Thank you to Greg for filling in for me this week, it is greatly appreciated whilst I am in Portland for work commitments over the SA school holidays. Also sincere thank you to Ray for the meeting notes.
Neville provided an update on the music scholarships. St Martins Lutheran Collage interviews are complete, with Tenison Woods College interviews still to be conducted.
Neville also gave details on our upcoming events, including two this week.
The Bunnings BBQ tomorrow from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. We have two shifts running, 4 hours each and the donations bucket will be available.
Mil-Lel Show is on Saturday and 80 pans have been pre-ordered. Matthew has arranged the towing of the Pizza Van.
The Mount Gambier Show is on 23-24 October. The Saturday is World Polio Day and we have registered it as a club information sharing event with Rotary International. Please remember to wear your red End Polio shirts if you attend.
The last weekend in October is the 141 Xmas Show, and we have been asked to attend with our Pizza Van.
David Burt confirmed the Women in Wood Working group paperwork is complete and they will be ready to start in early November.
As we begin our busy summer season, Brian proposed options to generate discussions on our Christmas Dinner celebrations. It was proposed we look at the backroom at the Henty (Noky) with a restricted menu. Michael Hillstone is getting quotes.
Greg reminded everyone of upcoming deadlines for applications to leadership positions in Rotary.
Nominations for District Governor of District 9510 for the 2028-29 year close on 25 November. They are encouraging border groups to nominate.
Nominations for club officer positions for the 2027-28 year will be considered at the AGM on 1 December. If you have ideas, or want to be part of the decision making, please talk to Neil about how you can Create Lasting Impact.
Ray raised a funding request from St Martins Lutheran College student, Keira Quill. Keira is seeking funding up to $11,200 towards a Young Diplomats Tour with the United Nations Youth Australia. Ray will invite Keira to present at an upcoming meeting.
Until next time...
Next Week
Meeting 2899 on Tuesday will be at Macs Parlour Room for fellowship and dinner. We also welcome our October Sergeants, Michael and Frank.
October Sergeants
Michael Brooksby
Frank Monger
Upcoming projects
5 October - Bunnings BBQ on the Monday of the long weekend.
10 October - Mil Lel Show Pizza Van
12 October - Graeme Fischer, District 9780 End trachoma Chair, Commodore Motel hosted by Lakes
23-24 October - Mount Gambier Show Pizza Van
25 October 2026 - M.A.G.I.C Casterton Rotary Event
28 October is National First Responders Day Bunnings SA/NT and RI fundraiser
30 October-1 November 2026 - Zone 8 Conference - Melbourne
31 October - 141 Xmas function, Pizza Van
20 November Reidy Park Sports Day
21 November - Mount Gambier Christmas Parade
25 November - Nominations for 2028/29 DG close
1 December AGM – Nomination for next year’s office bearers.
9 December Reidy Park Christmas Carols
16-18 April 2027 - Multi District Conference - Warrnambool Vic
TBC - Graeme Cox, District 9780 Youth Protection Officer, Commodore Motel hosted by Lakes
Did you see Rotary on the Today Show?
Recent figures from Bunnings show Australians raised and contributed more than $2.9 million for Rotary through 2,450 Bunnings activities across the country in the 2025-26 financial year, with the majority coming from the iconic sausage sizzle.
That's a whole lot of sausages, onions and tomato sauce helping to make a difference in communities across Australia.
So don't forget to support our volunteers tomorrow at our very own Bunnings BBQ. Grab a snag in bread and dress it up to show your support.
Every snag sold helps create lasting impact in our community.
This Mental Health Month, take time to slow down, connect, and learn. Join Uncle Ken for a unique journey through stories, cultural knowledge, and the traditional use of native plants. Discover how connection to Country, culture, and community can support mental health and wellbeing, while gaining a deeper appreciation of First Nations healing practices.
International Podcast Day? Of course that's a thing! It seems there's an international day for just about everything these days, and we're not complaining. Whether you're tuning in for inspiring stories, leadership tips, true crime mysteries, or gardening advice, podcasts have a way of teaching, entertaining, and connecting us.
So why not check out Rotary Internationals Podcast Rotary Voices. Or some closer to home in Australia such as Lift the Lid from Australia Rotary Health or Rotary Radio, produced in Melbourne.
Our club is full of amazing members, who have been demonstrating Service Above Self for years, even decades. Now is our time to nominate a Westie for consideration by Toni.
This October, the Mount Gambier Community Centre is celebrating Mental Health Month with a series of free community activities designed to promote connection, wellbeing and belonging.
Highlights include a Journal Together session on Thursday 15 October (9:30am-11:30am), where participants can create a journal to take home and explore the benefits of reflection and mindfulness. Later in the month, the Garden Together event on Wednesday 21 October invites community members to spend time caring for plants in the Community Garden and enjoy the wellbeing benefits of getting outdoors and connecting with nature.
Other activities throughout the month include gratitude sharing, friendship-building, craft sessions, a free movie screening, library programs, and opportunities to connect over food and conversation.
After all, good mental health thrives when we stay connected to each other, our community, and the things that bring us joy.
For more than 35 years, Rotary and our partners have led the effort to eradicate polio worldwide.
Polio is a paralyzing and potentially fatal disease that is still a threat in some parts of the world. Poliovirus invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in hours. It can strike people of any age, but mainly affects children under age five. It is not curable, but can be prevented by vaccines. Unlike most diseases, polio can be eradicated.
This Polio Day, don't forget your red shirts to spread the message!
How does a centenary club reverse membership decline and add more than 30 members in a single year? By listening to members, acting quickly and finding a new audience. The Rotary Club of Wellington's remarkable growth story offers a proven roadmap for clubs looking to boost relevance, engagement and membership.
Lee Wilkinson's article is a road map to how the Rotary Club of Wellington turned around their trajectory.
Three takeaways for our club:
Analyse your ecosystem
Move with speed
Master the follow-up
Want to understand more, read Lee's full article below.
The Rotary South Pacific Regional Conference is the premier gathering of Rotary leaders, changemakers, and members across our region. It’s where vision meets action—where we explore the future of Rotary through the lens of People, Planet, and Peace, and connect with causes that reflect our shared values and areas of focus.
This is more than a conference—it’s a regional movement. A chance to build momentum, strengthen partnerships, and shape Rotary’s impact in the years ahead.
Date: 30 Oct - 1 Nov
Location: Melbourne Convention Centre PDG Tony Monley OAM, 2026 Zone Conference Chair
