Stories

Meeting Recap: April 10, 2025

Finnish exchange student Hilma shared information about her home country and her experiences in Australia, highlighting cultural differences and personal growth. The club discussed ongoing projects, including the End Trachoma program and potential donations, while also planning future events and activities.

Moss Vale Peace Garden

Three years of work and partnership comes to fruition at Moss Vale Public School as a new peace garden featuring a Rotary Peace Pole, a reflective area, outdoor instruments is unveiled. Our club contributed over $7000 to this project with other large contributions from the Rotary Club of Moss Vale and the Rotary Club of Bowral-Mittagong.

Communication rights of children

Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod from Charles Sturt University recently presented to our club on Rotary and the communication rights of children. A video of Professor McLeod's talk is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKYpVvavcw0.

Speaker announcement story.

Western Queensland Flood Response

Following the recent devastating floods in outback Queensland, we are pleased to be in a position to donate $1000 to the Rotary District 9560 Disaster Fund to support Rotary's response. It is thanks to all club members and supporters that we are able to make donations like this in times of need. Individuals who wish to support the appeal should do so through a donation to Rotary International's disaster response fund, which is tax deductible in Australia. https://my.rotary.org/en/donate

Speaker: Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod

We invite Rotarians and friends to hear from Charles Sturt University's Distinguished Professor of Speech Pathology, Sharynne McLeod, Thursday 27 March at our regular online meeting at 8pm AEDT. Sharynne is an impressive speaker, and an impactful researcher focused on areas of broad interest to Rotary.

If you are not a member of our club, please register to attend Sharynne's presentation at https://forms.gle/17bjfYySjyWD5RHs9

Parkes to Paris

Our Youth Exchange student Lucy - pictured right - has arrived in Paris after a send off with the other outbound students from Canberra airport. The Parkes Champion Post carried an article about Lucy. See other pictures from the send off on the District Facebook page.

NYSF Success

The Club sponsored Isabella Morris - pictured centre - to attend the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra earlier this month. I have spoken with Isabella's mum Zoe who tells me she had an incredible time and now plans to volunteer as a staff member for the 2026 NYSF. The only problem is that Bella now can't decide what she wants to study at University next year as she was so excited by all the options and ideas presented during the week. Bella will speak to the club about her experience at a future meeting.

2024 We Hardly Knew You

The Club's achievements in 2024, by President Travis Holland.

BeyondWater Talk

The club heard from the organisation BeyondWater at our meeting on November 28.

An Excellent District Conference

With our club serving as the Home of the District Governor via Rob Uhl, many members valued the opportunity to attend the District Conference in Mittagong and take on a number of roles to help out.

World Polio Day Fundraiser

Polio anywhere is a threat everywhere, and Rotary has long worked to end the paralysing virus, which will be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated.

What club members want

In the Club Meeting on July 12, 2024, we discussed club goals for the year.

What happens during polio vaccinations?

As the world faces growing conflict and uncertainty, polio is making its comeback.

The Magic of the Rotary eClub of Brindabella

This year's presidential theme, "The Magic of Rotary," perfectly captures how our organisation effortlessly creates positive change in the world. As Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick reminds us, this magic isn't about waving wands; it comes from dedicated members like you, working tirelessly on projects, donating generously, and welcoming new faces.

Rob Uhl Reunites with Exchange Student in Dili

Past President of the Rotary E-Club of Brindabella, and District 9705 District Governor Nominee Rob Uhl joined Libby Bleakley and Mary Brell OAM (Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak) on a trip to the Learning Centre in Dili Timor- Leste to assist in auditing and evaluating. Due to Covid it had been three years since Libby, who founded the Centre in 2016 had been able to go back.

Dili Learning Centre

Dili recently suffered from disastrous floods, causing both death and destruction to residents in Dili and surrounding areas. A number of the Learning Centres staff lost family members.

One result of the floods was that many University students were cut off from families who were supplying them money to live. The Centre identified 192 students that required support. The Rotary E-club of Brindabella has been successful in obtaining a District Grant supporting the club donation making a total of $A6,300 to assist in purchasing sacks of rice, Fresh green produce from local farmers, Cooking Oil, Noodles, fresh eggs and clean water.

Core Values

Rotary’s core values represent the guiding principles of the organization’s culture, including what guides members’ priorities and actions within the organization. Values are an increasingly important component in strategic planning because they drive the intent and direction of the organization’s leadership.

End Trachoma: Hygiene Bags for Northern Territory Schools

Members of the E-Club of Brindabella have put together hygiene bags for two small schools in the Northern Territory.

The first school is Newcastle Waters. This school is located 788 km north of Alice Springs and 714 km south of Darwin in the Barkley region.

The Newcastle Waters school draws most of its few students from the Marlinja homeland community, which lies on the town's northern boundary.

The photo shows the class displaying the bags sent from the Club - each also having a letter in it from one of the pupils from Moss Vale Public School.

We have also supported the Bulla Camp School, about 350km southwest of Katherine.

Rotary Branded Facemasks

The Rotary E-Club of Brindabella has received another production run of District 9705 branded face masks.

The masks are Rotary International Licensed they are correctly branded and approved

The upsurge of the Delta variant and mandatory mask requirements show the world that Rotary promotes Covid-19 safety by wearing a Rotary branded mask when out and about or on Rotary business.

History of Women in Rotary

Women are active participants in Rotary, serving their communities in increasing numbers and serving in leadership positions in Rotary. The 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary.

“My fellow delegates, I would like to remind you that the world of 1989 is very different to the world of 1905. I sincerely believe that Rotary has to adapt itself to a changing world,” said Frank J. Devlyn, who would go on to become RI president in 2000-01.

The vote followed the decades-long efforts of men and women from all over the Rotary world to allow the admission of women into Rotary clubs, and several close votes at previous Council meetings.