Rotary Theme for July 2025: Maternal & Child Health
July 2025 is dedicated to Rotary International's focus on Maternal and Child Health, highlighting the significance of ensuring the health of mothers and children globally. Key points include:
Healthy Development: Early childhood is crucial for physical, cognitive, and emotional growth.
Empowerment of Families: Healthy mothers raise healthy children, strengthening communities.
What Rotarians can do in July 2025:
Increase Awareness: Organize seminars on prenatal care and nutrition.
Support Healthcare Facilities: Provide funding, donations, and volunteer support.
Implement Community Projects: Establish mobile clinics and vaccination drives.
Collaborate with Partners: Work with NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and local governments to align initiatives.
For more information on the efforts of Rotary, follow this link.
For information on the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health, follow this link.
President's Report
Well, we are back with Springword after a week off due to our Club Changeover function last Monday evening; and what a great night it was for the Club with over 70 registrations, and a fantastic turnout by members and a long list of dignitaries and friends of the Club.
The Club Changeover is always a wonderful opportunity to look back on the year that was and to look forward to what the Club hopes to achieve and accomplish in the year ahead.
The Club was able to honour two Paul Harris Fellows in Bill Bowler and Jerome Pagitz, both have performed great service to our Club and its members and have made a significant difference to the Club; allowing it to function on a highly professional and efficient basis.
Our two Perpetual trophies were also presented to two members who epitomise the values of the previous Club members the trophies are in honour of. The Ross Ingram Awards was presented to Rachel Pagitz and the Duncan Berriman Award to Sheryn Phillips, both these members were more than fitting recipients and the Club is fortunate to have two such vital, passionate members within our ranks.
The committee also saw fit to present a number of ‘certificates of thanks’ to some of the members and friends of the Club who have contributed to our successes in recent times. It is never possible to publicly acknowledge and thank all those that contribute to our Club, but the work of so many members and friends is certainly known and appreciated by me.
Those present on the night were provided with the details of the citations for each of the recognitions and awards given out on the night, for those unable to attend, I can certainly email you a copy.
I was really overwhelmed to be honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition on the night. As we know it’s the highest honour Rotary can bestow and to say I was overcome by its significance is an understatement – so thank you for this recognition; having said this, in fact, to be of service is the reward in itself.
Finally on the Changeover, a big thank you to all the members who assisted in so many ways to make the night a success, but in particular to Valda and Marilyn who were the organisers and driving forces – they did an amazing job.
By now most of you are aware of the stroke Sue Erikson suffered on Friday. Whilst this is a really horrible incident, I’m pleased to be able to say that at this time Sue is showing good progress post-operation to repair the damage. I know we are all praying and sending out positive energy for her quick and full recovery.
All tickets have now been sold for the 5 for 5 raffle – FANTASTIC EFFORT. The raffle draw will be at the Springwood Golf Club on Thursday 11 July at 8pm. Some members are coming to dinner at 6.30pm prior to the draw – if you wish to have dinner and haven’t already let me or Valda know please do so ASAP valdabray@hotmail.com
Now we have our Changeover behind us and we are moving into the new year of Rotary work and commitment to service, I would ask you to all start thinking about what will most likely be our biggest fund raiser for the year – the ‘MONSTER GARAGE SALE at Buckland’ in September. We will be selling all and sundry and almost anything you have that is surplus to your needs will be gratefully received. Also, this event will require a good commitment from all members of the Club. The pricing of goods and the set up for the day is an enormous task and I will be calling on you in coming weeks to see what you can commit to do. Those that are gardeners and have plants that can currently be potted up – please do so. Any ‘crafty people’ among our troops can please think about what you can put your skills to in creating wonderful items for sale, and the cooks out their can start on the jams, preserves, etc – anyone with excess lemons can give them to me to juice and freeze and then just before the sale, I’ll turn the juice into lemon curd/butter. Also don’t forget the books, they are always great sellers
At the next board meeting the committee will be looking to ‘spread the joy’ on the management and organisation of specific community events – more on this in coming weeks.
But for now, please think about the two events still to be covered this month.
Wednesday 8 July – Youth Day Out at the Hub
This roster has been filled – thanks Johannes, Bruce, Frank, Susette, Geoff and Annette
Saturday 18 July – Bunnings BBQ 8 people required
Please contact liz.roberts2783@outlook.com
Thursday 30 July – Ellison School Sports Carnival 8 people required
Please contact liz.roberts2783@outlook.com
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 July - Marilyn
Saturday 18th June - Next Bunnings BBQ
2. SLIDES USED ABOUT OUR CLUB AT THE DISTRICT 9685 CHANGEOVER
3. OUR CHANGEOVER PHOTO ALBUM
Click on the photo album below to view the photos of our Changeover.
4. ORI RAFFLE NIGHT, FRIDAY 3RD JULY.
Tonight’s Ori raffle was very enjoyable - Jerome & I were set up for success by Bruce & Deborah, collecting $358 through the raffle with great support from patrons in the pub & restaurant.
It was pretty cold with nobody outside but a good crowd inside who were very supportive.
Our winner was Greg from Leura who came down to enjoy the band - Sideshow Annie.
We had quite a few conversations about Rotary - lovely to note people are happy to support the good works and the Rotary brand. Thanks to the Ori for providing this fundraising opportunity.
Rachel Pagitz
5. POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR - BLUE MOUNTAINS AREA COMMAND
Please find following the flyer for the 5th August Police Officer of the Year event.
There is a QR code on the flyer to be used for bookings. The Try Booking link for those who can't use the code is http://www.trybooking.com/DNIYA.
Many thanks for your donation and for agreeing to provide at least one raffle prize.
