News & Events

Backpacks 4 SA Kids Visit

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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. 

For more information, visit https://backpacks4sakids.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace Pole at Golden Grove Lutheran Primary School

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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.

Peace Pole Project

Biggest Morning Tea 2023

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Biggest Morning Tea 2023

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 diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85. We want to change that, and we need your help.

Your morning tea and the important funds you raise will help bring us closer to a cancer free future. Find out more about how your fundraising helps.

www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/about/biggest-morning-tea

Guest Speaker: Ashlee M. 2022 John Tilley Award

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Last night’s meeting we had Guest Speaker- Ashlee McLeod, the 2022 winner of the Rotary John Tilley Award from Modbury High School.

Ashlee describes herself as always been a pretty busy person. Dancing since she was about 4 years old which has led her to develop quite a few different skills that have helped her in life. She was known for helping the younger children in her dance studio, and was eventually asked to become an Assistant Dance Teacher. Since then, she would volunteer her time on Saturdays to help with multiple classes for a variety of ages of children. At out performances, she would help organise the other performers, as well as keep them entertained and focused when waiting back stage.

Throughout High School, Ashlee has been a part of many different school activities. For example, an executive in the Student Voice Council, through which she was an active member and pushed for many changes at the school.

I was a part of peer support in year 10 in which I would go to a year 8 home group and do activities with them for the first semester of school to get them acclimated to this new environment. Due to me putting my name down to be a captain, in year 11 I was able to attend a leadership conference to hear from other leaders from other schools as well as participate in many different activities.

In year 11 Ashlee gained her first part time employment opportunity as a swimming instructor at State Swim. It was a good fit as she already had quite a bit of experience working with children through dance.

During her year 12 studies Ashlee challenged herself by completing some rather difficult classes, including specialist maths, mathematical methods and physics. Achieving high grades that continued throughout her final year, all culminated in receiving a very high ATAR score which was enough for her to get into her desired university degree

Ashlee graduated valedictorian at Modbury High School, the same ceremony, she received the John Tilley Rotary Award 2022.

It was quite exciting to receive as it was not something I was expecting, but I was very grateful to receive it. Half of the award money I received went towards paying for my expenses for university and the other half went into my savings as I am hoping to study overseas in the next few years.

Ashlee in currently in her first year of university, studying a Bachelor of Science (Space Science & Astrophysics). She has joined many different clubs, through which she has met many like-minded people. Ashlee still continues to teach children to dance and works as a Swimming Instructor. Recently, she has became a member of the Academy for Deloitte at the university which is a program which helps students find paid internships and learn skills that will help them in their future careers.

In the future, I hope to study overseas, possibly either the US, the UK or Japan. I’m also planning to receive post-graduate degrees as I wish to one day work within the research field.

Congratulations!