Rotary Matters

YIPA, is a program enabling young people on the Central Coast of New South Wales, with outstanding talent to showcase their skills in a series of variety concerts. We meet YIPA director Gary Jackson who explains how it all works, the audition and coaching process, the benefits to the performers, some of whom have won national talent contests and one who went on to perform in London's west end. YIP...

Designed to recognise and honour emergency services personnel who reflect the Rotary motto of Service Above Self, RESCA also funds  a Research Scholarship into PTSD in emergency services workers and supports a Vocational Training Team to assist an Asia Pacific country with their own disaster preparedness. We meet Dot Hennessey OAM, the tireless and passionate visionary who pioneered RESCA and...

In late 2019, rural communities in NSW were devastated by drought. No stock, no feed, no water and plummeting morale. Rotarians from Turramurra Rotary Club adopted three towns in the Upper Hunter region, providing vouchers redeemable in local businesses, assistance with community events like a bike ride and a Cuban dance event. Dr Parry Monckton explains where they went, who they met, what they di...

Right now around 88 million people around the world have been made homeless by natural disaster and conflict. Shelterbox Australia is working to change this. By providing emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster, Shelterbox is transforming despair into hope. Mike Greenslade CEO of Shelterbox Australia and a member of Alstonville Rotary Club  is joined by Joha...

The National Youth Science Forum delivers immersive and transformative youth-led experiences for young Australians to encourage life long literacy in science, engineering, technology and maths. Lyndall Pearson from St Ives Rotary Club explains how the NYSF works and Kira Trahana, student at Barker College, Sydney describes her experience at NYSF in early 2020, what she did, who she met and the imp...

For 26 years Belrose Rotarians have provided a unique opportunity for Yr 11 and 12 students from Peak Hill Central School to spend five days in Sydney, experiencing the attractions but significantly, gaining an insight into the world of work by visiting local businesses and government. They are billeted with local Rotary families. Later in the year a group of Belrose Rotarians reciprocate by visit...

Dress for Success provides a network of support, professional attire and the development tools  to help women thrive in work and in life. Through the program, women from all walks of life can acquire thoughtfully curated clothing, shoes and accessories to create the best impression at job interviews. Women also receive career guidance, counselling and training. Online resources like Zoom are...

Sydney schoolgirl Grace Colville spent 2019 as a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Chaumont, northern France. Knowing no French language she quickly immersed herself into the French way of life, staying with host families, attending school, meeting fellow exchange students and travelling widely within Europe. Grace shares her impressions, the lessons learned and the cultural differences between the...

We meet Kalma McClellan current governor of a large Australian Rotary District, north of Sydney. We learn how and why she joined Rotary and how Kalma  and Rotary have responded to a string of natural disasters occurring in Australia over the summer period. We consider the role of contemporary communications technology and their use as an adjunct to traditional face to face meetings.

We meet Peter Kipps who manages the international projects portfolio for Kuring gai Rotary Club on Sydney's upper north shore.  We learn about Shelterbox, the School for Life in Uganda, the Fiji Electricity project and the club's support for RYLA, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, in East Timor. All excellent examples of Rotary quietly going about making a huge difference to people in need....

During the Rotary Program of Youth Enrichment (RYPEN) young people develop increased motivation, improved life skills, better self image, pride in themselves and an understanding of setting and achieving goals. In this episode of Rotary Matters we meet Beau Seale from Empire Bay who not only attended RYPEN  2018 in the Blue Mountains near Sydney but went on to spend 2019 as a Rotary Youth Exc...

Successful Australian businessman on a visit to PNG came across piles of unused and unusable medical equipment donated in good faith by Australians. Determined to fix this he arranged for new equipment such as ultrasound and diagnostic machines to be supplied from China and the USA. This generosity has now extended to 63 countries around the world, many in Africa. We meet Dave and his daughter Mar...

