Floriade planting at Wallington continues
The second phase of our Floriade project at Wallington was a great success with members joining with residents to plant 800 annuals alongside the 800 tulip bulbs that had been planted earlier in June. With tender care, it is expected the garden beds will be blossoming with colour come spring time. This will contribute significantly to the social cohesion at the Wallington complex. |
||||||||||||||||||
District Governor Recognition for year of service
An enjoyable District 9705 Changeover as we celebrated the achievements of outgoing District Governor Robert Shore and welcomed Judy Ford as she officially took on the role. We were incredibly proud to receive a District Governor’s Recognition, acknowledging the impact our club has made through community service across Canberra over the past year. A special congratulations also to our own Tara, who was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of her substantial contribution to the District as a Rotary Community Leader, along with the many other roles and responsibilities she has so generously undertaken. |
||||||||||||||||||
Night patrol team share goodwill on a cold night
While many of us are keeping warm indoors, our team were out on the Vinnies Night Patrol van providing warm drinks, warm clothing and a friendly smile to companions sleeping rough across Queanbeyan and Canberra. It was also a bittersweet one as we farewelled John Askew. After several years as a regular member of our Night Patrol team, tonight is John’s final shift before he moves interstate. His commitment to service and willingness to help others has made a real difference and he’ll be greatly missed. Thank you, John, for everything you’ve contributed |
||||||||||||||||||
Priya joins the Sundowners to give back
This week we had the great privilege of officially welcoming Priya as the newest member of the Sundowners – our seventh this year! Originally from Cairns, Priya grew up in a close-knit family and has always loved staying active – from golf to surfing, hiking and cycling. After completing a Law and Arts degree in Brisbane and working in the legal field, she has recently moved to Canberra to undertake further studies. Priya first connected with Rotary through her father and since arriving in Canberra has already been getting involved in many hands-on service activities with us. She sees the Sundowners as the perfect place to give back, connect with like-minded people and contribute to meaningful community initiatives. |
||||||||||||||||||
Winter drive for the Vinnies Night Patrol
The winter chill has well and truly announced its arrival in Canberra. With many people sleeping rough across our community, it is crucial they have the resources to stay warm during the colder months. To support our friends at the Vinnies Night Patrol, we ran a winter drive as part of our last meeting for the Rotary year. So many coats, beanies, gloves, scarves and blankets were donated by our members which will help stock the Night Patrol vans this winter. |
||||||||||||||||||
800 bulbs planted to kick start Floriade
What a fantastic morning at the Wallington Independent Living Complex! We joined with residents to plant 800 tulip bulbs that will form part of our own little Floriade in Rivett this spring. There was plenty of fun and laughter as we worked our way through the bulbs, with it a great opportunity to connect and learn some innovative planting techniques from the residents. Today's planting is just the first stage of the project. In a couple of weeks, we'll be back at Wallington for a second planting day, where we will plant a further 800 annuals. When spring arrives and the tulips and annuals burst into bloom, the gardens around Wallington will be a colourful spectacle – we can’t wait! |
||||||||||||||||||
Floriade colour to be on show at Rivett
We’re pleased to be joining with our friends from the Wallington Independent Living Complex to be bringing Floriade to Rivett this spring. |
||||||||||||||||||
Vinnies-Rotary partnership continues to grow
It was great to welcome Keith Cantlie and Stuart Davis‑Meehan from Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn to our meeting this week. |
||||||||||||||||||
Winter chill necessitates donation of goods to Vinnies
We’ve been out with the Vinnies Night Patrol this week. |
||||||||||||||||||
Book drive to promote reading literacy
We held a book drive at our meeting this week to support our Gungahlin Street Library at Tea Gardens Park. |
||||||||||||||||||
Birthing kits packing was an EPIC Day of Service
What an incredible day marking Rotary International's EPIC Day of Service! It was fantastic to see so many members of the community come together to pack 1,000 birthing kits in just three hours. Each kit contains six essential items: a plastic sheet, soap, sterile gloves, a scalpel blade, string and gauze. These simple items that make a life-changing difference. Around the world, these kits help prevent childbirth-related infections and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies by supporting safer births and better access to health services. Thanks to the Birthing Kit Foundation Australia, these kits will now be sent to remote communities across the developing world where they will help women give birth more safely. A huge thank you to Legacy Canberra for hosting us and to everyone who rolled up their sleeves to make this hands-on service project such a success. |
||||||||||||||||||
Mother's Day lunch sorted at Bunnings BBQ
What a fantastic way to spend Mother’s Day! Members of the Rotary Club of Canberra Sundowners rolled up their sleeves at the Bunnings Fyshwick BBQ, serving up sausages, smiles and community spirit throughout the day. Thanks to the incredible support of the local community, funds raised will be injected straight back into projects and initiatives supporting the Canberra community. From community service programs to local causes, every sausage sold helps Rotary continue making a difference where it matters most. |
||||||||||||||||||
PCYC support disadvantaged youth across Monaro
We welcomed Senior Constable Peter Mortimer, Youth Engagement Officer at Queanbeyan PCYC, to this week's meeting to help mark Rotary’s Youth Service month. |
||||||||||||||||||
Peace Pole unveiled at Daramalan College
Peacebuilding and conflict resolution is a guiding principle for Rotarians worldwide. At a time of growing global uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions, the simple act of promoting peace feels more important than ever. We were proud to join with Daramalan College to unveil Peace Pole number 515 in the school quadrangle. The pole carries the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in the four languages taught at the college: English, German, French and Japanese.  At the ceremony, we spoke about why schools are such powerful places to invest in peace because they are where values are shaped, perspectives are challenged and where future leaders begin to understand their responsibility to one another and the wider world. Peace Poles are a reminder of the hope we all share for a more peaceful future.  |
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners funded AED now at Narrabundah We’re excited to announce the installation of another publicly accessible Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in Narrabundah, made possible through our support of the StreetBeat program. We’re so glad to have partnered with GoodLoop Mutual and St John Ambulance ACT to be able to deliver this important device in our community.  This AED has been placed at the Narrabundah shops, just outside Kita restaurant on the corner of Boolimba Crescent and Iluka Street. It will be available 24 hours a day for residents and shoppers.  In a cardiac emergency, every minute matters and having an AED close by can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why we’re proud to support the goal of seeing AEDs installed across every Canberra suburb. |
||||||||||||||||||
Braving the cold to offer a helping hand
This week we were out supporting those in need through our monthly Vinnies Night Patrol shift. Over the course of three hours across Queanbeyan and Dickson, around 25 people joined us for a hot drink, some food and a friendly chat. |
||||||||||||||||||
Daramalan students are heading to MUNA
Our meeting this week was all about supporting some of Canberra’s brightest young leaders. |
||||||||||||||||||
Wallington working bee delivers smiles and fun It was another beautiful day at the Wallington Independent Living Complex at Rivett. We joined the residents to lend a hand with a mix of odd jobs around their homes and gardens and even sorted out some of those pesky IT issues that always seem to pop up. It’s always so rewarding to spend time with the residents and help make their lives just that little bit easier. It's just a bonus that they always put on a great morning tea! |
||||||||||||||||||
Collaborative approach to community garden project It was a terrific morning at Community Services #1 for the official unveiling of the enhanced community garden project that we’ve completed thanks to an ACT Community Garden Grant from the ACT Government. We’ve had a lot of fun over the past six months working on this project, including adding new garden beds, introducing wicking beds to improve water management and making the space more accessible for everyone to enjoy. The grant also supported training to help locals build their gardening skills and confidence.  The event also marked the opening of the improved Community Food Pantry, which supports individuals and families doing it tough by making good food more affordable and accessible. We were pleased to donate nine trolleys to help move donated items into the pantry through a grant from the Canberra Southern Cross Club. It was wonderful to join CS#1 staff, clients, Minister for Finance, Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA, and Member for Kurrajong, Thomas Emerson MLA, to mark the occasion and see the impact these improvements will have. We’re grateful to have partnered with the ACT Government and the Canberra Southern Cross Club to support the important work of CS#1. |
||||||||||||||||||
Trivia night raises more than $5,000 for Canberra On Wednesday night it was incredible to see more than 130 people come together for our Trivia Night fundraiser, with 13 teams battling it out in a room full of laughter, friendly rivalry and, most importantly, community spirit. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of everyone who attended, supported and donated, we raised more than $5,000. These funds will go directly towards hands on community service projects, from providing birthing kits to women in low resource communities around the world, to supporting vulnerable Canberrans access essential items, assisting those sleeping rough and helping fund life saving equipment like the AEDs we have funded at Braddon and Narrabundah. This generosity and support allows us to keep doing what matters most – lifting people up, creating opportunities to thrive and helping ensure Canberra remains a great place to live, work and raise a family. Special congratulations goes to ‘The Ratmob’ who claimed first place, with 'Not the 52nd State' finishing a very close second! A huge thank you to our donors who generously contributed prizes for both our trivia winners and raffle. Your support made sure the night was a roaring success. And special thanks to our MC Simon Bernhard, who kept the crowd captivated with his trademark energy, razor sharp wit and persuasive sales skills! We’re so grateful to everyone who made the night such a success. Thanks for supporting us! |
||||||||||||||||||
Funding trolleys to enhance CS#1's food pantry We’re thrilled to continue our support of Community Services # through the Canberra Southern Cross Club's ‘Community Grants Program’, helping fund trolleys for their refreshed Community Pantry.
The pantry is an important community asset for people and families in need or who are living on a limited income, making good food more affordable and accessible for those doing it tough. Just in time for the official opening of the pantry next week, we delivered the new trolleys to CS#1. These will make a real difference, helping volunteers move food efficiently and safely into the pantry so it can reach the people who need it most. |
||||||||||||||||||
IOM Chief of Mission delivers inspiring presentation We were pleased to hear from David Knight at our meeting this week, who shared a thoughtful and insightful presentation on immigration and the future of migration.
Drawing on more than 30 years of international experience, and his current role as Chief of Mission for Australia and Coordinator for New Zealand with the International Organization for Migration, David offered a deep perspective on the evolving role of the IOM within the United Nations system and the human dimensions of migration. An engaging and thought‑provoking discussion that gave everyone plenty to reflect on. |
||||||||||||||||||
Good company and some cheeky competition We spent our fifth Tuesday social at Capital Brewing Co., winding down with a few drinks, excellent burgers, plenty of fellowship and some classic pub games. It's always good to take a breather, share a laugh and enjoy each other’s company after a busy month of community service activities. Thanks to everyone who came along! It was a perfect way to recharge before what’s shaping up to be another big few weeks ahead. |
||||||||||||||||||
Giving peace walkers the full Canberra experience We had some great fun staffing the Australian Parliament House checkpoint for the Aussie Peace Walk Mingle, stamping passports for walkers taking on the 12km, 21km and 42km routes. Around 500 walkers passed through our checkpoint, with participants travelling from interstate and overseas, including the United Kingdom, United States, Russia, Germany, Mongolia, Belgium, Japan and Thailand. Such a diverse and committed group come together in the spirit of peace and connection! Along the way, we also helped guide walkers as they made their way through the House of Representatives and Senate gardens, before continuing on to the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell checkpoint. We hoped all the walkers enjoyed this very Canberra experience! |
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners trivia night to test your knowledge In less than four weeks we’ll be hosting our trivia night fundraiser, to help us to continue to deliver hands-on community service projects across the ACT. From local initiatives to projects that make a difference beyond our region, every ticket helps us continue creating positive impact. The details are:  Wednesday, 15 April 2026 6:00pm – 9:00pm Hellenic Club, Woden $45 per person (tables of 10) Tickets can be purchased here: https://tinyurl.com/3pvj74j2Expect a fun evening of trivia, games, prizes and plenty of laughs with friends, colleagues or fellow trivia buffs. Gather your team, lock in your table and join us for a great night while supporting a great cause! |
||||||||||||||||||
Celebrating Liz and Rob's service to Canberra On Sunday afternoon, at the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell at Lennox Gardens, we were proud to celebrate the Canberra Region Rotary Community Service Awards which recognises individuals and organisations who are making a real difference across the national capital region. The highlight for us was recognising Liz and Rob Taylor, whose joint commitment to community service and connection reflects the spirit of the Canberra Sundowners. Together, Liz and Rob demonstrate the powerful effect that community service can have. By combining Liz’s deep commitment to supporting and empowering young women with Rob’s ability to bring people together through car culture, they have transformed Canberra 7s Day into far more than an automotive event. It has become a welcoming, inclusive community gathering that not only connects people around a shared passion but also raises vital awareness and funds for Fearless Women, directly supporting mentoring opportunities for girls and young women who need it most. Their partnership is terrific example that community service can be undertaken from a variety of perspectives. By combining their interests, skills and values, Liz and Rob have created something uniquely impactful that strengthens lives, builds confidence and brings people together. Canberra is so fortunate to have Liz and Rob dedicated to making a positive difference and we are grateful to have been able to recognise and celebrate their community service. |
||||||||||||||||||
Industry leaders join us to increase their impact This week, we were absolutely thrilled to induct Proactive Labs as our third Corporate Member. Proactive Labs is a Canberra based cyber security firm specialising in penetration testing and offensive security. Their focus is finding weaknesses in people, processes and technology, and then working with organisations to strengthen and secure them against real world threats. What really resonated with us is Proactive Labs’ strong commitment to giving back locally. Over the past two years, they’ve supported young people across Canberra through education, mentoring and skills development - from universities and schools to local cyber teams competing interstate. That focus on community impact aligns perfectly with the values of Rotary and complements the contribution already being made by our other Corporate Members, Keane Consulting and Cyconsol. Together, these organisations share a genuine commitment to making a positive difference in Canberra and we are so proud they are members of the Sundowners. |
||||||||||||||||||
Canberra's youth shine in Rotary programs  We were grateful to have two inspiring young leaders in Michael and Isla join us at our meeting this week. Michael attended RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment) last year with the support of our club, while Isla travelled to Denmark in 2025 as part of the Youth Exchange Program, also sponsored by us. Both shared reflections on their experiences and the impact these opportunities had on them. For Michael, RYPEN was an opportunity to step outside his comfort zone, build confidence and develop leadership skills while connecting with other young people from across the region. Through team challenges, discussions and new friendships, he discovered the value of collaboration and backing himself in unfamiliar situations. Isla spoke about the incredible experience of living in Denmark and immersing herself in a different culture. Youth Exchange gave her a deeper appreciation for both the similarities and differences between cultures, while building independence and lifelong international friendships. It was an experience that broadened her perspective and gave her memories that will last a lifetime. To show our appreciation, we presented both Michael and Isla with Certificates of Appreciation, as we are proud to have played a small part in supporting them to take part in these life-changing opportunities. Programs like RYPEN and the Youth Exchange Program are a great example of how Rotary invests in the next generation of leaders. |
||||||||||||||||||
Garden enhancement project enters final stretch Our community garden enhancement project at Community Services #1 is nearing completion, with our team out this weekend installing the third wicking bed. This bed complements the two we constructed in November, which are already delivering real outcomes for the community. Thanks to the recent rain, they’re now thriving and full of fresh vegetables. The wicking beds are just one part of a broader project that also includes water tank improvements, upgrades to essential infrastructure, the delivery of gardening training courses and improved access to the garden for members of the community. We thank the ACT Government and the ACT Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water, Suzanne Orr MLA, for their support through the ACT Community Garden Grant Program, which has made this project possible. |
||||||||||||||||||
Teamwork drives epic Shitbox Rally journey There was plenty of inspiration and intrigue at our meeting this week with Karen Schilling and Anthony Kirk sharing their incredible experience from the Spring 2022 Shitbox Car Rally, where they entered as The TK Express. After buying an $850 Mitsubishi, they drove 3,342 kilometres from Mackay to Darwin through some of Australia’s most remote country. Along the way they tackled mechanical challenges, tough conditions and long days, all while raising over $20,000 for the Cancer Council. . Karen and Anthony’s story is one of teamwork, perseverance and community spirit, and a fine example of the difference people can make when they get behind a cause. |
||||||||||||||||||
Rotary Cleans Up Black Mountain Peninsula We headed down to Black Mountain Peninsula for Clean Up Australia Day, making the most of a beautiful Canberra Sunday while doing our bit for the community. Armed with our Plalkin’ My World kits, we worked our way around the picnic areas before tackling the rubbish that had collected along the shoreline of Lake Burley Griffin. It’s always surprising what you find when you start looking closely. Among the items picked-up our highlights included wine bottles, fishing nets, coffee cups, towels, P-plates and underwear. It was an incredible effort by all involved to make our part of the world a little more cleaner. |
||||||||||||||||||
Celebrating Cyconsol’s commitment to Canberra We were delighted to recognise the support of Cyconsol at our Corporate Member Information Evening earlier this week.
