Our next meeting will be 6:00pm for 6:30pm Tuesday 13 February
at the Graphic Arts Club, 182 Coward Street, Mascot.
President's Message
Welcome to this Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Botany Randwick Inc. Our club has been serving the local and international community since 1948.
Rotary promotes the ideal of service through fellowship. Attending our meetings allows members to enjoy the fellowship of other club members, enrich their professional and personal knowledge, and meet other business leaders in their community.
As a Club we support a wide range of projects. As well as having a broad range of local and international community projects, we are particularly focused on the Rotary projects, Australian Rotary Health, Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) together with The Rotary Foundation.
We welcome everyone to come along to any of our meetings in 2023, to join in the fellowship and to learn more about what we do.
Please note that for our next meeting, we are meeting Tuesday 13th rather than on the Wednesday.
Please note that this meeting will be held on a Tuesday!
Our special guest will be District Governor Tonia Barnes.
Members of our neighbouring Eastern Suburbs Rotary Clubs have been invited along, so it should be a very good night.
All welcome, especially if you are a visitor.
Our last meeting
With many members away on holidays and enjoying time with family, our first meeting of the year was attended by 14 members and guests who enjoyed a casual and relaxed time, dwelling over the delicious food from the Club's restaurant.
Brigit updated the members on the dog event, which will be held on Sunday, 7 April at Maroubra Beach. Simon will help her finalise the flyer and Brigit will be reaching out to members on who can help on the day.
Peter gave a presentation on a Rotary project he, and possibly Christine, will be attending in March to the Philippines which aims to educate young girls and boys on their reproductive cycle and to help girls avoid young pregnancies. This project is the initiative of a Burwood Rotary RAWCS project in conjunction with SHEP (Sexual health Education by Pictures).
The Philippines has the Highest level of unplanned pregnancies in the World with 1 in 5 babies to young girls being stillborne. Many young girls are abandoned and as a result they are kidnapped and sold into prostitution. This program, along with others, has been very successful in the past with the Burwood RAWCS program having a support team in the area.
Peter advised that this program is self-funded by the participant with the highest cost being the printed material provided to each girl to help them to be aware of their own bodies and their fertility cycle. It is for that reason he asked the Rotary Club of Botany Randwick for their financial support and thereby allowing us to be part of this very important project to improve the lives and future of many young girls.
Since our last meeting ...
Mark and Christine have met with the Marrickville Club to discuss airport coin collection activities.
A small group of members attended the airport and emptied the collection bins.
The Dog Day Committee has been very busy planning for this event.
Richard has been appointed to the Board of ROMAC - Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children, in the role of Operations Director. In this role he will be responsible for the referral and placement process for children of the Oceania Region, from Timor Leste across to Fiji, requiring lifesaving medical treatment only available in hospitals across Australia and New Zealand.
Proudly Partnered with Sydney Airports Corporation
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at the Graphic Arts Club,
182 Coward Street,
Mascot.
6pm for pre-meeting drinks and chat. The meeting, with dinner, starts at 6:30pm and normally concludes by 8:30pm.
Sponsorship of a family room at Ronald McDonald House at the Sydney Children's Hospital, allowing families from rural NSW to stay close to their children whilst undergoing treatment.
Donation to the Phillipines SHEP project (see item on our last meeting.
January 2024
Sponsorship of Michaela to attend the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) at the University of Qld.
Sponsorship of Michael to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, a week long personal development program.
December 2023
Donation to Lou's Place, supporting victims of domestic violence
November 2023
Donation for South Eastern Community Connect to go towards Christmas Hampers for the needy members of our community
Sponsorship of seven families to the Lions Club World Festival of Magic.
Refer to our website for the full list of projects supported.
The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is a10 day program designed to give senior High School students a broad understanding of the diverse study and career options available to them in STEM.
The Rotary Club of Botany Randwick is pleased to sponsor Michaella to attend this year's forum at the University of Queensland from 12 – 20 January 2024. There will be about 200 – 300 young people in the Year 11 or 12 of high schools who will graduate next year. Michaella attends Cerdon Catholic Girls School in Merrylands.
On Friday 8 December, a very successful event was held to thank those involved in the refurbishment of the Maroubra Mental Health Unit. Cheryl Wittingslow, Peer Support Worker and refurbishment coordinator, invited SESLHD Mental Health representatives, key sponsors and funding groups to be a part of the celebrations.
