October 24th, I encourage you and your clubs to join the global effort and strengthen our support for the PolioPlus Fund. In Rotary Year 2023-24, 14 clubs did not contribute to this vital cause, and currently, 51 clubs have yet to make a commitment. This month is the perfect time to reflect on your club’s contribution to Rotary’s number one priority: eradicating polio from the world.
Let’s unite to raise both awareness and funds on World Polio Day. Together, we can protect children worldwide from the devastating effects of polio. With ongoing conflicts and challenges, our work is more important than ever.
In places like Gaza, where war has disrupted access to clean water and sanitation, the risk of polio spreading is high. We must stay vigilant and continue our efforts to immunise children and prevent the resurgence of this disease.
There is no room for complacency in our mission. The recent polio case in Gaza highlights the dangers we still face in the fight against polio. Until we achieve total eradication, polio remains a threat to children everywhere.
Locally, the Rotary Clubs of Castle Hill, Kenthurst, and Norwest Sunrise are hosting a movie night to raise funds for the PolioPlus Fund. Other clubs may also be hosting similar events with the support of Maslow Entertainment and Transmission Films, who have made two major releases available for special screenings. These events provide an exciting opportunity to raise awareness and funds while bringing together Rotary members for a great cause.
Thank you for your continued support of our charity—The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Together, we are making a difference and bringing the world closer to a future without polio.
Haran Ramachandran
Foundation Chair E-Club of Greater Sydney
Our first level one course on 25th August was a great success we are now taking registrations for our next courses:
Level 1 in Person : Saturday 12 October 9am - 1pm
Level 2 via Zoom : Saturdays 16 & 23 November 9am - 3pm
Level 3 Graduate Program - coming in 2025!
This program is for any Rotarian or Rotaractors who wants to know more about our incredible organisation. Ideally having been a member for at least 12 months.
MediShare… a national project of Rotary Australia World Community Service is a Medical Surplus Recovery Organisation (MSRO), working within the guidelines of the World Health Organisation to share sustainable healthcare solutions with developing countries.
Geared for larger projects and working with a range of partners, government & not-for-profit organisations. MediShare collects new and usable surplus medical supplies, equipment, and pharmaceutical products from hospitals, manufacturers, and distributors. The donated materials are processed to ensure quality and made available to under-resourced health care providers through direct shipments to international institutions and communities.
MediShare is accredited with MedSurplus Alliance, a program of the Task Force for Global Health in the United States to work with the Kits4Life program. And currently the first and only MSRO outside of the US that has achieved this accreditation. Kits4Life is a not-for-profit platform created to re-purpose unused clinical trial lab kits and clinical supplies for humanitarian aid. MediShare now works with numerous global Pharmaceutical Companies to recover the surplus clinical trial lab supplies for humanitarian aid. It is a sustainable alternative to destroying unused or expired lab kits.
In the last 3 years consumables and equipment having a retail value of $50 million plus has been donated to MediShare for humanitarian aid. In alliance with HealthShare NSW, MediShare is working on a hospital blanket and linen project, logistically managing 200,000 hospital blankets, manually folding and palletising them plus $8 million worth of new barrier and operating theatre linen.
MediShare has corporate volunteer days where staff members satisfy their companies corporate and social responsibility obligations by volunteering their time. School groups also volunteer as well as Inner Wheel clubs and Rotary clubs.
The Pacific region, PNG & Timor Leste face significant challenges related to healthcare access, and MediShare is committed to bridging this gap through its logistics and supply chain collaboration to provide medical equipment and pathology items to these countries.
MediShare can also support animal welfare organisations with pathology products and other consumables. Enquire about MediShare’s sponsorship program and support these organisations or donate $1,000.00, or what you can afford to help power MediShare’s vital mission.
Need a template on how to run a gardening workshop for a migrant group or a school community? Download the Fresh Food for Families document from the Food Plant Solutions website.
Wanting a satisfying international project but not sure how to start? Request a list of Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group unfunded project needs.
What is the Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group?
Formed in 2007, and designed to address malnutrition and ensure food security, Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group has over 150 published materials, for nearly 60 countries. With a strategic emphasis on climate-resilient food production, FPS RAG action sees communities become empowered, enabling informed choices, self-reliance and resilience.
The Chair of Food Plant Solutions, Past District Governor Una Hobday OAM, said Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group would welcome enquiries from new volunteers.
Volunteering with this internationally recognised organisation offers opportunities in a meaningful and connected environment, whilst providing service and networking opportunities. This invitation is not limited to Rotarians. Anyone can volunteer with Food Plant Solutions.
The Executive Officer of Food Plant Solutions, Karalyn Hingston, said that the board recently welcomed two new members, Donna Mlejnek and Roslyn Teirney, and was also keen to attract a corporate sponsor to support the group's mission.
At the Singapore Convention, PDG Una Hobday was honoured with a Service Above Self award from Rotary International. The citation reads: "The board of directors of Rotary International bestows this award on Una Hobday, who, through devotion and exemplary efforts, embodies Rotary's motto of Service Above Self."
FPS volunteer, Dr John McPhee, was recently awarded the 'Rotary Award for Excellence in Service to Humanity' for his years of service to Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group.
To learn more about how a Rotary Action Group can assist you with your international service projects, contact us here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
More information on upcoming events will be added as we wind up for the new Rotary year. Please check the district website regularly for news, reference materials, and events details.