Cyconsol officially came on board as a corporate sponsor in 2024, after first supporting our birthing kit packing day a couple of months prior and they haven’t looked back since. Their generous backing and genuine interest in getting involved has already made a difference over the last two years. As a Canberra-based firm helping businesses strengthen their cyber security posture through tailored, reliable consulting and solutions, Cyconsol also gives back through its CyconSOUL initiative, supporting a number of local charities. We presented the team with a Certificate of Appreciation as a small thank you for their support so far. We’re grateful to have them as part of the Sundowners family and look forward to continuing to grow this partnership in the years ahead. |
||||||||||||||||||
Honouring Keane’s outstanding ongoing support At our Corporate Member Information Evening earlier this week, we had the pleasure of recognising the incredible support of Keane Consulting.
As our inaugural corporate member since 2020, Keane has been with us from the start of our corporate membership journey. They’ve provided generous financial support to key events like our annual birthing kit packing day and trivia fundraiser and, just as importantly, their team has rolled up their sleeves at meetings and hands-on service activities that make a lasting impact in the Canberra community. We were pleased to present Keane with a Certificate of Appreciation as a small token of our gratitude for their ongoing commitment, engagement and belief in what we do. Keane is a company with a genuine commitment to creating opportunities for our community to succeed and grow. We’re very grateful for the partnership we’ve been able to develop over the last six years. |
||||||||||||||||||
Working with businesses to expand our reach There was some great energy in the room as we hosted our Corporate Member Information Evening this week. We brought together Canberra businesses to share what our Club is all about and how corporate membership works in practice. It was informal, social and genuinely fun, with great conversations and a couple of short, sharp insights on Rotary, including some reflections from our current corporate members Keane Consulting and Cyconsol about why they got involved.  Corporate membership is a practical way for local companies to give back, with all staff able to participate in hands-on service projects that make a difference here in Canberra.  We’re proud to already have strong corporate members on board and we’re keen to grow that network. If your business is looking for a meaningful way to support the community while building staff engagement and connections, then we want to hear from you. |
||||||||||||||||||
A superb Sunday supporting Wallington residents It was another superb Saturday morning as we supported the residents at Wallington Independent Living Complex at Rivett with a range of jobs around their homes and gardens. There was no shortage of work to keep us busy, including mulching garden beds, lopping overgrown bushes, weeding, renovating fences, painting community benches and pruning. There’s nothing quite like rolling up our sleeves and getting stuck into practical support that makes an immediate difference. |
||||||||||||||||||
Building peace in Nusa Tenggara Timur We were pleased to have Wendy Emerton join us this week to speak about the work of the Nusa Tenggara Association and its long-standing partnership with communities in eastern Indonesia. Wendy shared how NTA has been supporting livelihoods, education and local capacity in Nusa Tenggara Timur for more than three decades where they have focused on practical, community-led development that creates lasting change. It was a great insight into how long-term relationships, trust and local leadership can make a real difference. It was especially good to hear more about the impact of NTA’s programs, following our club’s donation at out Changeover to support their work. We are grateful to Wendy for giving up her Tuesday evening to provide a thoughtful and inspiring presentation on the work of NTA. |
||||||||||||||||||
Braving the Summer heat to offer a helping hand On Wednesday night some of us headed out for our monthly Vinnies Night Patrol shift. While it was still a warm evening, the 42-degree heat of the day had eased by 7pm, which both us and the companions were grateful for. We served meals and drinks and spent time chatting with more than 35 people who are doing it tough. |
||||||||||||||||||
Flipping snags to raise money for our community We’ve been on the BBQ at Bunnings Fyshwick today, raising funds for our community service projects. It was great to see plenty of people dropping in for a sausage sandwich and a drink as they stock up on all their DIY supplies for their long weekend projects. Such a busy day with people grabbing their breakfast, lunch and pre-dinner snacks. We were able to raise some funds that can be invested back into the Canberra community. |
||||||||||||||||||
Learning how to use life-saving AEDs Did you know that those who suffer a cardiac arrest outside a health setting only have a 10% chance of surviving? But if an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available and used, the survival rate increases as high as 70%. That’s why we’re working with St John Ambulance ACT and Service One Mutual to install AEDs at Narrabundah and Braddon that will be accessible 24/7. To give our members the confidence to use an AED if the need ever arises, we were honoured to have St John Ambulance ACT CEO, Martin Fisk OAM, run a first aid training session at our meeting on Tuesday, 20 January. It provided us with the knowledge and skills to respond quickly, recognise the signs of cardiac arrest, perform effective CPR and use an AED safely and confidently in those critical first minutes. It also reinforced the value and importance of ensuring AEDs are publicly available given the life‑saving impact they have. We’re proud to be helping make our community safer and we’re grateful to St John Ambulance ACT for their partnership and expertise. |
||||||||||||||||||
Rolling into 2026 with a barefoot bowls social On Sunday, 18 January, we officially marked the start of the year with a fantastic barefoot bowls social at The RUC Bowls Club, and what a great way it was to get things rolling.  It was wonderful to see our members and friends come together with Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs of Jerrabomberra, Murrumbidgee Canberra, Canberra, Yass and Tuggeranong, catching up, meeting new faces and enjoying some friendly competition on the green.  A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such an enjoyable event. We really enjoyed the laughs, conversation and sprinkles of rivalry to help kick-start the year.  |
||||||||||||||||||
Spreading Christmas cheer to those sleeping rough On Christmas Eve, we spent the evening volunteering with the Vinnies Night Patrol. For many, Christmas can be a lonely time. Being out at Queanbeyan and Dickson, sharing a chat, some food and a bit of Christmas cheer with companions was a meaningful way to help people feel seen and connected on the night. |
||||||||||||||||||
Merry Christmas from the Sundowners Merry Christmas from all of us at the Sundowners. Whether you’re surrounded by family and friends or spending the day quietly, we’re thinking of our community and wishing you peace and joy wherever you are. |
||||||||||||||||||
Welcoming our newest member, Earth At our last meeting for 2025 we had the great privilege of officially welcoming Earth as the newest member of the Sundowners! We were thrilled to have District Governor Nominee Gary Davis on hand to facilitate the induction and share his words of encouragement. Earth sees the Sundowners as the perfect place to turn her passion for the local community into meaningful action. She is looking forward to learning new skills, building new connections and working alongside fellow Rotarians to make a positive difference in the lives of others. |
||||||||||||||||||
75 Christmas hampers to spread festive cheer At our last meeting for the year, we joined with the Rotary Clubs of Jerrabomberra and Woden Daybreak to pack 75 Christmas hampers for the companions of the Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Community Inclusion Program at Oaks Estate. It was a great way to round-out the year with a truly festive service project, filled with laughter, teamwork and plenty of Christmas spirit. This project highlights the power of Rotary clubs working together to create meaningful impact and spread joy where it’s needed most. Thank you to everyone involved for giving their time, energy and generosity to help make Christmas a little brighter for the Oaks Estate community. |
||||||||||||||||||
Easing the pressure of Christmas gift wrapping We're proud to support Kids in Care ACT by helping staff the wrapping stations at Big W stores across Canberra this festive season.
It’s a great way to inject some Christmas cheer into busy shopping centres and take the stress out of that tricky task of gift wrapping. If you can help out next week, please reach out to Kids in Care ACT. It's a great way to spend your weekend! |
||||||||||||||||||
Spreading some joy on the BBQ for Christmas We had a great time helping celebrate Christmas at the Community Services #1 Christmas Party on Thursday afternoon! We were glad to provide support again this year by donating supplies and firing up the barbecue for the sausage sizzle. Thanks to everyone who stopped by for a chat and a snag! It was a lovely way to mark the beginning of the festive season with our community. |
||||||||||||||||||
Community service leaders inspire us Kirsty and Oscar Carrasco have dedicated nearly two decades to supporting the people of Ensenada in Mexico by volunteering their time to build houses for the poor, empowering women and equipping young teens with the skills required to navigate an evolving and complex world. We were honoured to welcome them to our meeting this week to hear firsthand how their work has a positive and lasting impact on others. Their message of doing good has inspired us to continue our own service projects in the Canberra community which bring joy and a sense of happiness to others. |
||||||||||||||||||
Weekends are for enhancing CS#1's community garden Despite a few brief showers, we had a fantastic Saturday morning kicking off our community garden project at Community Services #1. Thanks to the ACT Community Garden Grant from the ACT Government, we’re now able to enhance and expand their garden space. Our first working bee focused on building and installing two new wicking beds which are a real game-changer for CS#1 and the people who rely on the garden. These clever garden beds water from the bottom up, using a reservoir that slowly draws moisture through the soil. That means healthier plants and less wasted water. With the new wicking beds in place, garden volunteers can spend less time worrying about watering and more time growing the fresh veggies that will thrive right through summer. We really appreciate the support of the ACT Government and the ACT Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water, Suzanne Orr MLA for supporting as to pursue this important project. |
||||||||||||||||||
Providing support on the Vinnies Night Patrol It was a busy evening at both Queanbeyan and Dickson on the Vinnies Night Patrol on Wednesday night, with our coffee, cordial and soup-making skills getting a real workout. More importantly, we were grateful for the chance to share a warm drink, a meal and a conversation with people doing it tough.
We hope those small moments of connection were appreciated and we’re proud to continue supporting Vinnies in their work with people sleeping rough in our community. |
||||||||||||||||||
Celebrating the success of 2025 Floriade Gnomes The Floriade Gnomes has become a staple of Canberra’s cultural landscape, with children and adults travelling from across Australia to have the chance to paint their own special gnome.
That’s why we are thrilled to head along each year and help our friends from the Rotary Club of Murrumbidgee Canberra spread some joy among the eager artists. On Wednesday night, we attended a thank you dinner hosted by Murrumbidgee Canberra to honour all those volunteers who make a contribution to the gnomes painting extravaganza. It was a great evening to hear firsthand how this fun activity has a positive impact on the wellbeing of so many people. We’re already counting down the days until next year’s Floriade! |
||||||||||||||||||
Offering a helping hand with those pesky odd-jobs Here at the Sundowners we think weekends are for making the ACT an even better place to live. That’s why we headed out to the Wallington Independent Living Complex at Rivett on Saturday morning to help residents complete some odd-jobs that can sometimes be a bit difficult for them to navigate. From cleaning fans to sprucing up garden beds, we were kept busy. And as always, the residents reminded us why we love doing this work. They put on the most beautiful morning tea to say thank you. It was a wonderful way to share stories, enjoy some home-baked treats and spend time together. |
||||||||||||||||||
Clubs unite to support women and teens in need At our meeting on 18 November, we joined with the Rotary Club of Tuggeranong for a powerful hands-on service project supporting women and teen girls escaping violence. Together, we packed more than 50 preloved handbags with essential items like shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, brushes and hair ties. They are small everyday things that can make a big difference for someone rebuilding their life. These bags have now been donated to Toora Women and Community Services #, where they’ll be distributed to women and girls doing it tough in the lead-up to Christmas. When Rotarians come together, we can reach further and help more people who need it most. |
||||||||||||||||||
Sharing the impact of Rotary at SouthFest We had a great time on the Rotary stall at SouthFest on Saturday along with our friends from the Rotary Club of Tuggeranong.
Plenty of great conversations about the work Rotary is doing in each of the communities across the ACT. If you are looking to give back to the community, you should reach out. We’d love to hear from you! |
||||||||||||||||||
Starting our Saturday right at SouthFest It was an early start for our Saturday, as we helped as bump-in marshals at the 2025 SouthFest.
We enjoyed lending a hand to stallholders as they set up for a day full of fun, while celebrating all the amazing things about Tuggeranong. |
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners work hard to End Polio worldwide Throughout October, we rallied together to raise awareness and funds for Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign and what an incredible effort it was!
