Opening
Meeting Chair Vivienne Wood commenced proceedings and President David opened the meeting.
Reports
Youth Services Committee - Marie Rothe
Marie provided a summary of the diverse program aimed at helping young people:
- Adelaide Youth Orchestra grant
- Rotary Youth Sailing Challenge sponsorship - this year we had Neelab Haidari who had a great experience
- Peace Polls - Parkside Primary and St Johns are being approached
- Unley Council's Fish Tank for young entrepreneurs, with Ross Smith as an astute judge
- National Youth Science Forum
- Urrbrae High does not need us to sponsor Health of the River this year but have asked for help for a science challenge in Canberra
Two new offerings being examined are a Rotary Youth Artist Award in conjunction with Unley City Council and assisting students at aboriginal Ngutu School.
International Youth Services Committee - Paul Duke
Projects already underway include:
- Dental care for prisoners in Cambodia ($700)
- ROMAC ($1000)
- Nepal Eye Project ($2000)
- WASH program in Cambodia ($1000)
- Overseas Specialist Surgeons ($100)
- Drinking water project serving 30 communities in Nepal ($5927) Brendan provided details.
- A community vegetable farming project in Nepal (We are providing $3524 and 2 other clubs the balance of the $9524 project cost.) Paul sought and received club approval to proceed.
The 3 tranches of the $15,000 Afghan Women's Project have been delivered.
Community Services Committee - Donna Cavallaro
The CSC is meeting monthly and preparing for the Christmas Concert. 15 Shelterbags are being delivered to the Hutt St Centre....there will be a tour and a grant of $400. The next Salvos cookathon is on 16 October. Bramwell House is again to be assisted. There is to be another breast screening project in Ceduna in May. Vivienne is leading the way on the Dignity for Women project to aid women suffering from domestic violence or doing it tough. Supplies of period materials, shampoos, conditioners, tooth brushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap and body wash would be appreciated before year-end.
John Peacham mentioned that we will be providing the BBQ for the Council's Australia Day ceremony.
Vocational Services Committee
President David lamented the lack of Committee chair but congratulated Judy and the Committee for a very successful Police Officer of the Year 2026.
On behalf of Treasurer Greg Abel, President David explained that we pay about $1 per day membership fees; fundraising is for projects. Currently our bank balance is around $110k. Fundraising effort includes $20k from BBQs, $15k from the Thrift Shop and $10k miscellaneous. But against this $45k we have been spending $60k, which is unsustainable. Treasurer Greg needs explicit payment instructions when invoices are being prepared.
The Board
A review of the club's constitution and by-laws is underway. Meeting attendance used to be compulsory ....absences to be made up. Now, fortunately, no longer!. But there is no reason why any member should be unable to attend at least 15 meetings per year.
The Thrift Shop has been our main fundraiser since 1973....53 years and over $1.5m raised. It is now needing to change to survive with an emphasis on quality over quantity. 1200 shifts/year for a return of $15,000 is not sustainable. And we do need more volunteers, particularly as one of our chief contributors has been hospitalised
On leadership it is good to report that Janet Singh will become the Membership Officer and John Kikkert has indicated interest in the presidential role for 2028/29. We NEED a prez for 2027/28.
Potential improvements - Members provided a series of ideas including more episodes of behind the badge, and more volunteers for the Thrift Shop to make the revitalisation work (shortage causing closure on Mondays). Jerry is in the process of organising a notable BBQ event for World Polio Day. Jo Baxter would like young protege Eva Read to present to the club about Youth Drug Prevention. Judy announced that POOTY 2026 will present to the club on 17 November.
Spots
Patsy Beckett is ready to obtain the new shirts...please order - a steal at $35 short sleeve and $41 long.
Stephen Baker emphasised the need for more Thrift Shop volunteers
Rhonda Hoare spent time with Angela Wong on her recent visit to Hong Kong and China. She attended a stimulating meeting of the Kowloon North Rotary Club. Options for a joint project were discussed.
Finale
Deservedly, the editor scored the filthy lucre and John Kikkert the chocolates.....eat your heart out Greg M.
