Opening
Chairman Jerry Casburn started proceedings and called on President David to open the meeting.......which he did. A brief report on last week's Board meeting was provided:
- the current process of club meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month is to be maintained, plus an extra one when there are 5 Tuesdays in the month. This will be reviewed at year's end.
- the importance of membership and public image was discussed. He will be seeking volunteers to help in each area.
- there is a proposal to create a new district stretching from East Timor to Kangaroo Island with 2000 members. RI logic is that districts with less than 1200 members were at risk of decline. The issues of distance, compatibility, manageability and ease of communication were seemingly not considered. The majority of members were opposed! We obviously drew the short straw. Upside may be annual holidays in Timor Leste.
Whoopee Do - The Paul Harris hip hop video [promised at our first meeting] flashed across the screen! And, in the view of the editor, it was highly entertaining and relevant.
The Prez exhorted members to join him at 6.45am this coming Friday at the Victoria Park Grandstand to Walk A Mile In My Boots in recognition of the plight of our homeless.....see advert below...Rhonda obviously enjoys early mornings cause she is going to ensure David does not get lost.
Guest Speaker: Peter Schaefer - The Rotary Foundation
Jerry introduced Peter who served in aviation with the Royal Australian Navy for 25 years. On leaving the navy, he and his wife spent a number of years living with aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. In 2003 he joined Rotary in Alice Springs and in 2017 was elected as District Governor for 9500. He is a much decorated Rotarian and currently chairs the Rotary Foundation Committee for 9510.
Peter announced that the greatest strength of Rotary is that it is highly regarded around the world. He cited the example of how world leaders approached Rotary to help with Covid vaccinations because of its experience in eliminating polio worldwide. We do not stand alone - the partnership with the Gates Foundation (which provides marching polio grants) and other donors has markedly increased our effectiveness. RF is the engine room which provides the oomph, the bank and facility to make it happen globally and and locally. Last year in partnership with NZ we succeeded in obtaining a global grant to combat domestic violence.
Large charities around the world rely on paid staff.....but not Rotary. Earnings from the Foundation fund the global and district projects on a partial quid pro quo basis. There is currently US $60,000 available for 9510 District grants. [RC Unley has been a major contributor to the RF.] Half the donations received come from individuals, and the other half from clubs and benefactors. Yearly donations through the Centurion program ($100pa), Paul Harris Fellow ($1000pa) and Club donations of $100pa on behalf of all its members play important roles as do bequeaths.
While much of the global focus has been on eliminating polio, there are other important interventions eg the Rotary Club of Port Moresby has been provided with US $1m+ to reduce the incidence of malaria. Awarding of Paul Harris fellowships is a neat way of recognising outstanding efforts by club members and associated individuals, and contributing to the Foundation.
Peter was thanked by acclamation.
Spots
Marie Rothe announced that we need 9-10 more tables of 10 for our quiz night on 22 August to make it a big success. Those unable to host a table please contact Marie who will form composite tables. Ross Smith [Giordana and Partners at 429 Pulteney St, Adelaie] is into building the wine wall with Ross Burton [17 Hart Ave Unley]. Donations appreciated and delivered to the above addresses or bring to next meeting..
Judy Barton announced that 2 names had been submitted to the Commissioner of Police for selection of SA Police Officer of the Year 2026. A notice will be sent inviting members to attend the award ceremony and refreshments at the Royal Show on 11 September 2026
Rhonda Hoare showed a video entitled We are Afghan girls. We will never stop learning. It provided the club with a snapshot of the Afghan women's project with a number of the participants detailing in English their aspirations, and the importance of the project for them to reach their full potential. Rhonda also needs a replacement for her Thrift Shop shift on the afternoon of Saturday 15 August.
John Peacham asked whether the club wished to participate with RC Campbelltown in the Variety Club BBQ at the zoo for disabled kids on 15 September. The club agreed. John would appreciate help.
Jason Booth is climbing Mt Everest for a month (not true - actually conducting eye clinics in Nepal) and needs a replacement for his Mitre 10 and Thrift Shop slots.
