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Welcome to the Rotary Club of Mount Barker, South Australia

Proud Sponsors of

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.

Operation Flinders Update

The Rotary Club of Mt Barker is a proud supporter of Operation Flinders.

A small team of members went to Yankaninna last week to try to complete work begun on the last visit. They were quickly roped into assisting with repairing some of the damage the floods had done.

Operation Flinders Business Development Manager Jonathon Robran has supplied the following brief report as well as stats on outcomes and also follow up programs for this year (as at August).

• All Op. Flinders exercises have been completed with 471 young people participating this year
• Mount Barker crew attended recent work party

Operation Flinders - Signature Project of the Rotary Club of Mount Barker

Operation Flinders Mission Statement:

“Operation Flinders Foundation is to provide young men and women who have been identified as being at risk, with demanding outdoor challenges and support, to help them develop their personal attitudes and values of self esteem, motivation, team work and responsibility so they may grow as valued members of the community.”

These young men and women are taken to a remote location in the Flinders Ranges, trekking 100kms over 8 days, where they are confronted with physical, emotional and psychological challenges in an isolated and unfamiliar environment.

Operation Flinders site: https://operationflinders.org.au/

To read more about the relationship between Rotary Club of Mount Barker and Operation Flinders, please click here ...

Birthing Kits

On Saturday, 27th August, members and friends of the Rotary Club of Mount Barker met at the Lifestyle SA Village (Mount Barker) Bowling Clubhouse to assemble 200 birthing kits to assist vulnerable women and newborns in underdeveloped areas of the world to survive and hopefully thrive. These birthing kits have significantly reduced the infection and death rate of childbirth.


Members and Friends hard at work assembling the Birthing Kits

A very happy group at the completion of the project

Rotarians in Action (Hungry No More - July 2022)

Twice per year, the Members of the Rotary Club of Mount Barker participate in the Hungry No More program. Held weekly at the Mount Barker Uniting Church, the Club provided a meal for those less fortunate.

The Members provide the food and serve the meal up to the public as though they were in a restaurant.

On Sunday, 10th July 2022, the Club served a 3 course meal of soup, followed by roast chicken and vegetables followed by desert of puddings and ice cream.

Mount Barker RSL Smoke Detector Upgrade

During the ANZAC Gunfire Breakfast at the Mount Barker RSL, it was mentioned by RSL President Barrie Scott that they needed to spend a considerable amount if their funds to upgrade the smoke detector and alarm systems in their premises.

At its next Board meeting, the Rotary Club of Mount Barker discussed this matter and agreed to provide the funds to the RSL for this project.

Pictured are Rotary Club of Mount Barker President James Hawker presenting the funds to Mount Barker RSL President Barrie Scott.

District Council of Mount Barker Community Service Award

For his outstanding contribution to his role as Community Service Director, the Board of the Rotary Club of Mount Barker submitted Peter Baur to the District Council of Mount Barker for consideration for an award presented during the Australia Day ceremonies held at Auchendarroch.

Peter was duly awarded the District Council of Mount Barker Community Service Award for his outstanding service to the Rotary Club of Mount Barker and the Community.

Congratulations Peter.

2021 Mount Barker High School Community Award

Year 12 graduating student Tahlia Badenock has been selected as the recipient of the Mount Barker High School Community Award funded by the Rotary Club of Mount Barker.

Tahlia has been recognised for her community involvement and particularly her interest in assisting First Nation people in the APY Lands. Tahlia applied for, and was granted, 2 weeks of experience as a student in the APY Lands.

Florence and Richard Become Australian Citizens

On Monday, 18th October 2021, family, friends and fellow Rotarians were present at a special event to witness Rotarians Florence and Richard Yeardley become Australian Citizens.

Approximately 55 people attended the ceremony conducted by Mayor Ann Fergusson in the Robert Charles Room at Auchendarroch.

Florence and Richard have been members of the Rotary Club of Mount Barker since 2012 and decided it was time to become citizens of this wonderful country.

Both hard working and dedicated Rotarians, Florence is in her eighth (and last) year as Club Secretary and Richard is always putting his hand up when there is a donut or two to be made.