As of Monday 27 April, the Kiosk is officially CLOSED until mid-August.
Presidents Message
Unite for Good – Working Together to Increase Our Impact
Collaboration remains at the heart of Rotary’s mission, and the coming months present many opportunities for our club to unite for good with fellow Rotary clubs, our district, and the wider community.
Liaison with Other Rotary Clubs
Our engagement with neighbouring clubs and district partners continues to strengthen. Planning is well underway with the Rotary Club of Adelaide for the upcoming District Governor Changeover. Rotary Club of Morialta will be asked to provide six or more members to assist with welcome and registration on the day. Further details, including registration information, will be circulated shortly by the District Governor Elect.
Our club was also represented at the Horsham Impact Summit, held from 27–29 March 2026, providing valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, build connections, and explore innovative approaches to community impact.
Thank you to Geoff Brown and Sue Pullens for assisting RC Magill Sunrise at the ANZAC Day Breakfast.
In support of the Rotary Club of Campbelltown Art Show, running from 9–16 May 2026 (with the opening event on 8 May), RC Morialta is proud to sponsor the First Prize in the Indigenous Art Section, valued at $500, funded through the Promotions budget. This contribution reflects our commitment to arts, culture, and community recognition.
Community Group 3 Initiatives
Community Group 3 has an active calendar ahead. On 16 May 2026, clubs will take part in the “Epic Day of Service”, encouraging visible, hands‑on action within local communities. Our club will highlight its involvement through social media and community‑focused activities.
Looking further ahead, preparation is underway for the Royal Adelaide Show in September, with a joint stand from Community Groups 1 and 3. This initiative will support Rotary’s goals of increasing our impact and expanding our reach across South Australia.
From May to June 2026, Community Groups will also have an opportunity to participate in a District Grant‑funded Mental Health First Aid Course. The course involves 15 hours of training and a $25 deposit, and members are encouraged to share this opportunity with community organisations that may benefit.
In support of mental health awareness, planning has already begun for the Australian Rotary Health “Lift the Lid” Walk for Mental Health, which will again take place in October 2026.
District 9510 – Key Dates
Several important district events are approaching:
31 May 2026 – District Assembly at St Michaels
8 July 2026 – District Changeover at Adelaide Oval
These events provide vital learning, planning, and connection opportunities to ensure a strong Rotary year ahead.
Governance Update
A review of the Club Constitution will commence shortly, with work to be undertaken in collaboration with the Board to ensure our governance remains relevant and fit for purpose.
Upcoming Club Events
Members are encouraged to note the following upcoming activities:
May to July – Kiosk renovations (with alternative arrangements in place)
31 May – Bridge Day
5 July – Club Changeover
Together, these activities reflect Rotary Club of Morialta’s ongoing commitment to connection, service, and positive change. Thank you to all members who contribute their time, energy, and expertise to ensure our club continues to thrive and make a meaningful difference.
We often make Rotary more complicated than it needs to be.
We talk about growth, strategy, and long-term plans — and those things have their place. But if we’re honest, the reason people stay involved is much simpler.
They enjoy being there. They feel comfortable. They feel like they can contribute.
That’s it.
When those basics are right, clubs don’t just function — they feel a little bit legendary in the way people talk about them and keep coming back.
If we focus on creating that kind of environment, most of the other challenges take care of themselves. People step up, projects happen, and the club keeps moving forward.
If we don’t, everything feels harder than it should.
It’s a good reminder that the basics matter more than anything else.
Basketball Prize-Giving BBQ a Great Team Effort
An early start was the order of the day as our Rotary team arrived at 8.30am to prepare, set up, fire up the Bain Marie and get ready to cater for around 400 basketball players, plus parents and supporters, throughout the day.
The event ran through until approximately 4.30pm, making it a long but very worthwhile day. To make things more manageable, the roster was split into two teams, with one group covering the morning shift through to around midday, and the second team taking over for the afternoon until pack-up.
