Meeting 2858 was our AGM. Huge thankyou to the long serving board members that accepted re-nomination, after all without these office bearers we will not have a functional club. I really appreciated the constructive conversation we had around the future of the club and potential paths forward, these options are something we will be investigating thoroughly and I look forward to reporting back when I have some more information.
I'm looking forward to seeing you all at out Christmas meeting on Tuesday.
Until next time.
Next Week
Meeting 2859 is the clubs Annual Christmas Meeting and partners are encouraged to attend.
December Sergeants:
David Burt
Mary Irwin-Davies
Upcoming Events
Rawdon Mitchell Challenge Mini Golf, Wednesday 7 January 2026
Australian Sprint Car Catering 30-31 January 2026 TBC
On Saturday President Neil joined the Border Clubs Christmas Lunch.
It was great to hear what the other clubs have been up to and the plans they have for the future. It was great to hear that several clubs are supporting Youth Exchange, most doing so without hosting the students themselves.
Reidy Park Carol Event
The club would like to thank our Volunteers who attended the Reidy Park Primary School Christmas Carol event on Wednesday 10 December 2025.
Neville, Brian, Barry, Judith, Neil and little Mackenzie helped out on the night selling out of 50 pans while there were still hungry participants in line.
As always it is a great way to get our club out in the Community. The next event is for the Australian Sprint Car event in January.
Hopefully you have noticed the club executive are looking at keeping our club thriving and relevant into the future while still maintaining the core principles of Rotary.
As part of this process, we would LOVE to hear from you. Each week we will be asking questions in the newsletter. This is your opportunity to reach out and tell us what you think.
Whether you want to email it, message it, or write it down and hand deliver it at a meeting, all responses are valued and will inform the direction of our club into 2026 and beyond.
QUESTION:
What do you want that our club does not currently provide? and
Do you have any suggestions on how this could be achieved?
At the recent Ryder-Cheshire Mount Gambier Home Foundation AGM, Neville Gilbertson OAM announced his retirement from their board after an impressive 21 years of service.
Neville was the inaugural foundation president in 2004 and led the board until 2018. During that time both the foundations local homes were built.
Current Foundation President Matthew Dixon said Mr Gilbertson provided sound leadership over an extended period and the board would miss his counsel as it continues to investigate building more accommodation for people living with disability.
The Rotary Club of Mount Gambier West would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of Neville to Ryder-Cheshire Mount Gambier Home Foundation; you are a continued inspiration within our club.
Rotary South Pacific is excited to announce David Barton as the new Membership Director. Note this is subject to ratification by RI.
David will guide Rotary South Pacific’s Membership Portfolio through the next phase of the Regionalisation Pilot in Zone 8 from 1 January 2026.
David has a strong commitment to inclusiveness and is a forward-thinker. His focus has always been to ensure Rotary continues to thrive and expand within the Rotary South Pacific zone and looks forward to supporting Zone 8 in this capacity.
The 2026 summit brings together three districts to amplify the collective power and drive meaningful change. We'll be focusing on the incredible things we can achieve when we work together, sharing our successes, and planning our future impact.
What to expect:
Inspiring Speakers: Hear from visionary leaders.
Collaborative Workshops: Engage in hands-on sessions.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow members from across the districts.
Celebration of Service: We'll be showcasing amazing projects and celebrating the impact we've all made.
Experience Horsham: Discover the best of the Wimmera region with a Paddock to Plate-themed Gala Dinner and more.