Some of our members took part in the Walk With Us to End Polio challenge, pounding the pavement in their red End Polio Now apparel right across the ACT. Together they clocked up 1,453 kilometres and raised $2,593. With the Gates Foundation's 2:1 match, that’s $7,779 going directly to PolioPlus! We also hosted a World’s Greatest Meal fundraiser, which raised $813 and once matched, that’s another $2,440 towards PolioPlus. All up, we have played a part in contributing $10,219, helping drive awareness and support for Rotary’s global mission to end polio for good. At our meeting this week, Rotary International Director Jennifer Scott AM presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Peter Hill for his huge efforts in the Walk With Us challenge. Unfortunately, the rest of our walking and running crew couldn’t make it as they’re still icing their calves after such a big month of steps! Our sincere thanks to everyone who walked, donated or cheered us on. Together, we’re one step closer to a polio-free world. |
||||||||||||||||||
Marking Rotary Foundation month by focusing on TRF To mark the beginning of The Rotary Foundation Month, much of our focus at tonight’s meeting was on the life-changing work the Foundation does both at home and abroad. We were fortunate to have one of our own, Lynne Duckham OAM, a Community Economic Development Technical Coordinator with The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers, share her insights into the Foundation’s impact and the remarkable projects it supports. We were also privileged to welcome Rotary International Director Jennifer Scott AM, of the Rotary Club of Greater Blue Mountains, who joined us fresh from the highly successful Rotary South Pacific Conference on the Gold Coast. Jennifer complemented Lynne’s presentation by sharing inspiring firsthand accounts of the life-changing service projects being delivered by Rotarians around the world thanks to the Foundation’s support. |
||||||||||||||||||
Grant funding to enhance community garden project We’re excited to announce that we have received $8,850 in funding from the ACT Government through the ACT Community Garden Grants Program. The funding will allow us to support Community Services #1 enhance its community garden at Narrabundah. We will be adding new garden beds, improving water management with wicking beds and making the space more accessible for everyone to enjoy. The grant also helps provide training so locals can build their gardening skills and confidence. We were delighted to join ACT Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water, Suzanne Orr MLA on Tuesday, 4 November for the official announcement. Sincere thanks to the ACT Government for supporting this great local project that brings people together and helps our community grow. |
||||||||||||||||||
Taking End Polio Now to Parliament House We were honoured to be at Australian Parliament House on Monday, 3 November with Rotary International President-Elect Yinka Babalola, Rotary International Director Jennifer Scott AM, Polio Eradication Advocacy Task Force Chair Jessie Harman AM and Rotary leaders, meeting with federal politicians to raise awareness about Rotary’s work to end polio worldwide. Throughout October, our efforts to raise awareness and funds for the End Polio Now campaign garnered plenty of attention and today we extended that advocacy to parliament by donning our bright red End Polio Now shirts in support of Rotary’s mission. It was a privilege to stand alongside Rotary leaders and share this important message with our nation’s decision-makers. We’re so close to ending polio for good. |
||||||||||||||||||
Weekend of inspiration at South Pacific Conference What a weekend for us at the Rotary South Pacific Conference.  Our President-Elect Claire took to the stage to moderate a session, ‘My Rotary Journey,’ where past participants of Interact, Rotaract, RYLA and Youth Exchange shared how their Rotary experiences shaped their lives and launched their ongoing journeys of service.  While Peter was hard to miss in his bright red End Polio Now shirt, taking laps around the Gold Coast to keep the message of polio eradication front and centre.  Michael spent time connecting with Rotaractors, learning about the fantastic work they’re doing in their communities and exploring how those ideas could be brought to life here in Canberra. And to top it all off, we had the honour of updating Rotary International President-Elect Yinka Babalola and his wife Preba on our club’s projects and impact. It’s weekends like these that remind us of the power of Rotary! |
||||||||||||||||||
Increasing Rotary's reach at Radford Twilight Fete We had a fun afternoon at the Radford College Twilight Fete helping out on the Rotary stand with the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra and the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin. The atmosphere was fantastic, with plenty of smiles and great conversations. It was a wonderful opportunity to share what our Club is all about, the projects we run, the groups we support and the ways we make a difference right across the ACT. We loved chatting with students and families about the opportunities Rotary offers for young people to grow, develop and get involved in the community. Thanks to all those who dropped in and had a conversation. |
||||||||||||||||||
Information night to increase our Rotary knowledge On Wednesday, 29 October, we held our first Rotary Information Night to provide new and long-term members with a short course on our Club, Rotary International and the impact they can have on the community through service projects. It was a great opportunity to come together in a casual setting to share a meal and some insights on the incredible work of Rotary! We are incredibly grateful to have an energetic Membership coordinator, Peter Hill, who arranged such a worthwhile and meaningful night. If you’d like to know more about what we do, get in touch. |
||||||||||||||||||
Honoured as ShelterBox Off The Grid Champions Back in July, our members braved the rain and cold in Bowning to raise funds for ShelterBox Australia which provides life-saving shelter and essentials to families displaced by disaster and conflict worldwide. Camping alongside our friends from the Rotary Club of Yass, Rotary Club of Tuggeranong, Rotary Club of Blayney and the Rotary Club of Batemans Bay, we were able to raise more than $20,000 for ShelterBox. In recognition of this, we were honoured, alongside our friends from Yass, to be awarded the ‘Off The Grid Champion Award’. The District 9705 ShelterBox Chair and event organiser, Mitra Rawan, presented the award to our participants last week. |
||||||||||||||||||
Long-term Rotaractor joins the Sundowners This week we had the great privilege of officially welcoming Libby as the newest member of the Sundowners! We were thrilled to have District Governor Nominee Gary Davis on hand to facilitate the induction and share his words of encouragement. Having first joined Rotaract in 2016, Libby brings plenty of experience, passion and energy to the Sundowners and we can’t wait to work alongside her to make a positive impact in Canberra and beyond. |
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners unite to help End Polio With World Polio Day this Friday, there was plenty of focus on Rotary’s incredible End Polio Now campaign at our meeting tonight. Instead of buying a meal or drink, members contributed directly to the Polio Plus fund through a special World’s Greatest Meal event, helping fund more vaccines and protect more children from polio. The Club also made a donation to support Rotary’s global effort to eradicate this preventable disease. We were privileged to also hear from District 9705 Polio Plus Chair Norm Potter who provided a powerful reminder of why Rotary’s mission to end polio is so important. We’re hoping to do our bit to making sure we’re one step closer to a polio-free world. |
||||||||||||||||||
Building connections and brightening Oaks Estate On the morning of Sunday, 19 October, we headed out to Oaks Estate to support the St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn’s Community Inclusion Program. We installed a new garden bed, repaired some fencing and gave the outdoor furniture a fresh coat of paint to help brighten up the communal space. These improvements will make the area more enjoyable for companions to use and help strengthen social connections within the community. Thanks to Bunnings Fyshwick for donating materials for the activity and to everyone who came along to help out. A great morning of teamwork and community spirit! |
||||||||||||||||||
Launching our commitment to fund public AEDs This November we’re proud to be part of the StreetBeat challenge! We’ve committed to funding two publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) which will be installed in Narrabundah and Braddon. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in Canberra and only about 5% of people who experience one outside a hospital survive. The use of an AED can significantly increase the chances of surviving. The AEDs will be accessible 24/7, meaning whenever a cardiac arrest happens, there will be a device available. That’s why we’re supporting Service One Mutual and St John Ambulance ACT to install AEDs in every suburbs across Canberra. To mark World Restart a Heart Day, we were pleased to attend the official launch of the StreetBeat challenge on Thursday, 16 October at Curtin and hear firsthand how the AEDs are making a difference in the community. For more information on the challenge and to track our progress, you can view our page here: www.streetbeat.life/fundraisers/RotaryClubofCanberraSundowners |
||||||||||||||||||
Looping the lake to bring an end to polio Our Walk With Us to End Polio team was back out around Lake Burley Griffin on Sunday, 12 October 2025, completing a 7km loop of the central basin before enjoying a well-earned lunch at The Dock. It was great weather to get out and spread awareness of End Polio Now. Every kilometre we walk brings us one step closer to a world free from polio, but we still need your help to reach our fundraising goal of $2,000.  Thanks to the incredible support of the Gates Foundation, every dollar you donate will be tripled through their 2:1 match. If you’d like to get behind our team and support Rotary’s global fight to end polio, you can make a contribution here: www.rotarywalkwithus.org/st/167/109 |
||||||||||||||||||
Two new Sundowners inducted by DG This week we had the great privilege of officially welcoming Tyler and Michael as the newest members of the Sundowners! We were thrilled to have District Governor Robert Shore and District Governor Elect Judy Ford on hand to facilitate the inductions and share their words of encouragement. Both Tyler and Michael bring unique experience, passion and energy to the club and we can’t wait to work alongside them to make a positive impact in Canberra and beyond. |
||||||||||||||||||
Funky hats to Lift the Lid on Mental Illness On Tuesday, 7 October 2025, we held our Hat Day fundraiser to raise awareness and funds for Australian Rotary Health's Lift the Lid on Mental Illness initiative. To show our support, members and friends donned a variety of fun, entertaining, eye-catching and conversation-starting headwear. Hat Day is ARH’s longest-running mental health fundraising event each year. Since its inception, the campaign has helped ARH direct millions in funding toward mental health research grants, PhD scholarships, fellowships and more. We were proud to make a donation tonight to help push research forward and bring hope to those living with mental illness. We were thrilled to welcome Past District Governor Stephen Humphreys, Chair of ARH, who gave a compelling overview of the work ARH is doing in the mental health research space. The work they do is creating lasting and positive change for those living with a mental health illness. |
||||||||||||||||||
Pounding the pavement to End Polio Some of our Walk With Us to End Polio participants took advantage of the public holiday to stretch their legs and add a few more kilometres to their tally with a walk around Lake Burley Griffin this afternoon. Every step we take helps us get closer to a polio free world, but we need your help to reach our fundraising goal! Our team is aiming to raise $2,000, and thanks to the Gates Foundation, every dollar you donate will be matched 2:1. If you’d like to show your support, please consider sponsoring our team here www.rotarywalkwithus.org/st/167/1095 |
||||||||||||||||||
Painting fun at Floriade's Gnome Knoll
What a brilliant way to kick off the October long weekend! We spent Saturday and some of Sunday at the Gnome Knoll at Floriade, trading our usual weekend attire for paint brushes and miniature garden friends. Our mission was to help visitors, both young and old, bring their own gnome creations to vibrant life through colourful painting.
The energy and creativity on show throughout the day were nothing short of amazing. From gnomes sporting elaborate floral hats to those painted in rainbow tie-dye, the imagination of the Floriade crowds made the Knoll a buzzing hive of activity. It was a joy to see so many people connect with a fun, hands-on activity and we were thrilled to contribute to the festive atmosphere of Floriade while creating lasting, colourful memories for every gnome painter who visited our station.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Super Sundowners secure second place A fifth Tuesday means a Sundowners social night and we’ve made the most of it at Verity Lane trivia. Despite a couple of head-scratching moments and blank stares, we brought together our varied knowledge on politics, sport, movies, music and pop culture to finish the night in a reasonably respectable second place. Plenty of laughs, good food and even better company made for a great night out |
||||||||||||||||||
Handmade cards spread some birthday joy In August, to mark four years since our charter, we came together to design birthday cards and write heartfelt messages inside. The aim was simple - to spread joy and let people know they’re remembered on their special day.
Last weekend, we had the privilege of delivering those cards to the Wallington complex at Rivett, where they’ll be distributed to residents on their birthdays. The residents were genuinely thrilled that we had thought of them and deeply appreciated the gesture. Four years on, projects like this remind us why we do what we do – small acts of kindness that bring smiles, connection and a sense of community across Canberra. |
||||||||||||||||||
Lending a hand to share some joy With the rain clearing on Saturday morning, we took the opportunity to visit the residents at the Wallington complex at Rivett to lend a hand with some gardening, household chores and sorting out a few IT issues. To keep our energy levels high with all the activity, the residents prepared a very impressive morning tea. Sharing a cuppa and some homemade treats was the perfect way to hear a few wonderful stories from the people who call Wallington home. We really enjoyed the chance to contribute, to connect and to learn more about the lives of the residents. It was a rewarding and heart-warming morning for everyone involved. |
||||||||||||||||||
MUNA team reflect on their experience At this week's meeting, we were delighted to hear from Madeleine and Jodie who are two impressive students from Merici College.
In August we were proud to sponsor Madeleine and Jodie to represent Germany at the National Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA). Over two days, they debated some of the world’s most pressing issues, including:  Strengthening the role of the UN in promoting democratisation and genuine elections Preventing and combatting environmental crimes Global food security Achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine Coordinating outcomes of major UN conferences on education Protecting civilians and supporting humanitarian operations in GazaMadeleine and Jodie shared their experiences of researching Germany’s positions, preparing speeches and negotiating with other “countries” on complex topics. It was inspiring to hear how MUNA builds leadership, confidence and global awareness among our students. |
||||||||||||||||||
Celebrating Mitra’s inspiring year of leadership At last week’s meeting, our 2024-25 President, Mitra Rawan, was recognised with a Paul Harris Fellow + One Sapphire.
This honour reflects Mitra’s dedicated leadership during her Presidential year. With only a few years of Rotary experience, she took on the role with passion and vision, inspiring members, driving meaningful service projects and planning fundraising BBQs like no one else! Through her energy and commitment, Mitra has strengthened our ability to make a lasting impact in Canberra and beyond. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our club, Mitra! |
||||||||||||||||||
Off The Grid Champion Award We’re proud to announce we’ve been awarded the ‘Off The Grid Champion Award’ from ShelterBox Australia alongside our friends at the Rotary Club of Yass! Back in July, our members braved the rain and cold in Bowning to raise funds for ShelterBox, which provides life-saving shelter and essentials to families displaced by disaster and conflict worldwide. Huge thanks to our fellow Rotarians from the Tuggeranong, Blayney and Batemans Bay who joined with us to raise money for such an important cause. |
||||||||||||||||||
Welcome to new member, Bernard! This week we had the great privilege of officially welcoming Bernard as our newest Sundowner. With years of community service at home and abroad, Bernard embodies what it means to be a Rotarian. We’re looking forward to working alongside Bernard to making a positive impact in Canberra and beyond. |
||||||||||||||||||
Championing education, leadership and youth voices This week we were pleased to hear from Caitlin Figueiredo, the 2024 ACT Young Australian of the Year. For a decade, Caitlin has been a passionate advocate for young people and their right to be heard in politics. Recognising the importance of education beyond the classroom, Caitlin co-founded Girls Take Over Parliament, a program that provides young women across the political spectrum with training, mentorship and the skills to become the next generation of leaders. Caitlin’s work aligns with Rotary’s theme of Basic Education and Literacy by embodying the power of education to transform lives. In appreciation of Caitlin sharing her inspiring story, we made a donation to Australian Rotary Health’s ‘Lift The Lid’ initiative in her name. This important fund supports vital mental health research and we are proud to be able to support such an incredible cause. |
||||||||||||||||||
Rotarians unite for Lake Burley Griffin clean-up On Saturday, 23 August, we joined forces with the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra at Black Mountain Peninsula for a Plalkin’ My World session.