Members were reminded of the Say No To Domestic Violence walk down King William Street 10am on 7 November and Walk for Peace 11am on 23 October 2026.
The Prez closed the meeting at 7.47pm
Rogues Gallery
Unley sponsored Naleeb Haidari for the RYSC on the One and All last week. Two of her fellow students from the Adelaide Secondary School of English were also on board. Strong winds and marked temperature changes........great sailing weather according to the captain....and Naleeb loved it all!
High Tea for Treasure Boxes
Rotary International News
How Rotary is shrinking the world: New Hampshire to Ukraine
By Steve Rand and Alex Ray
We’ve been Rotarians for more than 40 years, and Rotary still surprises us.
Here’s the biggest surprise yet. A handful of Rotarians from a small New Hampshire town have delivered more than 4.5 million pounds of food and critical aid to families in frontline villages in war-torn Ukraine. We couldn’t have done it without Rotary.
It started with a question
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, we kept asking the same thing: What can regular people do from here to help?
We knew where to turn.
Through the magic of Rotary, our club in Plymouth, New Hampshire, USA, connected with the Rotary Club of Zamość Ordynacki in eastern Poland. Together, we built a partnership we call
Common Man for Ukraine, a special initiative of the Plymouth Rotary Foundation. Rotary roots from the ground up.
Why Rotary made it possible
We had never met our partners in Zamość. But we knew we shared something important:
The Four-Way Test and a commitment to serving others.
That gave us confidence. We knew regular people like us would be our partners overseas. And we knew we could count on Rotary clubs across the United States to back us up. And they have.
Dozens of clubs now support the work.
What we’ve done together
- Delivered 4.5 million pounds of food and critical aid to children and families in front-line villages
- Served more than 1,600 Ukrainian children and widows of Ukrainian soldiers killed or missing in action through our mental health retreats: 18-day retreats for children and 10-day Mothers’ retreats for widowed caregivers
- Led 16 trips into Ukraine with our Rotary partners to hand-deliver supplies to people in desperate need of support
Why we keep going back
Alex Ray works with volunteers to deliver supplies during an August trip.
We just returned recently from our second trip to Ukraine this year. We’ll go back in December for our 17th trip overall.
People ask us if it’s dangerous. Yes, it is. But Ukrainians live with drones and missiles every day, and they keep their families and communities going. We only need to be as brave as they are for a few weeks at a time.
No kidding: Rotary has shrunk the world. It’s something every Rotary member can be proud of.
How your club can help
If Rotary can connect a small town in New Hampshire to a frontline village in Ukraine, imagine what your club could do.
Rotary clubs across the country can join the effort with a donation, or by inviting us to present to your club, or hosting a fundraiser in support of this effort. Learn more at
commonmanforukraine.org.
Coffee Chat at Impressa, Unley Shopping Centre
10.30 am on the second Friday of the month is good for a chat with Rotary friends and a caffeine fix - Next one is Friday 9 October 2026
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 20 October 2026 6.30 - 8pm Alwyndor Residential Home, 52 Dunrobin Road, Hove
Event: Vocational Visit to Jerry's Joint
Welcoming Team: Jerry +
Tuesday 3 November 2026 Living Choice Nature's Providore
Guest Speaker: Rtn Heidi Unferdorben Peace and Conflict Resolution
Welcoming Team: Virginia Cossid and Paul Duke
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 November 2026
Early: Haydn & Sue Baillie | Late: (Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen)
Week 2: 10 October 2026
Early: Greg McLeod & Robyn| Late: Reno Elms & (Vera-Ann)?
Week 3: 17 October 2026
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: (Rhonda Hoare) Deborah Forbes & Vera Holt
Week 4: 24 October 2026
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & (Vera-Ann)?
Week 5: 31 October 2026
Early: Haydn & Sue Baillie | Late: Virginia Cossid & Paul Duke
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact: David Pisoni 0412 844 384; e-mail: hon.david.pisoni@gmail.com
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 17 October 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 26 October 2026
The Tale End.....
More nonsense
