DECEMBER IS DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT MONTH
This is one of the Rotary Foundations Areas of Focus and one in which many of us would be aware of the numerous projects around the world supported by clubs and the Foundation. Look at your role in promoting improved health at home and abroad and supporting these vital programs that contribute not only to healthy communities but peaceful communities.
Disease prevention and treatment takes on many forms, from supporting studies to helping immunize people to improving drinking water and the sanitation infrastructure. The world relies on Rotary to tackle these global challenges, and to set an example for others to follow.
President's Report
Welcome to this weeks’ edition of Springword.
Last Monday we held our AGM and I thank all the members who attended and participated in the election of the incoming committee as of 1 July 2026.
The AGM of any organisation is a significant event as it elects those that will administer for a 12 month period, but also allows members to acknowledge and thank current committee members who will vacate positions in the next year. On that point I would like to sincerely thank:
Immediate Past President – Frank Ross
Treasurer – Bill Bowler
Club Administration – Jenny Thomas
All three have undertaken their duties and roles with a great degree of commitment and the Club is indebted to them for their service.
We have a couple of new faces on the incoming committee and I welcome, Paul Erickson, Deana Aitkins and Bronwyn Berriman. I know they will all make a significant contribution to the Club.
So, your committee for 2026-2027 is Valda Bray, Geoff Glassock, Marilyn Kenney, Sheryn Phillips, Rachel Pagitz, Al Kellaway, Johannes Brockhaus, Bronwyn Berriman, Deana Aitkins, Paul Erickson and myself.
As the year comes to a close there are always a few things to finalise as well as celebrate. On Tuesday 14 members and friends of the Club attended a lunch at Wentworth Falls TAFE. The event allows our Club to support the students undertaking courses in the hospitality sector. A really wonderful 3 course meal was provided coupled with great service by the trainees. I personally look forward to our next lunch in 2026. A big thank you to Valda for her ongoing commitment to this TAFE program and her organisation of the lunch.
On Thursday 27th, Geoff Glassock and I attended a meeting at the Hub where a committee has been formed to enliven Springwood through an intergenerational program. A number of young people are involved along with other members of our community. At this week's meeting, Rosemary Bishop, the coordinator of the program will provide a very brief overview of this initiative.
Then Friday 28th the final meeting of the year was held for the Rotary Clubs of the Mountains and the E-Club Youth Hub. It was a dinner meeting at the La Bello Pizzeria, Faulconbridge, where a small bit of final business for the year was discussed, coupled with a great meal and good company. I acknowledge the significant efforts of our Youth Director Sheryn Phillips; she has a very busy portfolio which she manages with a good degree of skill and expertise.
Finally, on Saturday 29th myself and several other committee members logged into an online session on Companion Club membership models. It was an interesting session with lots of information on forming a companion club. At this time, I don’t feel this is something our Club will pursue, but I will be interested in the views of the other members who were online.
I look forward to seeing you at the meeting and to also hearing from Hosanna Siv of Destiny Rescue I know it is going to be both an interesting and informative presentation.
Cheers Liz
Liz Roberts
President 2025-2026
The Rotary Club of Springwood
THIS WEEK'S MEETING
Our speaker on Monday, 1st December, is from Destiny Rescue. This should be a fascinating presentation from this speaker. In preparation for the night, Hosanna Siv has asked us to view the Destiny Rescue link here, and the website at website before the meeting (see below for the links).
Hosanna Siv
Partnerships Manager NSW
Destiny Rescue Australia
YOUTH DIRECTOR'S REPORT
The Youth Directors & Presidents from the Blue Mountains Rotary clubs have been meeting quarterly as the Blue Mountains Youth Hub for a number of years now. We share ideas & collaborate on projects to benefit young people across the mountains. On Friday night, myself & Liz attended our final meeting & Christmas party for this year at La Bello at Faulconbridge. We enjoyed delicious food & great company whilst celebrating the achievements of the year.
Sheryn.
MOUNTAINS YOUTH SUPPORT TEAM
As part of the Youth Portfolio, our Youth Director, Sheryn, coordinates with the Mountains Youth Services Team (MYST) in the generation of one of their programs, the Breakfast Club. The Breakfast Club provides breakfast once a week to students at Winmalee High School for a term and at Springwood High School for an alternate term. The breakfast consists of toasted sandwiches (200 ham and cheese, and cheese sandwiches along with other breakfast items).
Sheryn organizes volunteers from our Club to assist the MYST team by preparing the sandwiches at the Springwood MYST Drop-in Centre the day before the event, and then to cook and serve the breakfast at the pertinent school the following morning from 7.30 to about 9.00 am. While the breakfast service takes place the School Counselors and MYST members mingle and talk with the students.