From a soccer ball, random pieces of clothing, footwear, cooking utensils and plenty of plastics, we collected litter from around Lake Burley Griffin, helping to stop it getting into our waterways. It was also a great opportunity to get know some of our friends from Jerra. This project is a perfect example of the good that can be achieved when Rotarians unite. A big thanks to all those who rolled up their sleeves and joined us for a fun session. |
||||||||||||||||||
Sharing smiles through handwritten birthday cards This week, as we marked four years since our charter, we designed birthday cards and wrote heartfelt messages inside, focused on spreading joy and goodwill. These cards will be delivered to members of the Canberra community who might otherwise spend their birthday without much celebration. It’s a simple project, but one we hope will bring a smile, a sense of connection and a reminder that no one is forgotten on their birthday. Four years in, and we’re as committed as ever to making a positive impact in Canberra and beyond. |
||||||||||||||||||
Four years since we officially chartered At this week’s meeting we celebrated four years since we were officially chartered! The evening included reflections from some of our charter members, a round of Sundowners-themed trivia, and of course, birthday cake! We were thrilled to be joined by PDG Monica Garrett of the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin, whose vision and leadership were instrumental in helping establish a Rotary Club focused on younger members, hands-on community service and flexibility. Since chartering, we have completed more than 800 volunteer shifts, contributing over 2,500 hours of service and have directly injected more than $30,000 into the local community. Talk about being busy! We’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far and even more excited about the years ahead. |
||||||||||||||||||
National MUNA delivers diplomatic success We were out in force over the weekend, volunteering to help deliver the National Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) at Old Parliament House. Across two days, 21 school teams from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the ACT came together to debate some of the most pressing global challenges, from food security and the environment to peace in Ukraine and humanitarian operations in Gaza. Our members took on a range of roles behind the scenes, ensuring the event ran smoothly. Stepping in as Secretary-General, Recorders, Adjudicators and Runners, they kept debates flowing and supported students as they tested their skills in diplomacy, critical thinking and public speaking. It was particularly rewarding to see Merici College – a team sponsored by the Sundowners after impressing at our mini-MUNA earlier this year – shine on the national stage. Representing Germany, the Merici delegates demonstrated incredible debating, diplomacy and public speaking skills throughout the weekend, building thoughtful arguments and engaging with complex issues with maturity and confidence. The formal dinner on Saturday night, attended by all 21 schools, provided a special highlight. Students and volunteers alike were inspired by guest speaker Dr Lorraine Finlay, Australian Human Rights Commissioner, who spoke on the importance of leadership, diplomacy and standing up for what’s right. For us, the weekend was not just about helping an event run well, it was about investing in the next generation of leaders. Watching Merici and the other schools take to the floor with passion and purpose was a reminder of how powerful programs like MUNA can be in shaping future voices for peace, justice and international cooperation. |
||||||||||||||||||
Recognising our emergency services personnel We were excited to be alongside many Rotarians and Canberrans for the 2025 ACT Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards dinner. It was a night to celebrate the incredible dedication and devotion of our local emergency services personnel. The 2025 finalists came from ACT Ambulance Service, ACT Fire & Rescue and ACT Rural Fire Service. The winners were:
We were honoured to be part of an evening that shone a light on those people who go above and beyond to keep our community safe. |
||||||||||||||||||
Messages of peace ring true at Hiroshima, Nagasaki event On Saturday 9 August we were honoured to attend the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance Ceremony at the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell, organised by Canberra Rotaract. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August). Both events caused long-term suffering and forever changed the course of history. The ceremony honoured the lives lost, acknowledged the ongoing consequences of nuclear warfare and shared the message of the importance of global peace. Rotary International has long championed peace and conflict resolution as one of our core Areas of Focus. As we gathered beside the Peace Bell we were reminded of our responsibility to build a more peaceful, compassionate world. We are incredibly grateful to the Rotaract Club of Canberra for organising such a meaningful and reflective event. |
||||||||||||||||||
Meeting to make meaningful change together Every fortnight, we come together to dream big, plan meaningful community service projects and, most importantly, have some fun! Our 5 August meeting was packed with energy and inspiration:
All this and it was only a Tuesday night in Canberra. If you’ve ever thought about getting involved in your community while having a laugh and making great connections, come join us! |
||||||||||||||||||
High Commissioner highlights service opportunities in Fiji At our 5 August meeting we welcomed His Excellency Ajay Amrit, the Fijian High Commissioner to Australia, as our guest speaker. His Excellency delivered a powerful presentation on the current social and economic conditions in Fiji, sharing heartfelt stories and highlighting areas where Rotary can play a role in supporting vulnerable communities across the country. There are opportunities for Clubs in Rotary District 9705 to partner together to make a lasting and positive impact in Fiji and across the Pacific. We will now explore practical ways where we can offer support and assistance. In appreciation of His Excellency’s time and insights, we made a donation to Australian Rotary Health’s ‘Lift The Lid’ initiative in his name. This important fund supports vital mental health research and we are proud to be able to support such an incredible cause. |
||||||||||||||||||
Campers raise thousands for disaster relief On Saturday 26 July an intrepid group of Rotarians camped out in Bowning as part of the Off the Grid challenge. They braved the biting cold and rain to raise funds for ShelterBox Australia, which provides emergency shelter and essential aid to families displaced by natural disasters or conflict around the world. Together, our happy campers — including Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Tuggeranong, Rotary Club of Yass, NSW and Rotary Batemans Bay — have raised more than $14,000! Special shout out to our participating members, Mitra, Jordan and Peter, who braved the elements and raised more than $2,500 between them. You can support them by making a last-minute donation here. |
||||||||||||||||||
Schnitzels, steins and service above self
|
||||||||||||||||||
Celebrating Rotary years past and present On Sunday 27 July we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon in Yass for the Rotary District 9705 Changeover. We were proud to join with Rotarians from across the district to celebrate the outstanding leadership and achievements of outgoing District Governor Rob Uhl. We extend our sincere thanks to Rob for her dedication and service over the past year. It was also wonderful to welcome incoming District Governor Robert Shore. We look forward to supporting his vision and leadership in the year ahead. Here’s to another great year of service, connection and impact across District 9705! |
||||||||||||||||||
Happy campers brave cold for disaster relief On Saturday night, 26 July we braved the rain and cold at Bowning as we went 'Off the Grid' to raise funds for ShelterBox Australia. ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and essential aid to families displaced by natural disasters or conflict around the world. We were proud to join our friends from the Rotary Club of Tuggeranong, Rotary Club of Yass, Rotary Club of Blayney and Rotary Club of Batemans Bay to support such a worthy cause. If you’d like to support our brave campers, you can donate here. |
||||||||||||||||||
Vinnies Night Patrol supports those doing it tough On Wednesday night, 23 July several of our members rugged up for another evening on our streets as part of the Vinnies Canberra Night Patrol. Winter is a particularly tough time for those in our community doing it tough. The Night Patrol offers practical support and connection across Canberra and Queanbeyan for anyone in need. The crew shared food, beverages, other essential items and, importantly, a conversation with about 30 people. Thank you to everyone who continues to volunteer for this important service. |
||||||||||||||||||
Plalkin' and talkin' to remove rubbish from Weston Park Ever heard of plalkin’? Pronounced “plaw-kin”, it involves walking and picking up litter — a simple but effective way to stay active while keeping our environment free of rubbish. On Sunday 20 July we enjoyed plalkin’ around Weston Park, chatting and collecting litter. The most unusual piece of rubbish found? A scrabble piece! While it’s always disappointing to find litter spoiling our green spaces, it was a lovely day to help make a beloved community space a little cleaner and greener. We’re one of several Rotary clubs collecting rubbish around Canberra in support of the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra Plalkin’ My World project. It’s just one of the ways we’re serving our community.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Food pantry donations help those feeling the pinch Pasta, rice, coffee. Simple groceries can add up for individuals and families feeling the pinch. Thank you to everybody who donated items to our food drive in support of the Community Services #1 Food Pantry. We were overwhelmed with the response at our 15 July meeting, where we were joined by CS#1’s Executive Director of Community Services, Karen Pollard, to learn more about how the food pantry is helping make food and other essential items affordable and accessible for Canberrans in need. Together we’ve donated more than $1000 worth of non-perishable food and other essential items to support families doing it tough this winter. |
||||||||||||||||||
Birthing kits sent to communities in need Did you support our birthing kit packing day? Do we have an update for you! In May we purchased and packed 3,000 lifesaving birthing kits for women in remote communities with limited access to basic healthcare. The Birthing Kit Foundation Australia has informed us that our kits have been distributed to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Pakistan, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda where they will help women deliver their babies safely with reduced risk of disease or infection. You might recall our packing day coincided with the Rotary International EPIC Day of Service. Did you know that our event attracted the third-highest number of volunteers — and third-highest number of volunteer hours — of participating Rotary clubs around the world? Not bad for a young Rotary club in Canberra! Thank you again to everyone who supported this worthy initiative! |
||||||||||||||||||
New Rotary year a chance to reflect and inspire Jordan and Mitra On Tuesday 1 July we celebrated 12 months of community service at our annual club changeover event. More than 60 Rotarians and friends gathered at the Ainslie Football & Social Club to reflect on a productive, fun and meaningful year under the leadership of our outgoing president, Mitra. We also inducted our new president, Jordan, and his board of directors, and learnt more about Jordan’s vision for the next 12 months.  Mitra and Helen with Past District Governor and award sponsor Monica Garrett Congratulations to Helen for being named our Rotarian of the Year and being awarded a Paul Harris Fellow — well deserved recognition of her commitment and hard work over the past 12 months. And a shout out to Emma for also being recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow for her efforts to enhance our marketing and communication strategies. We were also pleased to make donations to the following organisations:
 Sam D masterfully emceeing the event Thank you to everyone who has made the past 12 months of achievements possible, including our members, partners and supporters. We couldn’t have done it without you! |
||||||||||||||||||
Final meeting of Rotary year a cause for celebration At our final meeting of the 2024-25 Rotary year we celebrated a bumper 12 months of community service. Together, we’ve raised thousands of dollars and supported a range of worthy causes, including women’s health, helping vulnerable members of our community, and everything in between. This wouldn’t have been possible without the steady leadership of our president, Mitra, and our members, fellow Rotarians and supporters — people of action who generously give back. On Tuesday 1 July we’ll formally celebrate the changeover from one Rotary year to the next — and we’d love for you to join us! Tickets to our Rotary Club of Canberra Sundowners 2025 Changeover are on sale now until 5pm, Monday 23 June. Snap one up before it’s too late! Event details:
|
||||||||||||||||||
Fun and games at first June meeting It was all fun and games at our 3 June meeting, with a slew of extra items donated to our toy drive. We’ve joined forces with the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra to help Kids in Care ACT deliver gifts to vulnerable children at Christmas. Throughout May and June we’re seeking donations of toys, including: 👱♀️ Barbie dolls (or equivalent) 🧸 Soft toys 🧱 Lego ⚽️ Footballs and soccer balls 🛻 Cars/trucks 🧩 Easy games (like Connect 4) 🏏 Bats and balls 🎾 Outdoor games (playable in small areas) 📚 Books 💧 Water pistols 🖐️ Play-Doh Please note: We can’t accept gifts that require batteries. As another busy Rotary year nears its end, we’re gearing up to celebrate our achievements over the past 12 months and usher in a new year (and a new leadership team). Want to join us? Come along to our changeover:
|
||||||||||||||||||
Vinnies Night Patrol helps warm spirits on cold night Winter is fast approaching, making life more difficult for those living on our streets or otherwise doing it tough. On Wednesday 28 May some of our members braved the cold and joined the Vinnies Night Patrol. The temperature was low but spirits were high among the nearly 30 people who relied on the service for food, a warm beverage and other essential items. Interested in volunteering with us? Please reach out. |
||||||||||||||||||
Fearless support for trivia night fundraiser Wet and cold nights should be spent mastering Norse mythology and Wicked trivia, right? But what’s more exciting than gods, goddesses and Glinda? Raising funds to support our friends from Fearless Women! We were thrilled to head along to the Rotary Club of Canberra Weston Creek’s trivia night on 26 May for just that. Teaming up with our friends from Woden Daybreak Rotary Club, we formed the ‘Sundowner Showoffs’. Our countless hours streaming Netflix, watching reruns of Coronation Street and studying the flags of micro nations paid off. We came away as winners! We absolutely love getting out and supporting our community. Fearless Women are just one example of the many life-changing groups that make a positive impact in Canberra. |
||||||||||||||||||
Friendship drives toy donations for Kids in Care One of the wonderful things about Rotary is the connections you form, not only within your own club but with Rotarians from across the community — and beyond. At our 20 May meeting we hosted the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra for an evening of fun, fellowship and action. It was a great opportunity to learn more about each other’s projects. It also marked the beginning of our toy drive, with both clubs joining forces to help Kids in Care ACT deliver gifts to vulnerable children at Christmas. Throughout May and June we’re seeking donations of toys, including: 👱♀️ Barbie dolls (or equivalent) 🧸 Soft toys 🧱 Lego ⚽️ Footballs and soccer balls 🛻 Cars/trucks 🧩 Easy games (like Connect 4) 🏏 Bats and balls 🎾 Outdoor games (playable in small areas) 📚 Books 💧 Water pistols 🖐️ Play-Doh Please note: We can’t accept gifts that require batteries. Our toy drive is already off to a cracking start. If you missed this week’s meeting or would like to get involved, please reach out — or bring a toy along to our next meeting! |
||||||||||||||||||
Thousands of safer births thanks to birthing kit packing More than 100 Rotarians and volunteers united to pack 3,000 kits at our birthing kit packing day on 17 May. That’s thousands of births made safer thanks to six simple but effective items: soap, a plastic sheet, gloves, gauze, cord ties and a sterile blade. The Birthing Kit Foundation Australia will distribute the kits to remote communities, where they have been proven to save the lives of mothers and their newborns.  This is the seventh year we have supported the foundation, with more than 10,000 birthing kits packed and donated to date. We were among thousands of Rotary clubs around the world undertaking significant projects as part of the Rotary International EPIC Day of Service.  Thank you to everyone who generously volunteered their time to assemble the kits. As always, we’ve been blown away by the support we’ve received, including from our members, fellow Rotarians, corporate partners, supporters and the Gungahlin SES. We look forward to finding out where they have been sent.
