Our next meeting will be 6:00pm for 6:30pm on Wednesday 23 September 2026 at the Graphic Arts Club, 182 Coward Street, Mascot 2020
Visitors are very welcome - please make yourself known at the bar!
Members are reminded that membership fees are now due!
President's Message
The past two weeks have been productive as we continue to build momentum across community service, youth engagement, fundraising and club sustainability.
At our recent Board meeting, we reviewed a number of encouraging developments. The Sydney Airport foreign currency collection program continues to perform well, with the latest collection completed successfully and updated banking figures expected shortly. Discussions also continue with Airport management regarding the relocation of collection bins to higher traffic locations to improve fundraising outcomes. The joint airport account balance remains strong, providing a solid foundation for future projects.
A highlight over the past fortnight was our engagement with JJ Cahill Memorial High School. The school remains very supportive of working with Rotary and has confirmed that the school grounds may be available for future community markets. While Department of Education requirements mean the school cannot enter into a joint venture, they are willing to rent the space, creating a pathway for what could become a significant fundraising initiative from early 2027.
Our Youth team continues to work hard engaging local schools for RYLA, RYPEN and NYSF opportunities. While school participation has been slower than hoped, valuable relationships are being developed and we remain committed to creating opportunities for local young people. Strong support has been received from PCYC, which continues to be a positive and engaged partner.
Internationally, progress continues on the Uganda classroom and dormitory project, with construction moving forward and discussions commencing around potential global grant opportunities.
I would also like to acknowledge the excellent presentation delivered recently by Jeremy on Rotary grants and Foundation opportunities. The session highlighted grants as an important avenue for future project funding and reinforced the need for our club to develop stronger expertise in this area.
Looking ahead, our next club meeting promises to be a strong networking evening with visiting members from Rotary Rose Bay. It will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase our club, strengthen relationships and continue discussions around membership growth, fundraising initiatives and community partnerships.
Thank you to all members for your commitment and contribution. Together we continue to build a stronger, more sustainable Rotary Club of Botany Randwick. As always Service Above Self.
Mark Daniels
President
Rotary Club of Botany Randwick 2026-27
This week we will have an old friend, Past District Governor Di North, OAM along to bring us up todate on the great work of Interplast.
Interplast works across the Asia Pacific region to improve access to safe, timely, and appropriate surgical, medical, and rehabilitation services. Its programs focus on building local capacity through training, mentoring, and strengthening health systems so that communities can access care that transforms lives.
We will also hear brief updates from the Chairs of Club Services, Youth, Vocational, Community, International and the Rotary Foundation. After the formal part of the meeting, we will adjourn downstairs for dinner, a drink and a convivial chat.
Our last meeting - 9 September
At our last meeting we had as our special guest Past District Governor Jeremy Wright, AM.
Jeremy brought us up to date on the role and work of The Rotary Foundation. He also gave us valuable advice on how we can leverage the Grants structure within the Foundation to further the school refurbishment project in Uganda.
Also along were three representatives of the Kurnell Primary School. In conjunction with the Marrickville Club we recently used funds from our Airport collection to donate an electronic white board to the School and they were able to tell us the value of this facility to the students of their school.
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, followed by dinner, starts at 6:30pm and the evening normally concludes by 8:30pm.
What an incredible and inspiring evening with Vi and Kim from Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation (Vietnam) when they attended our meeting on 29 July.
Vi’s story is one of resilience, hope and the life-changing impact of generosity. As a child, Vi was living on the streets of Vietnam when one of Blue Dragon’s very first donations helped provide him with support, safety and opportunity. Today, he has come full circle and now dedicates his life to rescuing children and young people from human trafficking across Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and China.
Hearing firsthand about the lives being transformed through this work was both humbling and inspiring.
The Rotary Club of Botany Randwick was proud to donate another $1,400 to support Blue Dragon’s vital work protecting vulnerable children and fighting human trafficking. We have been proudly supporting their work for nearly 20 years, providing some of the initial seed funding in their very early days helping children on the streets of Hanoi.
A special thank you to Sydney Airport and the many travelers who donate their foreign coins and notes through the airport charity bins. Those small acts of kindness are helping create life-changing opportunities for children and families who need it most.
Together, we are proving that even the smallest contribution can have an extraordinary impact.
Our next meeting will be 6:00pm for 6:30pm on Wednesday 23 September 2026 at the Graphic Arts Club, 182 Coward Street, Mascot 2020
The past two weeks have been productive as we continue to build momentum across community service, youth engagement, fundraising and club sustainability.
