Let Damian know if you are looking to nominate for a Board role in 2026-27.
President’s Message
Thank You!
A big thank you to everyone who assisted at the Moonlight Market on Friday, 7th November. The teamwork at the BBQ and in the kiosk was outstanding—what a great effort by all involved!
Lift the Lid Walk
The Lift the Lid Walk on Sunday, 9th November was a fantastic event. We believe we are on track to raise over $20,000 for mental health research from the 2025 walks in Adelaide. This is an incredible achievement that will make a real difference.
Board Meeting
Our Board met on 12th November, and everyone is working diligently to ensure all our activities continue to change lives for the better.
Upcoming Plans
Preparations have begun for the District Governor Changeover on 8th July 2026. More details will be shared as the date approaches.
Membership Summit
Several members attended the Membership Summit on Saturday, 15th November—a great opportunity for networking and sharing ideas.
ROMAC Update
We are delighted to share that a lovely 4-year-old child has arrived from Timor Leste and will be receiving treatment this week under the ROMAC program. This is Rotary in action—changing lives!
Together, we create hope and make a lasting difference in our community and beyond.
President Rosemary with speaker, ROMAC Central Region Chair Elizabeth Davis
Speaker Summary
What ROMAC does: Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children brings children (under 15) from across Oceania to Australia/NZ for life-saving or dignity-restoring surgery unavailable in their home countries. It’s Rotary-endorsed and 100% volunteer-run.
How SA makes it work: An MOU with the Women’s & Children’s Hospital lets SA deliver complex care at a fraction of normal cost (an ~$80,000 case billed $5,000). Surgeons donate time, building skills that flow back to local patients. Ronald McDonald House provides exceptional family accommodation and support.
Impact stories:
Castro (facial angiofibroma) — tumour removed through nasal passages; returned home without visible scarring.
Charlie (severe clubfoot, Tanna Island) — months of care; went home walking in his first pair of shoes.
Stanmix (spina bifida) — arrived unable to walk; returned home on his feet.
Next: Ivana (Timor-Leste), age 3–4½, approved for cardiac surgery in Adelaide.
How our club can help:
Budget $1,000 annually to underwrite local cases.
Offer pastoral/practical support (transport, clothing, family liaison).
Share ROMAC stories and drive tax-deductible donations.
Leadership note: After six years as Chair, Elizabeth Davis has handed the Central Region role to Judi (effective 1 November). Let’s get behind Judi and keep Australia’s stamp on Oceania strong.
Editorial
The Fellowship We Keep
The last few weeks have reminded me why Rotary is more than an organisation — it’s all about culture.
I’ve just returned from the Rotary Zone Institute and National Conference, where I spent time with leaders and friends from across Australia and beyond. Before the conference, I’d joined DG Jenn Wong for a visit to Monarto Safari Park — one of those easy, laughter-filled days that remind you how friendship is often the most enduring form of service.
The week that followed was a blur of connection. I shared a table at the conference dinner with PDG Amanda Wendt, who had spoken earlier about Rotary’s work to end polio. We laughed and swapped stories between courses (once we provided our ID so we could get a drink) — the kind of conversations that sit somewhere between purpose and play.
I reconnected with PDG Jodie Sparks, a friend from our District Rotary Foundation Chairs training, and with Claire Scott, who I hadn’t seen since the Rotary Australia Success Conference thirteen years ago. Somewhere between plenary sessions I discovered an unread message from Claire in my inbox — sent all those years ago. I replied right there and then, and when we met up in person the time disappeared.
There were new connections too: DG Emma Davis, whose leadership energy is contagious; DGN Rick Vosila, who turns every conversation into an idea; and reconnections with PDG Michael Lapina, whose passion and storytelling can light up a room; and PDG Andy Rajapakse, a constant reminder that optimism is a leadership skill.
Yesterday, I received the message that Milton Lewis had passed away — the Rotarian who sponsored me into the Rotary Club of Campbelltown after my Youth Exchange days. It was Milton who first showed me what fellowship really meant: that simple act of being noticed, welcomed, and seen.
That moment, set against the backdrop of a week of reconnections, reminded me that Rotary’s success has never been about structure or slogans — it’s about people. The friendships we form, the mentors who encourage us, the peers who laugh beside us when the work gets tough.
