Photo by Darren Clements Photography, courtesy Mount Barker District Council  
WELCOME TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF MOUNT BARKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
We are a vibrant, friendly and diverse group of men and women dedicated to creating positive change in our community.
LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION
A SHOWDOWN OF FOOTY FOODS IN MOUNT BARKER
Photo by Darren Clements Photography, courtesy of the Mount Barker District Council.
 
The 2025 AFL season is just around the corner, and the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power geared up with a pre-season "showdown" at Summit Sport and Recreation Park in Mount Barker.  As well as enjoying some footy, nearly 6,000 fans got a sneak peek at the delicious comfort foods available during the season ahead.  Our donut van was busy whipping up our signature hot and fresh donuts, delighting the crowd with a steady stream of orders.
The donut van not only serves as a fantastic fundraiser for our local and international projects, but it also brings us together for enjoyable times. Our teamwork shines through and our family and friends love the sweet aroma of donuts we carry home with us. Just ask our dedicated members Justin, Dave, and Wendy (pictured), who worked hard to satisfy the donut enthusiasts.
Be sure to catch our famous donuts at upcoming events like the Birdwood Farm Day in May, the Royal Adelaide Show in September, and the Lights of Lobethal in December, along with various local gatherings throughout the year.
Contact us to join in the fun.
MORE THAN JUST YOUR AVERAGE JOE
 
Meet Joe.  He's been part of Rotary in different ways for most of his life and a member of our Club for 20 years.
Joe is a positive and thoughtful man, among the first to volunteer when there's a project or event on the go.  He's not just a role model, but a dab hand at making and fixing anything.  His shed is full of tools, machines, gadgets and spare parts.
Recently, Joe collected a stack of bicycles in various states of disrepair from around the community, took them back to that famous shed of his and refurbished every one of them.  Now they are loaded and ready to ship to Timor Leste, where children in the Ermera Municipality, in the central region of the country, will learn to ride them as part of their health and fitness education.
"Saving those bikes from landfill and fixing them for the kids gave me a lot of pleasure", said Joe, "especially when I know that most of those kids have never ridden a bike".
In late 2024 Joe and several other members of our Club travelled to Timor Leste.  They saw the results of our support and met some of the grateful East Timorese children.  Thanks to our Club they now have a beautiful new school, playgrounds (relocated from around South Australia), school supplies, computers and bikes - with more on the way.
Joe is just another ordinary volunteer doing extraordinary things in Rotary.  People who want to give their skills and passions to improve the lives of others.  Come and join us - and you'll get to meet Joe too!
SIZZLING CELEBRATION FOR AUSTRALIA DAY
Photo by Darren Clements Photography, courtesy of the Mount Barker District Council.
 
The snags weren't the only things sizzling when Rotary cooked up an Aussie-style barbecue on a scorching Australia Day in Mount Barker. The annual Australia Day shindig, hosted by the Wallis family in the gorgeous grounds of Auchendarroch House, is a local favorite, drawing a large crowd even in the sweltering heat.
Rotary had 700 sausages to grill, garnish with onions, smother with tomato sauce, wrap in bread, and hand out to hungry families enjoying the entertainment, games, and attractions scattered throughout the cool, shady gardens.
This is a special day for Mount Barker. It kicks off with a ceremony hosted by the Mayor to announce our Citizens of Year and welcome new Australian citizens from around the globe, and it culminates in a fun-filled family day.  Rotary has been part of the event for decades, satisfying thousands with our sizzling skills.  
Having fun, serving the community, making friends and being proud of our nation is what Rotary is all about.  Contact us to be a part of it.
ROTARY VAN RAMPED AT NEW AMBULANCE STATION
 
We've all heard about the ramping of ambulances, but this time it was the Rotary Catering Van that got ramped when it was parked to feed the masses at the official opening of Mount Barker's new Ambulance Station.
Constructed over nine months, the $9.1 million ambulance station at the corner of Bald Hills and Springs Road not only provides a modern and spacious complex, but it also doubles the number of paramedics in the region.  The official opening on Sunday January 12th 2025 was led by South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton, with Member for Kavel Dan Cregan and SA Ambulance Chief Executive Rob Elliott.
Rotary was called in to provide a tasty barbecue for the local residents who turned up in large numbers to have a look and witness the officialdom. Space was so tight that the only place for the Rotary Catering Van quite literally was on the ramp.  A much more positive experience than being on a ramp to an emergency room though and many would say the food was a lot better!
Our new catering van, commissioned in 2024, is proving to be a great asset for events such as these where space is tight.  Look out for it serving our signature hot donuts and barbecue at events all around our region during 2025, while our "big" donut van will be delighting the crowds at larger events such as the pre-season AFL Showdown in Mount Barker on February 21st, the Birdwood Farm Day on May 18th, the Royal Adelaide Show from August 30th to September 7th and the Lights of Lobethal from December 6th to 21st.
 
