Opening
President Rhonda opened the meeting early and welcomed our guests, particularly Angela and Mary from Hong Kong.
A passion project of Rhonda's has been lifting of living standards for a group of women surviving in difficult conditions in a rural area of Afghanistan. 'From despair to hope to empowerment.' The plan is to provide a group of 12 women aged 18-32 with: computer equipment; solar panels; tailoring, sewing and beading equipment to start new businesses for income generation; English language competence to enable literacy transfer; financial competence to run a business. Other costs include educational materials, training and tutoring. Establishing peer networks and sustainability are important components. The project has been proposed by a former Afghani law student now in India who came to our notice through the Young Friends of Rotary. Total project cost is A $14,554. Rhonda assured the meeting that the safety of the women would not be put at undue risk and solar panels would work well.
Project sheet details are available from Rhonda. Ways of funding are being examined.
Membership
Simon Beckett presented proposals for membership development from the Membership Committee. The 4 aims are Growth, Retention, Diversity and Community Connection.
Effort has been made to update all the club's membership related documents. Connecting with potential new members needs to be done through a soft sell with 8 steps recommended to build interest.....including how to open up conversations about Rotary with family and friends. Editor's note - Simon's AI generated video using Stephen as a prototype potential member needs a tad more polishing. Rotary offers networking, support and friendship.
A number of members explained why they joined Rotary. The underlying sentiment was 'giving back to the community'.
President Rhonda reported on the Board meeting of last week:
Vivienne Wood was presented with a certificate of appreciation for her 6 years of dedicated management of the Thrift Shop. Viviennne will be stepping down when a replacement can be found. It is likely that a management team of merchandising, back of shop and rostering needs to be formed......just too much for one person.
Other items:
- Brownwyn Kenny is transferring to RC Glenelg
- Eva Wodeclki has applied for membership
- Budget discussions as per normal were prolonged....perhaps an abacus would help.
- A policies and procedures manual has been prepared by Patsy for inclusion in the members section of our website
- Each committee has been asked to come up with hands-on projects
- Project payments for a raised community garden in Fern Ave $500, ROMAC $2000 and the Nepalese Eye project ($2000) are being made.
St Peters Club is assembling birthing kits on 12 April. Not sure that they would trust us males to cover the components overly well.
Secretary Greg McLeod announced that nominations for 2026/27 had been received from Donna Cavallaro to chair the Community Services Committee and Greg Abel to be the Treasurer. He moved accordingly. These positions were vacant as at the AGM in December. After inviting further nominations (strangely none were forthcoming) he declared Donna and Greg duly elected to great applause.
Spots
Marie Rothe is aiming to field a table at the RC Mitcham Quiz Night 6.30pm 17 April at the Unley Park Sports Club. Cost $20pp. Members to signify interest after our meeting.
John Peacham announced there was opportunity through Bendigo Bank community grants funds to buy 2 small marques with Unley signage. Any other suggestions? On Monday 26 March we have the Bunnings BBQ and the following day a big Variety Club BBQ event (in partnership with RC Campbelltown) at the Zoo. We need plenty of volunteers and transport logistical support.
Vivienne Wood needs a member to take Vera-Ann's shift at the Thrift Shop on 14 March.....otherwise it closes!!!!
Public Image
Simon provided a brief update on the effort being made to lift our public profile. The Facebook site developed by Jerry lapsed. It has now been resurrected under the Unley Rotary banner and is also linked with Instagram. All systems go! Recommended that member's check it out.....and boost our hit tally above 8!
John Peacham is updating the website.
Finale
Joanne won the filthy lucre and Brenton Judge (not to be mistaken for Greg McLeod) the chocolates.
The meeting closed at 8.11pm.
Rogues Gallery
How good is this. A horn donated to our Thrift Shop presented to Unley High musical maestro Sean Hickey.
Rotary International News
Honduras water project demonstrates power to build self-sufficiency
By Vicki Puliz, Rotary Foundation Trustee and member of the Rotary Club of Sparks, Nevada, USA
A few months ago, I travelled a difficult, muddy road to a remote community in the Copan region of western Honduras. When our vehicle began to slip towards a steep drop, we continued on-foot to a gathering under a shade structure at the top of the hill, where a few women conversed, and children played. Beyond, I could see foot paths leading to small dwellings scattered around.
In Honduras, 1.5 million people lack access to safe drinking water or sanitation facilities. The lack of clean water is especially prevalent in rural areas, where women and children often collect water from streams or open wells, sources also used for bathing, washing clothes, and where animals defecate. This leads to widespread illness and disease.
I was in the country to be part of community meetings to discuss completed water systems provided by a Rotary Foundation global grant. The US$800,000 project was led by the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa de Copan in Honduras and the Rotary Club of Sacramento, California, USA, and joined by every club in Rotary District 5180, along with several other districts and a partnership with World Vision USA. The project benefited 7,000 people in 13 communities, 10 schools, and 5 healthcare units in western Honduras. But the project became more than numbers to me.