Our volunteer team for the day included Geoff and Judi Brown, Jeff Jolly, Sue Pullins, Paul Haylock, Richard Hurn, Vicky and Graeme Packer.
A borrowed generator was used to power the Bain Marie, which proved essential for storing and serving the food throughout the day. In total, around 35kg of sausages and 6kg of onions were prepared. Demand was strong, and during the day we needed to purchase an additional six packs of sausages and four loaves of bread. By the end of the event, only one pack of sausages and one loaf of bread remained.
Drinks were also sold, and the Rotary ute was a great asset, making it much easier to transport, load and store equipment and supplies for the day.
The event raised a total of $1,341
Board Update
The Morialta Rotary Club Board met via Zoom on 8 April to review current projects, finances, upcoming events and planning for the year ahead.
A key item was the rescheduling of the incoming Board planning day, which will now be held on 9 May, following President Elect Training. The Board also discussed arrangements for District Changeover events, including approval for future District Changeover income and expenses to be managed through the club’s accounts, with members to be updated through the President’s report.
Several project updates were shared. The Thorndon Park kiosk continues to perform well, although upcoming renovation works, expected to begin in May, may require temporary arrangements. The community workshop remains active, with around 60–70 members and ongoing interest from the community. Plans are also being considered for mental health first aid training for supervisors and possibly the wider workshop group.
The Board received a detailed update on the PNG Midwifery Leadership Project, including preparations for the April workshop, budget pressures and encouraging feedback from participating midwives. To support ongoing costs and future buddy projects, the Board approved increasing the project provision from $20,000 to $25,000.
Other matters included discussion of the Gumnut project, which has experienced delays due to council approval processes, and fundraising activities including recent barbecues and future basketball events. The Board also approved a $1,000 donation to UNICEF, while a request for support toward RYPEN hosting costs was referred to the Youth Committee for consideration.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for 13 May at 7.00pm via Zoom.
Paul Harris Fellow Listing Now Available on Club Website
The Rotary Club of Morialta’s Paul Harris Fellow and Benefactor listing is now available on the club website, providing members and visitors with a permanent record of those recognised for their generosity, service and support of The Rotary Foundation.
The new Rotary Foundation Recognition page acknowledges Paul Harris Fellows, multiple Paul Harris Fellows and Benefactors associated with the club. It records 75 recognitions, including 23 current members and 2 Benefactors, and is arranged by recognition level and surname for easy reference.
This listing is a meaningful way to honour the contribution of members and supporters whose commitment has helped strengthen Rotary’s impact, both locally and around the world. It also provides an accessible historical record for the club, recognising past and present contributors in one place.
On the page, current members are clearly identified, and deceased donors are respectfully marked with a “+”. Benefactors are listed separately, making the page simple to navigate and useful for members, families and others interested in the club’s Rotary Foundation history.
Members are encouraged to visit the club website and view the Rotary Foundation Recognition page. It is a proud reminder of the generosity within Rotary Morialta and the lasting contribution made by those who have supported The Rotary Foundation over many years.
There’s something special about coming together mid-winter — good food, great wine, and even better company. This year, we’re heading to the Adelaide Hills to celebrate our Changeover at Barristers Block Wines.
On Sunday 5 July, we’ll gather to reflect on the year that’s been, acknowledge those who have led and contributed, and look ahead to what’s next for our club.
Set amongst the vines at Barristers Block, the afternoon begins from 12:00pm with a relaxed welcome, followed by a shared lunch and a short changeover program. More importantly, it’s a chance to reconnect — with fellow members, partners, and friends — in a setting that does the occasion justice.
Event Details
📅 Sunday 5 July 2026 🕛 From 12:00pm 📍 Barristers Block Wines, Woodside
🎟️ $55 per person (Includes lunch and non-alcoholic refreshments)
Bookings are now open via TryBooking — we encourage early bookings as places are limited.
