Welcome to this week’s edition of The Duo’s Discourse.
Wednesday, 7th October – our monthly breakfast meeting at the Living Room Café, was enjoyed by a small group of regular attendees, including joint President Russell and Dinah. Russell is currently taking a break from Rotary duties whilst undergoing numerous medical tests and appointments.
Wednesday, 14th October – no meeting
Monday, 19th October - Hands-On Rotary Club Central Goal Setting Workshop
For Presidents, Secretaries, Club Leaders and Board Members
Attendees are requested to register online and will receive their ZOOM meeting link via email.
6.30pm – 7.45pm Online via ZOOM
Wednesday, 21st October – no meeting
Thursday, 22nd October – St Ives Doctors, one of our gold sponsors for the recent Food & Wine Festival, are holding an open house morning tea to celebrate moving into their new premises at St Ives Plaza Shopping Village, 351 Mona Vale Road, St Ives.
Saturday, 24th October – World Polio Day
Rotary International and its partners will celebrate World Polio Day.
World Polio Day is observed annually on 24th October to raise awareness about global efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio) and celebrate the development of the first polio vaccine.
Every year on 24th October, people around the world shine a spotlight on the importance of global eradication.
Now that 99% of the work is done and most children born today live free of the threat of polio, it is more important than ever that the entire world remains committed to the disease’s eradication.
Zone 8 Youth Protection/Insurance, District 9685 Youth Protection, Club Presidents, Club Youth Protection Officers, RCLs
To support clubs in implementing the new Youth Protection and Working with Children verification policies and processes, the district team will hold a dedicated online Information & Q&A Session.
Monday 26 October 2026. 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Online via Zoom
This session will provide clear, practical guidance and give Club Officers an opportunity to have their questions answered directly by the district team. Before the session all registered attendees will receive a Youth Protection & Working with Children Verification FAQ Guide before the Zoom session. Registration is essential. District will provide Zoom details and the FAQ Guide to registered attendees before the session.
Rotary Club of St Ives Spring Raffle
As previously advised, our spring raffle is open until 30th October 2026, with great prizes from just $5 a ticket! All proceeds will support Rotary projects as well as the Cromehurst Foundation.
Tickets can be purchased via our raffle site https://tickets.rafflelink.com/?search=st+ives and we encourage members to not only buy tickets but also to share the link with family, friends, and networks to help us reach our fundraising goals.
The draw takes place, by Rafflelink, online at 9am on Friday 31st October 2026.
You can scan the above QR code with your smartphone to take you to the site to purchase tickets (hold your camera over the QR code as if you are taking a photo, the weblink will come up on your phone screen, click on it and it will take you straight there).
Alternatively click on this link https://tickets.rafflelink.com/?search=st+ives
Winners will be contacted by phone and or email immediately after the draw.
Please show your support, for our club, by purchasing some ticket/s.
To date, 504 tickets have been sold, and we would like to see this total around 1,000 by the closing date!!
Saturday, 21st November - Club Presidents' Meeting and District Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The Club Presidents Meeting and District Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Saturday, 21st November 2026 from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Castle Hill Country Club, 7 Spurway Drive, Norwest NSW 2153. All Club Presidents are asked to register their attendance. Registration is particularly important to ensure that the required quorum is achieved for the District AGM.
District Conference Mudgee – Friday, 12 March to Sunday, 14 March 2027
Registration cost is now $370 until 31st December 2026!
The conference has been designed with something for everyone—outstanding keynote speakers, practical ideas to take back to clubs, the Country Fair, Bush Dance, local food and wine experiences, and plenty of opportunities to reconnect with fellow Rotarians from across the district.
Registration link
Zone 8 Restructuring - Districts within Zone 8 (which includes Australia and the local region) have paused specific 2028–29 District Governor elections to accommodate an active re-districting pilot and working group ahead of a new district rollout.
The exact changes are not yet finalized. Some districts may remain as they are, some will merge, and others may absorb new clubs. New districts will be in place from 1st July 2028.
2027 Rotary International Convention in Barcelona:
Registration for the Rotary International Convention in Barcelona, Spain (scheduled for 26–30 June 2027). US$795 starting September 22, 2026.
Best wishes
Russ and John
