What a fruitful and exciting month this has been for our District. I have continued on my rounds of official visits and have now completed fifty-two! Hearing about the wonderful work our members are doing continues to be inspirational and impressive.
The big effort lately has been providing goods and donations for our unfortunate flood victims from Eugowra. We watched in disbelief the news of the destruction of that small Central West town, as well as the many other towns that have been impacted by flood waters. And it’s not over yet!
Pam Hudson from Pennant Hills Rotary swung into action galvanising the district to contribute non-perishable goods and plastic storage containers. We were able to connect with local Rotarians on the ground and ascertain exactly what was needed. AG Paul Rogers organised the mountains and Penrith clubs, collecting items and gathering a team together to transport to Cowra. Lucian Keegal has been collecting from Katoomba ALDI for two weeks and my husband Larry took out 100 plastic storage containers to Eugowra. Liz McDougall, our District Secretary drove all the way from the Northern Beaches to assist and many others have collected, sorted and delivered. Clubs from all over our district have collected and delivered. I am very proud that out district has rallied so quickly and efficiently and shown that we really are ‘people of action’.
I also want to congratulate Tina Latham and her team from Kincumber Rotary for supporting Ukrainian refugee families in Sydney via our third Disaster Response Grant. Ably assisted by our Foundation Chair, David Dean, US$25,000 worth of vouchers were distributed to help make Christmas a little brighter for these displaced families. I can only imagine the heartbreak they are experiencing being so far away from their loved ones in Ukraine, especially at this time of year.
Beecroft Club had their special gin launch and Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise launched a fabulous recipe book. Please think about purchasing these items to give to your friends and family for Christmas presents knowing that your money is supporting worthwhile Rotary projects.
You may have noticed that each month a district is featured in our RDU magazine. It is our turn in July 2023 so we need great stories and photos by the end of May. Please send your contributions to Marilyn Kenney. Our district is number one for Foundation grants and RAWCS projects in Zone 8 so we will have plenty of stories on offer. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your work.
As we wind down for a few weeks to hopefully enjoy some time out with family please think of those less fortunate and keep imagining how powerful we can be if we work together to
make the world a better place. I hope you all have a healthy, safe and calm holiday season.
l am looking forward to continuing my visits in the new year.
I’ll leave you with some more questions to challenge your members…
1. What is Rotary’s number one priority?
2. What does GECAF stand for?
3. What is a Rotary Community Corp?
4. What do the three colours (green, white, purple) of International President, Jennifer Jones’s theme Imagine, represent?
Have a great Christmas and come back refreshed for another year of action.
Thanks to The Rotary Club of Kincumber and Tina Latham for their remarkable efforts to provide vouchers worth over $A39,000 to 136 Ukrainian refugee families in the Sydney area for basic essentials during November!
If you would like to assist the Ukrainian community in the Sydney area, please visit the website of Blue and Yellow Hearts to learn the latest needs.
The Rotary Foundation’s Disaster Response Grant program provides a way for us to obtain funds quickly for disasters in our own District, as well as to partner with other Districts around the world to assist them with calamities. Grants of up to $US 25,000 are requested by the District Governor and are usually approved and funded within a week (if funds are available)! Districts are limited to one active grant at a time, so we aim to distribute the funds to those in need as quickly as possible.
The main constraint for the Disaster Response Grant program is funding. Monies donated to this program are kept separate from other donations and there may be a backlog of unfunded grant applications if donations to this fund do not keep pace with the requests for grants. As donors, we don’t know where our donation will be used, but we know that it will be managed by volunteer Rotarians where the need is great.
Please consider supporting The Rotary Foundation’s Disaster Response Fund when planning holiday gifts. You can donate in honour of a loved one and also have this gift recognised as part of your Annual Giving commitment as a Centurion or Paul Harris Society Member.
If you have any questions about The Rotary Foundation, please contact your club’s Foundation Director, or give me a call!
While sitting with a group of Rotary leaders outside of Lusaka, Zambia, I ask a question: “How many of you have ever had malaria?” Every hand in the room goes up. They even begin to tell me about the first, second, or third time they experienced the disease, one of the main causes of death and sickness in many developing countries.
They are fortunate. They have access to medical treatment and lifesaving medicines. For the people of rural Zambia, their story is very different.
