Last week’s AGM was informative and very positive. There seems to be great team work and energy within the Committees and between the Committees. We need to make the most of any down time we have so this can continue into next year which is also promising to be busy. Congratulations to all the Office Bearers/ Board members who were voted in for the Rotary year 2025-26. President Elect Roxanne certainly will have a lot of support in her year.
Friday was another push to sell calendars at Drakes. It was a successful day. Friday of this week we will be selling calendars at Drakes and Jacquie hopes all calendars will be sold. Let Jacquie know if you can help.
The programme for our Christmas Party is coming together and it will be a fun night. I am really looking forward to it. Jenny Phillips and myself have had fun buying the wrapping up the children’s Christmas presents. (Well Jenny did most of the wrapping as she is so much better at it than I am). John Whimpress and his team of chefs are preparing all the food. Sam and his musicians have be rehearsing their carols. Father Christmas is trimming his beard and brushing down his suit ready to drop in and give the presents to the children.
Thought for the week - “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Helen Keller
RYLA Graduates Speak
Do you have what it takes to become a dynamic leader and change yourself and the world. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards RYLA is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary where you develop your skills as a leader while having fun and making connections. You connect with other leaders, build communication and problem solving skills, unlock your potential to turn motivation into action have fun and form lasting friendships. Rotarian Caitlin Lennon introduced this year's two Awardees Clay Burgess and Katherine Thiele who reported to the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge on their experience with the week long camp at Belair at our recent dinner meeting. Clay summarized leadership styles, learnt management skills, personal wellbeing assessments, self confidence, and balance outlined by the 15 presenters. Katherine experienced different interactions with people, making comparisons, learning about community, resilience and community engagement. Questions included , where to after RYLA, further study, Rotaract and Rotary participation and Mentorship at future camps. The Award is open to students and graduates between 18 to 25 years of age through Schools and Rotary Clubs. It is held at Nunyara Conference Centre 5 Burnell Drive Belair. John Scarvelis
CALENDAR WINNERS
3rd December
Draw Date
Value
No.
Winner
Location
Sold by
03.12.24
$100
697
Elizabeth Minge
Murray Bridge
Mobilong Rotary
30
021
Kel Nitschke
Murray Bridge
Bridge Building Supplies
20
668
BBS Salvage
Murray Bridge
Sponsor
Operation Flinders
Operation Flinders continues to support students at risk and what an example of a successful outcome we were treated to on Tuesday night. Tyler Langbridge now 19 years of age from the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide outlined his inspirational story. The Rotary Club of Murray Bridge has been a supporter of Operation Flinders since its inception over 30 years ago and also operated its own range of projects for students less at risk including Going Bush with Rotary with the philosophy of Prevention is better than cure. Both are of equal importance. Tyler was introduced by former Murray Bridge girl Kimberley Vanstone whose father John was a former Murray Bridge Rotary Club President. Kim is the Marketing and Events Manager for Operation Flinders, went to school at Unity College in Murray Bridge and then Seymour and has completed a Batchelor of Public Relations. She is a Board member of the Adelaide Business Hub. Also in attendance were other interested Murray Bridge community members Abbie Cross and Zoe Cross from MB High School, Graham Buttle, Mt Barker Rotarian (formerly MB) Michael Bagshaw both who work closely with the operation, and MB Police. Operation Flinders can be described as an Outdoor Adventure Therapy Program designed for young people at risk. It's an 8 to 9 hour drive to Yankaninna Station in the Flinders Ranges, an 8 day walking program with full backpack, tailored to each participant and its impact is enormous. Students are divided into groups of ten with up to 100 participating and with 70 support staff. The students experience climbing activities, indigenous culture, learn new lifeskills, experience the flora and fauna. It was an absolute pleasure to listen to Tyler tell his story confidently, with passion, and what it has meant for him. He now acts as mentor, he has increased levels of confidence, and looks forward to the future. 50 Schools around the State have now participated. John Scarvelis
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.
