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The work of Rotary begins in the community, and every community has its own unique needs and concerns. While we serve in countless ways, we’ve focused our efforts in six key areas to maximize our impact. These areas encompass some of the world’s most critical and widespread humanitarian needs. Rotary members planning new service projects are encouraged to consider these areas and the many opportunities for innovative projects within them.
President's Report
Hello and nice to have you viewing this weeks’ edition of the Springword.
This week will be a short message from me as firstly the Club wasn’t engaged in a specific, ‘call to service’ which is a bit of a change from our fairly constant weekend activities. Having said this, it is probably a good thing and a welcome respite for some, as I know we keep members and friends well engaged in any number of community events, as this is our major source of funds.
As we are all now well rested!!! I’m looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the Club’s monster garage sale next Saturday 24 October. A good number of members and friends have put their hand up to assist with set up on both the Thursday and Friday and then to be there for the event on the day. I’m still to finalise several setup matters with the Buckland staff and I hope to do this on Monday; once this is all confirmed I will be in touch with all the volunteers with specific details. Also, early on Sunday 25 October there is the Men’s Mental Health BBQ event at the Springwood Sports Club. Rachel has kindly agreed to manage this event and has organised a team of volunteers. I’m sure she would be pleased to see members and friends on that Sunday morning and I’m sure it is going to be a great event.
I’m looking forward to this weeks’ meeting and specifically our guest speaker, Colin Semmler who will speak to an historical overview of the Blue Mountains Hospital Auxiliary. The work of any hospital auxiliary is essential to the ‘health’ of a hospital, as they raise much needed funds for items that may not be able to be provided by NSW Health as required. The provision of health care in Australia is an enormous budget item for the government and at any given time there is certainly more requests for assistance than the government provides – hence the importance of organisations such as the hospital auxiliary.
Finally, please note in your diary the Club Assembly meeting on Monday 26 October. We will be zooming into a presentation by DG Michele Ellery where matters relating to the Working with Children requirements will be addressed. You will all be aware of the more recent request by the District for additional verification documentation and this has raised some questions; I’m hoping DG Michele will be able to provide more clarity around this matter. As it’s a Club Assembly it is scheduled for members only.
Looking forward to seeing you at this weeks’ meeting and then on Saturday at the garage sale.
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
Friday, 23rd October, 2026 - Train Ride to End Polio
Saturday, 24th October - Buckland Monster Garage Sale
Sunday, 25th October - Men's Mental Health BBQ and Car Show at the Sports Club
Sunday, 25th October - Movie Night at Glenbrook
Monday, 26th October - Zoom Webinar with Michele Ellery re Working With Children
Saturday, 31st October, Halloween at Deana's
2. SAFE GROUNDS, HEALING SPACES: A MOWER FOR GRACE’S PLACE
Following an inspiring site visit, the Rotary Club of Springwood identified a critical need at Gracie’s Place (Operated by the Homicide Victims’ Support Group) - a world first, purpose built residential trauma recovery centre providing unique specialised care for children and families affected by homicide across District 9685, throughout NSW and beyond. To maintain the expansive, peaceful sanctuary essential for therapeutic healing and outdoor play discussion with Martha Tabour the CEO (and a fellow Rotarian) and her maintenance staff was how the project of a Ride on Mower came into being.
Our club actively championed this cause organising a successful fund raising morning tea, donating hand made quilts, books and toys, and partnering with the neighbouring Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains who made a significant donation from their Saturday markets.
This achievement represents a monumental effort for a small club, serving as a testament to our regard for their work, and our dedication to Service above Self. As the initiator of this project, I am conscious of how much effort was put into this endeavour by Valda Bray, Marilyn Kenney, Rachel Pagitz (who wrote the Grant application – some of which I have included here) and to those women in our club who produced such magnificent quilts. We discovered that each child who stays at the Centre chooses their quilt and then takes it home when they leave. So, a continuing need!!
I anticipate that the Mower will be delivered in early November when I have sorted out a date with Martha and let our District Governor know as she might like to attend the hand over. We will keep you updated and again my sincere thanks to all who made this idea a reality.
In deep appreciation to you all,
Geoffrey Glassock
3. LAST MEETING, MONDAY 12th OCTOBER.
Last Monday, we held a social meeting at the Sports Club. There were games and trivia about 1926, the year 80 year olds were born. Really easy questions where a score of 3 out of 20 was really good !! Then we celebrated Bruce Wood's 80th birthday before he left for Penang with cake, good cheer and the compulsory singing of happy birthday. Bruce was then presented with OBE oscar (ie. over bl**** eighty). A great relaxed night with many thanks to Geoff for the games and trivia quix, and to Valda Bray who stuffed us with trophies, chocolates and cake. Without these indulgences for which Valda has received world renown, The night would have not gone as well. So three cheers for Bruce (OBE), Geoff and Valda, both of whom put a lot of planning and preparation into the evening.
