Most of us are familiar with the reference to the “Twelve Days of Christmas” but did you know about the “Twelve Months of Rotary”? Rotary has identified a theme for each month. July is the first month of the Rotary year and is when the annual theme kicks in. It is also the month when new leadership takes over at Clubs, Districts and at Rotary International.
This month's theme is Membership and New Club Development Month, and this year’s theme is “Create Lasting Impact.”
The monthly themes are meant to highlight the wide range of Rotary’s good work and give clubs some suggestions, timing, and guidance for their programs and activities.
President's Report
Welcome to this weeks’ edition of the Springword. Whilst we have had beautiful weather in the later part of the working week, that certainly didn’t extend into the weekend. Later in the Springword you will see a report by Rachel on the Running Wild marathon on Sunday. A number of members and friends of the Club attended and provided a sausage sizzle for the runners and the Running Wild volunteers. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Rachel, Jerome, Al, Frank, Belinda, Paul and Alison Tapuska, Annette & Stephen, Rob Hildon & Nyree Waterson. Their willingness to be at Glenbrook for this event allowed me to have a family weekend where we celebrated birthdays for my daughter, son-in-law, grandson and sister – regardless of the weather that put paid to outside activities and lunches, we had a great time that extended late into Sunday afternoon.
Last Monday the Club committee held its monthly board meeting, there was a lot on the agenda and your committee is working hard to ensure the Club is meeting its goals and continuing to working on building and maintaining a healthy Club environment.
I would ask each member to think about people they know who would seek to be involved in community service and you feel they would be a good fit for our Club. I’m more than happy to talk with you about this and to assist in any way I can. Our Club has targeted five now members in the year in line with our District Governor Michele’s initiative. Our Club will certainly be stronger with a growth in membership and already we have seen the benefit of this growth with our five more recent new members. To allow our Club to continue to serve the community the addition of ‘new blood’ will enliven us and make our Club more enjoyable for all.
I look forward to this weeks’ meeting and hearing from our speakers, and don’t forget next week the 24th we have the Club Assembly with our District Governor attending – it will be an evening not to miss so please use your best endeavours to be there.
Finally, this coming week I will be sending out emails seeking volunteers for our upcoming events, I hope you will give due consideration to your ability to assist the Club and undertake service via your participation.
Sunday 13 September - Springwood United Football Presentation - Please contact -
Monday, 24th August - Club Assembly plus visit from District Governor Michele Ellery
Friday, 23rd October, 2026 - Train Ride to End Polio
2. OUR EXCHANGE STUDENT - NAYA
Some of the experiences of our Exchange Student, Naya, over the last week or so.
This was Naya’s week (not in date order).
1. Monday our failed attempt to go to Echo Point to see The Three Sisters. So cold we had to retreat to Leura cafe to warm up and have lunch.
2. Tuesday Photos taken by Naya’s while she was exploring Circular Quay, the Opera House and the Botanical Gardens and getting great views of the Harbour bridge from both land and sea.
3. Wednesday a trip down to Featherdale Farm to see some Australian animals up close.
4. Thursday some shopping at Penrith Plaza. No photos taken but lots of shopping done.
5. A nice lunch up at Wentworth Falls before enjoying a walk by the lake.
3. VOLUNTEER INFORMATION AND DECLARATION FORMS.
Could you please give me the completed Forms as soon as possible so that we can begin the task of the referee checks. If you can't bring them on a Monday night and would like me to collect them from you then please contact me. Either phone/message or email.
Many thanks
Geoffrey
Dr Geoffrey Glassock AM PHF
Youth Protection Officer 2026/2027
4. SERVICE ABOVE SELF (AND MUD!): RUNNING WILD GLENBROOK MARATHON
BBQ, Sunday 16th August.
Despite gloomy skies and rather muddy conditions underfoot, the Rotary spirit was shining bright at today’s Running Wild Glenbrook Marathon event! With several club members unavailable, our wonderful Friends of the Club stepped up in a massive way to ensure the day was a resounding success.