Love to give us a hand? Then get in contact and join in the fun of serving our community.
VALE IAN ROSE. A WONDERFUL FRIEND
On December 21st 2024 we lost one of our longest-serving and most accomplished members when Ian Rose passed away suddenly at home.
 
Ian exemplified the Four-Way Test of Rotary in every aspect of his life.  A kind, generous, hard-working, and humorous man of absolute integrity, he dedicated his life to his family, his community and his God.
Ian was born in Wallaroo in 1948 and grew up on the family farm at Cunliffe, south of Kadina.  His own farm, where he lived after marrying Margaret, was at Kulpara.  He moved to Mount Barker when he purchased a retail nursery, through which he continued his passion for agriculture and cultivation.
Ian was married to Margaret for 54 years. His three children, Jason, Sarah, and Lachlan, plus his six grandchildren, Jed, Noah, Henry, Oscar, Reuben, and Scarlett, were his great joy.  The memories he left and the example he set will be a part of them forever.
Ian joined the Rotary Club of Mount Barker in 1994 and served in almost every leadership position.  He was President in 2003/04 and again in 2013/14.  He was President-elect for 2024/25.  Rotary recognised his character and achievements by awarding him five Paul Harris Fellows.
Ian was a man of great humility who did not seek attention, yet nearly four hundred people attended his funeral in Mount Barker.  Many others from around the state, the nation and the world watched the service on a livestream.  Community leaders and politicians, as well as neighbors and individuals he touched through his church and community involvement, came to honor his life and show love and support to his family.
Our club is grieving Ian's sudden loss deeply.  His wonderful humor, commitment to service, and kindness set him apart. He loved Rotary, and we loved him in return. Every one of us has many special memories from the times we shared with Ian in service to community.  There will always be a special place reserved for Ian at the table of friendship that underpins everything we do in Rotary.
 
Vale Ian Rose.  August 4th 1948 to December 21st 2024.
A wonderful friend and an enduring example to us all.
 

 
2024 Christmas message from the Rotary Club of Mount Barker

 

Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It reminds us that Jesus came into this world to bring hope, peace on earth, and goodwill to all. 

It is also the time when we gather with friends and family and demonstrate a spirit of togetherness in our community. Our Rotary traditions have always included bringing cheer to the less fortunate. Giving and sharing, however, do not always mean giving money or material things. Sometimes taking time to help and comfort someone in need is worth as much or more. As individuals, let us find time in our busy schedules to offer a word of encouragement to someone with a broken spirit, a neighbour, a relative, or a friend going through a difficult time. Let us give of ourselves, not out of obligation, but out of desire. 

As we reflect on the past year and approach a new one, let us consider what we can do as a club to continue making a difference in our community. As Gandhi said, "you must be the change you want see in this world." What changes do you personally plan to make to bring about positive changes in our community?

Let us remind ourselves once again of the hope and joy we find in Christmas. With the global turmoil we are witnessing, it seems more appropriate than ever to say, "let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me."

Adapted from a Christmas Message by Former Rotary International President Bendt Haverberg

Supporting our community at Christmas
For nearly 40 years, the Rotary Club of Mount Barker has supported local organisations that work to make Christmas a little brighter for the discouraged, hungry, and lonely people in our community. This year, the cost of living and housing crisis has hit our community hard, and the reliance on these organisations has grown immensely.
At our last meeting for 2024, we hosted representatives from The Salvation Army, the Mount Barker Uniting Church, and the Society of St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies). They received our donations and informed us about why their work in Mount Barker was so important.
Pictured from left: Liv and Sam Hately from The Salvation Army; Haydn Lush from the Mount Barker Uniting Church; President Mark Clemow and Tom Mead from the Society of St Vincent de Paul.
Three decades of spreading festive cheer at the Christmas Pageant
Since 1982 the Mount Barker Christmas Festival Committee, a jolly group of community volunteers, has been decking the streets with boughs of holly and much more for the annual Mount Barker Christmas Pageant.  On the first Saturday of December, the town buzzes with excitement as thousands gather along the 1.4km route through our beautiful town centre, making it the biggest Christmas parade in South Australia outside of the famous Adelaide Christmas Pageant.
For three decades, Rotary has been a part of the Pageant, with Ian Rose steering the ship.  Ian is not just a figurehead; over the years he has crafted and cared for eleven floats, marshalled the merry-makers, and piloted the Club's float. Our participation in the Mount Barker Christmas Pageant is more than festive fun; it's a tip of the Santa hat to Ian's stellar service to our Club and the community.
 
