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September District News includes...
DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S UPDATE
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RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS PROGRAM
COMMUNITY SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
ROTARY MATTERS PODCAST
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ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 2025
ROTARY PACIFIC (ZONE 8) CONFERENCE 2024
DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2025
EXPERT SESSIONS SERIES
THE DOG HOUSE
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UPCOMING EVENTS
OTHER ROTARY NEWS*
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DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S UPDATE
Dear Rotarians and friends,
“They say it’s most scenic”, I told myself, to justify the moment of rashness. I had signed up for the annual Beach-to-Beach fun run organised by the Rotary Club of Warringah with the help of other clubs of the Northern Beaches. Never having run any race in my life, the email with a bar-coded ticket seemed to mock me with the number ‘6 km category’. Regular runners will scoff at this distance, but for me it seemed insurmountable then. Not surprisingly, during the practice runs there were many moments of asking myself why I am doing this. My coach said, “don’t worry, you will do your personal best on race day”. I did not know then why he would turn out to be right.
So why do we run a race or a bike-ride along with thousands of others? And why does Rotary help organise these events? What connects these activities to our stated vision of bringing about positive change in our world and in ourselves?
Beach2Beach 2024 : Photos by Community Photography
Raising money is one benefit but only part of the answer. The Beach to Beach, the Bobbin Head Classic, the Run for the Hills, and the Manly Fun Run and Walk, are held by clubs within our district and all of them raise funds for good causes. I am inspired by the dedication of the Rotarians, friends of Rotary, and the volunteers of the partner organisations involved in these events. Their efforts have raised significant amounts for charity, running into many millions of dollars over the years.
Physical and mental fitness is also one benefit but only part of the answer. By the way, the event has segments and categories for all levels of fitness. You can even push a pram along if you want or walk with your dog. The spirit of competition is there but it does not come in the way of the spirit of participation.
However, there’s more to it than fund-raising and individual fitness. On race day, joined and supported by family including my coach, I took in the scenery along the way to take my mind off the exhaustion. And I came face to face with another equally important reason why we like to run in large groups, and why Rotary likes to make the arrangements. Because it builds cohesive, engaged, and vibrant communities. It breaks down social barriers and brings people together. It causes strangers to encourage each other to achieve their goal.
Each time I struggled up a hill and looked like giving up, a stranger would offer me a drink of water and tell me “You can do this”. Children as young as ten stood at the top of the hill, grinning and holding a sign saying, “You didn’t get this far to only get this far”. Those at the top of the last hill knew exactly when to say, “It’s downhill from here, you are almost there”.
Each such exchange taught me why Rotary runs such events. And why my coach was right.
2023-24 was a busy year indeed for the District 9685 “Say NO to Domestic and Family Violence, and YES to Respectful Relationships” Campaign.
Many Clubs across the District have embraced the campaign by undertaking projects related to domestic and family violence, and we appreciate your efforts and thank you for your support to date.
Following on with the workplan of the Respectful Relationships Program, PDG Christine Owen and I are pleased to announce our next major event, that being our Respectful Relationships Garden Party Fundraiser to be held at The Vicar Dural on Saturday, 21st September, 2024 from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. At this elegant occasion, our corporate sponsorship program will be launched.
Everyone is invited to attend this special event – Rotarians, partners, other service clubs and groups, NSW Police, politicians, corporate organisations and friends of Rotary. You can register using the QR code or link on the invitation below.
We look forward to you joining us for a beautiful afternoon doing the magic of Rotary for a very important cause.
Janelle Craig Respectful Relationships Program Chair
RESCA (Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards) – thank you to all of the Rotarians who participated in this year’s RESCA Awards either by attending the function itself, being part of the judging panel or nominating a worthy recipient for this prestigious award. And as an added bonus…
“Congratulations to Benjamin Power from our NSW SES Ku-Ring-Gai Unit for taking home the 2024 Rotary Emergency Service Community Awards (RESCA) State Emergency Service Officer of the Year. 🏆 “ Greg Rappo, St Ives Rotary.
Ryde – have been wrapping Father’s Day gifts and will be delivering them to nursing homes, provided volunteers over several weeks for the Ryde Eisteddfod and have received a $5000 grant from Ryde council to improve advertising and engage support to enhance their DCaf activities such as Chair Yoga.
Brisbane Water – presented Ettalong Public School with much needed texts to support their English curriculum and are maintaining the club’s street library.
Carlingford – have been receiving donations of clothes and blankets for Parramatta Mission and meeting with council to explore opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.
Hills Rotaract – are supporting the ‘Shining Light Foundation’ by collecting donations of blankets and jackets to give to the homeless in the city.
Springwood – are supporting Mountains Youth Services Team (MYST) by running a breakfast Club at Winmalee High School serving toasties, cereal, fruit and juice each Tuesday.