Changing lives
With the help of an interpreter, the community members shared what life was like before water was brought to the village, how they took part in the project, and how their lives were improved with access to clean water.
We then trekked up another hill — to see a 10,000-gallon tank, marked with logos from Rotary and World Vision. Children raced past me in flimsy shoes while I struggled not to slide down the muddy incline. I found it striking how difficult it was to simply fetch water in this environment. Women and children spent hours each day collecting water, which meant that many children missed school, as they were needed to help their families accomplish the task of having water.
At the top of the hill, we admired the tank that captured the water from the pipes laid in the trench. The five miles of trench was dug by hand by the villagers from a protected spring high in the mountains. Sand cushioned the PVC pipe which delivered the water moved solely by gravity to the holding tank, and then to 30 homes — clean water for each family. For drinking, cooking, bathing, and even a toilet.
We met Nando, a quiet, wrinkled man who carried himself with purpose. He was the plumber. After training from World Vision, Nando maintained this lifesaving system that brought water to the village, and he was also the head of the water committee. The committee collected $2 per month from each household to cover parts and repairs, a significant amount for subsistence farmers who face frequent droughts and limited job opportunities.
Nando and the other community members expressed deep pride in their contribution to the project — the monthly fee and the physical work which included hard labor to dig the trenches and lay the pipe. The commitment to take care of this water system as their own was clear. This was not charity; this was support with dignity and respect for people who wanted to be empowered to improve their own lives and those of their children.
Over the next two days, we visited four more villages.
After meeting in the next village, we walked to the small school, past abandoned outhouses, and examined the new toilets along with a separate hand-washing station. The new block included a toilet for boys, one for girls, and one with a shower for those with disabilities and other needs.
Carlos, a 9-year-old student, showed me his classroom, where the children taught me a song about washing our hands. These children now have clean water to drink. They no longer suffer from diarrhea which had been common before the water system was installed. Their school has usable toilets and girls can stay in school even after they start menstruation.
These children have a brighter future because of The Rotary Foundation. The efforts of Rotary members and the contributions of generous donors provide a starting point and a path to self-sufficiency within these communities. By listening and responding to their needs, we help create a better life for them.
Coffee Chat at Impressa, Unley Shopping Centre
10.30 am on the first Friday of the month is good for a chat with Rotary friends and a caffeine fix - Next one is Friday 6 March 2026
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 17 March 2026
Living Choice Nature's Providore
Guest Speaker: Dr Rosh Amrein Iran
Welcoming team: Vera-Ann Stacy and Garry Taylor
Tuesday 7 April 2026
Living Choice Nature's Providore
Guest Speaker: Meredith Forsyth and NYSF participant
Welcoming team: Christina Way and Vivienne Wood
Apologies and Meeting Enquiries to: Secretary Greg McLeod on 0417 811 838 or email to secretary@unleyrotary.org.au
Venue Set-up Enquiries to: Bulletin Editor Stephen Baker on 0403 687 015
Saturday Thrift Shop Roster
Early Shift: 10.00am to 1.00pm Late Shift: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Week 1: 7 March 2026
Early:(Haydn & Sue Baillie) Donna Cavallaro and John Peacham | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Week 2: 14 March 2026
Early: Greg Mcleod & Wendy Andrews | Late: Vera-Ann Stacy & Reno Elms
Week 3: 21 March 2026
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 28 March 2026
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5:
Early: Bob Mullins & Wendy Andrews | Late: Virginia Cossid & Paul Duke
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact: Vivienne Wood 0408 819 630; e-mail: vwood@ozemail.com.au
Mitre 10 and Bunnings Barbeques
The Mitre 10 BBQs are the first and third Saturdays of each month. Morning shift 8.30am - 12 noon; afternoon shift 12.00 - 3.30pm, then clean-up.....next scheduled is 7 March 2026
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Morning shift: 8.00am – 12.30pm | Afternoon shift: 12.30 – 5pm
We have been allocated the last Monday of each month. Our next one will be 30 March 2026
The Tale End.....
Even more nonsense
Young preacher, Nathan was sitting in a cafe eating his lunch. He opened an envelope he'd just received that morning from his mother and found that she had included a ten pound note.
He thought to himself, "Thanks Mum, I am sure that will come in handy".
Nathan finished his food and as he left the cafe he saw a beggar leaning against the wall. Deciding the poor man could probably needed the money more than he did, he crossed out
the name and address on the envelope, and across the top in large letters wrote, - 'PERSEVERE'
So as to be discrete, he put the envelope under his arm and dropped it as he walked past the man.
The poor man picked it up and read the message and smiled.
The next day, as Nathan was enjoying his meal, the beggar tapped him on the shoulder and handed him a big wad of money.
Surprised, the young preacher asked him what that was for.
The man replied, "This is your half of the winnings. Persevere came in first and paid thirty-five-to-one!"