Partners and guests are warmly welcomed, and we’d love to see a strong turnout as we celebrate what we’ve achieved together and set the tone for the year ahead.
Mother’s Day Classic Water Station — Volunteers Needed
Rotary Morialta has again been asked to support the Mother’s Day Classic by managing the water station on Sunday, 10 May 2026.
This has become a popular early-morning activity for many members, and once again it should be finished in time for everyone to continue on to their own Mother’s Day plans. Volunteers are asked to arrive from around 6:45–7:00am, with the water station expected to finish around 10:30–11:00am, depending on participant numbers.
The water station will be in the same location as last year, on the south side of the River Torrens, near Jolley’s Boathouse. The attached map shows the water station location near the riverbank, close to Victoria Drive and the University Bridge area.
This year, approximately 3,500 participants are expected, a few hundred more than last year. Every participant will pass the water station, so Rotary Morialta will play an important role in keeping runners and walkers refreshed and supported throughout the morning. The first 4km runners start at 7:30am and are expected to reach the water station about 5–10 minutes later. Walkers start at 8:00am, with the final walkers expected to pass by around 9:30am.
Rotary Morialta will be managing the water stop, with two Sports Trainer Services first-aid officers also on site. A musical duo will help add to the atmosphere on the day. Equipment supplied for the site will include 80 boxes of 10L Mount Lofty water, around 3,000 cups, a 3x3 pop-up marquee, trestle tables, bins, guide ropes and water weights.
Members are also asked to note that two volunteers are needed to assist as guides at the University Bridge. This is usually manageable once the water station is set up and extra hands are available.
As parking near the site may be limited, members are encouraged to carpool where possible and keep the number of vehicles near the Boathouse to a minimum. Suggested parking is around Victoria Drive, closer to the University Bridge. Public toilets are available behind the nearby buildings.
Family and friends are very welcome to come along and help. Members are asked to let Graeme or Rosemary know whether they are available, so volunteer numbers can be registered for insurance purposes. Final details will be provided closer to the event.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Rotary Morialta to support a major community event, encourage participants, and contribute to a very worthwhile cause — all before the rest of Mother’s Day begins. 🌸
Kiosk Takings Boosted by Autumn Weather and Community Events
The Kiosk has enjoyed a strong run of trade over recent weekends, helped by some great Autumn weather, public holidays, Movies in the Park, Easter, and ANZAC Day activity.
The March long weekend was a very encouraging start, with takings across Saturday, Sunday and Monday reaching $2,479.50. Monday was the standout day, bringing in $1,250.30, supported by strong EFT sales and a steady flow of visitors.
Movies in the Park also provided a welcome boost to Kiosk takings. On Saturday 14 March, normal trade and the evening movie session together raised $1,206.05, while the second Movies in the Park weekend on 18–19 April helped produce another excellent result of $2,397.00.
Weather continued to play a major role in results. Fine Autumn conditions produced strong weekends, including $2,136.60 over 21–22 March and $2,003.20 over the ANZAC Day weekend. By contrast, the cold and damp weather on 11–12 April had a significant impact, with takings falling to $357.00 for the weekend.
The Easter long weekend was the highlight of the period, with favourable weather for most of the four days, apart from rain on Sunday afternoon which led to an early closure. Across Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, the Kiosk raised an excellent $3,808.40.
Overall, the Kiosk recorded total takings of $15,456.95 across the reported period, made up of $2,854.25 in cash and $12,602.70 via EFT.
A sincere thank you goes to all volunteers who worked across the weekends and public holidays. Special thanks also to Sue Pullens and Emiko Mayer, who stepped in to assist on Saturday 28 March when no volunteers were originally rostered. The continued support from members ensures the Kiosk remains a valuable and successful community service activity.
Join us as we welcome Ian Coat, Chair of Rotary District 9510’s Calperum and the Environment Committee, for a presentation on Calperum Station, the health of the River Murray, and Rotary’s contribution to conservation, education and environmental restoration in the Riverland.
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