|
||||||||||||||||||
How the Birthing Kit Foundation is saving lives Every two minutes a woman dies due to complications during childbirth. Let that sink in for a moment. At our 6 May meeting we were lucky to find out more about the incredible work of the Birthing Kit Foundation, which is addressing this shocking statistic, one birthing kit at a time. Operations manager Adrian Harris has been involved with the foundation for more than a decade and gave us a sense of its history and impact, including the many thousands of lifesaving kits donated and packed by Rotarians. Birthing kits include simple items designed to help women at home or with limited medical support to deliver their babies safely, with reduced exposure to disease and infection. The foundation distributes the kits to remote regions of the developing world, where they have been proven to save the lives of mothers and their newborns. In some communities, these kits are more valuable than gold. The foundation also trains midwives and birth attendants, who go on to share their newfound skills in their communities. Thank you, Adrian, for informing and inspiring us in the lead up to our birthing kit packing day on 17 May. You can find out more about the foundation here. |
||||||||||||||||||
Planning for a successful new Rotary year How do you make a great Rotary club even better? On Sunday, 4 May we shared ideas for the development and growth of our club, ahead of the 2025-2026 Rotary year. We discussed a range of topics including new and existing service projects, meetings, communication and engagement. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback! |
||||||||||||||||||
April BBQ fundraisers a sizzling success April was a busy month behind the barbecue, with sausage sizzles at the Canberra Grammar School Ruby Union Gala Day and Bunnings Fyshwick. Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who bought a sausage sandwich. Together, we’ve raised more than $4,700 for our community service projects! |
||||||||||||||||||
Hola to a special guest from Rotary in Mexico We welcomed a special guest to our “fifth Tuesday” event in April. Jorge, who has travelled to Australia all the way from Mexico, paid us a visit. Jorge is the President of the Rotary Club of Tampico Miramar and presented our President, Mitra, with a banner from his club. Fittingly, his visit coincided with our mini Model United Nations Assembly (or mini-MUNA). Thanks for coming along, Jorge! Gracias! |
||||||||||||||||||
Help us support women to give birth safely Welcoming a new baby into the world is an exciting time but many expectant mothers around the globe risk giving birth without access to basic medical supplies and support. On Saturday 17 May we’ll be packing 3,000 lifesaving birthing kits to support women in developing countries to give birth safely. The Birthing Kit Foundation Australia distributes kits to remote regions of the developing world, where they have been proven to save the lives of mothers and their newborns. By volunteering just two or three hours of your time, you’ll enjoy a hands-on activity for a really worthy cause. This year’s event is part of the Rotary International EPIC Day of Service, with thousands of Rotary clubs worldwide undertaking projects aimed at making a lasting difference. We’d love you to join us! There are three shifts to choose from and no prior experience is required. Register, donate or find out more here. |
||||||||||||||||||
Young leaders on Rotary Youth Exchange and Scouts At our 15 April meeting we heard from Penelope and Adelle about their respective experiences with the Rotary District 9705 Youth Exchange Program and Scouts Australia. Penelope spoke about her once-in-a-lifetime adventure as an exchange student in France. She explained how the year-long exchange has helped her grow and better understand other cultures. Adelle shared her experience of attending the recent Scouts’ Australian Jamboree where she faced new challenges, built her leadership skills and formed new friendships. We’re proud to have sponsored Penelope and Adelle’s respective endeavours and grateful to learn more about their life-changing experiences. Thank you both for coming along! |
||||||||||||||||||
Snags, scrums and smiles at BBQ fundraiser Snags, scrums and smiles on a sunny Saturday! We were pleased to crew the BBQ at the Canberra Grammar School Rugby Union Gala Day on 12 April -- and what a turnout! Tongs were flying, sausages were sizzling and the Sundowners were on fire. All in the name of raising funds for local service projects that make Canberra a better place. Thanks to everyone who stopped by for a feed and helped make a difference, one snag at a time. |
||||||||||||||||||
Helping Community Services #1 mark an eggcellent Easter With Easter just around the corner, chocolate season has well and truly started in Canberra. And what better way to spread the Easter (and chocolate) spirit than partnering with our friends from Community Services #1 to deliver Easter eggs to local families. We were stoked to drop off our stash of eggs and hear about all the amazing things CS#1 has planned to mark Easter in our community. That includes their 'Community Easter Lunch' on Monday 14 April. From an Easter egg hunt, to hot cross buns and a sausage sizzle, there's everything to keep the adults and kids entertained, while even sharing in some of our chocolates. The details are: Monday, 14 April 11am-1pm CS#1 Wellbeing Garden, 63 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah |
||||||||||||||||||
Heidi inspires with tales of grief, healing and growth This week we were delighted to hear from Canberra author and advocate Heidi J Prowse OAM. Heidi generously shared her reflections on grief, burnout, healing and growth, including moving excerpts from two of her three books. We hung on to every word as Heidi spoke about meeting her late husband, Andrew, with whom she raised more than $1 million for Cystic Fibrosis ACT. Heidi has worn many hats, including generously donating her time to emcee our last two trivia night fundraisers. Thank you, Heidi, for your support. We continue to be inspired by your energy and passion for serving our community. You can find out more about Heidi here: And you can find and purchase Heidi’s books — We Should Have Grown Old Together, Finding Self Love in Poems, and Beyond Being Tough: The Modern Man’s Guide to Self-Love & Growth — here. Tuesday’s meeting also ushered in our newest member as we formally inducted Connor. A chance meeting in Batemans Bay sparked Connor’s interest in our club. Since then, Connor has hit the ground running as an engaged volunteer. We’re thrilled to have him formally on board! As always, there’s plenty coming up, including our Easter Sunday Bunnings BBQ and our 2025-2026 club planning day on 4 May. Interested in getting involved? Please reach out! |
||||||||||||||||||
Stepping in to support the Aussie Peace Walk Rotary plays a key role in spreading the word of peace across the globe. That’s why some of our members were honoured to support the Aussie Peace Walk over the last weekend of March. The Peace Walk brings together participants from across the globe to walk various trails around Canberra while spreading messages of peace, unity and support for different communities. While some of us volunteered, providing support to participants at different points during their walk, a few of us took on the challenge of the longer walks across both days. From the torrential rain of Saturday to the clear skies of Sunday, we enjoyed the opportunity to come together with friends from across the world to show solidarity with peace efforts both in Australia and abroad. |
||||||||||||||||||
Sharing food and a chat with Vinnies Night Patrol Our city is a beautiful one but there are many people in our community doing it tough. The Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Night Patrol is an opportunity to share a bite to eat, a refreshment and a conversation. We joined the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra on Wednesday evening 26 March to do just that, supporting about 30 people at stops across Canberra and Queanbeyan. We staff a Night Patrol van once a month. Interested in joining us? Please get in touch. |
||||||||||||||||||
Poles spread messages of peace in Canberra On Sunday 23 March we enjoyed an incredibly moving afternoon at the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell where five new Peace Poles were unveiled, inscribed with the messages of peace in 34 languages. Peace Poles are internationally recognised symbols of hope which bear the message, ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’, in different languages on each of its sides. We had the honour of donating one of the Peace Poles (No. 506) in association with the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF) Inc. The pole recognises messages of peace in seven Asian languages. They are Tamil, Lao, Khmer, Tagalog, Burmese, Thai and Malay. The new poles will form part of a constellation of Peace Poles in Lennox Gardens to spread the message of peace and hope for future generations. Our fellow Rotarians from throughout Canberra were also on hand to unveil the four other poles:
Next time you are in Lennox Gardens, make sure you snap a picture of the poles and send it through to us. It will be your own way of spreading the word of peace.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Learning and development inspires us to 'unite for good' We spent Saturday 22 March at the Rotary District 9705 learning and development day as we look towards the 2025-26 Rotary year. We were inspired by a variety of workshops covering innovative ideas to develop clubs, build membership, support young people and care for our environment. There are so many incredible community service projects being undertaken by Rotarians right across Canberra and beyond. It was such a thought-provoking day and each of us walked away with different ideas on how we can make an even greater impact in our community. It also allowed us to reflect on the Rotary International President’s message to ‘Unite for Good’. We are looking forward to collaborating with other clubs to help make positive change. |
||||||||||||||||||
Rotary district governor inspires grassroots change On Tuesday 18 March we swapped our usual meeting for a combined club catch-up to hear from Rotary District 9705 Governor Rob Uhl. DG Rob laid down a simple, yet effective foundation for Rotary clubs to make positive change in their communities. She set us the goal of engaging with our community and collaborating with partners to change lives. By applying this standard, we will further our reach across the broader Canberra region. We also took the opportunity to discuss our shared community service priorities with our friends from the Rotary Club of Tuggeranong and Woden Daybreak Rotary Club. |
||||||||||||||||||
Trivia night raises thousands for women's health Another BIG thank you to everyone who supported our 2025 Trivia Night. Together, we have raised almost $10,000 for the purchase and packing of Birthing Kit Foundation Australia birthing kits, to help women with limited access to medical facilities give birth safely. You can find out more about the event here. Don’t forget to mark Saturday 17 May in your diaries for our birthing kit packing day. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for more details. We’d love to see you there! |
||||||||||||||||||
Trivia night tests grey matter for worthy cause President Mitra with winning table, 'What's In'. A BIG thank you to everyone who supported our 2025 Trivia Night on 13 March. It was a fantastic evening filled with curly questions, fun games and plenty of chatter.  Tables preparing to test their knowledge. Most importantly, funds raised will help us purchase and pack life-saving birthing kits to help women in developing countries give birth safely. You can find out more about these kits via the Birthing Kit Foundation Australia website. Congratulations to the winning table, ‘What’s In’!  Emcee Heidi, President Mitra and trivia committee chair Peter. And a special thank you to our emcee, Heidi Prowse, and the organisations that participated in our ‘corporate challenge’, including Keane Consulting, Cyconsol, Proactive Labs and the winning Wisdom Learning. Interested in helping us assemble the birthing kits? Mark Saturday 17 May in your diaries and keep your eyes peeled for more information soon.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Rotary Youth Exchange students visit Canberra What’s a trip to Australia without exploring the nation’s capital? We’ve joined forces with the Rotary Club of Ginninderra to help host eight Rotary Youth Exchange students visiting Canberra. Rotary Youth Exchange gives students the opportunity to live and study abroad for 12 months. The eight students, who are visiting from Sydney and the Central Coast, have travelled to Australia from France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Czechia, Brazil and Japan. The cohort will visit a range of national institutions during their time in Canberra, including Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia and, of course, Questacon! Thank you, Helen, and the other Rotarians from across Canberra, for welcoming the exchange students to our beautiful city and ensuring they have a great stay! |
||||||||||||||||||
Community partner making a real difference We were delighted to welcome Community Services #1 CEO Simon Bennett and operations director Romney Kelly to this week’s meeting to find out more about how the organisation is making a real difference in our community. CS#1 supports thousands of individuals and families across the ACT and nearby NSW, including through early childhood education and aged care services, a food pantry, social support groups, and much more. As our partner organisation, we’ve supported CS#1 through a range of initiatives, including donating two defibrillators, supplying food pantry items and helping out at community Christmas events. Hearing from Simon and Romney reminded us just how significant CS#1’s work is — and why we’re committed to supporting the organisation where we can. We also discussed a range of upcoming activities, including our Trivia Night on 13 March. The event is raising funds to purchase and pack lifesaving birthing kits. Find out more and snap up a ticket here. |
||||||||||||||||||
Cleaning up Canberra's environment To mark Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 2 March we headed down to Lake Burley Griffin at Weston Park. We're lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world, so it's important we take the time look after our natural environment. By removing rubbish around the shoreline of the lake, we're hoping to prevent it from polluting the waterway and impacting all the creatures and plants that call Lake Burley Griffin home. From hats, drink bottles, plastic packaging and shoes, there was plenty of rubbish for us to pick up. It was a timely reminder of the importance of each of us taking the time to look after our environment. Thanks to the National Capital Authority for organising the event! |
||||||||||||||||||
Keeping the BBQ wheels in motion with Pedal Power We had a wheely good time supporting the Pedal Power ACT Pedalling Together bike ride on Saturday, 1 March. Some hot weather didn’t stop us sizzling up a storm on the barbecue. The event celebrated the joy of cycling, as well as the contributions of volunteers. Interested in volunteering with Rotary? Check us out or get in touch! |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting those on our streets at night On 26 February we joined forces with the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra to staff one of the Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Night Patrol vans. We shared food, beverages and a conversation with about 20 people across our two stops in Canberra and Queanbeyan. The Night Patrol aims to support and engage with vulnerable members of our community on the streets at night. Please get in touch if you’re interested in joining us or finding out more about this worthwhile initiative.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Celebrating Rotary's 120th birthday On 23 February 1905, Paul Harris formed the Rotary Club of Chicago alongside three friends with the vision of exchanging ideas and creating opportunities for people to reach their dreams. Fast forward to today, and we are just one of 45,000 clubs around the world who are committed to making a positive impact in the communities that we live and work. What makes 23 February even more special for us, is that it also marks 8 years since we were established as a satellite club within the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise. Eight years on, we only continue to grow and expand our reach at home and abroad. Some of our members marked the occasion with some celebratory cupcakes. Happy 120th birthday Rotary International and happy 8th birthday to us! |
||||||||||||||||||
Plenty of community service projects underway There was plenty to discuss at our 18 February meeting:
We also heard from District 9705 Service Projects Director John Askew about the ‘Plalkin’ My World’ project to improve our local environment. Have a burning desire to make a lasting impact on our community? Please get in touch! We’d love to hear from you.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Spreading the love of volunteering Fighting polio in red
Serving Rotary in blue Volunteering is sweet But made sweeter with you! We LOVE volunteering. Whether you’re romantically partnered or happily single, we’d LOVE you to join us in making a real difference in our community and the world around us! Happy Valentine’s Day.  |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting women's health and community inclusion At this week’s meeting we discussed a range of community service and fundraising activities, including:
Interested in getting involved? Send us a message! You can purchase tickets to our trivia night here.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Lots in store at first meeting of the year This week marked our first meeting of 2025, and it was jam-packed with planning and preparation for the months ahead. Some of the things we covered included:
Want to join us as we make a lasting impact across Canberra and the surrounding region? Please get in touch!
|
||||||||||||||||||
Kicking off 2025 by offering a helping hand We began 2025 as we ended 2024 - offering a helping hand to those most in need. Members spent the evening of Wednesday, 22 January 2025, manning the Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Night Patrol van. Stopping at Queanbeyan and Civic, members engaged with companions who may be sleeping rough or in need of some support. Companions were provided some meals, offered clothing and shared meaningful conversations. We’re rostered on one shift a month where we support those doing it tough. It’s certainly a worthwhile way to spend our Wednesday night. |
||||||||||||||||||
Reflecting on the busy year that was 2024 As 2024 comes to an end, we reflect on all the things we've achieved. We’ve completed plenty of community service activities and had loads of fun along the way. It’s certainly been a year to remember. From supporting some of the most vulnerable in our local community through the provision of basic necessities, to purchasing and packing 3,000 birthing kits for pregnant women in low-resource settings around the world, we have sought to make a positive impact in 2024. It’s been a tremendous year for us and we head into 2025 with even greater passion to do good in the world. |
||||||||||||||||||
Bringing Christmas cheer to those sleeping rough On Christmas Day, we were out and about on the Vinnies Night Patrol Van spreading festive cheer and offering warm conversations to those who needed it most. It was all about sharing kindness and making sure no one felt alone during the holiday season.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Christmas celebration to mark a successful year After a busy year, we came together just before the holiday break for a festive Christmas celebration! The night was filled with so much fun – Christmas trivia, pass the parcel and a hilarious round of stealing Secret Santa. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the successes of the year with laughter, fellowship and holiday cheer. |
||||||||||||||||||
Celebrating Christmas with our Canberra community
|
||||||||||||||||||
Board of Directors elected for the next Rotary year Our recent Annual General Meeting provided an opportunity for all members to begin thinking about our goals and ambitions for the next Rotary year. There are plenty of exciting service activities on the horizon. With election of the 2025-26 Board of Directors, planning is well underway to expand our reach and impact both locally and internationally.
Congratulations to our members who will be taking on these roles from 1 July 2025:  President – Jordan Fallon President Elect (2025-26) – Claire Scott Secretary – Claire Scott Treasurer – Megan Downie Vice President – Mitra Rawan Foundation Director – Sam Saunders Service Projects Director – Peter Hill Public Image Director – Emma Kelly |
||||||||||||||||||
Spreading a bit of Christmas cheer For several years now, we have been working with the Vinnies Community Inclusion Program at Oaks Estate to bring some festive cheer to companions during the holiday season. This year we again organised for the purchase, packing and delivery of Christmas hampers for each companion. Filled to the brim with much-needed Christmas essentials such as canned ham, gingerbread and panettones, the hampers are a tangible way to show the companions they are appreciated. We came together at our meeting on 3 December to pack the hampers before they are distributed to the companions at their Christmas lunch. We are grateful for the support of the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra, Keane Consulting and Cyconsol, whose contributions ensured the hampers were filled with plenty of items. For many vulnerable members of our community, the Christmas period is not a happy time. With a little bit of love and compassion, we hope to make this Christmas a memorable time for the companions at Oaks Estate. |
||||||||||||||||||
Addressing domestic violence in the ACT On Friday 29 November, we attended the Rotary Clubs of Canberra Domestic Violence Connection Day that brought together a variety of organisations dedicated to addressing domestic violence in the ACT. The event provided a valuable opportunity to connect, learn, and explore ways to collaborate in breaking the stigma surrounding domestic violence and supporting meaningful initiatives. With such a strong turnout and shared commitment to change, it’s clear that together, we can make a real impact in our community. |
||||||||||||||||||
Helping those sleeping rough On Wednesday, 27 November, we were out on the Vinnies Night Patrol to make a difference for those in need. Together, we supported this vital service that provides food and drinks, basic essentials and conversation to people experiencing homelessness in Canberra. It’s always rewarding to give back to the community and work alongside organisations like St Vincent de Paul, who are doing incredible work to support those facing tough times. |
||||||||||||||||||
Another busy Bunnings BBQ What an amazing time we had on the Bunnings BBQ at Fyshwick on 23 November. We appreciate all those who dropped by to purchase a sausage sandwich and a drink. Their generosity allows us to complete projects in the local community that have a positive impact on many! With Christmas quickly approaching, we have many projects planned to support those in need and the funds raised from the BBQ will assist us in doing that. |
||||||||||||||||||
Vinnies Oaks Estate working bee sweetens up space Some of our members and friends of the club recently teamed up with the Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Community Inclusion Program at Oaks Estate, where we worked with residents to help rejuvenate some of the outdoor communal space. This included installing and painting new seating and sprucing up the garden. A big thank you to Bunnings Fyshwick for the donation of materials and to everyone who helped out. Interested in volunteering with us? We have plenty of fun, hands-on opportunities coming up. Feel free to pop by our next meeting or send us a message! |
||||||||||||||||||
Volunteer with us in the lead up to Christmas At our 5 November meeting we took a break from the news cycle to focus on a range of exciting upcoming events and activities. They include:
We were also delighted to induct Christian as our newest member. Christian has been a friendly face at recent meetings and events — and we look forward to formally having him on board. Interested in helping us give back to the community and sharing some holiday cheer? Come along to a meeting or get in touch!
