Well the G7 “summit” went well especially as the anticipated 5 hour meeting didn’t go that long. It was a great opportunity to get to know other Clubs and what they were thinking about the proposed changes. There was a lot of talking and great input during our discussions as to the challenges each Club faced, what were our priorities regarding promotion of Rotary, who we are and what we do and how can we make things work better. There were some great ideas on how we can promote Rotary and encourage new members. I do have to point out that Roxanne and I, as representatives of our Club, made our voices heard!
As a Club I think, as I keep saying, we do a lot of thing really well and the presentation last Tuesday by Kayla McDiarmid is an example of how our Club and Rotary programmes can give young people the confidence to spread their wings and follow their dreams
Exciting News came through last night. Our Club has been selected to take part in the Rotary Pacific - as our Region is now called - Fit for Purpose Programme. I think it is going to be a great way to find out just what the proposed changes mean for us as a Club and whether they “fit” our Club and more importantly will enable our voice to be heard.
Our dinner meeting on Tuesday, October 29th will be a chance to hear from Roxanne Rowland our representative. It will also be a chance for members to voice their opinions, ideas and concerns. I urge members to attend this meeting. If any members have any questions regarding the path Rotary is taking please talk to either myself or Roxanne.
Thought for the week: Orville Wright: "If we worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true really is true, then there would be little hope for advance." - Embodies the Rotary spirit of innovation, growth, and improvement.
Kayla's Story
Rotary Youth Exchanges have been very important in the personal development of young people in the Murraylands. Kayla McDiarmid is a great example being connected to the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge on a youth Exchange to New Zealand in 2011. She told us at our dinner meeting this week this sparked her love for travel and led to her career in the travel industry. She started with Easy Travel and Cruise in Murray Bridge as her first job and has travelled to 52 different countries since including being "stuck in NZ" during covid where she managed a Backpackers. In 2018 she moved to England, has worked for Busabout in Europe and conducted walking tours. The most memorable includes Greece, Croatia and Albania, Warsaw (Food Culture and resilience after WW2), Egypt, India & Sri Lanka. She has now landed in Strathalbyn working with Greg Close again at Live the Dream Travel. You could tell from her confident presentation and manner the personal growth she has achieved. Chair Ali Bolt, obviously also inspired, sincerely thanked her for her presentation. John Scarvelis
What Happened at Kalamurina?
At a recent meeting of our Club, Rotarians Jack Reddin and Marg Whitehead presented re their recent trip to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy's Kalamurina Station Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Sanctuary. AWC is a global leader in conservation, providing hope to Australian wildlife across iconic regions such as the Kimberley, Cape York, Central Australia and Kati Thanda -Lake Eyre. It aims to return the Station to its native state. Rotarians and friends made their way there in five vehicles. Kalamurina is a vast desert wilderness covering 1.7 million acreas at the intersection of three of Australia's central deserts: the Munga-Thirri Simpson Desert, the Tirari Desert and Sturt's Stony Desert. The Aquisition of Kalamurina linked the Desert Reserves and the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre NP, creating a protected area larger than Tasmania. The group worked on some fencing and building a shed as a contribution for their visit. The Warburton Creek is the major source of water for the lake and artesian bores provide water, There is a diversity of desert wildlife particularly in the wetter years including the crest-tailed Mulgara, the Dusky Hopping Mouse, the Eyrean Grasswren and the regionally endemic Lake Eyre Dragon. The Creek only flows about every two years, with major floods only every 5 to 10 years totally dependent on rainfall events upstream. Its a land of boom and bust with the good years attracting predators like the Letter-winged Kite, and thousands of waterbirds like pelicans, ibis, Spoonbills, waders and ducks. The iconic Eyrean Grasswren was rediscovered on Kalamurina after it had not been seen for 50 years and the cryptic Grey Grasswren are two highlights of the bird community on the property, as well as Red-capped Robins, Cockatiel's, Budgerigars and Orange Chats. There are at least 50 reptile species including the Woma Python and Desert Skink also on the property. AWC focuses on reduction of feral animals and ecological surveys.
Photo taken with Samsung mobile phone - Kalbari Nat Park
AllKids Update - July
We are pleased to share with you AllKids latest newsletter. This edition includes Khmer New Year, a workshop with the communities living on the local dumpsite, and celebrating World Environment Day.
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Rotary Work Shirts
Darryl Webb has arranged with Grandisons to supply Bisley Rotary work shirts in various configurations.
Please visit Grandisons and select your shirt which will then be embroided with our Club logo.
Pay for the shirt and retain your receipt.
Upon presentation of the receipt to Sam Cozens, you will be reimbursed $20 as a subsidy
What's happening on our Facebook page
John Scarvelis has been posting up a storm with some great content.
ged with Grandisons to supply Bisley Rotary work shirts in various configurations.