Finale
Valerie won the filthy lucre and Marie the chockies
The Prez closed the meeting expertly at 7.56pm
Walk for the homeless
Dear Secretary and all Unley Club members,
My fellow Club members and I of the Rotary Club of Adelaide Light invite you to join us and walk as a large Rotary presence in Friday’s Community Walk in support of people who are homeless.
Will you join us at Walk A Mile In My Boots and support the people of our localities who have no home and who sleep rough?
*NOTE: we do not have to register on-line for this event. The online information about this event encourages registration but it is not obligatory.
This Friday 7th August, at Pakapakanthi, the Grandstand in Adelaide’s South Parklands, we are meeting by 6.45am, for a 7am kick [step!]-off, to walk in support of people who sleep rough and the work of the Hutt Street Centre.
At the end of the walk of about a mile [1.6km], breakfast will be offered to all walkers. Coffee/tea will be available to buy. Family dogs who are calm and sociable are also welcome.
Please wear your favourite warm, comfortable clothing and join us, and make Rotary a visible and active supporter of people in need.
Rotary International News
On a mission to end malaria in Zambia
By Eve Conway, 2023-25 Rotary International Director (third from left)
The
Programs of Scale grant, announced in February 2021, provided $2 million from Rotary International to Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia, a member-led program focused on fighting malaria. World Vision U.S. and the Gates Foundation are also involved in malaria mitigation efforts and each contributed $2 million to the programme. This $6 million program aimed to train and equip 2,500 community health workers in Zambia to support the government’s work to eradicate malaria in that country.
A mosquito bite is all it takes for malaria to spread
- Aimed to reduce severe illness and death from malaria in 10 districts in two provinces
- Sought to reach more than 1.25 million people with prevention information, testing, and treatment
- Was based on a community health worker model with proven success
- Was designed to strengthen the health system.
During the World Malaria Day event, we heard that Zambia has recorded notable progress in the fight against malaria with cases dropping from 279 per 1,000 people in 2021 to 213 per 1,000 people in 2025. Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia has contributed to this success by training, equipping, deploying, and integrating 2,500 community health workers.
Later, I had the opportunity to sit down with Martha Lungu, Executive Director of Malaria Partners Zambia and member of The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers. A member of the Rotary Club of Ndola, she described how the campaign is centred around community health workers and its impact is continuing.
This first Program of Scale grant has used a proven community health worker model, in which public health workers connect people with care and social services. The workers have been trained and equipped to test and treat malaria closer to people’s homes, so people don’t have to travel to a health clinic. This reduces severe cases and deaths from the disease.
The program has trained 2,500 volunteer community health workers, with most of them learning to provide services related to malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia in an area of 500 people. Thanks to these workers, more than 1.25 million people have improved access to malaria testing and treatment in their communities. Two years after the end of the grant-funded program, 94% of the community health worker roles remain filled, and the workers conducted 42% of testing in the 10 districts.
Community health workers detected 58% of all confirmed cases in the 10 districts. They treated 97.5% of the cases they detected and referred the remaining 2.5% of cases to health facilities.
Scaling up
This program has been scaled up to
Create Lasting Impact as it has also led to an opportunity to capitalize on Rotary’s strategic partnership with the Gates Foundation and World Vision to create the
Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge, aimed at preventing and treating disease. It is being implemented from 2024 to 2027 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia. The four countries were selected based on their disease levels and health needs, the presence and engagement of Rotary club members, the potential for partnerships, and alignment with national health strategies.
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 14 August 2026
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 18 August 2026 6 for 6.30pm Living Choice Nature's Providore
Guest Speakers: Unleyites Behind the Badge
Welcoming Team: Valerie Bonython & Jason Booth
Tuesday 1 September 2026 6 for 6.30pm Living Choice Nature's Providore
Guest Speaker: Michael Steer The Algae Bloom
Welcoming Team: Ross Burton & Robyn Carnachan
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: 1 August 2026
Early:Haydn & Sue Baillie | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Week 2: 8 August 2026
Early: Greg McLeod & xxxxxxx| Late: Vera-Ann Stacy & Reno Elms
Week 3: 15 August 2026
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 22 August 2026
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5: 29 August 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 8 August 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 31 August 2026
The Tale End.....
Naughtiness