|
||||||||||||||||||
Cultural exchange at the pub We love an opportunity to hang out and at our latest "fifth Tuesday" social catch-up on 29 October we shared a bite to eat with some special guests. We were joined by the South Dakota First Nations Group Study Exchange delegates for a classic Australian pub meal in the nation’s capital. The Group Study Exchange program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young professionals and business people to exchange visits between paired Rotary districts in different countries. Delegates learn more about their host country's way of life, develop personal and professional relationships, and share ideas. Since 2020, our Rotary district (9705) has been supporting the cultural exchange of First Nations young professionals. The dinner was a great opportunity to meet the delegates and find out more about their time in Australia. Rotary truly is a global organisation! Thanks to the Civic Pub for accommodating our big, cheerful group of Rotarians and friends. |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting those in need on our streets Some of our members were out and about in the community on Wednesday evening, 23 October as part of the Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Night Patrol. The Night Patrol is an opportunity to support and connect with those doing it tough by sharing food, a warm beverage or refreshment, other essential items and – perhaps most importantly – a conversation. We volunteer with the Night Patrol every month, stopping off in Queanbeyan and Civic. Please reach out if you’re interested in joining us or finding out more about this worthwhile program. |
||||||||||||||||||
Sizzling sausage sales at election day BBQ Canberrans who cast their vote early needn't have feared missing out on a democracy sausage in Fyshwick come ACT Election day. We were back at Bunnings Fyshwick on Saturday, 19 October to serve sausage sandwiches for a good cause. We enjoyed another busy day, serving up plenty of snags and refreshments. Thank you to everyone who dropped by and made a purchase. Your support enables us to continue giving back to our community. |
||||||||||||||||||
A tender approach to funeral planning Planning a funeral is a difficult and emotional process. It can also be expensive. At our 15 October meeting we heard from Catherine Prosser who is the general manager of Tender Funerals Canberra Region, a not-for-profit funeral service that assists families to create meaningful and affordable funerals. Put simply, Tender Funerals provides a supportive environment for families, including those experiencing financial hardship, to farewell their loved ones with dignity. You can find out more about Tender Funerals Canberra Region here: tenderfunerals.com.au/canberra/ Griefline provides free, compassionate and confidential support to Australians experiencing grief and loss. Call 1300 845 745 (8am-8pm, 7 days a week for Australians aged 18 years or older) or visit griefline.org.au |
||||||||||||||||||
A blossom of activity at the Floriade Gnome Knoll The sun was shining, the flowers were in bloom and a rainbow of paint colours awaited the young and young at heart at the Floriade Gnome Knoll on Saturday 5 October. We volunteered throughout the day to help manage the gnome-painting activity. Funds raised from painting gnomes support local Rotary and Rotaract clubs like ours, with profits going back into the Canberra community. It’s not too late to paint your own gnome, with the Gnome Knoll open throughout the ACT school holidays and on weekends during Floriade. You can find out more here: floriadeaustralia.com
|
||||||||||||||||||
Lifting a lid on mental illness for Hat Day A colourful array of hats were on show at our 1 October meeting to help lift the lid on mental illness. Hat Day on 10 October is an Australian Rotary Health initiative raising money for mental health research. We marked Hat Day a little early, raising awareness of the one in five people in Australia who experience a mental illness each year. If you’re interested in making a donation, visit: liftthelidonmentalillness.com.au We also discussed a range of upcoming opportunities, including:
We also learned more about how Rotary is continuing to “say no to domestic violence” in our district — and look forward to sharing more details about what’s happening in this space soon. Thank you to John from the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra for coming along and speaking with our club about this important initiative. |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting those sleeping rough Spring might have sprung but there are many people in our community still experiencing the chill of sleeping rough on our streets. On Wednesday evening, 25 September we supported the Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Night Patrol, sharing food, a warm beverage and other items with some of those doing it tough in Canberra and Queanbeyan. We’re involved with the Night Patrol every month – and we’re always looking for new volunteers to join us. Interested in helping out? Please get in touch! |
||||||||||||||||||
Another busy BBQ for a good cause We were back at Bunnings Fyshwick on Saturday 21 September to serve up sausage sandwiches and refreshments. It was another fantastic turnout, with our volunteers run off their feet serving up snags. Thank you to everyone who dropped by for a feel-good bite to eat. Our community service work wouldn’t be possible without your support. |
||||||||||||||||||
Improving children's health at home and abroad At our 17 September meeting we heard from Dr Kathryn Currow about the amazing work of Taking Paediatrics Abroad. The organisation connects health professionals to share their experience in paediatric care to remote areas of Australia and around the world. The passion, care and support provided is working to improve health outcomes of children across the globe. You can find out more here: takingpaediatricsabroad.org.au The next few weeks will see us:
We'd love to see you there! |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting community sport in Canberra On Sunday, 15 September we cooked up a storm in support of community sport in Canberra. Several of our members served up a range of barbecue fare, including egg and bacon rolls and sausage sandwiches, at the Uni-Norths Owls Juniors Rugby Union Club game day in Kaleen. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time. Your efforts not only helped out Owls Rugby but also supported our club, thanks to a donation. Special thanks to the Rotary Club of Yass for their support, including the use of their barbecue. |
||||||||||||||||||
Going off the grid for ShelterBox Our president, Mitra, got her first taste of camping – and it was for a worthy cause! Mitra was among a group of Rotarians who slept under the stars in Boorowa as part of the ShelterBox Australia Off the Grid challenge. Campers braved the elements to raise money for ShelterBox Australia’s work to provide emergency shelter and other essential items to people displaced by conflict or natural disasters. Participants included Rotarians from our club, Boorowa Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Yass as well District Governor Rob Uhl, District Governor elect Robert Shore, and Rotary Community Leader Leigh Robinson. Together, they’ve raised close to $17,000! Campers shared a barbecue dinner, many laughs and stories around the campfire, before retreating to their swags and tents as they braved the cold. Their efforts were rewarded with a barbecue breakfast Sunday morning, with plans already afoot for next year's event. Thank you to everyone who supported the challenge, including Boorowa Rotary Club for hosting the event. You can make a donation here: offthegrid.raiselysite.com/donate |
||||||||||||||||||
A lot going on at the moment At our 3 September meeting we discussed some recent achievements and updates, as well as an exciting range of upcoming opportunities to volunteer with (or support) our club. They include:
If you're interested in getting involved, please don't hesitate to reach out. See 'contact us' or send us a message via Facebook or Instagram. |
||||||||||||||||||
Blown away by another great BBQ We were back at Bunnings Fyshwick on Saturday 24 August, serving up sausage sandwiches and refreshments. And we were blown away (figuratively and almost literally) by the community's generosity, helping us raise $2010 towards our club's community service activities. A portion of our funds from this month’s barbecue will be donated to the Men’s Health Education Rural Van (MHERV), a great Rotary initiative supporting men's health in rural NSW. You can find out more about MHERV here: mherv.com.au |
||||||||||||||||||
Happy birthday to ... us! At our 20 August meeting we celebrated our third birthday as a chartered Rotary club (and yes, there was cake!). We might be three years young but our history as a club goes back much further. You can find out more about the formation of the Canberra Sundowners, from a satellite club to a fully-fledged Rotary club, on our history page. We also collected period products to donate to Share the Dignity’s August dignity drive. These items will support women, girls and those who menstruate who are experiencing or at risk of domestic violence, homelessness or poverty to access period products when they need them. You can find out more about Share the Dignity and it's work to end period poverty here: sharethedignity.org.au
|
||||||||||||||||||
Taste of diplomacy at MUNA High school students from across Australia descended on Canberra over the second weekend in August to get a taste of diplomacy at the 2024 Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA). MUNA aims to give students a hands-on experience of a UN-style conference at the historic Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, with the aim of increasing international understanding and goodwill. More than 40 students "represented" 15 countries at this year’s event. Several of our members helped out at MUNA as recorders, adjudicators or runners, to ensure this year’s participants enjoyed a great experience. A few even served as Secretary-General! Congratulations to the following schools and the countries they represented:
Thank you to the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise for organising MUNA, now in its 25th year! |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting the ACT Emergency Services Community Awards Did you know that Canberra’s Rotary clubs are behind the ACT Emergency Services Community Awards?
The awards acknowledge and celebrate emergency services workers who serve their community above and beyond their day-to-day roles, exemplifying the Rotary motto of “service above self”. Every day Canberra’s police officers, ambulance paramedics, firefighters and state emergency service personnel are there to protect and care for members of our community. Their work can literally save lives. This year’s award nominees included a mix of ACT Policing and ACT Emergency Services Agency paid and voluntary members, all with inspiring stories. Some of our members heard more about their achievements at an awards ceremony on Friday 9 August, including Lynne, who was also involved in this year’s event as a judge. Congratulations to the 2024 winners, David Tunbridge (ACT Rural Fire Service) and Tammy Bennett (ACT SES), and to all the nominees and finalists. The awards also support the work of Australian Rotary Health. This year’s beneficiary is a PhD research scholarship investigating mental health among emergency service workers, many of whom are exposed to traumatic events in the line of duty. You can find out more about the awards, including this year’s 10 nominees, here: www.act.rescawards.org.au |
||||||||||||||||||
Caring for kids in care At our 6 August meeting we heard from John Askew and Dennis Ogden of Kids in Care ACT. Kids in Care ACT raises money to support at-risk children and those living in poverty in Canberra and neighbouring regions of NSW. This includes the purchase and delivery of Christmas presents and the preparation and circulation of Go Bags. Go Bags are designed for children, youth and families placed in emergency or foster care — and who often don’t have time to take personal possessions or special belongings with them. The bags contain age-appropriate items, like clothes, toiletries, a book or toy, to make a big transition a little easier. Thank you John (who is also a fellow Rotarian at the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra) and Dennis for telling us more about this great initiative - and showing us an example of a Go Bag. You can find out more about Kids in Care ACT here: |
||||||||||||||||||
Helping families in need with food We were delighted to support our community partner Community Services #1 with the donation of items to their food pantry. The CS#1 food pantry supports Canberrans in need with groceries and other household items. We’re told our donated goods arrived just as existing supplies were beginning to run a little low, with the items expected to help several families in need. You can find out more about the CS#1 food pantry here: |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting rough sleepers in our community Some of our members braved the cold on Wednesday evening, 24 July as part of the Vinnies Night Patrol. Canberra winters are tough for those sleeping rough. The Vinnies Night Patrol is an opportunity to share some food, a warm beverage, clothing and a conversation. We lead the Night Patrol once a month, stopping off in Queanbeyan and the city – and we’re always looking for new volunteers to join us. |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting our SES volunteers We were honoured to receive a certificate of appreciation at this year’s ACT SES Chief Officer Awards in recognition of our contribution to the Gungahlin SES unit. The awards ceremony on 22 August recognised and celebrated ACT SES members who have shown outstanding commitment and bravery in their service. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the great work our dedicated SES volunteers carry out in our community. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Gungahlin SES unit. |
||||||||||||||||||
A BBQ for a good cause Thank you to everyone who braved the cold and stopped by for a sausage sandwich or refreshment at our latest barbecue at Bunnings Fyshwick on Saturday 20 July. Money raised will support our community service activities, making every purchase a feel-good treat! |
||||||||||||||||||
First meeting of the new Rotary year At our first meeting of the new Rotary year on 16 June we discussed a range of upcoming projects and events before enjoying an opportunity to catch-up with our fellow members. We’re involved in a range of activities over the coming weeks, including (but not limited to):
Interested in getting involved? Contact us or consider coming along to our next meeting! |
||||||||||||||||||
An update on our birthing kits We have an exciting update on our birthing kits project. In May, we joined forces with an enthusiastic group of volunteers to pack 3000 birthing kits. So where did they go? The Birthing Kit Foundation Australia has partnered with a range of organisations to distribute our kits to Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania and Uganda, where they will support thousands of women to give birth safely. Thank you again to everyone who volunteered their time to help us pack these life-saving kits. It wouldn’t have been possible without your support! |
||||||||||||||||||
Meet our new board With a new Rotary year comes a new group of volunteers ready and raring to lead. Meet our 2024-25 board members:
We’re looking forward to another fun, change-making year! |
||||||||||||||||||
Happy new (Rotary) year!  On Tuesday we marked the beginning of the 2024-25 Rotary year with our annual club changeover dinner. The event brought together club members, fellow Rotarians and supporters to celebrate and reflect on our achievements over the past 12 months and officially usher in our new board, including our new president Mitra. The evening was also an opportunity to thank our 2023-24 board, including our immediate past president Tara, for all their hard work. But that’s not all, folks. We also officially welcomed our newest member, David, and our newest corporate member, Cyconsol – and heard from a range of guest speakers. We were also honoured to present hardworking club member, Patricia, with Paul Harris Fellow recognition, and presented donations to a range of worthy causes, including Rotary International, Australian Rotary Health, ROMAC Australia & New Zealand, Operation Cleft, Fearless Women and Harvest Hope Africa. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an enjoyable evening! |
||||||||||||||||||
Promoting Rotary at Parliament On Wednesday, 3 July 2024, the Sundowners appeared at the ACT Legislative Assembly public hearing inquiring into unpaid work in Canberra.
It was an opportunity to share the different community service activities our members are involved in, while also discussing ways to promote volunteering. The Sundowners have a vibrant, diverse and agile membership who are committed to making a positive impact in our community. We hope our participation in the inquiry will inspire others to volunteer their time and become involved in activities that improve Canberra. Thanks to James Milligan MLA, Suzanne Orr MLA and Laura Nuttall MLA for your thought-provoking questions. |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting those sleeping rough  It’s very chilly across Queanbeyan and Canberra during June. It’s especially tough for those sleeping rough who have to face the harsh conditions of winter. To provide some support in the form of food, a hot coffee, warm clothes and a friendly conversation, some Sundowners man the Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Night Patrol. We are rostered one Wednesday a month where we stop off at Queanbeyan and Civic. If you are interested in joining us on the Night Patrol, reach out to us. It’s such a worthwhile cause, particularly during these colder months. |
||||||||||||||||||
Firing up the Bunnings BBQ  Is there anything more Australian than a Bunnings BBQ on a Saturday? As Canberrans looking to pick-up all their DIY bits and bobs made their way to Fyshwick Bunnings on Saturday, 22 June, members of the Sundowners were on hand to serve up some delicious sausage sangas. Members were able to show off some of their hidden cooking skills while raising much needed funds. |
||||||||||||||||||
Planning for 2024-25 The new Rotary year is upon us and a group of Sundowners came together on a chilly Sunday morning to put together a strategy for the coming year as part of our 2024-25 Planning Day. Members discussed the ways we can continue our good work in the community under the stewardship of Mitra and her incoming Board. You can be assured we will be focused on a number of service activities that are designed to make a positive contribution to the lives of those who live in Canberra and the broader region. |
||||||||||||||||||
Submission made to ACT volunteers inquiry Rotarians right across the globe make a positive and lasting contribution to the communities they serve. This is no different in the ACT where 15 Rotary Clubs comprised of hundreds of volunteers come together each week to undertake service activities, improve life opportunities of the most vulnerable and make positive change. The ACT Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Economy and Gender and Economic Equality are currently conducting an inquiry into unpaid work in the ACT. To assist the Standing Committee to further understand the broad community service opportunities there are in the ACT and how the Sundowners works to implement initiatives that align with the seven overarching missions of Rotary, the Sundowners have provided a submission which can be viewed here. |
||||||||||||||||||
Doing more for the environment Our first meeting for June allowed us to be inspired by the very affable Dr Stephen Utick who is the District 9705 Environmental Envoy Team Leader. Dr Utick’s message was clear and simple - Rotarians have the knowledge, skills and resources to making a lasting and positive impact on the environment. This message resonated with many Sundowners who have committed countless hours to service projects that improve and beautify our local environment. The wonderful presentation by Dr Utick has encouraged us to explore other avenues of service in the environment sphere. We were well and truly inspired to do more. You can play a part too! |
||||||||||||||||||
Our newest Sundowner During our second meeting in May we had the great pleasure of welcoming another Sundowner to our fold – Hilary!