4. MONSTER GARAGE SALE AT BUCKLAND
5. CHARITY MOVIE NIGHT, GLENBROOK CINEMA, 6pm - FOOD, 7pm - MOVIE
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
STORIES FROM ROTARY...
1. NATIONAL SAUSAGE DAY, 1ST OCTOBER 2026
Newsletter, RC Warringah, 30th September
NATIONAL
SAUSAGE
DAY, 1ST
OCTOBER 2026
L-R:
Channel Nine Today hosts:
Tom Steinfort, and
SylviaJeffreys.
TV Star Rotarians:
Liz McDougall, RC of Warringah
Michele Ellery, 9685 District Governor,
Mark Anderson, RC Beecroft
This TV promotion gave us the chance to explain what the accumulated totals of
sausage sizzles achieves!
$2.9 million does a lot
in the community!
2. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION DISTRICT 9685 BRUNCH
Date: Saturday, 7th Nov, from 8:30am
Location: The Depot Brewery, Ground Floor, Home HQ, 1 Frederick St, Artarmon, NSW,
3. VIDEO: SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES THROUGH ROTARY COMMUNITY CORPS
As Rotary celebrates Community Economic Development Month in October, consider how Rotary Community Corps (RCCs) can help create lasting change. RCCs are groups of community members that partner with clubs to identify local priorities, lead service projects, and develop sustainable solutions. By combining local knowledge with Rotary’s support and mentorship, RCCs strengthen communities while expanding Rotary’s impact and reach.
Watch this Rotary Community Corps video to learn how RCCs foster community engagement, develop local leaders, and support sustainable development.
Rotary Service and Engagement, October 2026
4. WHY INCLUSION MATTERS: FOUR BENEFITS FOR YOUR CLUB
Discover the benefits of welcoming diverse voices into your club by clicking on the above.
While some may believe that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) are a series of buzzwords, they are actually values that are directly embedded into Rotary International’s Action Plan.
“As People of Action we are inclusive, engaging, compassionate, and ambitious on behalf of the world.” (Rotary International, Action Plan)
Since its inception over 120 years ago, Rotary has progressively embraced diversity, welcoming members from varying cultural, social and economic backgrounds. By becoming a more welcoming place for people to connect, grow, and lead change, we open ourselves to new members and greatly improve our ability to effect meaningful change.
5. DISTRICT STORIES MAKING AN IMPACT
PITCH FOR PURPOSE FINALS 2026 - Big Thinking from Young Minds
A railway wheel that squeals less
An app that helps families waste less food
A new way to pull plastic from waterways
These were not ideas from a research lab — they came from school students across Sydney. More than 50 teams involving around 250 students from ten schools took part in Rotary Pitch for Purpose 2026, developing practical responses to environmental problems around them. On 19 September, 19 finalist teams — around 90 students — came together at Western Sydney University’s Parramatta South campus to pitch their ideas.
Visionary Voices from Marsden High School won the high-school competition with No Squeal Wheel, tackling freight-train noise through improved wheel design. Fellow Marsden team Impact Igniters placed second with air-pollution solution Pie Crust Purifiers, while Eco Amigos from The Ponds High School took third with Scansnack, an app targeting food waste.
In the primary competition, The Sprinkles from Kurrajong Public School won with Do Something Drastic, Cut The Plastic. Plastic Brains from Waitara Public School placed second with The Plastic Wheel, designed to collect plastic from waterways, and Impecca from Dural Public School third with The Impecca Bottle.
Yet the ideas on stage were only part of the story. To read more, click HERE.
6. PEOPLE OF ACTION - A DISTRICT STORY OF IMPACT: Friday 23rd Oct
ALL ABOARD!
Across District 9685, Rotary clubs are turning ideas into action and creating meaningful change in their communities. Meet Dave and his merry band of End Polio train-riders coming to a station near you.
READ THE END POLIO TRAIN RIDE STORY This includes the link to the train timetable for the event. Search through it until you reach Emu Plains. Please note that the train arrives 10 minutes before it departs at 11.48. This gives time for the End Polio group riding the train all day, time to get off, have photos taken, be presented with cheques, etc, before hurrying back onto the train to head towards Penrith and beyond.
7. HEARTBEAT IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
Rotarians and friends from across the State are invited to visit Katoomba and encouraged to stay for a long weekend and enjoy all that the Blue Mountains has to offer. The Carrington is offering a discount off their rooms for anyone attending these events, as long as they book by the end of September.
There are two events and people can register for one or both:
Cocktail style fundraiser function at The Carrington on Thursday 19th November with silent auction and lucky dip activities.
‘Rotarians in the Sky’ event at Scenic World on Friday 20th November, where we will present a ‘cheque’ to NSW Ambulance.
People can also make a donation to the cause. The overall objectives of the initiative are to:
Have fun and promote fellowship among Rotarians and supporters from across NSW.
Promote Rotary and draw attention to the good we do in the community.
Provide an opportunity to involve and promote local businesses, who will be invited to donate prizes for our fundraising activities.
Raise funds for the HeartReady program and raise awareness of the initiative.
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.
