Natalie Lidgerwood from Seed the Ground shared their unexpected journey from arts producer to full-time volunteer in soil biology, driven by concerns about waste and overconsumption. After moving to the Gold Coast and engaging in the local arts scene, she co-founded Seed the Ground to tackle the city’s growing waste problem. The initiative began with a compost hub in Miami and partnerships with local cafés, eventually evolving despite early setbacks. Seed the Ground now focuses on rescuing food waste from landfill, regenerating soil, and supporting local food production - having diverted more than 140 tons of waste with the help of 90 volunteers and multiple community hubs. Their Swap and Go residential program and school waste audits further engage the community in sustainable practices. The organisation is expanding its infrastructure, including purchasing an industrial composter, and is working with the Gold Coast Council to secure funding and advocate for improved waste systems, especially in the absence of a citywide green bin program. A Q&A session covered home composting tips, school education, and recycling guidelines, highlighting the ongoing need for community awareness and participation.
Dr Benjamin Wachira trained as Emergency Physician in South Africa and returned to Kenya as the first EM Physician in Kenya. He founded EMKF from one-man team to now over 100-people network including County champions in each of the 47 counties in Kenya with the vision of strengthening the Emergency Department health care systems in Kenya one Emergency department at a time.
Don't forget to look at the footer of this newsletter for a list of volunteer or events you've signed up for.
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Paul Harris Fellow awarded
Dr Hussain Babar is a respected community leader and humanitarian known for his dedicated work supporting vulnerable and multicultural communities on the Gold Coast. As founder of the Gold Coast Multicultural Social Network, he has played a key role in coordinating emergency assistance, outreach programs, and support services for people experiencing homelessness and hardship. His contributions span decades of volunteer work, including helping distribute essential supplies during major events such as the 2000 bushfires. Dr Babar is a passionate advocate for inclusiveness, social cohesion, and formal volunteering, regularly engaging with government inquiries and community organisations to strengthen support systems. Recognised for his significant impact, he was awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary Burleigh Heads for his outstanding service to humanitarian and educational initiatives. Thank you to Andy Rajapakse for donating his PHF points to Dr Babar.
Parliament House visit
Ken, Hannah, Jo, Mike, Kevin, Richard and Vicki attended Parliament House at the invitation of Herman Vorster, who is a big fan of our Duck Race. He sees it as a wonderful community event and looks forward to next year's race. There was a tour and a visit to question time, before a lovely 3 course lunch in the dining room.
Emerald Lakes Golf Day BBQ
Charity Golf BBQ on Friday - nett takings $760 plus a free stock of drink for our next Bunnings BBQ. This was an increase on last year's taking of $728. Great result! Thanks to Rita, Mike, Michael and especially to Roger for his last minute stand-in.
Spam Warning
The board was approached by a Rotary club in Africa to support them in a children's project. We declined but some members have been inundated by emails from them. If you receive any emails, please do not engage with them - just delete the email.
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Club runner information
If you do not have your Club Runner login information, you can go to the Club Runner website, scroll down a little and click on “Send me a Magic Link”. Enter the email address you gave to the club, and you will receive an email. Click on the login button and then select the club website. Go to ‘My Clubrunner’ and then ‘My Profile’. The ‘Edit’ button is at the top right and you can add/change any information on your profile. Click ‘Save’ and you’re done!
If you’re really feeling techy, you can download the Club Runner app.
If you would like any help resetting your password, or downloading the app to your phone, please let us know. There are a few members who can assist you.
We are looking to use Club Runner more for information and rosters, so it would be great if everyone is able to log in.
“If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.”
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Rotary International News and information
November is Rotary Foundation month
Rotary Blog
Why I said yes to Rotary, why you should too
By Rachele Bouchand, Rotary Club of Bellevue, Washington, USA
When I was first introduced to Rotary as a young professional, I honestly had a very different idea of what Rotary was. I thought it was a club for mostly older people who greeted each other with a secret handshake. It felt like a world far removed from my own.
But then my mentor, George, challenged that assumption. He told me that Rotary could be the key to enhancing my leadership skills, growing my network, and making a larger impact in the community. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp how much Rotary would change my life – but George was right. It did, and continues to, in ways I never imagined. Read how here.
Rotary Down Under
‘Come as you are’: Why flexibility is attracting younger generations to Rotary
A young New Zealand Rotarian is proving that Rotary’s strength lies in diversity, flexibility, mentorship and community connection.
At just 28, Alex is the newest and youngest member of the Rotary Club of Papanui, NZ, with the average age demographic hovering around the 70 years mark.
But rather than this being a deterrent, Alex says it was one of the reasons that attracted her to Rotary.
“I have my own marketing and advertising business and wouldn’t survive if I didn’t interact with a wide age group,” Alex says.
Contributions will support projects around the globe, including a robust recommitment to the fight to end polio.
Donors to The Rotary Foundation celebrated some big achievements in fundraising in the past year, showing their support for the wide array of programs the organization sponsors all over the world.
A multiyear campaign to increase the Endowment to US$2.025 billion by 2025 exceeded its goal by US$25 million. In 2024-25 alone, members and others contributed more than half a billion dollars to the Foundation.
Please check the roster for the next few weeks and advise Vicki and David Ungar if you will be away that week. Meeting jobs will be allocated before the meeting.
Natalie Lidgerwood from Seed the Ground shared their unexpected journey from arts producer to full-time volunteer in soil biology, driven by concerns about waste and overconsumption. After moving to the Gold Coast and engaging in the local arts scene, she co-founded Seed the Ground to tackle the city’s growing waste problem. The initiative began with a compost hub in Miami and partnerships with local cafés, eventually evolving despite early setbacks. Seed the Ground now focuses on rescuing food waste from landfill, regenerating soil, and supporting local food production - having diverted more than 140 tons of waste with the help of 90 volunteers and multiple community hubs. Their Swap and Go residential program and school waste audits further engage the community in sustainable practices. The organisation is expanding its infrastructure, including purchasing an industrial composter, and is working with the Gold Coast Council to secure funding and advocate for improved waste systems, especially in the absence of a citywide green bin program. A Q&A session covered home composting tips, school education, and recycling guidelines, highlighting the ongoing need for community awareness and participation.
humanitarian known for his dedicated work supporting vulnerable and multicultural communities on the Gold Coast. As founder of the Gold Coast Multicultural Social Network, he has played a key role in coordinating emergency assistance, outreach programs, and support services for people experiencing homelessness and hardship. His contributions span decades of volunteer work, including helping distribute essential supplies during major events such as the 2000 bushfires. Dr Babar is a passionate advocate for inclusiveness, social cohesion, and formal volunteering, regularly engaging with government inquiries and community organisations to strengthen support systems. Recognised for his significant impact, he was awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary Burleigh Heads for his outstanding service to humanitarian and educational initiatives. Thank you to Andy Rajapakse for donating his PHF points to Dr Babar.
Charity Golf BBQ on Friday - nett takings $760 plus a free stock of drink for our next Bunnings BBQ. This was an increase on last year's taking of $728. Great result! Thanks to Rita, Mike, Michael and especially to Roger for his last minute stand-in.