Hilary has been an active participant at various Club activities and programs over the past 18 months and we are incredibly excited that he has formally joined us as a Sundowner. Having previously been a Rotarian in his native Cameroon, Hilary brings plenty of experience of community service to our Club. We cannot wait to have Hilary on the frontline with us as we strive to make a positive difference in the community we love! We were also pleased to welcome Hilary’s wife, Vera, who joined with us in celebrating his induction. |
||||||||||||||||||
Positively Impacting Birthing Outcomes for 3,000 WomenThe Can  berra Sundowners, supported by a number of other Rotary clubs, local businesses and friends can proudly claim to have positively impacted the health outcomes for 3,000 mothers and babies through the purchase and packing of 3,000 birthing kits on 4th May. All up about 150 people gave a couple of hours of their time across the day to support this great initiative.Thousands of women and children around the world die or suffer significant medical issues in child birth in remote areas where medical facilities and practitioners are not readily available. Clean birthing kits give women in remote regions of countries where medical facilities are limited a chance to have a clean and safe birth. They stop infections and the deaths of mothers and babies from these infections, and the inclusion of gloves also restricts the spread of HIV and other STDs. The Birthing Kit Foundation Australia have supplied over 2.7 million clean birth kits to women in remote regions of over 30 countries and trained over 10,000 traditional birth attendants in these communities. Each birthing kit comprises a plastic sheet, a pair of gloves, soap, string and a razor blade, and costs $5. You can find out more here. The 3,000 birthing kits cost $15,000, which was raised through a great trivia night and the financial support of the Rotary Clubs of Murrumbidgee Canberra, Woden Daybreak, Queanbeyan and Yass, our corporate sponsor Keane Consulting and friends of the club including the following businesses - The Coaching Alliance Group, Cyconsol and RCD Consulting. Thanks also to our partner Community Services #1 for the use of their Griffith Hall for the packing event.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Make a Difference - Pack Birthing KitsDid you know that April is Rotary’s maternal and child health month? Nearly 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. That’s why one of Rotary’s key areas of focus is on expanding access to quality care for mothers and their children. Maternal and child health is exactly what we’ll be focusing on over the coming weeks as we prepare for our birthing kit packing day on Saturday 4 May. Please consider joining us to help pack 3000 lifesaving birthing kits to support women in regions without medical facilities or staff to give birth safely. Each kit costs $5 an  d contains simple items that are designed to help women at home or with limited medical support to deliver their babies safely, with reduced exposure to disease and infection. Find out more about birthing kits here. Register, donate or find out more: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1191936... |
||||||||||||||||||
Birthing kits trivia night a success A special thank you to everyone who attended our trivia night on Wednesday 13 March! Thanks to your generosity, we have raised close to $8000 to purchase and pack birthing kits to help women in developing countries give birth safely. In early May we will be packing 3000 of these kits – and we need your help! Registrations are now open to attend one of our birthing kit packing sessions on Saturday, 4 May.  This is the sixth year we’ve supported the Birthing Kit Foundation Australia by purchasing and packing birthing kits. Each kit costs $5 and includes simple items to help women at home or with limited medical support deliver their babies safely, with reduced exposure to disease and infection. The Foundation distributes kits to remote regions of the developing world, where they have been proven to save the lives of mothers and their newborns.WHEN: Saturday, 4 May 2024 (three shifts to choose from). WHERE: Griffith Hall (next to the Griffith shops) Stuart Street, Griffith. Register, donate or find out more: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1191936 |
||||||||||||||||||
Rotary and Local Business Networking EveningLooking for opportunities for furthering the club's interaction with local businesses, the Canberra Sundowners held a Corporate Membership Networking and Information evening on 27 March. We were pleased to welcome our current Corporate member, Keane Consulting and senior representatives from Kayo Consulting, Yellow Edge, Cyconsol and Wisdom Learning along to the Hellenic Club for an informal evening of networking and information sharing. President Tara Pullen provided some background on Rotary and the club. This was followed by Owen Keane outlining some of Keane Consulting's experiences and the value they have seen from corporate membership of the club.  The club looks forward to continuing to explore opportunities to work with these companies to continue and enhance our service to our community. Any other companies that are interested in extending their community service programs are welcome to contact the club.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners trivia night Join us on 13 March for a night of trivia enjoyment and challenge, as well as an opportunity to support the Rotary Club of Canberra Sundowners fundraiser for our annual birthing kit purchase and packing event. Every birthing kit costs just $5, and we are hoping to be able to purchase and pack around 3,000 kits in May 2024 (after packing 2,000 in 2023!!). Every birthing kit provided improves the birthing outcomes for people without ready access to hospitals and medical facilities. Hosted by community leader and 2023 King's Birthday honour recipient, Heidi Prowse OAM. Doors open 6pm. Trivia commences 6.30pm. Book one or more tickets. Tables of 10. Tickets cost $35 per head and can be purchased here. |
||||||||||||||||||
Around the clubClub meeting - 3 June It was all fun and games at our 3 June meeting, with a slew of extra items donated to our toy drive. We joined forces with the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra to help Kids in Care ACT deliver gifts to vulnerable children at Christmas. Find out more here.  Club meeting - 17 June At our final meeting of the 2024-25 Rotary year we celebrated a bumper 12 months of community service. This wouldn’t have been possible without the steady leadership of our president, Mitra, and our members, fellow Rotarians and supporters. Thank you! Find out more here.  ---------- |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting our friends at Oaks Estate Sundays are for supporting friends, right? On Sunday, 11 February, members teamed with the Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Community Inclusion Program at Oaks Estate, where we worked with residents to help rejuvenate the communal space with a lick of fresh paint to the outdoor furniture and the assembly of swing seats. What a wholesome way to spend our weekend! We know the residents will enjoy the new-and-improved space |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting companions on the street  We were pleased to end January by joining with members of the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra in doing our bit to give back to the community we love. Manning the Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Night Patrol we made our way to Queanbeyan and Civic where we met with companions on the street, provided some meals, offered clothing and shared meaningful conversations. We’re rostered on one shift a month where we support those doing it tough. It’s certainly a worthwhile way to spend our Wednesday night! |
||||||||||||||||||
Penelope's off to France The Sundowners are back for 2024 and there was no better way to start the year than farewelling our outbound youth exchange student, Penelope.
About to head to France to immerse herself in their culture, Penelope, dropped by our January 16 meeting to be officially presented her youth exchange jacket by President Tara. Penelope also gave members a short presentation on her expectations and goals for the next 12 months. The Sundowners cannot wait to hear of all the fun and learning Penelope will experience on her exchange. We wish you all the best, Penelope, as you begin the opportunity of a lifetime |
||||||||||||||||||
Overview of the last 6 months of 2023 for the SundownersOur first half of the 2023-24 Rotary year has continued to exhibit the primary Canberra Sundowners traits - lots of small and largely hands-on activities with a primary focus on our local Canberra community. Before heading off on a very well earned break, our club finished the year with a bang, which included the following activities:
Not b
 ad for a small, young Rotary Club! Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about how we make a difference in our community and have fun doing so. |
||||||||||||||||||
IFFR visits Canberra Sundowners  On Saturday, 18 November 2023, the Sundowners were pleased to host the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians (Australian Section) at a dinner to mark their visit to Canberra. The IFFR are a group of Rotarians dedicated to promoting Rotary and aviation as an opportunity for fellowship and service and they certainly demonstrated their capacity to do this during the dinner. We were privileged to have the 2024 ACT Young Australian of the Year, Caitlin Figueiredo, as our guest speaker where she detailed her considerable attempts to give young people a say in politics. It was inspiring to hear from Caitlin firsthand and it made us appreciate the talent that we have in our own backyard. Special recognition must be given to one of our own – Lynne Duckham OAM – who was responsible for organising the IFFR visit. |
||||||||||||||||||
Emma joins the Sundowners The Sundowners were pleased to welcome Emma Kelly as the newest member to our growing tribe at our first meeting for November. Emma has been a constant presence at our Club activities and social events over recent months and has thrown herself into serving our local community. Having previously been an active member of Rotaract, Emma is a wonderful addition to our team. We are always pleased to welcome new members who are passionate about making a difference in the communities they live and work. |
||||||||||||||||||
End Polio Now fundraiser In the lead-up to World Polio Day, members came together on a sunny Saturday to raise funds for the End Polio Now campaign by cooking up a storm on the BBQ at Bunnings Fyshwick. Many customers were interested in hearing of Rotary International’s ongoing efforts to eradicate polio. Our team were worked off their feet and raised just under $2,000 for the End Polio campaign - what a great effort. Of course we also thank Bunnings for the wonderful opportunities from community groups like ours to raise much needed funds to support our service through the BBQs. With only 7 reported wild cases in 2023 so far, Rotary’s work in ending polio is tracking well. The funds raised from our BBQ will assist those on the ground providing vaccinations to some of the most vulnerable. |
||||||||||||||||||
Floriade gnomes flourish again in 2023 It is widely agreed that the biggest celebration of Spring is Canberra’s Floriade and members were out in force during this year’s festival to support the Gnome Painting Competition. With very favourable weather conditions, members of the Sundowners helped support budding artists on Saturday, 7 October. Tasked with selling gnomes, distributing paint and brushes and assisting in applying lacquer to ensure each gnome’s longevity, members had a very fulfilling and engaging day. Profits raised throughout the Competition are used to support Rotary’s local community service activities and for international humanitarian assistance purposes. |
||||||||||||||||||
Roger Eichler inspires during Mental Health Month  To mark Mental Health Month, the first meeting of October was set aside for members to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have a lived experience of mental illness or not. We were honoured to welcome local Rotarian and author, Roger Eichler, and his wife, Libby Eichler, who spoke of his journey living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A long-serving member of the NSW Police Force, Roger’s experiences across his career serving in rural communities tells many stories, including those entwined with the personal impact on a country cop and his family. Fires, floods, flies, dust storms and blizzards, Roger’s experiences are tragic, heartfelt, and at times humorous, but tell a story of the impact of serving to protect. Roger’s book The Price of Protecting Others is a moving account of his journey and provided those in attendance with a greater insight into what living with PTSD is like. Funds were also raised during the meeting for Australian Rotary Health. |
||||||||||||||||||
Area 5 Governor Gary Davis VisitsThe first meeting for September was interesting with our guest speaker being Area 5 Governor, Gary Davis, who provided an overview of his role and responsibilities as he supports our Club throughout this Rotary year. Gary joined the Rotary Club of Woden Daybreak in 2018, served as Club President during 2021-2022 and succeeded our own Lynne Duckham OAM as AG at the beginning of this Rotary year. Gary is also Chair of the District 9705 Conference Committee which will be held at Queanbeyan between 20-22 October 2023. Gary and his Committee have been able to secure a variety of inspiring and thought-provoking speakers and many Sundowners are gearing up to cross over the border to attend the Conference.  |
||||||||||||||||||
Supporting the 2023 CareersXpoSundowners supported other Rotarians from District 9705 who volunteered at this year’s Canberra CareersXpo in early August. Our members mainly provided hospitality in the Exhibitors’ Lounge. The CareersXpo is an annual event conducted in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Aurora Gungahlin and the ACT Government, which seeks to provide career guidance and advice on career opportunities to secondary students throughout the ACT and surrounding NSW schools network. This year’s CareersXpo was held at EPIC over two days on 9 & 10 August and featured around 150 local and national exhibitors, including universities, colleges, and career placement organisations, as well as government departments, the police, the defence force recruitment branch, training institutions and employers. Approximately 8,000 secondary students from schools in the ACT and the surrounding region, including students from as far afield as Mallacoota in Victoria, attended the two day event. Surplus proceeds from site fees and sponsorship are applied to the benefit of local youth and vocational projects conducted by the Rotary Club of Aurora Gungahlin and a small portion of the proceeds will come to Sundowners in acknowledgement of the contribution of our volunteers. This will be assist in the delivery of service projects throughout the Rotary year.  |
||||||||||||||||||
Official District Governor VisitThe Sundowners were pleased to welcome District 9705 Governor, Andrea Grosvenor, to our Club meeting on 15 August. Andrea has just commenced her long journey of visiting all the clubs in the District. She outlined some of the Rotary International focus areas for the year and also those of our District. It was a good opportunity to hear some of the wonderful initiatives being undertaken across Rotary and the District.  |
||||||||||||||||||
12,000+ People of Action MeetSix Canberra Sundowners joined over 12,000 People of Action from over 200 countries (also known as Rotarians) meeting at the annual Rotary International Convention in Melbourne from 27-31 May. Each day of the convention includes plenary sessions from great motivating speakers, mainly from community service backgrounds speaking about plans and projects, and a myriad of breakout sessions. Breakout sessions cover a variety of subjects on Rotary trends, projects, challenges, fellowship groups and more.   |
||||||||||||||||||
Birthing Kit Packing Weekend a Huge Success Our birthing kit packing weekend over 29 and 30 April was a resounding success across many spectrums. We had over 100 people join us for 2 hour packing sessions across the weekend, including Rotarians, local politicians, staff from our primary event sponsors - Keane Consulting, RCD Consulting and The Coaching Alliance Group - friends, family and also some who joined us on spec after seeing the event in print and social media advertising. The organising team ran a very well organised event, with great focus on keeping the production lines running. |
||||||||||||||||||
Still Time to Join Us - Birthing Kit Packing Event 29/30 April There is still time to register for our birthing kit packing event next weekend - 29 and 30 April at Legacy House, Geils St, Deakin. There are 2 two and a half hour sessions each day, at 9.30am and 1pm. More information and online registration is available at https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1023583. If you'd like to hear President Sam Doyle providing more information on the birthing kit packing event or on the Canberra Sundowners Rotary Club - check out this ABC Radio clip from today - https://www.abc.net.au/
|
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners Support Coppins Crossing Tree PlantingSome of our members spent the morning of 1st April at the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Tree Planting Program! The activity was based on a government grant for the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise. The participants managed to plant over 200 native tree seedlings during the session. Another session is expected in the coming month to complete the job.  |
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners Support Clean Up Australia Day As we do every year, a small number of Sundowners joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Canberra in a Clean Up Australia Day activity at the top of Mount Ainslie. The Amaroo Scout Group also joined the clean up. Those involved found it very satisfying to make a positive difference to the environment in one small area of Canberra. |
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners Aim High for Birthing Kits The Canberra Sundowners have been running birthing kit packing events for about 5 years, well before we chartered as a club in 2021. It has been a regular annual event, and one that brings club members, friends and supporters together for a fun and productive day of service. Last year we packed 900 birthing kits, which were despatched to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Ghana, South Sudan and more locally, to PNG. This year we are working to achieve funding and sponsorship to allow more than double last year's figure with 2,000 birthing kits to be packed. If you would like to donate to help achieve this target, you can do so here. The birthing kits comprise everything required for a woman to give birth in remote situations where she is not able to get to hospital or medical facilities. Believe it or not, this is still the case for many women in many parts of the world every year. The individual elements of each kit cost $5 for each kits worth, and we join with many other groups to pack the kits for Birthing Kits Foundation Australia (BKA) to despatch. Read more about BKA here: https://www.bkfa.org.au/.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners Supporting Canberra HomelessSince Sept  ember 2022, members of the Sundowners have signed on with the Vinnies Night Patrol to provide food, hot drinks and other support to Canberra's homeless on the fourth Wednesday evening of each month. Our members have found this to be a very satisfying activity that can make a real difference in many ways. While a basic meal and hot or cold drink meet the physical needs of our 'companions', the Night Patrol team also provide sleeping bags, clothing and shoes, and most importantly, companionship and a chat. This month with a couple of our volunteers away/unavailable, we needed some assistance from Vinnies staff. Thanks to our club friend Lesley for your regular and continued support. We do need a few more people to finish training and undertake some shifts so that we can guarantee Sundowners helping with this vital service once every month. |
