Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary Club made a presentation to the Katoomba Leura Rural Fire Service (RFS) in the presence of Hon Susan Templeman, Federal Member for Macquarie at our regular Tuesday meeting.
The presentation of two Akron ProVenger Select Flow Fire Fighting Nozzles was made possible from donations of funds from both Rotary in New Zealand and Rotary in Japan. These Rotary Groups gave donations to Rotary District 9685 to help with Bushfire Recovery. Katoomba Leura RFS  were very active in the disastrous fires in the Blue Mountains.
Upper Blue Mountains Rotary were pleased to provide support to the RFS. Both groups are volunteers and Susan Templeman praised the efforts of both groups.

 

 

 

Blackheath, Katoomba, Upper Blue, Central Blue, Springwood, Lower Blue and the e-Club of Greater Sydney are all working together.

 

"We are recognising the community for their efforts of being COVID - safe during 2020, and for their wonderful support during the bushfires earlier in the year. And as Rotary in Australia turns 100, a large event on Australia Day is a great opportunity to tell Blue Mountains residents about Rotary's 100 year celebration" event organiser Phill Isaacs said earlier this week.

 

Blue Mountains City Council has been a great assistance in promoting the event, allowing us to use their swimming centres at Katoomba, Lawson, Springwood and Glennbrook, and the pool at Blackheath all of which have Covid safe requirements in place. All pools will be open to the local community free of charge on Australia day.

 

The Australian Government is providing the funds and Rotary has been chosen to stage the events for its 100 year anniversary. There will be 56 groups of Rotary clubs around Australia doing similar events.

 

Our Rotary clubs will have a barbecue at each venue where a sausage sizzle will be free. There will also be an opportunity for people to donate. The Blue Mountains economy is being assisted with all supplies purchased locally including large posters showing the Rotary logo and a special Australia Day message theme this year is REFLECT. RESPECT. CELEBRATE and WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

 

Where it is possible to erect video screens there will be a special Rotary 100 year presentation delivered from Canberra by the Governor-General. Also between noon and 2 pm there will be additional entertainment.

 

"Rotarians will be at each site to ensure health aspects are followed. All have special shirts to promote Rotary and help to attract new members.

 

It is a great opportunity to show Rotary clubs in the Mountains are active in our community and how great it is to have Rotary chosen to be the organisation to present this event on a special day in a special year"  Phill Isaacs said.

 

 

 

 

An example of the way Rotary is changing and facing the future declining membership is the formation on the Queensland Gold Coast of a new Rotary Club recently chartered with Corporate members only. The Gold Coast Corporate has 27 senior corporate members from over 14 international and national companies. The Club has over 60% women and 40% of members are under 40 years of age.

The new Club meets physically once a month for drinks and nibbles. Each member takes a turn as host and there is little personal outlay for members as the Corporation pays the District and RI dues.  Rotary is therefore more affordable for everyone.

In our District 9685 a new Club has been formed called the Social Impact Network. It meets online on Sunday evenings at 7pm and aims to have members locally and internationally and a worldwide focus.

Rotary will need to change if it is to ensure membership growth and relevance in a fast changing world.

COVID -19 has given us the opportunity to try new ways of meeting. Let’s make a change for the better – fresh ideas, new meeting styles and more focus on the community and its needs.

(With acknowledgment to ‘Rotary on the Move’)