Welcome
President John opened the meeting, welcomed everyone and congratulated Judy Barton for her 16 years in Rotary.
Libby Roberstson - Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands
Paul Duke introduced Libby who had taught at Murputja School [1760km north of Adelaide close to the NT border] in the APY lands with her husband Wayne from 1993-1998.
In 1989 Libby, while teaching at Seymour College, travelled to Cape Yorke with one of her sons. She was struck by the richness of culture, relationship with the land and sense of community among aboriginal tribal groups.....and decided to volunteer for Community Aid Abroad. This did not eventuate and instead she volunteered to teach in remote areas of Australia.....her 2 boys were at University and old enough to look after themselves. She teamed up with Wayne (also with 2 sons at Uni) in the Outdoor Education Association of SA.
In 1992 the government decided to build a school at Murputja to service the homeland groups of Kanpi, Nyapari, Angatji and one other, and Libby and Greg were invited to run it. Murputja is 100km west of Amata on the 'Gunbarrell Highway'. The deal was two way schooling where aboriginal leaders educated in their own language and Libby and Greg taught in english with no cross-over permitted. School buildings were scavenged from Marla and other places, with L&G taking up temporary accommodation in Amata until a house was built on-site. In February 1993 they got the keys! SA Governor Marjorie Jackson officiated at a grand opening of the school in October 1993. There were pre-school, primary and secondary classes with a library and kitchen. Early communication was difficult - 2way radio in car, air mail once a week and a payphone at Kanpi. 1996 was a bonus year with the arrival of a satellite dish which enabled TV reception...the footy was a big hit. Annually, scientists and elders collaborated for over 10 years examining local wild life.
Each year there was a treat for the kids who visited KI, Adelaide Hills Arbury Park, Pt Lincoln, Darwin, Riverland etc. Of importance was their wider exposure to life outside their communities to build understanding and resilience, learn to swim and get to play footy. Weekends for teachers was joining in with the search for honey ants, walking the traditional trails and other local pursuits. Teacher training was a feature. While the school had capacity for 30 students, 10 times that number passed through their doors, such was their reputation. There was mutual respect and esteem. Parents valued the opportunity for their children to be healthy and educated. Common diseases successfully dealt with there included ear infections and scabies. It was a special time - Libby showed a photo of the heaps of memorabilia collected.
Libby was applauded for her address.
Presidential announcements:
- To date, there have been 11 volunteers for the Variety Club BBQ at the zoo on April 9 - the Prez is looking around for another 8 people. Also, given the absence of Graham Ey and Paul Duke, we are in need of a driver for the BBQ trailer. With some help carting the edibles, we can avoid using the big trailer.
- The Group 3 Growth Plan with its Club Action Plan....covering Rotary Focus, Foundation and Brand Recognition plus Club Collaboration..... has been nailed. JP will email details. Volunteers are being sought from each club to be part of working groups to advance the plan.
- The current lease held by Castello's Cucina with Living Choice runs out on 25 April and will not be renewed. Stephen to follow up.
Spot
Chris Davis reminded that next week we will have Senior Constable Chris Mailley, SA Police Officer of the Year 2024 as our guest speaker, together with his supervisor and nominator. A treat not to be missed. It will be a partner's night.
Marie Rothe enthusiastically endorsed the Barossa Air Show, run by the Rotary Club of Barossa Valley, to be held 10am onwards on Sunday 6 April at Rowland Flat Airfield.......see advert below
Finale
Bob Mills won the filthy lucre and Chris the chockies
The meeting closed almost on time.....the joke by the Prez was the same as that which the editor had decided was not good enuf for this week's edition of the bulletin.
6th April 2025
Rowland Flat Airfield
For more information and to purchase tickets:
https://barossaairshow.com.au
Adults $40, Kids 5-15 $15, Children under 5 Free $90 for family of 2 adults and 2 children
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Turkish Rotary member honoured for advancing women’s leadership
ISTANBUL, Türkiye (22 Feb 2025) — Rotary International has recognized Ayda Özeren for her outstanding contributions to women’s leadership, education, and economic empowerment.
Özeren was presented with the
Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award, which honors Rotary members who have made a lasting impact in advancing gender equity and empowering women in their communities.
A member of the Rotary Club of Izmir-Gündogdu, Özeren is an author, mediator, and professional speaker whose work has impacted as many as 11,000 women and girls. A longtime advocate for women’s economic empowerment, she began teaching financial literacy at a bank, supporting female entrepreneurs before expanding her efforts through Rotary. She has visited more than 100 factories and small businesses, educating 8,000 women in rural areas, factories, and schools on finance and economic independence.
"We need to reshape the leadership landscape by creating more opportunities for women to lead," said Özeren. "I’ve seen how equipping women with the right skills and opportunities creates lasting change. True peace is only possible when women have a seat at the decision-making table—when they are included, societies become more just, resilient, and sustainable.”
Özeren has also led earthquake recovery efforts in Türkiye, launching mobile health services and economic relief projects for women. She helped women secure jobs in the ready-made clothing industry through the
Golden Needle Project and supported farmers by providing olive and sumac saplings, an initiative expected to create 2,000 jobs. A strong advocate for girls’ education, she donated all proceeds from her 2021 book, Aziz Coguz Biziz (We Are More When We Are Together), to fund 1,000 scholarships for young women.
“Peace is built through actions that create a safe, prosperous, and equitable society, and one of the most powerful ways to achieve this is by unlocking the potential of women and girls,” said Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick. “This award recognizes a leader whose dedication goes beyond empowerment; it creates tangible opportunities that allow women to shape their own futures and drive meaningful change.”
The Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award, named for Rotary’s first female club president, honours one Rotary member each year who has actively worked to advance women. The award was presented during the
2025 Rotary Presidential Peace Conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, where 1,000 Rotary members and peace experts from 88 countries convened to discuss solutions for fostering peace and sustainable development. The event also celebrated the launch of Rotary’s first
peace center dedicated to peacebuilding in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul.
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 4 April 2025
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 25 March 2025 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Guest Speaker: SC Chris Mailley SA Police Officer of the Year 2024
Welcoming team: Paul Duke & Ken Haines
Tuesday 1 April 2025 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Guest Speaker: Gerry Manser Rosefield Community Shed
Welcoming team: Rhonda Hoare & Brenton Judge
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: 5 April 2025
Early: Haydn Baillie & Wendy Andrews (Jerry Casburn) | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Week 2: 12 April 2025
Early: David Middleton (Greg Mcleod) & Wendy Andrews | Late: Virginia Cossid & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 3: 19 April 2025
Early: Greg McLeod (David Middleton) & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 22 March 2025
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5: 29 March 2025
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 Saturday 5 April 2025
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, the next being Monday 31 March 2025
The Tale End.....
An eclectic collection
