Did you know that each month Rotary International highlights a specific Area of Focus or theme that reflects our commitment to service around the world?
These monthly themes provide a wonderful opportunity for clubs to educate, inspire, and engage members by incorporating them into weekly meetings, speaker programs, service projects, social media posts, and club newsletters.
Consider beginning each month with a brief introduction to the Rotary theme and how your club is making an impact in that area. It's a simple yet meaningful way to connect local service with Rotary's global mission.
From Membership & New Club Development to The Rotary Foundation, Youth Service, Environmental Stewardship, and more, these themes remind us of the many ways Rotarians create lasting change in our communities and around the world.
Which monthly theme resonates most with your club's service activities?
President's Report
Hello and welcome to this weeks’ edition of the Springword.
It was pleasing to see so many of our members at last weeks meeting where we zoomed into a Q&A session on Youth Protection and Working with Children (WWC), hosted by DG Michele Ellery and supported by Michelle Westlund, District Youth Protection Officer and PDG John Dodd OAM. The session provided details on how the Zone came to develop the recently introduced additional WWC document and set about answering a number of questions that have been raised by members across the District on the process. Whilst I believe a good number of questions were answered there were still some obvious details that require further clarification and DG Michele confirmed further advise will be provided to Clubs and members in the near future.
We should as a Club be doubly chuffed to now have in person DG Michele attending this weeks’ meeting. I recently met with Michele at our Monster Garage Sale and she reiterated just how much she enjoys attending Springwood and taking in the genuine warmth and camaraderie the Club has. I would encourage as many members and friends of the Club to be at this week’s meeting to hear from Michele and enjoy her ever exuberant company.
On Saturday the Club co-hosted the BBQ at the Bee Farm Road, Halloween Street Party. What a fantastic evening it was with so many of the local community (and quite a number from further afield) enjoying a night of fun and frights. Children and adults alike were dressed in their scariest bests and a lot of excitement and enjoyment was had by all. This year our Club joined with the Springwood Public School on hosting the BBQ with our usual sausage sizzle and hot dogs on offer, with the addition of chicken skewers cooked by the school. The profits from the BBQ will be shared with the school and we were pleased as a Club to be able to work with the school in their fund raising efforts. On behalf of the Club a very big thank you to Deana, Shannon and Logan for all the work and effort they put into this event and for allowing our Club to utilise the evening with some fund raising. Finally, an enormous thank you to the BBQ team of Rachel, Jerome and our special friend of the Club, Paul Tapuska, they never stopped from start to finish and we served many hundreds of hungry ghosts, ghouls, goblins, wizards, witches, warlocks, fairies, Harry Potter lookalikes with cast & crew and numerous other weird and wonderful creatures – a great evening was had by all. And in the fading light our own Queen Bee could be seen scouring the street picking up lolly papers and bits and pieces – well done Deana!
On Saturday 14 November, Honorary Club member Robin Ingram PHF, will be hosting the Wellness Day for Seniors at her property, The Olde Farm, 35 Purvines Rd, Yellow Rock. Previous years events have been super well received and this years’ program looks exciting and will include - Advice on looking after your body and mind; Cost savings and programs for seniors; Guided gentle exercises and Relaxation in the gardens. There is a $20 entry fee and morning tea and refreshments will be provided; attendees are to bring their own lunch. RSVP by 5 November for catering purposes to rossandrobin@outlook.com
Again, please note in your diaries, Monday 14 December for the Club Christmas Party. Paul and Sue Erickson will welcome us to their beautiful home, and it promises to be another wonderful evening of food, fun and festivities. Valda will be coordinating the pre party arrangements for Club members including food to be prepared, secret Santa presents, etc.
I’m looking forward to seeing you on Monday, I should be a wonderful meeting.
Cheers…Liz
Liz Roberts
President 2025-2026
The Rotary Club of Springwood
LATEST NEWS …
1. MORE DATES TO LOOK FORWARD TO ...
Rotary Garden Care for October - Bronwyn
Monday, 26th October - Zoom Webinar with Michele Ellery re Working With Children
Monday, 26th October - Melbourne Cup Celebrations
Saturday, 31st October, Halloween at Deana's
2. TONIGHT'S MEETING, MONDAY 2nd NOVEMBER
Tonight, we are having a number of experiences. Our guest speaker is DG Michele Ellery who will be addressing any concerns about the documentation required for Volunteering in Rotary. This is following on for the Zooim meeting that we watched last Monday night.
