Upcoming Events
Find Us on Facebook

 

Meeting Information:

Wednesdays at 12:45 PM for 1.00pm Start

Crown Hotel

1 Prince St,
Grafton, NSW 2460
Australia

 

Home Page Stories

What are the 16 days of Activism, and why should you care?

Each year, from 25 November to 10 December, World Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism campaign calls for action against one of the world’s most persistent violations of human rights – violence against women.

During the 16 Days of Activism, people around the world unite to raise awareness about gender-based violence, challenge discriminatory attitudes and call for improved laws and services to end violence against women for good.

Grafton Midday Rotary in Conjunction with The Clarence Valley Domestic and Family Violence Committee (CVDFVC) brought awareness to the Grafton & broader Clarence Valley community of the "Say No to Domestic Violence" campaign in Grafton on Friday 1st December.
Recently DG Dave Harmon, together with Jodie Shelly, visited our club.  Amongst other things, Dave is very passionate about this year's theme - Say No to Domestic Violence, an awareness campaign that most of the Rotary Clubs in the district are supporting.  GMR will supporting the campaign with two events:  first a Walk on December 1st, followed by a Community Barbecue on December 8th.  More details of both will be forthcoming in future bulletins.  
 
 
 
GMR was blessed to have internationally renowned speaker, Jessica Smith OAM speak with us on July 26 2023.  Jessica has been visiting her family in Grafton (her father is Rotarian Ray Smith).  She spoke with eloquence regarding being a paralympian, author and most importantly a Disability Inclusion Consultant.  Whilst in Australia for the month, Jessica has spoken on many panels including the Gender Equality Symposium, The Women in Sport Summit as well as writing an article for Time Magazine New York and running a marathon. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As stated in Mark's Musing, the June 2023 Changing Lanes Changing Lives event was another huge success.  Despite the colder weather, there were still hundreds of Graftonites out looking at the cars and enjoying the free feed.  Skye and to rush to Coles to grab more bread and rolls as we ran out twice!!

Rotary’s Centenary is a time of celebration! - a time to reflect on our past, and take pride in all that has been achieved.  It is a time we play our part in the history of Rotary.  Our centenary is also the time to lay the foundations for our future, as we still have much to do.  The key project in our centenary year will focus on stopping the one in 16 children who die in 9 Pacific nations before the age of five. 

Our President Robert Blanchard joined Rotarians across Australia on 10th July for virtual fellowship, as well as met our R100 Centenary Ambassadors, the Governor General and Mrs Hurley, as they launch our national centenary campaign.  He witnessed the “Passing the Baton” ceremony.  The baton that will carry the symbols of our centenary and will travel far and wide across Rotary clubs and Districts. He also had Josh Piterman (Australian Actor who plays the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera) in London! He sang "Music of the night" with music by John Foreman (Melbourne).  

Robert said it was a fantastic performance to be part of

 

 

 
Rotary News
‘One simple word’
‘One simple word’
Leaders highlight the power of gratitude at The Rotary Foundation Donor Summit
Talking reading and Rotary with Dolly Parton
Talking reading and Rotary with Dolly Parton
The entertainer and philanthropist Dolly Parton died 25 August 2026. This Q&A was originally published in the March 2010 issue of The Rotarian (now Rotary) magazine. Later that year, she spoke at the Rotary International Convention in Montreal, Canada.
A safe transition beyond the wire
A safe transition beyond the wire
A Rotary club in Kansas helps women break the cycle of incarceration and elude dangers on the outside
Rotary projects around the globe – August 2026
Rotary projects around the globe – August 2026
Learn how Rotary clubs are taking action in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Thailand.
Food as medicine for TB recovery
Food as medicine for TB recovery
Rediscovering a weapon against the deadliest infectious disease, TB advocates look to better nutrition