Sociologists like Robert Putnam and Marissa King have written about the power of connection — how communities grow stronger and individuals healthier when they share genuine bonds. Rotary proves that research right every single day. It’s a living network of trust — a place where being known and being useful are the same thing.
If you ask me what keeps members in Rotary, I won’t talk about metrics or meetings. I’ll talk about culture. The kind of culture that notices when someone’s missing. The kind that welcomes new voices, keeps old friendships alive, and never stops making space for laughter and wine.
Because in the end, fellowship isn’t what happens after the meeting. It’s the reason we meet at all.
Bright colours, beautiful dancing, delicious food and an incredible sense of community — our Rotary Diwali Cultural Night truly lived up to the festival’s spirit of light and friendship. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening shine! 🌟
In April 2025, Simon H James, a nurse and midwife from Lae, PNG, began a life-changing project as part of the Rotary PNG Midwifery Leadership Buddy Program. With support from his Australian midwife buddy, Glenda, Simon developed a business case to address a critical issue: mothers being forced to give birth in darkness due to frequent power cuts at the Waterbung Health Centre Labour Ward.
Through program funding of AUD $500, Simon purchased and installed solar lighting to ensure safe, respectful, and quality maternity care.
The installation was celebrated by staff and community members, many of whom shed tears as this was the first project of its kind in decades. Simon urged the community to take ownership and sustain the system, noting that it would directly save lives and improve outcomes for both mothers and babies.
This project is a powerful example of how the Midwifery Leadership Buddy Program empowers local leaders, strengthens communities, and delivers lasting impact through simple, sustainable solutions.
🧠💙 Help Us Make a Difference — Walk to Lift the Lid on Mental Health!
The countdown is on for this year’s Lift the Lid Walk for Mental Health, and we need your help to make it a success!
This is the critical moment — registrations are open, and we’re calling on every Rotarian, family member, and friend to step up, show up, and help us create a sea of Rotary blue on the day.
👣 We Need Walkers — and We Need You!
The event can only make its full impact with people power. Every participant helps raise awareness for mental health and funds for vital research through Australian Rotary Health.
To help the organisers prepare: ✅ Register in advance — it’s quick, easy, and helps us with logistics, waivers, and shirt distribution. ✅ Encourage friends, colleagues, and community members to join in — the more walkers, the greater the statement of support. ✅ Invite your local officials or community leaders — and remind them to register too!
When you register, don’t skip the free event shirt. The bright colour and Rotary branding help create a vibrant, united message: that mental health matters, and Rotary is leading the conversation.
📣 How You Can Help Right Now
Talk to people.
Share the registration link.
Post on social media.
Call in favours and recruit your network — friends, colleagues, family, sports teams, and community contacts.
Encourage fellow club members to do the same.
Every conversation brings someone closer to joining the walk — and every walker adds to the impact.
💬 On the Day
Even if you’re not walking, your presence matters. Come along, cheer on the walkers, greet guests, hand out water, take photos, and show your support for the cause.
The goal is simple: to lift the lid on mental health stigma, one step and one conversation at a time.
🧡 Together, We Can Lift the Lid
Let’s show Adelaide that Rotary cares deeply about mental health, community connection, and hope. Register today — and bring ten friends with you!
Rotary’s commitment to equality and opportunity will be on full display this March when we celebrate International Women’s Day 2026.
📅 Wednesday 4 March 2026 | 7.00 – 9.00 am 📍 Top Room, Arkaba Hotel
This year’s global theme — “Give to Gain” — invites us to reflect on how generosity, mentorship and shared opportunity empower communities and transform lives.
Our keynote speaker will be Kate Croser, Chief Executive Officer of the South Australian Film Corporation. With two decades in film and television and an Emmy Award to her name, Kate now leads South Australia’s screen industry, connecting local stories with audiences around the world.
Kate also serves as SA Chapter Chair for Chief Executive Women (CEW) and sits on several national and state advisory boards, championing gender equity and leadership in creative industries. Twice named by The Advertiser as one of South Australia’s most influential people, Kate brings insight, warmth and real-world experience to the conversation about what it means to “give to gain.”
Tickets are $50 per person (plus booking fee) with tables of up to 10. 🎟️ Bookings: trybooking.com/DGIAL
Bring a business card for the door-prize draw, and don’t forget your lucky streak — raffle tickets will be available for $5 each on the day.
