The club confirmed our continued support for the following educational scholarships and awards:
Mount Gambier High School Best Vocational Education and Training Student valued at $50.
Tenison Woods College SHINE Music Scholarship valued at $500.
Saint Martin Lutheren College Music Scholarship valued at $500.
Brian advised that the club laptop is ageing and the printer is no longer serviceable and will require replacement soon. Mary is investigating grant opportunities to fund the replacement of the club's aging equipment.
Brian also reminded everyone that club memberships are now due. Please get them in if you have yet to do so.
The club has received a bottle of port from a past president who is downsizing his collection. It is to be used as a fundraising item. Matthew proposed opening the bottle at a club meeting and charging $10 per person to enjoy the vintage drop. We will seek permission from Macs, otherwise it will be at a scheduled event.
David and Brian met with Maddie at the City of Mount Gambier Council Depot to confirm arrangements for the Christmas parade float. The Council has offered a spare trailer frame to transfer the float onto for towing at the event. The reindeer have also been repaired and will be cleaned prior to the parade.
Frank and Ray have put a call out for upcoming Bunnings BBQs.
Monday 5 October (Long Weekend) as a club fundraiser - Let Frank know if you are available.
Wednesday 22 October, organised by District 9510 in support of First Responders. The Rotary Club of Mount Gambier is taking the lead, however have requested volunteer assistance - Let Ray know if you are available.
Until next time...
Next Week
Meeting 2896 on Tuesday will be at Macs Parlour Room for fellowship and dinner.
September Sergeants
Greg Appleyard
John Whitehead
Judith Whitehead
Upcoming projects
21 September (Monday) - Graeme Fischer - District 9780 End Trachoma Chair, Commodore Motel hosted by Lakes
TBA - Graeme Cox, District 9780 Youth Protection Officer, Commodore Motel hosted by Lakes
10 October - Mil Lel Show Pizza Van
23-24 October - Mount Gambier Show Pizza Van
25 October 2026 - M.A.G.I.C Casterton Rotary Event
Wednesday 28 October is National First Responders Day, and Bunnings SA/NT are working with RI to hold a region-wide fundraiser - Volunteers required for two shifts on the BBQ
30 October-1 November 2026 - Zone 8 Conference - Melbourne
16-18 April 2027 - Multi District Conference - Warrnambool Vic
Celebrate World Literacy Day with a Donation:
Through The Rotary Foundation, Rotary members support education worldwide through scholarships, donations, and service projects that create lasting change.
From opening a girls' school in Afghanistan and improving adult literacy in the United States, to introducing innovative reading programs in schools, Rotary is helping people gain the skills they need to succeed. Rotarians are also improving learning environments by providing clean drinking water to schools in Lebanon and strengthening educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in Kenya.
These projects highlight Rotary's commitment to empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and creating brighter futures through education.
On 10 September, community members joined Lifeline South East (SA) Inc. at sunrise for the Out of the Shadows Community Walk, coming together to honour those lost to suicide and support people experiencing emotional distress and mental health challenges.
You may have seen some familiar faces at the post walk breakfast with Lakes Rotary Mt Gambier cooking up a storm on the BBQ.
If you can, there is still time to make a donation at their official walk page.
World Interact Week is just around the corner in November. Time to start thinking if we want to host an event or events to engage the next generation of leaders.
Photo from Zones 33/34.
A Tiny Innovation with Big Potential
If you're over 70, you may remember the iron lung, the powerful symbol of the suffering and paralysis caused by polio in the 1950s. Today, Thornbury Rotary Club has created a new attention-grabbing icon for one of the world's deadliest diseases: malaria. Through a giant interactive mosquito exhibit, Rotarians are educating communities, sparking conversations, and raising vital funds in the fight against malaria. Discover how this innovative project is turning awareness into action and proving that a small idea can make a big difference.
Following on from her win last year, Mackenzie has reentered the Conservation Volunteers Australia 2026 Nature in Focos Photo Contest.
Voting in the people's choice is free, you just need a current email address. Check out Mackenzie's photos in the Year 3- Year 6 categories (1 in each) and even Mary had a crack in the category for Adult Smartphone Species and Habitats.
Port MacDonnell Community Complex is hosting a smart phone app workshop. So if you feel like a change of scenery and want to learn more about apps and your device, sign up now.
Pine Tree Quilters Exhibition
Themed around fun, friends and frivolity, (Fellowship in any language) the Girls Day Out exhibition showcases an impressive collection of imaginative and intricately crafted quilts created by members of the Mount Gambier-based quilting group. Visitors can explore a diverse range of styles, techniques and creative expressions that celebrate life's simple pleasures, from picnics with friends to a glass-half-full outlook on life.
Beyond their artistic talents, Pine Tree Quilters Inc. is a remarkable community-minded organisation. The not-for-profit group welcomes quilters of all ages and skill levels and generously donates quilts to nursing homes, community shelters, hospices, children in foster care, families affected by fire, people with special needs, and veterans.
Why not gather some friends and enjoy a colourful and heartwarming day out while supporting local artists and community volunteers?
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