The teamwork began well before race day. A huge thank you goes to Friend of the Club Paul Tapuska, who was instrumental from start to finish. On Saturday afternoon, Paul helped Frank transport the trailer to Glenbrook, and took care of collecting the bread and sausages from Coles and IGA. Bright and early on Sunday morning, Paul was at Buckland to help Jerome and me load up, before heading down to Glenbrook to set up where Al was already getting underway.
Setting up in the mud brought its own challenges—including a brief marquee mystery involving a cover that didn’t quite match the frame (despite Al’s enthusiastic encouragement!)—but the team took it all in stride, and thankfully the rain held off enough to keep spirits high.
The enthusiasm and willingness to help across the board was incredible:
Annette and Stephen Brown arrived well ahead of their rostered time, jumping straight into the action.
Belinda arrived ready to go alongside Rob, who stepped in at the last minute for Hugo after an unfortunate encounter with some wasps. Thank you both for your fantastic flexibility and dedication—and we send our best wishes to Hugo for a speedy recovery!
Nyree arrived at just the right time and was a superstar when it came time to pack everything down.
Although I had to duck away for a few hours for a prior commitment, I knew the BBQ was in the most capable hands with Jerome, Paul, and the rest of the crew. Sure enough, when the first runners crossed the finish line, hot snags were ready and waiting. The warming sustenance was warmly received by both the brave competitors and the hardworking event volunteers alike.
All in all, the gloomy weather couldn't put a dampener on the wonderful fellowship and camaraderie shared between our team, the runners, and the spectators. In addition to a fantastic day out, the event delivered a tidy income for the Club through our service fee, plus around $250 in direct sales to spectators.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who lent a hand—our Friends of the Club truly went above and beyond!
Rachel Pagitz
STORIES FROM ROTARY...
1. A CHAT WITH MALALA
Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate, shares her journey of self-discovery in a new memoir titled Finding My Way. At just 15 years old, Yousafzai was thrust onto the public stage after the Taliban's attack on her life — a failed effort to silence the young activist. Today, she continues her work of empowering and educating girls around the world through her nonprofit, Malala Fund. The senior producer and host of Taiwan Talks, Yin Khvat, sits down with Yousafzai to discuss mental health, identity, and her activism.
Click on the image below to view the Podcast about Malala
Extract from Rotary in Review, 14th August 2026
2. RDU SUPPLIES – YOUR OFFICIAL LICENSED SUPPLIER OF ROTARY
We’ve refreshed Rotary.org to make it easier for you to find what you need while exploring what Rotary has to offer. The updated site features a more modern look, improved search, and simpler navigation. These improvements are possible through your annual membership dues. Visit the new Rotary.org today!
5. DOES YOUR CLUB MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION ONLINE?
Extract from Rotary South Pacific monthly newsletter
Public image and first impressions are an important part how people perceive Rotary.
As we get settled into a new Rotary year, many Rotarians have come into new club roles. Every member can play a part in ensuring Rotary’s public image is top notch.
Here are some things you can do right now to ensure your club is making a great first impression.
Update the contact details on your club website. Your website can be an entry point for any community members who want to get in touch with you. Make sure any details are up to date and your hyperlinks are working. When updating your club’s contact info, also ensure someone from your club will answer any enquiries promptly.
Write a good news story on behalf of your club. If the latest update on your website’s news/blog section is from a couple of years ago, people may assume your club is out of action. Simple posts about your club’s activities or service projects are vital to make a good first impression.
Post regularly on social media. If you don’t have enough club material share, you can repost or share content from the Rotary South Pacific Facebook and Instagram pages to show the great work of Rotary in our part of the world.
Check your club’s branding. Remember to check your club’s t-shirts, banners, aprons, etc. and make sure they are branded correctly. Rotary’s brand centre helps you create club or district logos.
Tell your Rotary stories. Now your essentials are up to date, remember to talk about the lasting impact of what Rotary does! What impact has your club made in the last few years? If you’re not sure what story to tell, you can always start by sharing either why you joined Rotary, or why you stay with Rotary.
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...
... 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.