We also greatly appreciate your assistance with the table decorations.
Looking forward to a great night.
Susan Wakefield OAM
Chair of Blue Mountains POOTY
6. YOUTH DIRECTOR'S REPORT - Breakfast Club
That's a wrap (or in this case, a toastie!!) for Term 2 Breakfast Club at Springwood High School. This term we ably assisted Grace, Meg & the MYST team in preparing sandwiches on Monday afternoons and cooking & serving the toasties & juice on Tuesday mornings. We had early starts on Tuesdays, being at the school as the sun was rising towards the end of term! The students definitely appreciated the food & drink and Breakfast club seemed to become more popular the further we progressed through the term. The MYST team are very appreciative of our assistance. My estimate is we have prepared & served over 1800 toasties and over 80 bottles of juice. A huge thank you to Bronwyn, Bruce, Deborah, Bev & Frank for all their help this term, without you it wouldn't happen.
Sheryn Phillips
Youth Director
Our steadfast team hard at work at Springwood HS preparing and serving toasties to students. Many thanks to Bruce and Deborah Wood, Bev Waterson, Frank Ross and the ever helpful Sheryn Phillips.
7. PENRITH HIGHLAND FESTIVAL
8. DISTRICT 9685 AWARDS RECEIVED BY THIS CLUB AT THE RECENT DISTRICT CHANGEOVER
We received two awards at the Awards ceremony - the Dementia Cafe Award, accepted by Dr Geoff Glassock, and the District 9685 Learning and Development Award - Large Club.
Marilyn Kenney accepted the award on behalf of President Liz.
STORIES FROM ROTARY...
1. THE GREAT OUTDOORS
For over 40 years, a Rotary club in Ontario has supported a 200-acre lakeshore summer camp. The camp’s mission is to teach young people the importance of caring for the land they live on and foster a new generation of environmental stewards. Read: For the love of nature.
2. FALLS PREVENTION (ask Marilyn about this!!)
PICTURED: Rotary Club of North Hobart members launch the Steady on Your Feet campaign, using simple, practical messages to engage the community in falls prevention. Pictured with Professor Michele Callisaya. (Photo: Brodie Farrell-Oates).
By translating real-world risk into practical, human-centred action, Rotary’s Steady on Your Feet campaign demonstrates how visible, community-driven initiatives can strengthen public image by creating impact rather than simply promoting it.
Words Roslyn Teirney. Rotary Club of North Hobart, Tas.
Several community members arrived at a Rotary event in Hobart on 1 April after hearing a radio interview that morning. This was a clear sign that a falls prevention campaign was already doing more than raising awareness. It was changing behaviour.
The Steady on Your Feet Falls Prevention Awareness campaign of the Rotary Club of North Hobart, Tas, builds on the powerful model developed by the Rotary Club of Lismore West, NSW, and shared widely by David Barnes across District 9640 and at Rotary South Pacific conferences. North Hobart Rotary adapted this proven approach to local needs and then extended it with fresh ideas designed to engage today’s audiences.
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalisation in older Australians, yet many are preventable. Central to the campaign’s message is that prevention is active: building muscle strength, bone density and balance, alongside simple environmental changes, can significantly reduce risk and support independence.
To read more, click on the photo above.
3. THE ROAD TO MUDGEE 2027 CONFERENCE
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!
Our Theme: Connect. Collaborate. Celebrate
This theme is the very heart of Rotary, isn't it? It speaks to the incredible friendships we forge, the innovative ideas we share, and the profound difference we make together through dedicated service. A District Conference is so much more than just a gathering; it's a dynamic opportunity to recharge your Rotary spirit, gain fresh perspectives, and strengthen the bonds that make our district so special.
Connect with Passionate Leaders
Discover new friendships and strengthen existing ones. Mudgee offers a perfect setting to reconnect with Rotarians from across the district and share your passion for service.
Collaborate on Inspiring Ideas
Brainstorm impactful projects and share best practices. This conference is your chance to collaborate with fellow changemakers and ignite new initiatives for our communities.
Yours in Rotary,
Michele Ellery
District Governor
Rotary District 9685
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK...
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. – Marcel Proust
... and now for something different ...
A man was driving through a sparely populated area on western New South Wales one spring evening. The road was deserted and he had not seen a soul for what seemed like hours. Suddenly his car started to cough and splutter and the engine slowly died away, leaving him sitting on the side of the road in total silence.
He popped the hood and looked to see if there was anything that he could do to get it going again. Unfortunately, he had a limited knowledge of cars, so all he could do was look at the engine, feeling despondent As he stood looking at the gradually fading light of his flashlight, he cursed that he had not put in new batteries, like he had promised himself.
Suddenly, through the inky shadows, came a deep voice, "It's your fuel pump."
The man raised up quickly, striking his head on the underside of the hood. "Who said that?" he demanded.
There were two horses standing in the fenced field alongside the road and the man was amazed when the nearest of the two horses repeated, "It's your fuel pump. Tap it with your flashlight, and try it again."
Confused, the man tapped the fuel pump with his flashlight, turned the key and sure enough, the engine roared to life. He muttered a short thanks to the horse and screeched away.
When he reached the next town, he ran into the local hotel. "Gimme a large beer, please!" he said.
A farmer sitting at the bar looked at the man's ashen face and asked, "What's wrong, man? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"It's unbelievable," the man said and recalled the whole tale to the farmer.
The farmer took a sip of his beer and looked thoughtful. "A horse, you say? Was it by any chance a white horse?"
The man replied to the affirmative. "Yes, it was! Am I crazy?"
"No, you ain't crazy. In fact, you're lucky," said the farmer, "because that black horse don't know nothin' about cars.
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.