A team of volunteer surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists travels to Bangladesh to repair cleft palates, cleft lips and burns. Barbie Mitchell OAM tells us how this remarkable project was conceived, how it operates and the huge difference it makes to disadvantaged communities in this developing country. We also meet Suzie Mikschl who explains the way her local Days for Girls program enables girls in...

Opera in the Arboretum is a creative event hosted by Woy Woy Rotary Club to raise funds to support their local and international projects. Now in its 15th year it is held in the open air, a picnic style event at Pearl Beach. We meet spokesman Russell Grove who explains how it is organised, the talent they attract and the repertoire to be enjoyed on 28 March 2020.email operarotarywoywoy@gmail.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is an intensive leadership experience organised by Rotary clubs and districts to develop  skills as  a leader while having fun and making connections. We meet Mitchell FRATER-BAIRD who tells us about his recent residential RYLA week in northern Sydney, the lessons he learned and how the program impacts his ideas and thoughts for the future. Mitchell's parti...

We meet Victoria Diep a 15 yr old student who attended the three day Conoco Phillips Science Experience at the University of Technology Sydney. The program takes place over 35 universities and tertiary institutions within many different laboratories and lecture theatres. Participants perform experiments in the laboratories, meet and hear senior lecturers, attend site visits and experience what its...

Kalma McLellan Rotary District Governor explains the way that Rotary is helping Australian bushfire victims and the channel through which financial donations should be made.   www.rawcs.org.au and go to Bushfire Donations. We also find out what Rotary is planning tor 29 February when the 2020 leap year will be recognised by a mass dancing of Nutbush City Limits. Lots of fun and a fundraiser f...

The Pride of Workmanship Award recognises people in the community who have gone over and above the call. People offering exceptional service. John Rae not only runs Shoe Guru  a very successful shoe retailer but he recycles sports shoes and school shoes sending them to disadvantaged communities in Australia and overseas. Furthermore John leads walking groups in his community and is a firm bel...

Ian Scott AM from Sydney's Blue Mountains explains the benefits of alternative dispute resolution and how he came to be leading the training for mediators working in Mongolia, one of the world's poorest countries. Rotary is the key and a source of support through RAWCS...the Rotary Australia Worldwide Community Services program.

Graffiti,  the scourge of public walls, shops, fences,  commercial premises, schools and infrastructure in Sydney's upper north shore  is tackled successfully by a team of  dedicated Rotarians led and inspired by  Roger Norman. We learn how they go about erasing graffiti, the profile of a typical tagger and the options we have to report graffiti.  Roger covers the ann...

With mental health problems on the rise the need for the services of Lifeline and their Way 2 Wellness program has never been more acute. We meet Simone Isemann, Clinical Services Manager from Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury who tells us what its all about. www.lifelineh2h.org.au (note some of the audio is crackly...apologies!)

Its not enough to simply give money. It needs to be spent wisely and sustainably. Hear how Rotary is doing this  in Cambodia.

We meet Assoc Professor Anne Prescott, dedicated Rotarian, devoted to making a difference in earth quake shattered Nepal. Helping with the rebuild and training teachers in how to teach. Anne also supervises projects in Cambodia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and South Africa. A truly inspiring story. To volunteer for her next project in Nepal anne.prescott@uts.edu.au

Lucy Hopgood-Brown explains the life changing work of her NGO, HandUp Congo. Villagers in the remote community of Lotumbe in the Democratic Republic of Congo are supported in their efforts to secure food such as  ducks, cows and grain. An education program teaches emergency medicine skills and thanks to micro-financing villagers can begin their own sustainable businesses. It's not a hand out...

For the past 35 years 300 disabled and disadvantaged children plus their carers have experienced the ride of their life as they go aloft in a Qantas Jumbo Jet, for an hour including a return to Sydney at 1500 feet over Sydney Harbour. Turramurra Rotarian Rob Byrne fills in the gaps and brings us up to date with Rotary's world wide campaign to end polio, where every dollar donated is matched twice...