However, with Melbourne Cup tomorrow, we are also having our very own Melbourne Cup Race, plus sweeps to draw horses so that the fun can continue during the race tomorrow. The winners of the sweeps will receive their prizes next Monday.
Come along!! Join in our festivities, but bring cash including coins for the sweeps.
3. SENIORS EXPO
Susette Flemming participated at the Senior Expo to promote our Club's DCaf where
Susette gave out brochures to advertise Springwood DCaf. The lady with her is Anne Sargent from Springwood Hospital Auxiliary. Susette made a big thing of the Garage Sale and many people were asking her about it on the day.
Many thanks for your work, Susette.
4. 2026 CHAMPION AWARDS CEREMONY FOR SHELTERBOX
We had such a great night presenting 112 awards to Rotary Clubs around Australia for their work raising funds and sheltering people in need.
We started these awards 8 years ago and we’re so pleased this year that we had such a high number of Gold and Silver Award winners. You can find all the winners listed here on our website.
Unfortunately we had some technical issues on the night showing our videos so please find the links to the videos that we showed during the night. If you’d like these sent as a file, please email me.
Thank you again for joining us to celebrate the amazing work that Rotary does to shelter millions of people around the world. And congratulations to all our 2026 ShelterBox Champion Award winners!
Kieryn Deutrom
ShelterBox Australia
Volunteer Program Manager
On the banner to the right, our Club was listed as one of the winners bottom left corner - you will just have to believe me!
5. HALLOWEEN AT DEANA'S
What a successful Halloween celebration happening at the home of Deana and Shannon Atkins. A lot of work for those who wer involved, but alo a lot of fun!!
5. JUST A BIT OF FUN AT THE ROTARY SOUTH PACIFIC CONFERENCE
6. WENTWORTH FALLS TAFE LUNCH
At 12.00pm on Tuesday, 10th November, we are having another of our enjoyable lunches at Wentworth Falls TAFE. If you would like to join the fun and the fantastic chatter of the day, please let Valda Bray know that you would like to attend at:
valdabray@hotmail.com / 0414 974 686
7. CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT RICHMOND
STORIES FROM ROTARY...
1.WHAT'S NEXT AFTER ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE?
Hans Lee, a Rotarian and former Rotary Youth Exchange student, suggests that Rotex alumni associations are
what comes next for participants in Youth Exchange. Learn about Hans and his reflections on how Youth Exchange alumni stay connected through Rotex alumni associations and how these associations serve as a bridge back to Rotary.
Click on the photo to read the blog.
2. SAVE THE DATE - ROTARY DISTRICT 9685 CUP FULL OF CONNECTION PICNIC
Event: Cup-full of Connection Picnic
Date: Feb 07, 2027 11:00 am - Feb 07, 2027 3:00 pm
Location:
John Wearn Reserve
Balaka Drive
Carlingford, NSW Australia View map
Let’s reconnect, recharge and refill together!
Join us for a relaxed, family-friendly Rotary picnic in the park — a wonderful
opportunity to enjoy friendship, fresh air and fun with your Rotary family and
community. John Wearn Reserve is a vibrant district park offering recreational features
for all ages, including:
• A safari-themed playground
• Picnic shelters and BBQs
• Walking, scooting and riding areas
Whether you’re bringing the kids, inviting friends, or catching up with fellow
Rotarians, this is a perfect day to slow down and strengthen our
connections.
Bring your family, bring your joy, and bring your picnic rug!
Sunday 7 February 2027
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
3. SAFE FAMILIES, HEALTHY MINDS
Please join us online for the Rotary Action Group for Mental Health Initiatives and Rotary SAFE Families' Webinar Part 2
Weblink will be sent after registration on Wednesday 11 November
4. THE ROAD TO MUDGEE
David and I are absolutely thrilled to invite you to our Rotary District 9685 Conference 2027, held in the picturesque regional town of Mudgee, NSW. This conference is a highlight for our district, and we can't wait for you to be a part of it!
Yours in Rotary,
Michele Ellery
District Governor
Rotary District 9685
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK...
... and now for something different ...
Acknowledgement of Country
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.