On a wooden bench in a small village, I sit with Timothy and his young son Nathan. With a camera crew capturing our conversation, he tells me of the time Nathan showed signs of malaria. He brought the boy to the nearby home of a community health worker, where Nathan quickly received medicines that in all likelihood saved his life.
Calmly, Timothy tells me about his other son’s bout with the disease a few years earlier. He had to race that son to a medical clinic more than 5 miles away. Riding a bike and carrying his child on his back, he tells me, he could feel his son’s legs turn cold and then his little body go limp. As he finally entered the clinic, he screamed for help, but it was too late. The camera stops rolling, and we sit in silence. He begins to weep, and I hold him tightly. “I lost my son, I lost my son,” he says.
This story is all too familiar for the families we meet over the next few days. And yet there is hope. Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia is Rotary’s first Programs of Scale grant recipient, and it is saving lives. Across two provinces of Zambia, 2,500 volunteer health workers have been selected by their communities. They are trained to bring medical care closer to those who need it, and they are able to diagnose and treat malaria and other ailments. Rotary partnerships create lasting change.
Further to the 2022 Council on Legislation, legal counsel has been engaged by the RI South Pacific & Philippines Office (through D9660, thank you) to update the standard club constitution to meet the requirements of the NSW Associations Incorporation Act 2009 and the Associations Incorporation Regulation 2022.
In the email you received two days ago, the following were attached:
2022 Rotary Standard Club Constitution (NSW)
By-Laws template to accompany the Constitution
In relation to the RI Standard Club Constitution, there are 2 parts.
The first part (Articles 1 to 20) is produced by Rotary International further to the Council on Legislation. Clubs should enter the name of the club (and any Satellite Club) in Article 2, and the club’s approved locality in Article 4.
The second part (Articles 21 to 32) has been inserted to meet the requirements of the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 and the Associations Incorporation Regulation 2022. These provisions address the matters required by Schedule 1 of the Act.
This updated Constitution requires a Special General Meeting to be conducted by the Club to adopt.
For the standard By-Laws Template accompanying the updated Constitution, Clubs are strongly encouraged to adopt these By-Laws, recognizing the ability to amend to fit club needs.
Action required by Clubs:
Adoption of 2022 Rotary Club Constitution for clubs in NSW
Convoys of Rotarians headed to the Central West to drop non-perishable food and personal care items to those affected by floods. Representing Rotary Clubs of Kurrajong North Richmond, Pennant Hills, Carlingford and Dee Why Warringah, the goods were taken to the showground in Eugowra, and the Baptist Church in Cowra. There to greet them were Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs of Orange, Cowra and Parkes who have been assisting ever since the floods arrived in the area in mid-November.
Eugowra is a small, rural town, noted for its pretty murals, on a backroad east of Forbes. The surrounding countryside is the greenest we had ever seen but the roads are potholed, some areas subsiding and the fences draped with flood swept vegetation.
Metres of SES tape surround houses in the town and the shops, hotel and other downtown stores are empty. The waters of the normally trickling Menadgery Creek, ripped through the town, moving homes of their foundations and sadly killing two residents.
Those who remain are living day to day, centring on the showground which has become the place to shower, wash clothes, cook meals and have a table and chair to eat them at.
It’s the town’s default headquarters where residents, volunteers and government departments work together to assist those whose homes are damaged or lost. Others whose homes have been spared drop in as they have no power. A large shed has many lounge suites so when people need a break they can rest, or chat with others who understand their immediate and long term needs. As we arrived late morning there were few people using the facilities – they were at their homes doing what they could. We dropped of our goods, with members of the Rural Fire Service, St Johns Ambulance and others quickly stepping in to assist.
Ed Strom from the Rotary Club of ??? owns a house in Eugowra and knows many of the locals. He said that the 1952 flood saw water inches below the floorboards, this year was 1.6 metres above. Meanwhile, in Cowra, they liaised with the Cowra Baptist Church. They realised large plastic tubs were desperately needed so a quick phone around found funds and the tubs and these were ordered and delivered that afternoon. The exercise showed that while Rotarians are NOT first responders, they are people of action who step in as soon as they can with practical help to assist those so desperately in need.
