Rotary Matters

Abandoned by her adoptive father, Dianne O'Brien is raped at the age of 15, sentenced to Parramatta Girls Home and later forced to marry her rapist in order to keep her baby. Many hardships follow but her fighting spirit is undaunted. Dianne's book Daughter of the River Country is the focus of a dinner event to be hosted by Gosford City Rotary Club. We meet Anne Charlton who paints the picture of...

Global warming has not abated. We face very real risks, including points of no return. What are these tipping points and are there still actions we can take? These questions will be posed in a webinar, Climate Risks, Making Choices on 15 February. District Governor Jeremy Wright AM foreshadows these questions and introduces the expert panel who will share their views. www.climateandpeace.com.au

For 17 years, Woy Woy Rotary Club has hosted a unique outdoor event, Opera in the Arboretum, raising annually approx $40k to assist local surf and music activities. Wayne Jennings convenor of the event tells us how this is achieved, the performers and the repertoire. www.woywoyrotary.org.au

LIndsay May OAM has been District Governor for six months, with another six to go. We find out his aims ,achievements so far and future areas of focus. Lindsay also foreshadows the challenges of navigating in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race....something he has been doing for 47 consecutive years!

Every year hundreds of residents of nursing homes and assisted care facilities receive a Christmas gift courtesy of the elves at St Ives Rotary Club who manage the Tree of Joy. Di Barnes, Public Image director for St Ives Rotary explains how it all works, how to donate, and the big difference this makes to the lives of those in care.

For most of us living in the relative comfort of Australia we take for granted our easy way of life. But this isn’t the case for thousands of people whose lives have been shattered by natural disasters and war.  Many citizens from the Great Lakes countries of Africa, from Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo have now settled comfortably in Australia, particularly in ru...

When we think of family abuse most of us think about physical abuse but it also includes emotional, psychological, financial and sexual abuse along with neglect and coercive control of a person. Dorothy Gilmour, trauma, loss and grief counsellor explains how to stop abuse in families everywhere, including how to recognise abuse, how to raise concern and how to refer it. www.rotarysafefamilies.org....

The Rotary Foundation distributes millions of dollars every year by way of Global Grants to fund humanitarian projects, vocational training and scholarships tenable at overseas universities. Dennis Shore from Victoria,  an avid Rotarian has held numerous governance roles with Rotary and explains how it all works.

hanks to Rotary we meet two winners of the Rotary Inspirational Women's Awards. Sarah Bancroft a community police officer and Fibha Frameen a Global Peace Ambassador and activist for the cultural and linguistically diverse community. Rae-Anne Medforth, Chair of RIWA sets the scene,

With the world focused on COP 26, we look at the impact of electric vehicles in an upcoming webinar, the next in a series hosted by Rotarian Jeremy Wright AM. Jeremy explains how this fits into Rotary's focus on the environment and the background of the speakers on the webinar. District Governor Jeremy also reflects on the progress achieved during his term of office and goals for the future. www.c...

Moree East Public School with an 80% indigenous population lacked many of the resources taken for granted in other communities. Pam Pritchard from Turramurra Rotary, assisted by other Rotary Clubs, leads the campaign to fix this....even sourcing huge market umbrellas to shelter the children from the relentless 40 degree summer heat. Rotary in action! To help Pam call +61 411 335 229

Most people at some point in their life need to stand up and deliver a speech. Maybe to impress employers, to sway opinions, to pitch a business case, to accept an award, to debate an issue, to represent constituents and so on. Captivate the Future is a creative competition for high school students where they choose a passion or an idea that might change the world. They submit a short video and ar...

Last year 145,000 people were diagnosed with cancer, that is one new diagnosis every four minutes and a daily death toll of 131. Happily there is hope for those suffering and recovering from cancer thanks to Northern Beaches Community Cancer Care. We meet oncologist Dr Toni Pearson who explains the resources they have...a wig library for example and other equipment and help they need to deliver th...

https://soundcloud.com/user.../unsung-heroes-of-resca-mp3 RESCA the Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards recognise and salute exceptional members of the services, while also supporting research into PTSD and vocational training in the Pacific Islands. Ron Browne explains how RESCA works, Stewart Bailey a member of  Surf Life Saving and who volunteers with Westpac Helicopter Rescue tells...

Humanitarian and Rotarian, Dr Jenny Kerrison, spearheads Rotary's fight against malaria in Timor Leste, the Solomons, Vanuatu and PNG. Using impregnated mosquito nets and an education program, the incidence of malaria with all its painful and life threatening consequences has been dramatically reduced. Jenny also explains the successful campaign she led to rehabilitate communities devastated by tr...

Rotary Youth Exchange provides the opportunity of a lifetime for Australian high school students to live and study for 12 months in an overseas country. They learn the language, experience a new culture and along the way they learn a lot about themselves becoming more confident, mature and independent. Ezra Hill from Sydney is no exception as we hear about the amazing life changing experience on R...

Surely we all want peace! Today we meet Diane Tippett an organiser of the Raising Peace Festival starting now for 10 days, online. An initiative of leading peace and women's organisations who have come together to profile peace through exhibitions, speakers, discussion forums, workshops, films, music, activities and entertainment. Diane explains the what, why and how of Raising Peace. www.raisingp...

An incoming Rotary Club President gets the chance to review the Club's progress, to propose new initiatives and meet changing community needs. John Hepburn from Kuring gai Rotary Club on Sydney's upper north shore outlines his vision, the challenges to be faced and some of the projects, old and new, supported by his club. From vaccinations for the Pacific Islands to a defibrillator at the local sh...

The lockdowns and isolation have brought more people to gardening than ever before as the joy of gardening helps many get through these challenging times. We meet John Collignon from the Rotary Club of Hills Kellyville in Sydney's north west, who discusses the success of their newly opened community garden. And we learn about the very popular Hills Community Garden Competition running since 1959....

In Sydney's Northern suburbs, not for profit Hornsby Connect provides help for those doing it tough and experiencing financial hardship by distributing affordable groceries. They also assist people who are socially isolated and provide personal support to the long term unemployed. Stuart Armstrong, President of Hornsby Connect explains how it came about, how it is run and the difference the servic...

Hornsby Rotary recognises exceptional citizens through its Pride of Workmanship Awards. We meet Nigel Hook, a local automotive engineer with his own business Auto Haus, specialising in the servicing of German cars. We are joined by Geoff Sell, a long standing member of the Club and the recently appointed director of PR, Marketing and Membership, Sahar Zaidi.

https://soundcloud.com/.../life-giving-surgery-for... Children from the Pacific Islands with locally untreatable medical conditions are brought to Australia and New Zealand for life giving surgery courtesy of volunteer doctors, medical teams and the support of Rotary. Michele Ellery from Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) tells us how it all works and the difference it makes. www.roma...

Bottles, cans and cartons make up a large proportion of the litter found on our streets, beaches and green spaces. But it doesn't have to be like this! Danielle Smalley CEO of the Return and Earn scheme explains how these unwanted items can easily be turned into cash, a perfect way for schools, Rotary Clubs and sports clubs to service their communities and earn vital funds. www.returnandearn.org.a...

With clear evidence of climate change all around us we meet Rotarian Jeremy Wright AM convenor of a webinar examining the impact of climate change on defence, energy and food. An important topic of critical importance to our future. www.climateandpeace.com.au

Do you ever wonder what to do with your old computer, laptop, iPAD, notebook, printer or other electronic equipment. Peter Holdenson an enterprising Rotarian from Melbourne repairs and repurposes these items and supplies them free of charge to communities in the Pacific and South East Asia making a huge difference to education and development of thousands of people who would otherwise be unable to...