The Rotary theme for the month of September is Basic Education and Literacy, which usually brings to mind ensuring that children have an education and learning skills that will support them in later life. Interestingly there are several facts that may or may not surprise you. More than 776 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate, that’s 17% of the world’s adult population.
Rotary’s goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults. Rotary members worldwide fight adult illiteracy by working with local advocates to offer community literacy programs.
President's Report
We had a very interesting meeting last Monday with the Winmalee High School MUNA peace prize winners providing some insight in the work they did in preparing for the Canberra event and the experiences they had over that very exciting weekend. The Club’s thanks to Cassie and Aurora for sharing with us their significant achievement.
What a wonderful day of community support our Club had on Sunday with the provision of the sausage sizzle at the Springwood United Football Club presentation. The weather was glorious, with it being warm and sunny, with not a hint of a breeze. We were asked to provide for 600 sausages on bread, that was to give each child a ‘sizzle’ plus any the supporters may have wanted. Well, the expectations were more than realised with our supplied 600 sausages gone by mid-morning, we were then over to Coles to clear their shelves of beef sausages, with the Football Club in quick succession off to IGA for a further supply. Having said all this; we still didn’t have enough to provide for the last 40 or so young footballers. I think for 2027 the Football Club will be doing a bit of a rethink about just how popular a sausage sizzle is on a lovely Spring day.
So, whilst we were busy for the entire day, it really was wonderful to see the kids so pleased with their trophies and the praised that was heaped on them by their coaches, Club officials and their parents and grandparents; really a good day had by all. My sincere thanks to Pat & Alan, Deana & Logan, Bruce & Deborah, Frank, Al, Bill, Marilyn, Warwick and Tony Bishop for a magnificent effort. Plus lovely to see Cassie (from MUNA) again on Sunday at the Football presentation – such a bubbly, enthusiastic young women!
Our next big one is this coming Saturday the 19th with the Springwood Festival. I thank all those that have volunteered to date and welcome any others who haven’t expressed an interest in being there but could give at least a couple of hours or more to lighten the load on others. Please email if you would like to be there liz.roberts2783@outlook.com
There will be no general meeting this week – Monday 14 September as the committee will be having their monthly board meeting – as always, all members are invited to attend if they so wish.
Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible for the Springwood Festival.
Tuesday 15th September - Cuppa Time For Dementia -11.00 am Katoomba RSL
Sunday 27th September - National Trust visiting group - we are providing lunch
Friday, 23rd October, 2026 - Train Ride to End Polio
Saturday, 24th October - Buckland Monster Garage Sale
Sunday 25th October - Men's Mental Health Breakfast, Springwood Sports Club
2. SHELTERBOX REPORT
Here are the latest key points on our Nepal response.
We are in Kathmandu distributing tarpaulins sleeping mats, rope, and pillows to support thousands of people left without homes after the flash floods. This is with Rotary and Islamic Relief.
Family tents, tarpaulins, ropes, and solar lights have also arrived in Kathmandu.
Helicopters will take these items to warehouses close to remote villages. This is with People in Need (PiN).
Helicopters remain the only way to reach affected people in some areas with life-saving assistance.
Damaged roads and collapsed bridges continue to isolate upstream communities and severely restrict relief access.
As search and rescue efforts turn to recovery, we'll be reaching people in some of the hardest to reach areas.
Thousands of people are living in displacement sites in Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, and Kathmandu.
The risk of further flooding remains, making relief and recovery efforts more challenging.
Donations will fund essential shelter aid for families who have lost their homes to the devastating floods.
If donations exceed the amount needed for our Nepal appeal, it will go to emergency shelter and other essential aid items wherever the need is greatest.
Al Kellaway
3. AT OUR LAST MEETING
At the Club meeting last Monday, we had two representatives from the very successful MUNA team from Winmalee HS, Cassie and Aurora. They were outstanding! They were introduced by our Youth Director, Sheryn Phillips and thanked by President Liz Roberts.
At the Heat event held at Nepean HS in May, the team won the Peace Prize, a remarkable achievement. Following on from that, they were then invited to the International MUNA held in Canberra. On 22 - 23 August 2026, passionate debate once again filled the historic House of Representatives Chamber at Canberra's Old Parliament House (now MoAD, the Museum of Australian Democracy). This time they won the Peace Prize again, called the Totenhofer Peace Prize, being the winners of one of the four major awards on the day. Congratulations girls!! This is a fantastic achievement and we are very proud that we sponsored you in the District MUNA.
Photos from the National MUNA held
at the old Parliament House
4. FOOTBALL PRESENTATION BBQ AT WINMALEE PS
Our BBQ was called on to supply sausage sandwiches for the young people at the event. See our President's report for what happened. It was a lovely day and all of the youing people were polite, happy and appreciative, and it was a joy to help. A bit disappointing that we ran out of food despite all of our efforts to buy more. Regardless, our troops did an amazing job.
5. NATIONAL TRUST WOMENS COMMITTEE TOUR GROUP
Click on the image below for more details.
On Sunday, 27th September, our Club is hosting the National Trust Womens Committee Tour for lunch and a tour of Christ Church, Springwood.
We need some help from our members and friends. If you could provide a plate of sanwiches or a plate of cakes, please let Marilyn Kenney know (0404 041 325). We would need these by the afternoon of Saturday, 26th or first thing on Sunday morning, 27th. All food needs to be carefully sealed to preserve its freshness for the 27th.
6. SPRINGWOOD FESTIVAL
The Springwood Festival is a big event in Springwood. We need all hands on deck. If you haven't contacted Liz Roberts yet about volunteering on the day, please do so ASAP. It will prove to be a very busy day and it would be great to have shifts so that we don't kill our volunteers with fatigue. It is a fun day with the Springwood community and everyone who helps always says that it is a great one in which to be involved.
7. 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
8. GREAT WHITEWATER DUCK RACE
Please mark in your calendar Sunday 18th October the annual Great Rotary Whitewater Duck Race. Tickets are now on sale to purchase an excitable duck to take on the challenging course at the Olympic Venue Penrith Whitewater Rafting. Please contact Liz Roberts for the purchase of your tickets liz.roberts2783@outlook.com
9. CUPPA TIME FOR DEMENTIA
You are welcome to attend one of theRotary Dcaf special events, at Katoomba and Lithgow. You will hear from Anthony Parker from Dementia Australia, listen to music from Katoomba Mens Shed band share a bit of finger food, have a cuppa and get a raffle ticket and donate to Dementia Australia
If you can’t come, please scan QR code to make a donation if you wish
STORIES FROM ROTARY...
1. WATCH: ECO-BRICK BY ECO-BRICK
Click on the image below to view the video about this Interact Video from Lima, Peru.
2. WORLD END POLIO DAY 24TH OCTOBER
End Polio Day 24 October World Polio Day on 24 October is much more than a date on the calendar. It’s a vital time for Rotary and Rotaract clubs around the world to join our partners, supporters, and public health advocates to raise awareness and funds that will help us end polio for good.
3. ROTARY RESPONDS NEPAL FLOOD DISASTER – WAYS TO HELP
4. 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!
Yours in Rotary,
Michele Ellery
District Governor
Rotary District 9685
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK...
Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible!' — Audrey Hepburn
... 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.