As I write this, our DG Mina Howard’s husband Larry is heading to Cowra with more goods donated by Rotarians in Hawkesbury, Nepean and Blue Mountains – areas so badly affected by floods and fires in recent years.
1. RAWCS Flood Disasters Response - We need your help!
RAWCS is responding to the unfolding, escalating Flood Crisis by maintaining our National Flood Appeal through the Rotary Australia Relief Fund (RARF) and by opening RABS projects specific to each Flood affected area. Funds raised to date have been directed through local Rotary Clubs providing $500 Rotary Vouchers to those whose homes are uninhabitable and providing temporary accommodation. Support is also available to Rotary Clubs ‘on the ground’ for their projects for their communities. With mounting concerns over the potential of swarming mosquitos in the flooded areas, carrying disease such as Japanese Encephalitis and Ross River Fever, RAWCS has secured a supply of mosquito repellant candles to distribute free to Flood victims through the affected Clubs. (Thanks to DG Tim Keeler for identifying this opportunity.) For the past two weeks we have been requesting contact details for Club Presidents of all Australian Rotary Clubs from RISPPO, however they have now refused us access to this information stating, “Rotary International is not responsible or obliged to provide data or specific operational needs to Multidistrict Organisations.”
As our current shareholders please help RAWCS (your Company) to deliver Rotary assistance to those affected by the floods by emailing to us current contact lists for Presidents of all the Rotary Clubs in your Districts. RAWCS has in place strict Privacy Policies and will respect the information and keep it confidential as we have in the past, but to be effective we need to be able to message our Australian Rotary network directly in times of crisis such as now.
Please help us to help!
RAWCS Flood Appeals: Project Number
National Flood Appeal (RARF) 47-2021-22
NE NSW & SE Qld (RABS) 54-2021-22
Sydney & Surrounding Areas (RARF) 1-2022-23
Victoria & Border Areas (RABS) 31-2022-23
Central West NSW (RABS) 32-2022-23
David Pearson, RAWCS Chairman
2. D9685 District Governor 2025-2026 Applications
OFFICIAL APPLICATIONS OPEN January Tuesday 31st 2023
All Rotarians who have served a full term as President of a Rotary club are encouraged to apply for this exciting and worthwhile role.
Is this you? Someone in your club? Someone you know?
Rotary is an ever-changing world of service and excitement and looks to leaders with the same innovative mindset.
To assist in any decision, an Information Pack is available, and you are invited to attend an Interest and Information Meeting to be held at the offices of Rotary Down Under, 25/1 Maitland Place on Sunday 19th February 2023 from 10am.
If you wish to receive an information pack or just want to know more about the role, and also to register for the Information Meeting on the 19th Feb. PLEASE contact PDG Dave Clark
Nominations close 12 midnight Friday the 31st March 2023
Formal Applications are to be sent to the Chair PDG David Clark and must be received by Friday 31st March 2023.
Interviews will be held on Sunday 23rd April 2023.
To RSVP for the Interest Meeting, or to request further details, please contact:
Chair of the Nominating Committee, PDG David Clark, 0414 364 812
Please follow the Website details to for Club Registration detail proposed Sponsoring Student and then each student’s Parent will need to Complete the Student Registration which links to NSW Sport Registration.
After completing the Rotary Club Registration our committee will invoice each Rotary Club $400 per Student payable to District 9685 Summer RYPEN Account details will be on the Invoice.
Greg Keighran, Rotary Club of Beecroft
Rotary District 9685 Summer RYPEN Chairman
4. A District 9685 TRF 2022-23 District Grant Funded Project
According to a UN News article published on the 17th of August 2022, “Sri Lanka is in the midst of the worst socio-economic crisis in its history, and the once robust health-care system is nearing collapse, with patients at risk from power shortages, a lack of medicines, and equipment shortages.” The report also states that an estimated 215,000 Sri Lankan women are currently pregnant, according to data from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health, including 11,000 adolescent girls, and around 145,000 women will deliver in the next six months.
Each year 6,000 – 7,000 newborns tend to suffer from a disease known as Hypoxic Respiratory Failure. In layman’s terms, they tend to swallow their vomit and die if untreated due to a lack of Nitric Oxide gas. The country’s requirement for Nitric Oxide gas yearly is around 100 cylinders.
Click HEREto find out more about this heart rending story.
