Community Service Committee

Rotary is a Service organisation and through our Community Service activities we aim to improve the quality of life within our communities. Clubs' activities include promoting the welfare of people in the community by providing assistance and support to those in need, improving the community's environment, and showing leadership in citizenship.

Those in need in our communities include:

• the elderly, the disabled, the poor,
• the homeless, the sick, the abused, the illiterate
• people suffering from or vulnerable to substance abuse
• people disadvantaged and distressed by natural disasters
• those wishing to improve their health.

The environment could include both the natural and the built environments:

• parks and recreational centres, public facilities
• community centres, health facilities, libraries, hospitals and schools
• areas for native flora and fauna,
• conservation, preservation and maintenance of our environment.

When Rotarians are not raising funds, they are most frequently seen by the general public at community service projects, perhaps at working bees planting shrubs, clearing sites, etc., perhaps building something, or just supporting a worthy cause. In the early days, working bees were very popular, as they involved giving time and effort, rather than raising funds. They are still popular with many members, but, due to council regulations and similar problems, there are fewer opportunities.

Our main community project each year is a "Tree of Joy" at St Ives Shopping Village, which provides gifts to nursing home residents throughout Northern Sydney.  Through the generosity of the public, St Ives Rotary has been able to provide over 1000 gifts each year.

May 3rd 2009

We participated in the Festival on the Green, an annual event run by Ku-ring-gai council. This year we raised awareness of the global program to End Polio Now by painting pinkies purple for Polio.

Polio eradication has been a major objective for Rotary for twenty years.  When the program started, over 1000 people a day were stricken with polio.  Today, the number is less than 10 a day.  That's down by 99%.  However, that last 1% - the final inch - will be the most difficult.  Our aim is to help complete the immunisation programs in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria so that polio will be the second disease in world history (after smallpox) to be wiped out."

Local children are now sporting purple pinkies!

Thank you to all the wonderful children, and a few adults who helped us raise much needed money to end  Polio.

Jonathan O'Dea then presented a Community Service award to Dr Brendan Nelson, for his outstanding work in the community.

Dr Nelson organised a youth drug awareness seminar at Abbotsleigh, has ongoing involvement with Ku-ring-gai Youth Developement Service (KYDS) a support group for young people with problems.

He also supports The Trish MS Foundation, as well as the Shepherd Centre and Studio Artes Northside. We believe his support for the community goes beyond the call of duty of a Federal MP.

(l to r) Gordon W King, Brendan Nelson, Jonathan O'Dea 

Rotary Park

Rotary's involvement with Rotary Park, at the junction of Memorial Avenue and Mona Vale Road, began in 1975, when two tables, twelve bench seats and footpaths were provided. These were installed by Rotarians under the supervision of Jim Mazlin, president 1978-79. Subsequently further work was done on beautifying the area and in 1980 a decorative wall was built bearing a Rotary sign. The council subsequently approved the naming of the park as Rotary Park. In 1992 the council re-laid most of the paving, removed the wall and erected a new structure for the service club signs. The tables and bench seats remain. New information signs were installed and trees planted to celebrate the centenary of Rotary in 2005.

(Rotarian Lance Kirkwood, PDG Brian Coleman and Past President Lindsay Smith at the opening of the Rotary Park)

Rotary Kiosk

Before the construction of the Rotary Kiosk at the St Ives Showground, there was nowhere for organizations running events at the showground to cook and serve refreshments. The kiosk, designed and built by the club as a 'hands-on' project, filled the need. The brick building was constructed on a concrete slab, with a tiled roof. Hot and cold water, electricity and a preparation table were provided, together with shutters which open to give access to a serving counter along the six metre length of the kiosk. It was put to use for the club's fireworks display, soon after completion, and immediately proved its value. In 1988 the concrete pad and tiled roof were extended to provide an open-sided covered area, suitable for barbecuing and under-cover outdoor cooking. The kiosk remains in regular use today and provides a valuable facility for event organisers. It cost around $15,000, but its real value is in the order of $85,000. 

St Ives Village Hall and Community Centre

Launched in June 1984 as a bicentennial project, the extension and renovation of the old village hall on the green in Memorial Avenue is the club's most ambitious project so far. The club was involved in running the weekly 'Blue Light Disco' at the hall and it was apparent how inadequate the hall was for such youth activities. Architect and Rotarian Ron Gordon drew up the plans, providing for a two bay extension, an open courtyard, a new kitchen, toilet facilities and an office in the front for a youth worker. The plans were eventually approved and building was completed in 1988 at an estimated cost of $350,000. This sum covered provision of stage and drama facilities, a coffee shop and meeting rooms, making the centre suitable for just about any kind of function. Apart from raising money for the project, club members did a great deal of physical work, including painting the interior and exterior, installing rafters to the new pergola and supplying and laying the brick paving to the courtyard and the external pathways. The project was a total success and overcame the limitations of the hall in its original state. Bicentenary funding was obtained and the club was profusely thanked for its efforts by the Mayor of Ku-ring-gai. To cap the success, the project was awarded a Sydney Morning Herald service clubs award in 1989 as an outstanding community service project.

Sir Eric Woodward Memorial School

The Sir Eric Woodward School, in Ayres Road, is a school for the profoundly handicapped. In 1993 the school principal approached Rotary for help with building a new garden area. Plans had been drawn up by a number of students at Ryde T.A.F.E. and the best design was adopted as a basis for future development of the garden. The first stage was to build a raised garden, where the wheelchair-bound children could reach the plants, tend and enjoy them. Then a surrounding paved area was laid to provide wheelchair access from the school building. The final stage was to build a pathway around the main garden area, suitable for wheelchairs, and to plant a sensory trail of shrubs and trees. All this work was done by club members, mainly at weekends. Pavers and other materials were either donated or acquired at preferential prices.

Probus

Probus is a Rotary-sponsored organisation with some similarities to Rotary, except it is for retired business people. These clubs are extremely popular, as they allow retirees to keep in touch with the business world in a friendly and relaxed style. St Ives has been instrumental in forming seven clubs - Ku-ring-gai (1977 in conjunction with The Rotary Clubs of Ku-ring-gai and Turramurra), St Ives (1982), Pymble (1985), Gordon (1988), Barra Brui (1989), St Ives Ladies (1990) and Bobbin Head (1994).