Central Blue – after more than five years is continuing to serve breakfast to hungry kids at Lawson Public School, serving cereal, toast and President Lora’s delicious fruit salad and comforting hot chocolate.
Warringah – running the extremely popular annual ‘Beach2Beach Fun Run’ supported by Upper Northern Beaches, Belrose and Manly clubs.
Hawkesbury Clubs and the Rotary Disaster Relief team (RDR) have been busy negotiating with Hawkesbury City Council and TRFA to install a series of Flooded Road Smart Warning Systems.
Chatswood Roseville –assisted in the construction of this canopy for Lindfield Lifeline to enable the volunteers to process books out of the weather.
Thanks everyone for your efforts.
Please add me to your club bulletins if you haven’t already.
PDG Mina Howard
Community Service Chair
Rotary Club of Blackheath
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
Dear Fellow Rotarians of District 9685 Family and Friends,
I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support of The Rotary Foundation. Your continued contributions to the Annual Fund and the Polio Fund are not just numbers on a balance sheet, but they are the lifeline for those in need around the world. Your support is significantly impacting lives and for that, we are immensely proud and grateful.
As we progress, I encourage you to keep up the fantastic work. Your support is vital, not only for the projects we undertake but also for the awareness we raise in our communities. One such opportunity is the annual train ride led by Mark and David Anderson. This event is not just about raising funds for Polio eradication—our primary goal—but also about engaging with the public and enhancing Rotary's image. I urge you all to participate and promote this incredible initiative.
Congratulations to all the clubs that successfully secured a district grant this Rotary year! Your success is not just a personal victory, but a source of inspiration for others. Please take the time to share your success stories, not just within your club, but with a wider audience through Rotary Showcase, District e-News, and social media. These stories inspire others and demonstrate the tangible impact of our collective efforts, fostering a sense of connection and inspiration within our Rotary community.
As we celebrate these successes, let's also remember to keep the momentum going by encouraging our members to continue their strong support for Our Foundation.
Last month, we sadly lost Gavin Ralston, a dedicated member of our District Foundation Team who championed the Centurion Program. Gavin’s legacy is not just a memory but a call to action, a reminder of the importance of our work and the difference each of us can make. Let's honour his memory by continuing our commitment to the Centurion program.
Finally, if your club has not yet entered its giving goals and plans in Rotary Club Central, please take a few moments to complete this important task. Setting these goals helps us track our progress and aligns our efforts with Rotary’s broader mission.
Thank you once again for all that you do. Together, we are making a difference—one act of service at a time.
Haran Ramachandran Foundation Chair
E-Club of Greater Sydney
Learn more about The Rotary Foundation in Australia
ROTARY MATTERS PODCAST
Keeping all the balls in the Air: Reflections of a new President
What is it like to take the helm as President of a Rotary Club? Recently appointed Helene Brunker explains what her club offers, the rewards it brings and her plans to engage more widely and creatively with the local community as a stepping stone to building membership.
Sydney schoolboy Oliver Hadi spent an intensive residential weekend on the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment developing motivation, life skills, self image and self pride . Find out what happens on the course, the challenges to be overcome and the ultimate rewards.
Registrations are open for the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary. If you are interested in seeing the wider world of Rotary and hearing from world-class speakers with a mega crowd of service-minded Rotarians in scenic Canada, this is the Convention for you!
Additionally, Rotarian Jennifer Jirak-Brungardt from Rotary District 5650 is organising the post-convention tour of a lifetime:
Travel with fellow Rotarians on the trip of a lifetime on the Rocky Mountaineer from Calgary to Vancouver. Enjoy stunning Lake Louise, Banff National Park, and a ride on a glacier. Includes 2 nights in the historic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Gold Leaf service on the glass-domed Rocky Mountaineer.
Conference Team positions are open - detailed role descriptions can be viewed here. If you are looking to increase the impact and expand the reach of what you do for Rotary, please reach out to DG Niranjan to explore the opportunities.
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.
The first Expert Sessions online event was a great learning opportunity - thanks to all who joined. Special thanks to speakers David Rivett, Haran Ramachandran, guest expert Courtney Nixon, and our District 9685 Learning & Development team. You can view the Zoom recordings and download the slides here:
Tutorial: Good Photos, Better Stories (Zoom, Slides)
On September 21st the topic will be "Connecting with Business". You can register for the next session here.
Register here for the next Expert Session on Saturday September 21st
THE DOG HOUSE
The Dog House Australia from Network 10 is a series that works with the Animal Welfare League to find people rescue dogs. The show is currently looking for people and families to take part in the next series and give a rescue dog a home. You can find previous episodes on 10 Play.
Network 10 have worked with Rotary clubs on previous productions and found they’re a fantastic way to reach out and engage with local business leaders and members of the community. The team are keen to generate some more interest in the area and hopefully there’s someone at the club who’s considering a dog.
