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.
Victoria, from the Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre spoke to us about this local organisation that provides a welcoming, inclusive space known as “the house with the heart.” It offers a range of free programs supporting mental health, family wellbeing, and community connection, including Circle of Security, Girls with a Purpose, and a parent support group for neurodiverse families. Services include counselling, a free food pantry, gardening programs, and weekly activities such as arts, wellbeing sessions, and a volunteer-led sewing group. Much of the work is supported by dedicated volunteers and funded through government support, donations, and community drives. Despite space limitations, the organisation continues to grow, partnering with local centres for larger events. Future plans include securing funding for a domestic violence case worker, ensuring they can meet increasing demand and continue supporting vulnerable community members.
THIS WEEK'S GUEST SPEAKER
Sally Romano, from ORRCA is this week's guest speaker.
This year marks 40 years of dedicated service from ORRCA - the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia. Since 1985, this 100% volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation has played a pivotal role in the rescue, rehabilitation and research of marine mammals along Australia’s coastline.
ORRCA is licensed to rescue whales, dolphins, seals and dugongs. With over 1200 active members, including more than 700 trained rescue team volunteers across 14 regional hubs, ORRCA has built a highly responsive and skilled network ready to act when marine mammals are in need.
Working closely with government agencies and other partners including the Sea World Foundation, ORRCA coordinates multi-agency responses to stranded, injured or entangled animals. These rescue operations can range from monitoring a resting seal to undertaking complex, multi-day disentanglement efforts for whales caught in fishing gear.
Reflections from the recent board meeting highlighted strong engagement and fresh ideas shaping the club’s direction.
Club Manual
A new club manual, developed to support member onboarding, will soon be available in both print and digital formats.
Service Projects
Members are encouraged to assist with the upcoming Timor container project, likely the final one, requiring volunteers for loading. Other activities include Bunnings barbecues and the RSL Walk for Remembrance.
Duck Race
Planning continues for the Duck Race, with a new sponsorship pack aimed at increasing community and business involvement. Funds raised will support local charities, with suggestions currently being sought from members. Please contact one of the board members, use the feedback form below or email burleighheadsrotary@gmail.com if you have any suggestions for charities or groups who could use funds.
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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.
The Four-Way Test: a road map we need now more than ever
By Haresh L. Ramchandani, past district governor and member of the Rotary Club of L.I.F.E, Jamaica
Prominently displayed on my office door is a small sign featuring The Four-Way Test. It recently caught the eye of a customer, sparking a 15-minute deep dive into morals and ethics. That conversation stayed with me because, while our world is changing at breakneck speed, this 24-word code remains one of the most powerful ethical guides ever written.
But where did it come from, and why does a test written nearly a century ago still feel so relevant today? Read more here.
Rotary Down Under
Reviving Rotary in Yamba
Words: John McKenny. Rotary Club of Yamba. NSW
When the Rotary Club of Yamba made a conscious decision to put Rotary visibly and purposefully on display in their community, a struggling club rediscovered its energy, attracted new members and re-ignited a powerful sense of shared purpose.
Not long ago, the Rotary Club of Yamba was facing a critical moment. Membership had been declining for three years and the future felt uncertain. But a spark of inspiration, rooted in the wise words of former District Governor Dave Harmon, ignited a turnaround: “Run projects and activities that put Rotary on display in your community and people will see the value in being part of your town Rotary club.”
Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai to speak at the Rotary Convention in Taipei
Malala Yousafzai began her activism at age 11 when she anonymously blogged about life under the Taliban in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, particularly the ban on girls’ education. Over the next few years, she advocated publicly, giving speeches and interviews and attracting media attention and awards.
At age 15, she was shot in the head by the Taliban for speaking out. After months of surgery and rehabilitation in the United Kingdom, she founded Malala Fund to continue her campaign to see all girls in school. A year later, she received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her work for education and equality. Yousafzai graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in 2020. Read more here.
Victoria, from the Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre spoke to us about this local organisation that provides a welcoming, inclusive space known as “the house with the heart.” It offers a range of free programs supporting mental health, family wellbeing, and community connection, including Circle of Security, Girls with a Purpose, and a parent support group for neurodiverse families. Services include counselling, a free food pantry, gardening programs, and weekly activities such as arts, wellbeing sessions, and a volunteer-led sewing group. Much of the work is supported by dedicated volunteers and funded through government support, donations, and community drives. Despite space limitations, the organisation continues to grow, partnering with local centres for larger events. Future plans include securing funding for a domestic violence case worker, ensuring they can meet increasing demand and continue supporting vulnerable community members.