President of Botany Randwick Rotary Club, Christine Baramilis, Secretary Greg Lill, past member of Rotary Randwick, Alex Weiss, and Kim Millar, past relationship manager, Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation, plus representatives from the POW Hospital Mental Health facilities attended the unveiling of two plaques at the Maroubra Centre, Eastern Suburbs Mental Health.
The plaque in the reception is dedicated to Rotary and The Prince of Wales Foundation. Cheryl Wittingslow, spoke about Randwick Rotary’s important donation in 2020 which helped the Centre begin its upgrade. Rotary’s commitment assisted the Health Department to improve the original poor conditions of the building and the centre. Since then our club has assisted with the purchase of gym equipment.
Bookings are now open for the District Conference 8 - 10 March 2024.
The Conference is being held at the Novotel Hotel, Cliff Road, North Wollongong, a wonderful location overlooking North Beach. Watch the Conference Page for progressive updates on the program for the weekend.
There will be speakers covering topical subjects and important Rotary projects. So come and join us for a weekend of learning and fun. Catch up with friends and make new ones - meet fellow Rotarians who care about creating a better world. It's a great opportunity for members new and old to get together and hear more about Rotary and what we do in our district and across the world.
District Governor Tonia Barnes has secured five accommodation options to assist Rotarians wishing to attend her Rotary District 9675 Conference from Friday 8 March to Sunday 11 March 2024. But they will not last long and you must book soon if you want to secure one of these hotels.
The hotels are the Novotel Northbeach, where the Conference will be held, the Sage Hotel, the Adina Apartment Hotel, Wollongong, Hotel Totto which opened last year, and the Mantra Wollongong.
Important to note is the Rotary Room Block unsold rooms release date – this is the date the hotels will take back their rooms, and they will no longer be available to book under this agreement. – see details on Conference Page
February is Peacemaking and Conflict Prevention Month
With thanks to DG Caleb Summerfelt, District 5020 (USA/Canada):
As we step into February, a month dedicated to Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, we embrace an opportunity to reflect on and contribute to one of Rotary’s core areas of focus. In a world where conflicts arise in various forms, be it in communities, nations, or even within ourselves, the pursuit of peace remains a cornerstone of our Rotary mission.
Peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, equity, and harmony. In Rotary, we believe that peace is a viable and essential goal, achievable through understanding, goodwill, and compassion. Our role as Rotarians is to be architects of peace, building bridges where walls once stood.
As we navigate this crucial theme, here are some detailed examples and ideas on how we can actively engage in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. Some of the activities that Rotary is promoting include:
Community Dialogue Session
Youth Peace and Leadership Workshops:
Cultural Exchange Programs:
Support for Local Peace Initiatives:
Online Campaigns for Peace Awareness:
Our actions, however small they may seem, contribute significantly to the larger picture of global peace and understanding. By engaging in these activities, we foster peace in our immediate environments and set an example for others to follow.
This February, let us commit to being proactive agents of peace. I encourage you to implement at least one of the suggested activities within your club or community. Let’s harness our collective efforts to create environments where understanding thrives over misunderstanding and peace prevails over conflict.
As we continue our journey through 2024, let the theme of Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention guide our actions and intentions. May this month be a reminder of our potential to be catalysts for change and our ability to create a more peaceful world.
In Rotary, we have the unique opportunity to be ambassadors of peace. Let’s embrace this role with enthusiasm and hope, knowing that our contributions are paving the way for a more harmonious world.
Wishing you a month filled with peace, understanding, and impactful service.
The Four Way Test
The Four-Way Test is a non-partisan, non-sectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships.
Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
To contact the Club, please email info@botanyrandwickrotary.org.au
Our next meeting will be 6:00pm for 
The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is a10 day program designed to give senior High School students a broad understanding of the diverse study and career options available to them in STEM.
On Friday 8 December, a very successful event was held to thank those involved in the refurbishment of the Maroubra Mental Health Unit. Cheryl Wittingslow, Peer Support Worker and refurbishment coordinator, invited SESLHD Mental Health representatives, key sponsors and funding groups to be a part of the celebrations.
Bookings are now open for the District Conference 8 - 10 March 2024. 