A mountain of donut delight at the 2024 Royal Adelaide Show
Whipping up 41,000 donuts for the 2024 Royal Adelaide Show was no small feat - it was a veritable baking marathon!  Picture this: 1200kg of donut mix, 140kg of cinnamon sugar, and a small lake of 260 litres of cooking oil. Let's just say the calorie counter gave up and went home. Our famous donut van's biggest event of the year, the Royal Adelaide Show, is also our top fundraising event. This year, a whopping 650 volunteer hours were clocked, with 500 of those spent in the deliciously sweet trenches, serving up donuts and drinks. 
 
Our donuts have a fan club, and it's not hard to see why. They're not just a treat for the taste buds with their sugary, creamy goodness, and the fact that they're hot and fresh. It's also because every bite is a bite for a good cause, with proceeds powering our community projects, particularly those for young people.
 
Mark your calendars! The donut van's next big adventure is at the Lights of Lobethal Festival, happening from December 7th to 24th 2024.  You'll find us in the Lobethal Foodland carpark for your donut fix!
 
Transforming a dilapidated building into a brand-new school in Timor Leste.
Supported by a Rotary Foundation Grant, a partnership between the Rotary Clubs of Mount Barker and Dili Lafaek, which was initially to replace a roof and build a toilet block at a pre-school in Ermera, Timor Leste, culminated in the construction of an entirely new school.
 
A great story of Rotary working together with communities and volunteers to improve educational opportunities for young people.
 
 
 
Read more...
Creating JOY by relocating playgrounds
Every year in Australia thousands of unwanted playgrounds are sent to landfill.  Our Rotary Overseas Relocated Playgrounds project (RORP) aims to collect these playgrounds and send them to give the joy of play to children in communities in developing nations.
 
In November 2023 we harvested the 30th playground in South Australia to be relocated to communities in developing nations where children have never seen a playground, let alone play on one.  What we take for granted in Australia, brings untold joy to these communities.
 
 
Read more...
About our Club
Mount Barker

Service Above Self

We meet In Person
Mondays at 6:30 PM
Auchendarroch House
17 Adelaide Rd
Mount Barker, SA 5251
Australia
Phone:
0488 084 698
Email:
secretary.rotarymtbarker@gmx.com
1st & 3rd Monday @ 6pm. Dinner at Auchendarroch House. 2nd Monday @ 7pm: Committees at Auchendarroch House. 4th Monday: Cafe meeting at 10.30am (see "Upcoming Meetings" below). 5th Monday: Social night (see "Upcoming Meetings" below).
District Site
Venue Map
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Monday 17 March 2025
Special Event.
Combined local Rotary and Service Clubs Dinner.
6 for 6.30pm
Auchendarroch House
 
Monday 24 March 2025
Cafe Meeting. 10.30am
Fourth Hill Providore
34 Onkaparinga Valley Way, Verdun
 
Monday 31 March 2025
Fifth Monday Social.
Shared Dinner. 6 for 6.30pm
Home of Joe and Heather Geue
Contact us for further details
 
Contact us for information about meetings after these dates.
 
Upcoming Events
View More...
Speakers
Ben Trobiani
May 05, 2025 7:10 PM
The work of Arthritis Australia

Ben wishes to thank the club for their assistance in their grant application and to let members know how that grant will be spent.

Merrilyn Russell
May 19, 2025
Interplast
John Cook
Jun 02, 2025
Behind the Badge
Community Grants Presentation
Jun 16, 2025
View entire list...
Meeting Responsibilities
Monday March 17th 2025
Host
Clemow, Mark
 
Invocation & Toast
Schaefer, Peter
 
Monday April 7th 2025
Host
Hill, Justin
 
Rotary Spotlight
Lacambra, Meliza
 
Invocation and Toast
Lawson, Rosalyn
 
APPLY NOW FOR A 2025 COMMUNITY GRANT
Are you a not for profit community, sports or environmental organisation, or an individual needing funding for a project to assist the local community?
Click here to download information and an application form for our 2025 Community Grants.
Applications close at 5pm on Sunday May 16th 2025
A Message from the President 

Mark Clemow

member photo
Welcome to my Rotary Club.
Rotary is an extraordinary organisation that leverages the power of friendship to improve our world, be it locally in Mount Barker, across our state or nation, or globally in areas of need.
There are numerous ways to engage with Rotary.  You can join us at one of our bi-weekly dinners, our casual café gatherings, or an upcoming event.  Reach out, and you'll receive a warm welcome. 
Rotary has enriched my life with new experiences, opportunities, and friendships. Imagine what it could do for you. 
Forms and Documents
Rotary Overseas Relocated Playgrounds (RORP)