Our next meeting will be 5:30pm Wednesday 28 February 2024. This will be a tour of the new Acute Services Building at Prince of Wales Hospital, followed by dinner at the Royal Hotel.
Members are reminded that Membership fees are now overdue!
President's Message
Welcome to our Club's newsletter. The year has certainly started with an explosion!
Firstly, I would like to thank the four clubs from the east - Rose Bay, Maroubra, Bondi Junction and South Sydney - who came at our invitation to present to our District Governor, Tonia. Please see our detailed report below.
We are currently in the process of organising our first community dog event in conjunction with Maroubra Rotary, at Maroubra Beach - what a great location - on Sunday 7 April.
We are following up on:-
the barista program with JJ Cahill High School,
Preparing for a tour of the new Acute Services Building at Prince of Wales Hospital
Our guest speaker talks are filling up,
We are still working through the refurbishment of the airport coin collection bins, together with Rotary Marrickville .
Our club will continue sorting foreign notes and endeavour to find overseas causes we can support through some of these monies,
Our member Peter will be accompanying Rotary Burwood to the Philippines to assist with birth control ducation
We are networking with other clubs in relation to sending medical equipment overseas,
Simon, our president-elect, is working on a program to encourage new younger members,
Our indigenous health scholar is moving into the next phase of his life, story below - congratulations,
We are preparing for a dinner at Ronald McDonald House for the second half of the year.
We continue to support a wide variety of causes, please see list on the side of the newsletter.
Please remember you are always welcome to join a meeting and bring a friend, even if simply for fellowship, or if you are interested in any project above you are welcome to participate.
This meeting will commence with a tour of the new Acute Services Building at the Prince of Wales Hospital with Director Operations, Share Clinical Services, Elizabeth Browne.
Meeting Point: Acute Service Building (ASB) entry, B1 near Plume Cafe
Parking: Available for a fee from the Barker St access.
Arrival: when entering through the carpark please use the lifts. Come to level 0. When existing the lifts turn left and follow signage towards the ASB where you will arrive at Plume Café.
Following the tour, we will move to the Foundation offices to commence the committee meeting.
Dinner Arrangements:
7:30 PM
Venue: The Royal
If you are attending, please advise Greg on 0431 196 043 or gregorylill@yahoo.com.au.
Our last meeting
Botany Randwick hosted this opportunity for District Governor Tonia to meet with club representatives from Bondi Junction, Maroubra, Rose Bay and South Sydney Clubs.
Assistant Governor (AG) Vimla, on Christine’s invitation, co-ordinated the District 9675 components of the evening.
AG Vimla, invited each President to outline their current priorities, including project sharing with everyone present and for the benefit of DG Tonia, all clubs were encouraged to promote their activities through the district secretary’s newsletter and the Down Under Magazine.
Tonia presented her views on membership, with friend and fellowship building through club activities as her preferred method to introduce people to Rotary and the opportunities to become involved.
She also spoke on the Regionalisation pilot and the development of appropriate zones to accommodate geographic barriers. As working within the set framework is fraught at times, she is prepared to challenge to get the best result for the District.
DG Tonia spoke briefly on the work of the Rotary Foundation, especially the ongoing commitment to polio eradication and how the clubs have supported with budget targets being oversubscribed, which is a great outcome for the forthcoming District Grants allocation.
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 Philippine's SHEP project.
January 2024
Sponsorship of Michaela to attend the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) at the University of Qld.
Sponsorship of Oliver to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, a weeklong personal development program.
Renewal of our annual Indigenous Health Scholarship
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.
These yearly scholarships are awarded through Australian Rotary Health to Indigenous tertiary students as a way to support the barriers of tertiary study and qualification in Australian Indigenous populations. They are jointly funded by a Rotary Club or District and the State or Federal Government. Each scholarship is worth $5,000 per year.
The Rotary Club of Botany Randwick has been funding one of these scholarships each year, for the at least the last 15 years.
Our Scholar this year is Jesse, who is studying Vision Science at Flinders University. Jesse wrote recently to update us on his progress:
"I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to you and the Botany Randwick Rotary club for the invaluable support extended to me throughout 2023. The club’s generosity through the Rotary Indigenous Health Scholarship played a pivotal role in allowing me to engage my studies at university.
"The past year was undoubtedly challenging, and without the financial assistance provided by the club, I would have faced significant hurdles in maintaining my enrolment. Your commitment to fostering education and supporting Indigenous Health students, has made a tangible difference in my academic journey, and I am truly thankful for that.
"On a personal note, I'm thrilled to share some exciting news with you. Towards the end of last year, my partner and I received the joyous news that we are expecting our first child. It's an incredibly special time for us, filled with anticipation and excitement for the future.
"However, due to the high cost of living in Sydney, we have made the decision to relocate to Adelaide. This move will afford us cheaper accommodation in a larger space, with my partners family close by for extra support. While it saddens me to bid farewell to the East coast, I am also enthusiastic about this new chapter in our lives. The prospect of starting a family in Adelaide is both exhilarating and full of promise. Despite the physical distance, please know that the impact of the Rotary club's support this past year will resonate with me as I embark on this new journey.
"I am pleased to inform you that I will be continuing my studies in Optometry at Flinders University, and I am eager to contribute to the Vision science and clinical optometric field in a meaningful way.
"Once again, thank you, Greg, and the entire Botany Randwick Rotary club, for your valued support. Your belief in the potential of students like myself is genuinely appreciated, and I look forward to updating you on my academic and life progress in the years to come.
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 
Assistant Governor (AG) Vimla, on Christine’s invitation, co-ordinated the District 9675 components of the evening.
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. 