This has been a busy Rotary week. It was wonderful to welcome New member George McKenzie, who I am sure will be a great asset to our Club. I am looking forward to his Who Am I.
Next Tuesday we will induct Paul and Sally Willoughby into our Club. They are both hard working and long serving Rotarians. I am sad that they felt they had to leave Mobilong but both Mobilong President Sadie Podger and myself are glad they are finding a home with us.
Wednesday of this week was the High School’s Music Mania. It was a wonderful evening with some very talented musicians performing. The High School’s Music Department and the students are to be congratulated for all their hard work getting this organised. The performers got applause but the students behind the scenes moving music stands etc, organising the sound and lighting are amazing too. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Music Bursary to not just one student but two students. Simon and I were not able to rate one of these students higher than the other so Board decided to give the Bursary of $1,000 each to James-Noah Peterson and Aleisha Spurling. Both students are very focussed on achieving their dream jobs in the music industry. James-Noah as a Music Producer and Aleisha as an orchestral musician.
Thursday evening Rob and I attended the RYLA Graduation in Adelaide. It was wonderful to hear about the experiences of these enthusiastic young adults who are wanting to achieve so much in there lives and how RYLA is going to help them. They were so grateful to the Rotary clubs who. sponsored them. I’m looking forward to hearing more from Katherine Thiele and Clay Burgess.
I have been busy cooking for the Calperum camp. They leave on Monday morning, minus a very disappointed Marg Whitehead who is unwell. I am sure they are going to have a wonderful experience. Again I’m looking forward to their presentation to the Club.
Thought for the week:
Sir Edmund Hillary: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." - Connects with the challenges Rotary members willingly take on for personal growth and societal benefit.
Welcome George
George McKenzie was inducted into the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge on Tuesday night. His vocation is Naval Officer and as such brings a new diverse range of skills to our club. Seen here with President Jenny Alexander Walters and Rotarian John Scarvelis who introduced him to the club and will be his mentor. George has been a patrol boat captain in the Australian Navy and spent time in Kirabati in the Pacific. We look forward to his further contribution to Rotary and our community.
Congratulations to our 2024 Music Bursary Scholarship Recipients!
The Murray Bridge Rotary Club has a long-standing partnership with Murray Bridge High School, supporting young musicians through a $1,000 Music Bursary Scholarship for one senior student each year. This year, the Rotary Board recognised the exceptional talent and dedication of two outstanding Year 11 students and generously awarded $1,000 to each!
Congratulations to our deserving students
Murraylands Multicultural Network
Guest speaker at Tuesday's Rotary Club of Murray Bridge meeting was Rotarian John Scarvelis presenting on the Murraylands Multicultural Network's activities, some historical, and some from the last year. The role of the Network is to support new settlers to the Murraylands, to make them feel welcome, to meet regularly, to find ways to assist with settlement, organise events, training and meaningful activities so that they can become part of our community and thrive. The Network does so under the auspices of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre and in partnership with the Rural City of Murray Bridge, Rotary, employers, and other interested parties. It is made up from new settlers representing their ethnic groups, local staff from AMRC and volunteers from the community. Current chairman is Noel Blythe who has taken this role after John Scarvelis stepped down at the AGM after many years of service. Merilyn Schultz is Deputy Chair, Murraylands AMRC manager Heather Muirhead acts in a secretarial role and Joy Goodridge treasurer. Rotarian Stephen Walker now represents Rotary in the MMN. The Network has become a very successful model for resettlement and integration in regional areas. Development of the regions has strategic benefits in Australia going forward. John Scarvelis.
Combined Service Clubs Dinner - URGENT!
As you are aware the annual Combined Service Clubs dinner is being held on 16th October.
Normally we cancel our meeting and make this our normal meeting but this year we are still meeting on the 15th and the following evening is the CSC Dinner.
RSVP is by 1st October so please ensure you book directly with KIWANIS and pay by direct deposit as per the flyer later in this bulletin
CALENDAR WINNERS
24th September
Draw Date
Value
Winning No.
Winner
Location
Sold by
24.9.24
100
71
Wayne Thorley
Jervois
Rotary
30
274
Amelia Moore
Victor Harbour
S. Cozens
20
895
Jerry Wilson
Murray Bridge
M.B. Pistol Club
Photo taken with Samsung mobile phone - Kalbari Nat Park
“What would be the impact on the local community if the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge was no longer here?”
On Tuesday 17th September members of the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge, their partners, and guest Rotarians recorded their responses to the above question as listed below.
