For those from our Club thinking of attending the “Rotary Pioneer Adventure Day” at Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village on Sunday May 3, event organiser Bill Marles of the RC of Adelaide Central, has organised a 53 seat premium coach for those Club members who wish to attend but don’t wish to drive for one hour to the site. As is usual, first in best dressed to get a seat allocation using this link https://reg.planetreg.au/Kanga-Koach-to-Rotary-Pioneer-Adventure-Day. The coach will depart from the Burnside Town Hall carpark (and Burnside Council have approved parking any cars in their car park during the day. Cost for the coach trip is just $20pp.
Anyone attending would be welcomed especially if they’d like to roll up their sleeves and volunteer on the day so that the farmers attending can enjoy of worry-free day. Bill is expecting many hundreds of farmers and their families to attend on the day, and he’s been called by many emotional farmers who are blown away by Rotary’s support of them. The return trip by coach will depart Tailem Bend at 5.00pm and return by 6.30pm.
Our Club donated $1000 towards helping farmers take a “day off” from duties around the farm and indulge in some entertainment, health checks and fun and food! Our own Rob McLennan will be the Master of Ceremonies on the day. Any queries or offers to help, call Bill Marles on 0410 523 106.
Warren Vance above and below
Unveiling Queen Victoria's statue in Victoria Square in 1894
Last Thursday evening, we had a smaller group than usual due to members either working late, hiking the trails south-west of Perth, or on overseas trips. Unfortunately, they missed out on hearing a great speaker Warren Vance and view his glass slide presentation - shown through a vintage brass projector – of early imagery of Adelaide.
Warren spent a great deal of his life as a professional mixed-media artist (he studied at Victorian Centre of Arts) and he showed us work such as his vintage bottles cut in half with beautiful collages inserted and then glued back together. Stunning work. Warren’s talk of the History of Early Cinema in Adelaide showed us the historic photos of pre-1930s Adelaide photographers who took images recorded on small glass plates (like Daguerreotypes) of such things as the 1894 unveiling of Queen Victoria’s statue in Victoria Square. As a professional photographer in my past, I found these images to be delightful.
For the past 3.5 years, Warren has purchased a lovely old cottage in Mintaro, restored it to its former glory, and by 22 August 2026 he’s hoping to open his Museum of Early Cinema (MoEC) to the public. He has been collecting vintage projectors, camera, images, and illustrative information for tourists to come and visit for a while. For those on Instagram, check out MoEC.museum.
Thanks to Lili who organised last Sunday’s Cuppa Conversation at the Sussex Social café at Glenelg. Having spoken to Rob, he said he saw about 15-20 new faces (mostly from South American countries) attending the informal event attended by Rotarians Alison, Paul, Lili and Rob. A very successful morning tea for conversation and networking.
Rob mentioned that the Reisling is now all sold (it went very quickly), but he still has some bottles of Shiraz for those cold wintery nights!
The next Board Meeting will be held on 6 May from 6.00pm at John Wotherspoon’s home (thanks, John).
This Thursday is Coffee Catch-up at the White Picket from 9.30am. See you there.
Best wishes and have a great week. Yvette, President.
In our hunt for good wine, we managed to acquire the last pallet of Jim Barry’s special offer partnership shiraz for the McGrath Foundation (they receive $2 a bottle). The Foundation’s goal is a specialist McGrath Breast Care Nurse to all Australian families experiencing breast cancer (1 in 7 women). So, while supporting them, you can also help our Rotary Club of Adelaide Light’s own charitable work.
The wine's tasting notes are below. It’s a great price at $159/dozen (almost half), combining elegance with robust flavours.
Let us know if you’d like a dozen, then pay your $159 to Account: Rotary Club of Adelaide Light;
BSB: 085 005, Account No: 51 108 5536,Ref: your name - shiraz
Thank you, John Wotherspoon and Rob McLennan e: john@wothers.net | m: 0488 0000 50
SHIRAZ Winemaking Notes A lively, youthful Shiraz bursting with aromas of blue and dark berries, complemented by notes of black pepper and delicate spice. The palate reveals generous blueberry and blackberry !avours, subtle hints of violet, and beautifully integrated oak. Bright and fresh, it shows excellent structure and impressive layers of complexity.
Since our founding in 1959, our story has been shaped by passion, craftsmanship, and a deep respect for the people and land behind every bottle of Shiraz we produce. We believe in making a meaningful di"erence with what we have, a philosophy that underpins our partnership with the McGrath Foundation.
The McGrath Foundation’s mission is simple yet powerful: to ensure that no one faces cancer alone. With the same care and dedication we bring to nurturing our vineyards and crafting our wines, McGrath Cancer Care Nurses provide vital support and compassion to individuals and families navigating cancer. In 2025, we were proud to renew our three-year nurse funding partnership, committing $140,000 annually to support a dedicated McGrath Foundation Cancer Care Nurse.
Wine has been !owing in the Clare Valley since 1851 and is an integral part of the culture. It is one of Australia’s most prestigious premium wine regions, most famous for its Riesling and Shiraz. A small area, accounting for less than 1.5% of Australia’s total wine production.With its beautiful, rolling hills, ideal winter rainfall and Mediteranean climate, the Clare Valley carries a unique history and winemaking heritage.
United in the spirit of Service we value truth, fairness and friendship; and we welcome the opportunity that Rotary gives us to contribute our talents and resources in support of others.
Rotary Club of Adelaide Light Mission Statement
To have fun and engage interest from new members and friends as we use our strengths for a better world here and abroad - a welcoming, flexible group having fun doing hands-on activities for positive impact.
