Last week, we gathered by Currumbin Creek - the very spot where all the fun will happen on Sunday for The Great Duck Race! You could feel the buzz in the air: the calm before the chaos, the excitement, and the pride in what we’re about to achieve together.
But this event is about more than just ducks on the water - it’s about raising awareness for domestic violence prevention and reminding our community that kindness, safety, and support truly matter.
A big thank you to Bruce Howlett and Phil Gleeson for firing up the BBQ and keeping our team well fed as we gear up for the big day!
THIS WEEK'S GUEST SPEAKER
This week, we're back to Currumbin RSL for our International Breakfast with Rotary International President Elect Olayinka Babalola. If you don't have your tickets yet, click this link before sales close.
We're into the final week of sales and we need a late push to get more ducks in the water on Sunday. At time of writing, we have sold 47 big ducks and over 1000 little ducks. In case you missed it, we have great prizes on offer for the top 3 placegetters. Click here for the duck purchase page.
Community Race
1st Prize: One-night stay in a One Bedroom Ocean View Suite at the stunning Mondrian Gold Coast—plus breakfast and valet parking (valued at $1,500!) 2nd Prize: $250 Cash + $250 Bunnings Voucher 3rd Prize: $100 Cash + $100 Bunnings Voucher
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.
Rotary remains a lead partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Rotary’s efforts over many decades have driven case numbers down by over 99 %.
But polio is not yet eradicated. Wild poliovirus remains endemic in only Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Other risks remain, including vaccine-derived poliovirus and resurgence in areas with lower immunisation or disrupted health systems.
Rotary + partners continue to emphasise that until polio is eliminated everywhere, all countries are at risk — whether by importation, via travellers, via weak surveillance, or waning immunity.
The ongoing commitment from Rotarians, governments, donors, and partners remains critical — not just for vaccinations, but for surveillance, education, advocacy, and funding.
Also: donations remain matched (in many cases 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) which magnifies the impact of fundraising efforts.
How The Day Was Marked in 2025
Here are some real-world examples of activities, events, and responses around World Polio Day this year:
Location
What Happened
Significance
Sydney, Australia
All-Stations Challenge — Rotarians rode every train station in Sydney in one day to fundraise for polio eradication.
A high-visibility fundraising / awareness event using the public transport network; connects local engagement with global cause.
Sydney, Australia (Rotary train ride)
“Fuel the Final Push. End Polio For Good” train ride — Boards at Town Hall Station and ride to Chatswood, with club-level presentations of commitment to End Polio.
Community engagement in public space; combines fellowship + awareness + visible support for PolioPlus efforts.
Ethiopia
Walk to End Polio Now (Addis Ababa) involving Rotarians and polio survivors.
Symbolic and physical demonstration of support; includes survivors, reflecting the human impact.
Japan / Tokyo
Tokyo Tower lit up in purple for World Polio Day.
Landmark illumination is a symbolic gesture; raises public awareness by lighting a prominent structure.
Perth, Australia
A concert in Perth associated with World Polio Day
Cultural event with entertainment that supports cause; broader community reach beyond Rotary membership.
Ethiopia / Africa & Asia vaccination push
During the week around World Polio Day, polio-affected countries in Africa and Asia planned vaccination campaigns for more than 80 million children.
Demonstrates that World Polio Day is not just symbolic — it is tied into mass immunisation activity and field operations.
Rotary District / Donor Partnerships
In U.S. District 5040 (Rotary), the Gates Foundation / Rotary partnership was renewed for another 3 years, with a matching commitment.
Institutional / funding-level affirmation of continued commitment around the day.
West Wollongong Rotary (NSW)
Held a Train Ride event tied to World Polio Day.
Local club-level event aligned with broader Rotary / Zones campaign.
By Nikola Božić, End Polio Now Coordinator for Zone 21, and a member of the E-Club of Serbia
Some of the most powerful moments in Rotary come when you least expect them. This happened to me recently after a long day of meetings at Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA.
Following preparations for upcoming training sessions, I joined about a dozen Rotary colleagues in Chicago for dinner. It had been an intense day filled with strategy and planning, and we gathered simply to relax, eat, and enjoy fellowship. I happened to be wearing my red “End Polio Now” shirt, something I often do because it not only represents a campaign I care about and support but also sparks conversations. Read more 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.
Do you have questions about Rotary’s pledge to end polio? We’ve got answers.
By Etelka Lehoczky
You’ve likely heard a lot about polio in recent weeks. Rotary members talk about it all year, but never more than in the month leading up to World Polio Day on 24 October. It’s one of the most important days of the year for Rotary — a time to reaffirm our nearly four-decade commitment to eliminating this disease from the world.
Polio eradication may seem complicated, but it’s actually fairly straightforward. If you’ve ever wondered about the science of the disease, the history of Rotary’s fight against it, or the progress of the global eradication effort, find the answers to those questions and more here.
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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.
