What Is your Rotary Club doing to focus on Maternal and Child Health in July 2025?
Every day mothers risk their lives giving birth and millions of children die each year from treatable, preventable causes.At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. To help reduce this rate, we provide immunizations and antibiotics to babies, improve access to essential medical services, and support trained healthcare providers for mothers and their children. Your Rotary projects ensure sustainability by empowering the local community to take ownership of healthcare training programs.
President's Report
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Springword and I thank Marilyn for all her efforts in producing this newsletter, there is a significant amount of work required to put this together each week and she does a fabulous job.
As I’m sure most of you are aware the Ori Café ceased operation last week and at this time the Ori Hotel can’t offer us a meal service. The Board did meet there last week and the hotel management did make us very welcome with tea, coffee service, cakes and biscuits which was greatly appreciated. At this time, we have moved our meetings to the Springwood Sports Club who have very kindly accommodated us at very short notice. The general Club meeting this coming Monday 21st July will be held at the Sports Club in Function Room 2. We can order a meal at the bistro informing them you are at the Rotary meeting and they will attempt to have them ready at approx. the same time; to facilitate this I’d ask that you order your meal by 6.45pm. The Sports Club has great facilities and it will be good to see just how the meeting goes – I look forward to seeing you there.As previously noted, the Board met on the 14th and there was a lot on the agenda to discuss. A copy of the minutes of that meeting will be forwarded to you in the near future and I’m more than happy to discuss any matter considered at that meeting with you.
Whilst the directors of the Club undertake the day to day administration of our Club, we are there to firstly serve the spirit and ethos of Rotary, but importantly to serve the best interests of the Club members. Please reach out to me or any other director to discuss ways we can better do the job or to bring your ideas and thoughts to us.
I ‘attended’ a Zoom meeting of the District Governor (DG), District Chairs and the Presidents of our District on Saturday morning, it was a great opportunity to hear what DG Michele envisages for her year and the plans and projects that are currently underway. Michele spoke to her passion project of improving the mental health of young children who are experiencing difficulties, and towards that goal she and her husband David are reaching out to all District 9685 Club members to become involved in focusing on funding a PhD scholarship that will contribute to vital research into mental health in children 0-12 years. I’m sure we will hear more on the project as the year progresses.
Also at this online meeting, it was great to hear our Club being given a call out for the significant contribution made towards flood relief in far North NSW. Sallianne McClelland the President of the Wahroonga Club who is heading the flood relief program, noted our Clubs’ efforts in coordinating the donation of school supplies, stating they will make a real difference to so many school children in the flood impacted areas around Taree.
Please note in your diaries/calendars the 2nd visioning session that we will have on 4th August. I would encourage you all to be there. Once we have completed this visioning we will move forward on developing our plans and projects for this year. This is important foundation building for this Club year and will provide direction and purpose to our volunteering. We work quite hard in a number of areas, so it’s important that those efforts are as effective as possible and provide the very best outcomes for both us as members, plus those we strive to serve.
I’m looking forward to catching up with John Fuller and his fellow Club members from Salamander Bay on Saturday 26 July at the Sports Club, where we will join in fellowship to celebrate Yulefest. It’s a great opportunity to maintain our link with John, plus to meet a number of his Club members.
In closing, what a good, fun day we had at the Bunnings BBQ, the weather was good and lots of people were doing their Saturday Bunnings jaunt. All three teams worked well together and spread the Rotary joy with all. As always occurred when you get a few Rotarians together a lot of great ideas for our Club were discussed, I’m looking forward to some of those being fleshed out in the weeks and months ahead.
Cheers Liz
Liz Roberts
President 2025-2026
The Rotary Club of Springwood
COMMUNITY SERVICE
AWARDS PRESENTED AT THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGWOOD CHANGEOVER 2025
A number of awards were presented at the Club's Changeover from 2024-25 to 2025-26. These significant presentations are to recognise the achievements of some dedicated members and friends of the Club. The awards also included a PHF for Kevin Richards who was mentioned in the last issue of the Springword.
Member Sheryn Phillips received a PHF Award for her efforts over recent years with Youth. Sheryn was nominated by Club Member Bruce Wood.
Melissa Brown received a PHF for her work with the Club to set up an accounting system and sponsorship for our Club. She was nominated by Club Member Adam Law
Dave Moalem received a PHF for his work in the Fire Service over many years. He was nominated by his daughter and Club Member, Deana Atkins
Al Kellaway was awarded the Duncan Berriman Award for service to the Club. Al has worked diligently over the year to make our Club vibrant and interesting, and well deserves this award.
Bruce Wood, for all of his outstanding work in the Community Service portfolio has been awarded the Ross Ingram Award for Community Service, another well deserved award
Now Past President, Frank Ross was awarded a PHF with one sapphire. A truly well deserved recognition of his service as President of the Club for the last two years. A quiet achiever.
Latest News
1. DATES TO LOOK FORWARD TO
Ellison PS Sports Day at Tom Hunter Park 25th July
Yulefest on Saturday 26 July 6.30 for 7.oo pm, Sports Club, Springwood
Ronald McDonalds Meals From the Heart on Friday 1st August
ORI BBQ on Friday 1st August
2. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Rotary isn’t about attendance, it’s about involvement, doing what you can when you can. You are always welcome at The Rotary Club of Springwood - contact Liz Roberts (President and Membership Director) on 0414 395 752 to find out more.
3. LAUNCH OF GREATER BLUE MOUNTAINS ROTARY ON SUNDAY 27 JULY
We have a number of our Rotarians attending the launch of the new combined Rotary Club in the upper mountains area. perhaps you would like to join us to make a table of Springwood members.
Please find invite below for the Launch of Greater Blue Mountains Rotary on Sunday 27 July at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre. Please purchase your tickets by Monday 21 July at this link:
Rotary stand alone stall will be held at the invitation of Buckland .All proceeds of sale from the Rotary stall, retained by Rotary. Light meals and drinks available at the on-site café.
We are seeking donations of saleable goods, including household items, furniture, antique/vintage items, new/near new clothing and general bric-a-brac.
1. DAYS FOR GIRLS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA: SEE OUR IMPACT IN ACTION
At Days for Girls, local leaders are at the heart of our mission. Across the globe, these passionate changemakers are delivering menstrual health education and access to sustainable, DfG washable pad Kits—supporting their communities and others with knowledge, dignity, and care.
From Nepal to Uganda, South America to the Pacific Islands, our work is creating real, lasting change—one Kit and one conversation at a time.
Want to see the impact for yourself? Watch this short video from the Days for Girls Morobe Team in Papua New Guinea!
We would like to acknowledge the Gundungurra and Dharug peoples past, present and emerging as the traditional owners of the land where our Club resides and pay our respects to them.