||||||||||||||||||
Looking Back2023 is upon us, and having reached half way through the Rotary year it is worth taking a moment to check how we are travelling. And it is a good news story - the Sundowners continue to grow and serve the community in even more ways, all while having fun with a great bunch of people. Here's a quick snapshot of the Canberra Sundowners' last 6 months: Social - great activities including ten pin bowling, dinner at Snappers and networking at club meetings,  Fundraising - three Bunnings BBQs, Floriade gnomes and Careers Expo, raising over $6,000 to support our service to the community, |
||||||||||||||||||
Bringing Some Christmas Joy It was great to see the culmination of about a month's planning and shopping come together with ten members and friends packing 80 Christmas hampers brim full of goodies and the following day (10th December), with six members and friends delivering the hampers to residents at Oaks Estate. It was very satisfying to hear the thankful comments of many of the residents. |
||||||||||||||||||
Continuing Our Support of Community Service #1's Great WorkOur club has supported CS#1's activities in a number of ways over the last few years, and with two additional activities in November. With great weather, great entertainment and a good crowd on hand, members thoroughly enjoyed assisting the CS#1 Family Fun Day in a range of capacities, including staffing the cake stall, cooking and selling sausages, MC'ing the event and much more. The club also provided financial support, primarily to cover the cost of signs for the event.  |
||||||||||||||||||
Rotary Conferences Aplenty There is nothing like a Rotary Conference for bringing great people and great ideas together. For Canberra Rotarians there have been two substantial conferences over the last two weekends. |
||||||||||||||||||
Community Service Planning Night a Success Our recent community service planning session had a real vibe and provided an opportunity for members to have a say and to shape this critical area of Rotary service. Discussions focussed on the next 12 months, with a couple of longer term options for consideration. The outcomes will be discussed at our next club meeting so that other members' ideas can also be incorporated. Some of the activities with strong support from the meeting include:
We also have a number of environmental activities including tree planting and Clean Up Australia activities planned. There is something in our program to meet everyone's service passions. If you would like to more about how to impact your community and have fun, please join us for a meeting and check us out. |
||||||||||||||||||
Busy Start to the New Rotary YearThe Canberra Sundowners have started the new Rotary year with a range of fun activities and service events. These have included two Bunnings BBQs in July, and a suite of service activities in August:
 |
||||||||||||||||||
A Great Rotary Year It was great to look back at the wonderful year that the club had in 21-22 under President Sam Saunders. Sam had a tremendously productive year as President, and even found time to give birth to Millie early on in the year. Sam paid tribute to her Board for the year, who have supported her and worked behind the scenes to ensure the club was able to charter and to set some great foundations. The outgoing Board included President Elect Sam Doyle, Secretary Tara Pullen, Treasurer Patricia McDonell, Membership Director Peter Hill, Immediate Past President Emma McVeigh and Community Services Director Kate Wiencke. |
||||||||||||||||||
Oaks Estate Community Area Painting What a great service activity on 28th May, painting BBQ tables, fencing and seating in a communal area between buildings at Oaks Estate. This supports work by Ben and the Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Community Inclusion Program (https://www.vinnies.org.au/.../Community_Inclusion_Program/) on-site team working to give residents a better communal environment and helping to build social cohesion. We enjoyed meeting some residents and having a number take up brushes and work alongside us. Thanks to Bunnings Canberra Airport for donating paint, brushes and rollers for the activity, and to members and friends for their efforts today. |
||||||||||||||||||
Join Us Packing Birthing Kits With the items for 900 birthing kits now in hand, we still have spots available for our birthing kit packing event on the 15th of May at Legacy House in Deakin. We are running two shifts, commencing at 9.30am and 1.30pm. Full details are provided on the Trybooking site. Sign up to join us with birthing kit packing or to make a donation at: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/890058 |
||||||||||||||||||
Birthing Kit Packing Event a Huge Success The Canberra Sundowners held our birthing kit packing event on Sunday the 15th of May. This is the fourth year the club has supported this great cause, with each year being bigger and better than the last. This year we had about 45 Rotarians, members of our corporate sponsor, Keane Consulting (https://www.keane.com.au/) and friends and family join together in two 3 hour shifts to pack the basic items needed to give birth for women who are not able to get to a hospital or medical facility into birthing kits. Each kit comprises a plastic sheet, 3 pieces of string, soap, a pair of gloves, a scalpel and much love. |
||||||||||||||||||
Social Event It's not all hard work volunteering in Rotary. We like to have a lot of fun in meetings and social events as well. Our social event for April was tasting French wine and produce and learning about French wines and wine regions at French Flair in Manuka.If you are needing to top up your glass or cellar, French Flair is well worth checking out for great quality and variety in French wines. https://www.frenchflair.com.au/ Thanks for hosting us Christophe and Nicole! French Flair Food and Wine |
||||||||||||||||||
Club Meeting 15 March 2022We had a good rollup for the meeting including a number of guests. Patricia provided the toast to the Rotary Clubs of the Ukraine in support of their role in a very uncertain environment.  The Sundowners welcomed Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) District 9705 lead Bill Wattam as our guest speaker. Bill spoke to the club about the history of RAM and it’s current efforts in leading the fight against Malaria, particularly in our pacific region. The primary focus of RAM has been the distribution of insecticide-treated nets to vulnerable populations in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and more recently, Timor Leste. RAM has raised more than $1.6 million to eliminate malaria since 2003. RAM works in conjunction with the Ministry of Health authorities in each country and complements the work of other malaria organisations, most notably the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Bill was able to bring along one the insecticide-treated nets and explained the difficulties getting people to sleep under the nets and not having open pools of water near homes and villages. It was a fantastic presentation and many members of our club have worked with Rotary and other organisations in the pacific were able to give further insights. Watch this space for our club to get further involved.    |
||||||||||||||||||
Owen Keane (Keane Consulting's) Champion of Change Award We are very proud to hear that Owen Keane, Director of the Sundowners corporate sponsor, Keane Consulting, has been named 'Champion of Change' by WIC (Women in Information and Communication) ACT! Congratulations Owen for such great leadership.Keane Consulting has also announced the winner of their annual NextGen ICT award to support a Year 12 female in ICT related studies. Read about it here. https://www.keane.com.au/nextgen-ict-prize.html We Sundowners also cherish Keane Consulting's support to the community through organisations such as ours. Not only a great supporter but also engaged in our community service activities. |
||||||||||||||||||
Clean Up Australia - Mount Ainslie As in past years we joined Ahmed & friends from @Ahmadiyahmuslimcommunity at their Clean Up Australia Day event, held on 6th March. The Ahmadi's ethos is around peace: "Love all, hate none" which seems timeless. |
||||||||||||||||||
Charter Celebration A Great SuccessThe Canber  ra Sundowners finally got to formally celebrate our recent chartering as a Rotary Club with over 80 Rotarians, family and friends. It was a wonderful evening, with great memories of our path to chartering, some amazing silent auction items and raffle prizes and much more. |
||||||||||||||||||
Gungahlin Street Library Launched The Sundowners launched our second street library last weekend - this one in Tea Gardens in Gungahlin. It was the culmination of a great deal of effort by a number of people, including our resident artist extraordinaire - Ash, who created a marvellous forest landscape on all sides of the library. It was great to have a number of members, joined by Peter and Ralitsa from the Gungahlin Community Council come together for the launch.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Charter Celebration - Ticket Sales Close 21 February There is still time to join us for the celebration of the chartering of the Sundowners. Ticket sales will close on Monday 21st February, so if you are still thinking about coming along, please book soon. We have just under 70 people booked in as at 12 February.The event will take place at the National Press Club, from 6.30pm till late on Friday 25th of February 2022 . Tickets are $70 per head, and cover a two course meal and a night of fun, along with a look back at the Sundowners road to chartering. Tickets are available here. Our charter team has worked closely with the Press Club to ensure this event is as Covid safe as possible and have reduced room and table capacity beyond the approved limits. Contact us at canberrasundowners@gmail.com if you have any questions. Also contact us through this email address if you cannot make it but would like to donate to the club's service activities. |
||||||||||||||||||
Meet our new member JamesThis month the spotlight is on one of our newest members, James Patterson. James has been around the club for a couple of months now. Great to have you on board James. |
||||||||||||||||||
Join Us for the Sundowner Charter Event There is arguably no more exciting event in Rotary club life than the club charter celebration. The Canberra Sundowners officially chartered in August 2021, but have had to defer our charter celebrations until February 25th. |
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners Off and Running for 2022 Our first meeting for 2022 was a busy affair. With a hybrid face-to-face and online meeting format, we had 20 members and friends in attendance. |
||||||||||||||||||
Around The ClubMembership Fees All members should have received an invoice for their Rotary fees for the period July to December. If you have not received an invoice it might be in your 'spam' folder. If you cannot locate it, please contact Treasurer Patricia at patriciamcdonell2003@yahoo.com.au. It would be great if all fees can be paid by mid September. Where's Pip Off To? Pip is preparing to leave for a posting in in Taiwan, departing on 2 September. Pip has provided the club with great service in many areas over the life of the club, most recently as our hard working Secretary and organiser of online Tupperware events. Pip is continuing her membership at this time. We wish Pip safe travels and a wonderful posting. |
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners origins QuizWell now that we have chartered, it is a good time to look back at our club's origins. Here is a quiz for you - probably easier for those of you that have been around since inception, but some good background for everyone: 1. What was the initial driver for the formation of the Sundowners? 2. In what year did the Canberra Sundowners become a satellite club of the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise? 2015, 2016 or 2017?? 3. Who was the first Chair of the Sundowners? Claire Scott, Tara Pullen or Gus McBride? 4. What Mecano-like construction service activity did the Sundowners undertake to support people who had lost a body part? 5. How many members did the Sundowners have on 1 July 2020? 6. How many members in the Sundowners as at 26 August 2021? |
||||||||||||||||||
WelcomeWelcome to the Rotary Club of Canberra SundownersAre you interested in making positive changes in your community and the world? The Canberra Sundowners are a vibrant and diverse group of people working to make a difference in Canberra and around the world. We enjoy getting into the community and volunteering our time for worthy causes. |
||||||||||||||||||
Service ActivitiesSupporting Community Services #1 Christmas Food Hampers We recently collected donations of goodies for Christmas food hampers for our partner Community Services #1, who do a great job supporting those less fortunate in our community. Demand for their services is very high this year, and we are working hard to make a difference. Lid sorting event for Lids4Kids. In October we held a day long event sorting lids. Lids4Kids Australia is a grass-roots 100% volunteer project which rescues plastic bottle lids from landfill to benefit the environment and repurposes them into sustainable recycled plastic products to benefit kids. More information on Lids4Kids is available at https://www.facebook.com/Lids4KidsAU/. Helping Restocking of Community Services #1 Food Pantry After receiving advice from Community Services #1 that their food pantry was in very high demand resulting from a range of factors including the ACT lockdown and in need of additional supplies. It has been great to be able to mobilise our team very quickly to support those in need in our community. |
||||||||||||||||||
Meeting Venue Options ReviewA small team has been established to consider alternative venue options to the Canberra Club for our meetings. Please contact Jason or Sam Doyle if you would like to provide input to these considerations.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Community Service Events OverviewWe are planning another impactful year in our community. Some of our planned community service events into 2022 are outlined below:
|
||||||||||||||||||
Sundowners Charter Celebrations ConfirmedWe are very pleased to have achieved our chartered Rotary Club status on the 20th of August 2021. This means we are no longer a satellite club of the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise and are now an independent Rotary Club. Chartering culminated a flurry of activities by our hard working Charter Committee - thanks team.  Our Charter Celebration Committee have also been working hard to set up a charter celebration party to be remembered. We were ready to launch the event when Canberra went into lockdown. The event has been rescheduled to the evening of Friday 25th of February 2022 at the National Press Club, from 6.30pm till late. Tickets are $70 per head, and cover a two course meal and a night of fun, along with a look back at the Sundowners road to chartering. Tickets are available here. We are sure it will be a night to remember. Invitations have been sent out to Canberra Rotary Clubs and some of our friends and key supporters. Anyone with a love for Rotary and community service is welcome to join us.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Community service and fundraisingRecent activities Wondering where our birthing kits went? We recently received news that our 3,000 birthing kits packed in May have been distributed by the Birthing Kit Foundation Australia through their overseas partners. The table below provides a summary of exactly where they went. Thank you again to everyone involved in supporting this great cause!
---------- Vinnies Night Patrol - 25 June Our members continue to support the Vinnies Night Patrol -- and June was no exception. Special thanks to Christee, plus friend of the club and Jerrabomberra Rotarian John, for braving the cold to support our community's most vulnerable. ----------- |
||||||||||||||||||
Rotary district and wider news |
||||||||||||||||||
Chartering UpdateOur chartering committee has continued to work hard behind the scenes. At this stage it appears possible that we may be chartered sometime in August, although there are still a few uncertainties. A few of the things that we have been progressing include:
|
||||||||||||||||||
Planning For a Big Rotary Year Ahead The Sundowners kicked off the new Rotary year with two planning sessions. The first addressed club meetings, membership, venue and a number of other matters Chair Sam Saunders led members through a fruitful discussion on what has worked well to date and areas that we can tweak to improve going forward. There were plenty of ideas put forward and a number of decisions made, including facilitating virtual attendance at meetings going forward (probably using Microsoft Teams) and initiating a review of venue alternatives for our meetings. |
||||||||||||||||||
Rotary’s Response to the 1918 Flu Pandemic
This is how Rotary responded to the influenza pandemic that began in 1918 and came in three waves, lasting more than a year. The Rotary Club of Berkeley, California, USA, meets in John Hinkel Park during the 1918 flu pandemic. |
||||||||||||||||||
Rotary at the Start of the United Nations
During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter. Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.”
|
||||||||||||||||||
History of Women in RotaryWomen 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.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Young Inventor Eco-Friendly Bricks Come Full Circle
|
||||||||||||||||||
First Club in Philippines Opens Door to Rotary in Asia
The club would be the only one in the country for more than 12 years. Eventually, Manila club members organized Rotary clubs in the Philippine cities of Cebu (1932) and Iloilo (1933). Iloilo club members then started a club in Bacolod (1937), and Rotary continued to expand across the country. |
An estimated 500 million people worldwide became infected. Many cities closed theaters and cinemas, and placed restrictions on public gatherings. Rotary clubs adjusted their activities while also helping the sick.
Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.
Every hero has an origin story. “I was 10 years old when the entire journey started,” explains Binish Desai. It began with a cartoon called Captain Planet, an animated TV series from the 1990s about an environmentalist with superpowers. Desai can still recite the show’s refrain: Captain Planet, he’s our hero / Gonna take pollution down to zero! “That tagline stuck in my mind,” he says. “I wanted to do something to help Captain Planet.”
In early 1919, Rotarian Roger Pinneo of Seattle, Washington, USA, traveled to the Philippines to try to organize a Rotary club in Manila. Leon J. Lambert, a Manila business leader helped Pinneo establish the club. Several months later, on 1 June 1919, the Rotary Club of Manila was chartered and became the first Rotary club in Asia.