Join fellow Rotarians, colleagues and friends as we celebrate the achievements of women across South Australia and renew Rotary’s promise to open opportunities for all.
What an amazing atmosphere we shared at our Diwali Cultural Night! The energy, colour and spirit of the evening truly reflected the joy of this beautiful festival of light.
A heartfelt thank you to every committee member and club volunteer who worked so hard to make the night a success — and to the many community volunteers who joined us with such generosity. The performances were wonderful, the food was incredible, and the audience participation in the Bollywood dance program — Bhav’s brilliant idea — was an absolute hit!
Every committee member brought passion and enthusiasm to the planning and delivery, and it showed in every detail. Many guests left not only having enjoyed the night, but also knowing more about who we are and what Rotary stands for.
To all our members who supported the event every step of the way and to the volunteers who worked tirelessly until the very last minute — thank you. We can all be proud of what we created together.
Rotary fellowship at its best — bright, joyful, and connected. 🌟
It’s been a busy (and at times very wet!) stretch for our Thorndon Park Kiosk team — with bright sunshine one weekend, torrential rain the next, and a BBQ that might just go down as one of the biggest in club history.
🌭 St Pius X School Picnic – Friday 31 October
The highlight of the month was the St Pius X School Picnic, where our team cooked and served over 1,000 sausages for students, teachers, and parents.
The BBQ operation ran like clockwork under the capable leadership of Graeme and Vicky Packer. BBQ chefs Jeff, Djuro, Geoff, and Bruno kept things sizzling under pressure, while Rosemary, Sue, and Hua made sure everything stayed warm and “fly-free.”
Di and Brenton powered through 27 trays of chips, supported by our hardworking kiosk crew — and Richard captured it all on camera.
The feedback from teachers and parents was overwhelmingly positive, and the smiles said it all.
“Exhausted but happy — what a success! Love Rotary, love our club, love our people.” ❤️
Kiosk Takings (St Pius Day): 💰 $344.65 Cash + $956.00 EFT = $1,300.65 Total
🌞 Weekend of 1–2 November
Beautiful sunshine on Saturday boosted sales, while Sunday’s storms forced an early closure. A big thanks to Sari Brown for stepping in to relieve Sabrina mid-afternoon so she could attend to Diwali duties.
Takings:
Saturday 1/11: $138.50 Cash + $628.50 EFT = $767.00 (Sabrina K, Brenton S & Sari B)
Sunday 26/10: $60.30 Cash + $265.00 EFT = $325.30 (Bianca P, Sue P & Katarina S) Weekend Total:$395.30
💬 A Word of Thanks
Every member who turns up, cooks, serves, cleans, smiles, and keeps things running — rain, shine, or storm — is part of what makes our club exceptional. The kiosk continues to be a cornerstone of our fundraising and community connection.
A great Rotarian effort by all who helped in the Kiosk and with the BBQ.
In a complex world of shifting values and blurred lines, Rotary has long held a simple ethical framework — just 24 words — that continues to guide everything we think, say, and do.
It’s called the Four-Way Test, and it has stood the test of time.
The Four-Way Test
Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Why It Matters
These four questions offer more than guidance — they offer clarity, reflection, and a shared code of conduct that unites Rotarians across cultures, professions, and generations.
Whether you're navigating a workplace challenge, mediating a club disagreement, or making a tough decision in your personal life, the Four-Way Test provides a universal compass.
Key Takeaway
This isn’t just a Rotary ritual. It’s an ethical anchor.
Use it. Share it. Live it.
Because in a noisy world, the Four-Way Test is Rotary’s way of staying honest, fair, and purposeful — every day.
Not on the Agenda
🧹 ROTARY LESSON: WHEN THE BROOM SWEPT THE SHOW
Rotary Club of Chesterfield, UK –
At a local fundraising fair, the Chesterfield club decided to boost visibility with a “Guess How Many Pebbles in the Jar” stall. Everything went beautifully until a sudden gust of wind toppled their banner stand, knocking over a table of raffle prizes.
In full view of the crowd, one very energetic Rotarian—armed only with a broom—started sweeping the chaos back under control. The MC, trying to keep things light, announced over the microphone:
“And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what Rotary calls a clean-up project!”
The line brought the house down. People donated just for the laugh. The club raised more that afternoon than at any previous fair.
Rotary Lesson: When life sweeps your plans away, grab a broom—and make it part of the project.