5. Directors ID
There has been some confusion of late about whether Club Directors need an official ID Number. The advice provided by RISPPO is that:
Rotary clubs are not for profit service organisations (not charities).
Rotary clubs in Australia tend to be incorporated associations and usually operate in their own state.
Due to this they meet the criteria of not needing a director ID.
A small number of clubs operate separate entities which are registered charities. In this case the club should make their own enquiries.
The main test which is described by ABRS is if the organisation has an ACN or an ARBN (which is different to an ABN), then they would require a Directors ID. We believe this is not the majority of Clubs in Australia.
The requirement for Directors ID does apply to some Districts because the District operations span over a state or international border.
Reminder: Early Bird fees end on 31.12.22. It is going to be a great Conference so REGISTER NOW.
DG Mina has been having ongoing discussions with people in Cowra to prepare for our Conference 17th to 19th March. Mina has organised wine tours at Antonios' Wines.
Antonio's Wines Tours
Friday pm and Sunday pm
Normally $25 pp.
Rotary Price $10 (no redemption from cellar door purchases)
Maximum 25 people per tour
1 hour duration with expert guide and sampling of at least 4 wines
Other exciting news includes some of ther planned events for the Conference...
Friday 17th March - Evening : Easy live music, local historian BBQ and sheep dogs demonstration.
Saturday 18th March : Engaging sessions and speakers, and later in the evening, the Conference Dinner with Mr Stan Grant and 40’s dance tunes.
Sunday 19th March : Brunch at Japanese Garden with Japanese Ambassador and live tenor performance.
7.Hello and greetings from the Rotary Club of Sydney’s Climate Action Group - Shared vision, shared ideas: A Rotary Recap In 2021, Rotary International declared Protecting the Environment as the 7th and newest Area of Focus for Rotary. Rotary Clubs have been involved in a range of environment related projects and initiatives to engage Rotarians and the broader community to contribute to protecting the environment.
The Rotary Club of Sydney’s Climate Action Group will host an online discussion with members from some Rotary clubs who will share what their clubs have been doing. The projects include beach clean-ups, tree planting and an eyewear project, involving members, local councils and schools, and indigenous communities. Come and join us to learn about these fantastic projects. Date: Monday 12th December 2022 Time: 5.30 – 6.30pm AEDT
Radio is a powerful way to spread your Club stories. If your Club has a project, local or overseas, which would interest the wider general public, discuss it with Rotary Matters presenter Ian Stuart who will be glad to help spread the word. Ian.stuart@optusnet.com.au 0416 138 860
Reduced (early bird) registration fees are in place until 15 December 2022. There is still plenty of accommodation available and some great rates so lock them in now.
There is much to do in Melbourne in addition to the convention. You will see updates in RDU magazine for supporting events like the ‘Night at the Museum’ and the ‘Melbourne Cup day’. Keep reading.
And there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer also. Visit the host organising committee website https://rotarymelbourne2023.org/ for more details on volunteering and the Convention.
Disease prevention and treatment is one of the Rotary Foundation Areas of Focus. And for good reason. The health and vitality of a person, a family and a community can be seriously impaired by what in many cases is a preventable disease. Disease prevention is really a keystone to progress in other areas as well because of the interplay with other areas of focus like Water and Sanitation and Maternal & Child Health.
to let us know of any bereavements you would like published.
You may also inform your Assistant Governor, the District Secretary, or the Governor. Remember to also update your club's member database on the District website.
THE MONTHLY THEME FOR DECEMBER IS DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT MONTH
THE ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE COURSE 73
24th to 26th FEBRUARY 2023
by Zoom
The next opportunity is RLI 73 which will be held on-line.
The 2022 version of the Manual of Procedures has been released. Click on the image below to view/download a copy of this very informative and valuable document (login to My Rotary may be required).
KENNARDS STORAGE
Contact Details
6-8 Phyllis Avenue
Thornleigh NSW 2120
Phone +61 2 9481 9400
Email thornleigh@kss.com.au
Website www.kss.com.au
CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO GO TO RDU SUPPLIES
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"The Club Buzz" is where you will find some exciting and relevant programs or events happening in our Clubs and in District 9685. 
The Club Hiking Stick Challenge - Raising funds for Australian Rotary Health