The photographs show Club members at work; also included is Grace, a MYST team member and future RYLA participant.
For more information about MYST and their programs go to https://myst.com.au/
Bruce Wood
LATEST NEWS …
1. DATES TO LOOK FORWARD TO...
Monday, 1st December - Our speaker is Hosanna Siv from Destiny Rescue.
Wednesday 3rd December - Men's Morning Tea, Winmalee Shopping Centre.
Thursday, 4th December - Bunnings Family Night - PR only, no BBQ.
Friday, 5th December - Ori Raffle
Sunday, 7th November - Carols at Wentworth Falls Lake / BBQ is required.
Monday, 8th December will be our Christmas party at the home of Suzane and Paul Erickson. Please RSVP to Jenny Thomas.
Thursday, 11th December - Springwood Christmas Shopping Night, IGA carpark, Santa and BBQ required.
Monday 15th December - last Club meeting for the year.
Saturday, 20th December - Bunnings BBQ
2. DATES IN JANUARY 2026
Monday, 19th January - First Rotary Club meeting for 2026
Monday, 26th January - PUBLIC HOLIDAY - no meeting
Monday, 2nd February - General Club Meeting
Monday, 9th February - Club Board Meeting. Normal meetings in weeks 1, 3, 4, (and 5 if relevant) will follow from this date.
3. CHRISTMAS PARTY, MONDAY 8TH DECEMBER
Have you let Jenny Thomas know whether you are coming to the party?
4. CENTURION DONATIONS
It is that time of the year once again when we as Rotarians are asked to support the Centurion Fund, which is the basis for the Rotary Foundation. By each subscribing, we gain to benefit from the grants available, both district and global, which in turn means Rotarians can spread their community service a little further. Each member subscribing $100.00 each year shows the club's support for this worthy part of being a Rotarian, and service above self. You don't need to wait until the last minute (end of May 2026) to make a donation for this Rotary year.
To those members who have already subscribed this year, a big thank you. The money, $100.00 can be put in the general account, with your name attached for Bill. I know the times are tough, but if we could have a 100% contribution, it would a feather in our club's cap!
Thank you.
Valda Bray
Foundation Director
5. SOCIAL LUNCH AT WENTWORTH FALLS TAFE, TUESDAY 25TH NOVEMBER
A number of our members and guests enjoyed an excellent lunch at the TAFE. The very impressive menu would have satisfied the most fussy eaters, and the service was excellent. It was a great day enjoyed by all and the conversation never waned. The unfortunate thing was that our lunch organiser was struck down at the last minute and not well enough to attend. We ate Valda's share as well!!
6. LUNCH WITH JENNY KROONSTUIVER IN BATHURST
For those of you who know Jenny, she had to come to Orange for a family event over the weekend. She also needed to deliver one of her latest books which had been ordered to Valda who has been distributing the orders for Jenny. So an arrangement to deliver a book to Valda, resulted in a few of us meeting Jenny at Bathurst which was the most convenient for her. Jenny was returning to Orange after the lunch on Sunday for more family celebrations, then driving to Warwick on Monday, then Mackay on the following day, and finally Cairns where she now lives. A meticulously planned event for Jenny, with her driving thousands of kilometres. All the arrangements for members of our Club were only organised at the last minute. Our President Liz was another person who was struck down with illness and unable to attend, but many of our members sent apologetic messages to Valda for Jenny.
STORIES FROM ROTARY...
1. REGIONALISATION UPDATE
In case you missed this last week here it is again. Click on the image below to view the latest news about Regionalisation:
2. DAYS FOR GIRLS
Giving Tuesday is just one week away, and we’re gearing up to expand the Educating for Menstrual Equity in Cambodia project! With your support, more teachers can be trained, more students can learn, and more girls can gain the confidence they deserve.
Here’s what your Giving Tuesday gift can help us achieve:
Train 600 teachers and trainee teachers
Reach 15,000 students with menstrual health education
Produce and distribute 7,500 washable DfG menstrual pad Kits
Every gift moves us closer to a world where menstruation is understood, not feared.
And because we give through GlobalGiving, your donation will also help Days for Girls earn a share of their $500,000 Incentive Fund. The more our community gives, the more support we unlock for girls in Cambodia.
Mark your calendar, your generosity on December 2-3 will fuel lasting change.
P.S The Giving Tuesday event begins Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 at 00:00 EST and ends Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025 at 12:00 EST. Thank you for supporting us on this 36 hours of giving!
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK...
A new month is another chance to look forward, reset our goals, and start fresh.
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.
DECEMBER IS DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT MONTH
