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 via email before the meeting.
Sally Romano from ORRCA, which is a globally respected, volunteer-run organisation dedicated to the rescue, research, and protection of marine mammals including whales, dolphins, dugongs, and seals, spoke to us about her experience with the organisation. Founded in 1985 in New South Wales, it has grown into a key first-response network on Australia’s East Coast, working closely with national parks, SeaWorld, and Indigenous communities. With a strong emphasis on cultural respect, Indigenous groups are often involved in rescues and ceremonies.
Operating entirely through volunteers, Orca reinvests funding into training, equipment, and research. In 2025 alone, it conducted around 900 rescues and trained hundreds of new volunteers. Beyond rescue operations, Orca plays a critical role in public education, research, and conservation, including whale monitoring and necropsies. Despite challenges like pollution and climate change, the organisation continues to expand its impact through community engagement and awareness initiatives.
THIS WEEK'S GUEST SPEAKER
Craig Hobart, President and CEO of the Southport Flying Club, will be speaking about Angelflight and the future of the club.
25th April - ANZAC Day Services - Burleigh Memorial Park - Dawn service and 10am
1-3 May - Tri-District Conference - Royal Pines
18th May - Pride of Work - Currumbin RSL - Tickets here
26th June - Changeover Dinner - Currumbin RSL
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Meeting Information
Changeover Dinner and Pride of Work Awards
The changeover dinner is scheduled for June 26, with members encouraged to secure tickets. Pride of Work Awards nominations have been extended to April 20, though interest is currently low with only two submissions. Promotion efforts are underway via email and social media. Leanne Cohen, President of the Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce, is likely to attend as a guest speaker.
Duck Race and Media Partnerships
Harvey Norman is close to confirming a $5,000 major prize sponsorship for the Duck Race. Hot Tomato is onboard to act as a media partner, particularly to promote associated events like the paddleboard race.
Peace Pole Initiative and Council Support
A proposed peace pole and peace garden for Rotary Park at Burleigh has received initial support from Councillor Josh Martin and is progressing through council approval. Installation is planned for International Peace Day.
Club Updates
David Unger was acknowledged for his contributions to the Rotary Foundation. He received his Sapphire Pin.
Projects and General Announcements
Coverage is needed for the scooter project during an upcoming absence. Approval has been granted for student participation in a Model UN event.
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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.
By Connie Cheren, Rotary Club of Charlotte International, North Carolina, USA, and founder of Partners for Care
When I first traveled to Kenya in 2007, I thought it would be a short trip, an opportunity to volunteer and return home with new memories. Instead, it changed the direction of my life.
I saw children missing school because of preventable illnesses, mothers walking miles to fetch water that wasn’t even safe to drink, and communities doing everything they could to survive with very little. As a nurse and social worker, I couldn’t ignore what I saw.
A school garden at Lincoln Primary School is cultivating kids and community, growing young gardeners and revealing Rotary’s power to serve.
At 6.30 am – summer or winter – David Boustead is already in Lincoln Primary School’s garden. By the time classes begin, ‘Gardening Dave’ has checked irrigation timers, mapped plantings and worked out what will be ready for children to harvest by hand.
David, a member of the Ōtautahi Passport Rotary Club, NZ, and an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Lincoln, answered a community call in early 2022. Read more here.
Rotary News
A Rotarian works to dispel myths about polio vaccines
by Diana Maria Pirga Rotary Club of Türkiye Evrensel, District 2430
I was looking for volunteer opportunities in my home country of Romania when I saw a social media post about a Rotaract project. I made a donation, and the members invited me to come with them in the field. I joined Rotaract and got involved in many other projects that came after. You could even say my digital career started there. Back in those days social media was booming in Romania, and as a club we started organizing conferences for youth to learn about social media not only as users but as a job. Read more here.
Sally Romano from ORRCA, which is a globally respected, volunteer-run organisation dedicated to the rescue, research, and protection of marine mammals including whales, dolphins, dugongs, and seals, spoke to us about her experience with the organisation. Founded in 1985 in New South Wales, it has grown into a key first-response network on Australia’s East Coast, working closely with national parks, SeaWorld, and Indigenous communities. With a strong emphasis on cultural respect, Indigenous groups are often involved in rescues and ceremonies.