In February we had a guest speaker, Suzie Farley, who is the donor relations officer at Backpacks 4 SA Kids. She shared the important work this not-for-profit organisation does for South Australia. It exists to provide resources that contribute to the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people during periods of dislocation […]
Peace Pole at Golden Grove Lutheran Primary School
This morning our members had the privilege to join the students and staff of Golden Grove Lutheran Primary School, along with Aboriginal elder Uncle Tamaru, and the Honorary Consul-General to Japan Mr Adam Wynn, to formally unveil their Peace Pole that had been donated by our club. In a joint celebration of National Reconciliation Week […]
We’re at The Grove Shopping Centre this morning for the Biggest Morning Tea! Our club is selling delicious Cupcakes and supporting the Cancer Council. Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is a community event that raises vital funds to make a big difference for those impacted by cancer. Why host a morning tea? 1 in 2 Australians are […]
Rotary Overseas Recycled Playgrounds A project lead by the Rotary Club of Mt Barker, the team managed to finish dismantling the playground and ready it to be transported to Donations In Kind (DIK), so it can be reassembled in a park overseas where children can enjoy it once again. For more information on DIK: https://rotaryaustraliarepurposing.equipment/ For […]
Our Club would like to THANK EVERYONE who attended our 1st Christmas Fundraiser Dinner. It was a fantastic night filled with cheer and generosity! We are thrilled to announce that the proceeds from the raffle tickets, auction sales, and donations we raised $4,665! An amazing result that exceeded our best expectations and we look forward to the […]
Congratulations to all the recipients of our 2022 School & Community Service Awards 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🎉Elijah H. from King’s Baptist Grammar School is our overall Winner for 2022! Elijah has been an outstanding prefect at King’s Baptist throughout 2022, demonstrating a servant heart in all of his interactions, as said by a head of […]
Congratulations Ashlee McLeod on winning the ‘Rotary John Tilley Memorial Award’ this morning at the Modbury High School Year 12 Valedictory Assembly. This major award with a substantial monetary prize goes to the school’s Most Outstanding Student, and has been sponsored by our Rotary Club for many years. We look forward to seeing your accomplishments […]
Congratulations Madison R. on your RYLA Graduation tonight. It was a privilege sponsoring you. We look forward to hearing more about your experience, and future endeavours. #RYLA9510
Meet our New MGG Club President Alan Howard-Jones for 2022/23 I joined Rotary in February 2021 because of my heart-felt desire to serve our community. A yearning to help others in some way. The possibility of making a difference. To expand my territory and to be fruitful; to fulfill my purpose within my family, […]
Watch this video from President Elect Alan Howard-Jones about RYPEN Rotary’s RYPEN provides a group of young people aged 14-17 years an opportunity to develop self-awareness and valuable leadership skills. RYPEN 2022 will be held between Friday 30th September to Sunday 2nd October at Nunyara retreat centre in the Adelaide Hills. Applications for sponsorship and […]
Last night we celebrated our Rollover Dinner, heralding the end of the 2022-2023 Rotary year, and the commencement of 2023-2024.
Rhiannon Pearce MP was invited to continue as Honorary member, and presented a certificate of Honorary Membership.
President Alan, with Rhiannon’s help on behalf of the Premier, awarded Derek the Premier’s Certificate for outstanding achievement in Voluntary Service for his work with the Emergency Medical Information Booklet (EMIB).
The club welcomed new Board member Mykal, and we look forward to his ideas and insights for the year ahead.
Attending also was our new Area Governor Stephen McLachlan who helped draw the raffle prizes.
New Rotary International President-elect Gordon R. McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, Lothian, Scotland, calls for Rotary to ‘Create Hope in the World’ by working for peace and mental wellbeing. He urges members to engage in tough conversations and earn the trust that’s necessary to realise these values.
Even as we face new and serious challenges, Rotary takes care of its members and those we serve, works to build lasting peace, and embeds belonging and inclusion in everything we do. That is why I am asking everyone in Rotary to Create Hope in the World.
The theme was inspired and detailed with a story of hope following the tsunami in southeast Asia when McInally was given a small conch shell by a survivor who had lost her family, home and livelihood. The efforts of Rotarians had restored her optimism and given her hope.
In February we had a guest speaker, Suzie Farley, who is the donor relations officer at Backpacks 4 SA Kids. She shared the important work this not-for-profit organisation does for South Australia. It exists to provide resources that contribute to the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people during periods of dislocation from home and routine care.
Suzie guest speaking at our club
It was at this meeting our club decided to visit and volunteer time at the Backpacks 4 SA Kids warehouse in Para Hills West. So on cold Tuesday night, club members with Rhiannon Pearce MP, met for a tour and a chance to donate supplies & experience packing these very important backpacks.
Suzie delved into the four unique programs; each providing packs filled with items unique to the recipient’s age and situation.
Backpacks 🎒 🧸
For kids who leave home with little notice and often have no clothing or other essentials.
Home Starter Packs 🧹🪣🍳
For families which have left a violent relationship at home and need to start again.
Anchor Packs ⚓️
Designed for young people aged 12-24 who are experiencing homelessness.
Christmas Program 🎁
Providing 0-18 year olds with Christmas presents when entering into emergency care.
History & Current number of care packs made!
The club was shown how donations are received, catalogued, sorted and packed. The organisation likes to accept new or nearly new items, as these kids deserve to have their own fresh possessions. We also learnt not all donations are appropriate, items which have images or themes that express things like a happy home life “Daddy’s little Angel”, can be detrimental to kids emotional state. But no donation is wasted, they work with other charities that anything that is not appropriate for their cause goes to somewhere else in need. The organisation also has ‘Sewers’ on their crew, who stitch together pillows, toiletry bags & pencil cases from donated fabrics – something so simple but another great way to contribute.
Our club’s donations
At the visit, members learnt what goes into a Backpack, we each selected a special shopping list for a particular gender & age and gathered the items from the already catalogued shelves to be packed. We were encouraged to hug the last item, which was a soft toy or pillow, so it would have a personal element to care pack. The club finalised 12 backpacks, which all will be needed in the following two weeks.
Example of a finished Backpack
Rotary Club of Modbury Golden Grove was deeply humbled with experience and look forward to more collaborations.
This morning our members had the privilege to join the students and staff of Golden Grove Lutheran Primary School, along with Aboriginal elder Uncle Tamaru, and the Honorary Consul-General to Japan Mr Adam Wynn, to formally unveil their Peace Pole that had been donated by our club.
In a joint celebration of National Reconciliation Week and 100 years of Rotary in South Australia, the school held a special ceremony to mark the occasion.
Uncle Tamaru gave the Welcome to Country with a smoking ceremony, and student representatives spoke of the pole’s significance to the school and beyond.
The pole has been erected in the main courtyard, beneath the international flags representing the heritage of the students presently enrolled at the school.
The school has a focus on multicultural and international missions and holds strong connections with school communities in Eisugakkan, Japan, and in Asaroka, Papua New Guinea.
Members of the school and church community that are affiliated with mission activities in these regions also spoke.
“May Peace Prevail On Earth” is printed in the languages of these countries, as well as the Aboriginal Kaurna language.
What is a Peace Pole?
A Peace Pole is an internationally-recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth. Each Peace Pole bears the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in different languages on each of its four or six sides. There are estimated over 250,000 Peace Poles in every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace.