The Rotary Club of Botany Randwick continues to sponsor a family accommodation room at Ronald McDonald House, Randwick.Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families of children from rural and regional NSW who are undergoing treatment at the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick.
So far in 2025, 28 families have stayed in our room, the longest for 18 days. Those families came from all over New South Wales and provided a much needed haven during a critical time for these families.
Our relationship with Ronald McDonald House goes back at least 20 years. The arrangement is reciprocated with the House providing accommodation for children and their guardians who are being treated under the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) program. These children and their parents have come from places like Timor Leste, Vanuatu and Tonga and have been supported by our Club members during their stay. A recent patient was 11-year-old Nayline and her dad, Henry, from Vanuatu, who was treated for scoliosis.
As well as sponsoring Room 20, the Club also provides a family meal. Last year this took the form of a BBQ, where we catered for 80 people staying at the House. This was greatly appreciated by the many families staying there, especially after returning from a long day attending to their children up at the hospital. Not having to worry about then preparing a meal was a blessing for them. And there were enough leftovers for a cook-up the following day!