The name of Rotary is highly respected in our community
The local hospital would miss our continued support with $$$ raised for their projects and much needed equipment (SOZO)
Murray Bridge Food Bank would not exist in Murray Bridge to support those in need - especially in today’s current economic climate
The local Arts Community would miss our support with the Rotary Art Show and the Rotary Youth Art Shows - wider community and tourists/visitors would not experience excellent Art collections
Many local and regional Charity and Sports Clubs would miss the financial support our club offers them through the sales of our calendars
Murraylands residents would be less safe without our ‘flags on gophers’ and AEDs installed in a range of community places
Monarto Zoological Park would miss our support with the fireproofing of transportable buildings, tree planting, environmental programs to save the Fairy wrens, construct fences and aviary exhibits
Older community members and their carers would miss the information shared by community organisations through our Aged Care Expo
Local individuals fleeing domestic violence would miss out on our emergency bags filled with items to see them through the initial days (DVINA)
Local homeless individuals would not have our support through Shelter Bags and the accommodation created through partnerships with AC Care and Studio Purpose housing
Youth would not have supported Skate Park activities through BBQ’s, free food and the opportunity to build relationships with our regional (often marginalised) youth
Local school students and those across the Murraylands would miss opportunities for support - Music Scholarships; Robotics Club; Going Bush; Calperum Youth Camp; International student exchanges (to and from Murray Bridge); training programs like RYLA, RYPEN and ‘One and All Sailing’ experiences
Those suffering Dementia, would miss the sounds of their favourite music through the Headphones for Dementia Project
Community members with Mental Health issues would miss the support of local community health programs which our Rotary Club supports financially (Headspace)
Environmental Waste would increase local landfill without our recycling programs - Bread Tags for Wheelchairs; Plastic bottle tops recycled through Murray Bridge High School curriculum programs; Ring-pull tags (shared with another Rotary Club) and medicinal blister pack recycling
Important relationships would be lost; eg with Local Council to support their community occasions from Australia Day celebrations to caring for Mrs Edwards Grave (founding family) , Murraylands Migrant Resource Centre and their Multicultural Festivals, Murraylands Job and Skills Showcase, Youth Projects with Schools to invest in Peace Pole installations to make our town more centred on achieving Peace in our currently troubled world
Many local, regional, and interstate individuals would miss the trading opportunities offered through our yearly Swap Meet
Local Businesses would miss our Hospitality opportunities as we attend their venues for weekly dinners, Hand-Over dinners and other dates of celebrations
The town would miss having many opportunities to receive $$$ to assist their projects
On average I believe we contribute to 1 project each week affecting all corners of our community- who else does that?
All these activities gives out a ‘feel good’ image across the community and highlight our value to our community
On an individual/personal level, Rotarians also recorded:
I would miss the contact with other like-minded people to be informed and inspired through our activities and guest speakers
I would miss the camaraderie and fellowship between the different age groups our club is trying to achieve
I would miss the social contact, feel lost at ‘not being involved’ in community - I would need to check out other Service Clubs
I would miss the name ‘Rotary’ and what it means throughout the world
To be honest, I believe it would affect the Rotarians and their fellowship but, I am not sure the community would notice
My Challenge is - how to reduce this to just 100 words - to take to the Seminar in Sydney?
Roxanne Rowland
Get Your Calendar NOW!!!
Project Leader, Rotarian Jaquie Best reported this year's Calendar Project "Hotels of the Murray Mallee" is now available. The 2025 Calendar features photos and history of hotels in this area. Weekly gift vouchers can be won to be spent at Drakes or Bunnings whichever is nominated by the purchaser on the form. The Calendars are available from Murray Bridge Rotarians and production is limited. They will also be available at the coming Wellington Strawberry Fair and at Drakes from Rotarians till December. A great fundraiser for Rotary Projects local and international.
Thomas The German Is Coming!!!
An email has been received from Thomas Kohler regarding a future attendance at our meeting. Thomas was an exchange student in 1988/89
Hello my dear (former) Rotary Host Club,
It has been a few moons since you last heard from me - let alone seen me.
But believe me, you have never left my heart.
As we all get a little older, I thought I would swing by and check up on you. You know, the kind of visit you make to an old buddy that you have not talked to for a while- but someone you often refer to in conversation.
I will be in Australia October 9-November 3rd. I will visit a few spots around the big brown country of OZ, but first of all I will visit the ever so fabulous Mr. Ray Strauss, your former member and president and my beloved counselor. He will help me get up to speed on the latest Rotary Exchange rules: No drinking, no driving, no dates and no drugs and beyond, before I will come visit.
Right now I am looking to request attendance for a Rotary meeting at the institution called BRIDGEPORT HOTEL (some things never change...) sometime between October 19 and November 2nd.
I promise I will give you an update on what I have been up to since I last visited in 1996 in less time it takes to finish a three day cricket test match.
Please let me know if I could drop by and say hello and if yes, what dates would work best.
Contact details are available from Secretary Julieanne or Robin
Visit the Gallery 14th September - 3rd November
Lunch at Government House Adelaide
We are pleased to let you know about two events which may be of interest to your members at Government House: Lunch on the Lawns and Garden Tours.
On the first Friday of the month from September 2024 to May 2025, from 12-2pm, Government House will throw open it gates for the public to come into the grounds, spread a picnic rug and enjoy their lunch while listening to a local band or orchestra.
We also have free garden tours from 10.45am – 11.45am, run by guides from the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide. Visitors can see up close our significant trees, sculptures, vegetable gardens and more.
We would love to see your members, either individually or as a group, come along to these events.
Details:
Events: Lunch on the Lawns and Garden Tours at Government House
Dates: September 6 2024, October 4 2024, November 1 2024, December 6 2024, January 3 2025, February 7 2025, March 7 2025, April 4 2025, May 2 2025.
Time: 10.45am-11.45am for garden tours; 12-2pm for Lunch on the Lawns.
We look forward to welcoming you to Government House.
Object of Rotary
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.