Chris introduced his team of Kate Porter (leading on the Teachers' Awards), Haydn, Judy, Patty, Jo, Simon, Nathan, Robyn, Leonie and Brendan....wow....not lacking in talent!
The two major projects are SA Police Officer of the Year (POOTY) and local Teachers Awards. Until recently his committee also managed the Pride of Work and best business awards for Unley Rd.
Vocational service with Rotary is about high ethical standards,and the innate worthiness and dignifying of each vocation. In our working life we must have integrity, deal fairly with other people, use our skills to enhance opportunities for others and avoid behaving badly. Chris emphasised the need to help young people and to honour achievement. As well as POOTY, Teachers' Awards, and Unley Rd business awards, help has in the past been provided to train students for job applications and interviews, and a range of other activities. .
POOTY has been running since 1978 - it is the club's signature project. It enjoys widespread support and respect within the Force. From February to September each year we work closely with SAPOL to select the best of the best. The criteria include outstanding acts of understanding, compassion, devotion to duty, courtesy, courage and kindness above and beyond the call of duty. Nominations are sought from the public (cannot come from within SAPOL or our club) with widespread advertising througout the force, other emergency services, social media, Rotary, Lions and other community organisations. The awards ceremony has in recent years been held at the Wayville Showgrounds. This year the event kicks off in Jubilee Hall at 11am on Friday 5 September, followed by a light lunch in the Wayville Pavilion. We need a strong Rotary crowd for the occasion.
Recent deserving POOTY winners include:
2024 - SC Chris Mailley from Naracoorte for his work to combat domestic violence
2023 - SC Gary Wills from Gawler working with youth
2022 - Supt Mark Syrus from York North SLA volunteering with outback teams to help teenagers at risk
2021 - SC Michael Klose from Adelaide for his top class motorcycling work within and outside the Force.
The Teacher Awards kicked off in 2024 and was a success. This year 20 schools in Unley and nearby suburbs will be competing. It enjoys the support of the City of Unley and is designed to honour great teachers and offer encouragement to new teachers. Team work is rewarded with a view to sharing best practice. There are multiple winners.
Activity started in June, with an award ceremony at our club on 21 October. Unley Mayor Michael Hewitson has messaged the Unley community. Each school will be communicating with their teachers and parents.
Spots....a measles outbreak
Secretary Greg McLeod provided details of Board deliberations last week at its first meeting.
AdministrativeThe resignation of Geoff Hill has been accepted and he is now an honorary member. Kathryn Needs application for membership was processed. New signatories will replace Graham's and Jerry's on the club's accounts. Appointment of Greg as our club's Public Officer. A new lease for the Thrift Shop has been finalised with an annual fee of $45k commencing 1 July. The annual membership fee is to be $350.
Other The Solomon Island's project will be finalised shortly. At the invitation of Rob, moves are afoot to house our 2 trailers in his double garage. Our AGM will be held on 2 December.
Treasurer Brenton Judge explained that there would be more regular finance updates. While we have over $100,000 in the bank, it is being whittled away. Subscriptions must pay for the admin costs. When he took over there was $11,000 in outstanding dues, which has now been reduced to $2,300. A useful rule previously employed was that the budget for the forthcoming year should be no greater than the net revenue from the previous year.
Simon Beckett reported sales of $490 and costs of $396 at the Mitre10 BBQ last week. He and Rob have worked up a plan to quit unwanted gear in Rob's garage. It will be great to have the trailers close at hand.
Vivienne Wood needs more volunteers for the Thrift Shop. She would also like to know the history of the gyro clock in the book nook......Bob Mullins to follow up.
Patsy Beckett reported that Marlene Small had fallen and broken her femur. The delivery of the shelterbags to Hutt St Centre was very well received and immediately distributed with the Code Blue alert the following morning. A letter of thanks has been received.
John Peacham advised that the money raised by the students of Unley Primary School which had been earmarked for Nepal will now be used on a WASH program in Siam Reap Cambodia, starting next month.
John Kikkert had received a letter of thanks from Fran Rydon (who addressed our club 2 weeks ago) for our sponsorship of Thin on the Youth Sailling Challenge. Thin will succeed and this will help.
Garry Taylor asked for intense mobilisation for our Quiz Night on 30 August.....only 4 of 18 tables sold to date.
Christina Way, together with Nathan, is involved with 10 other clubs delivering the Walk for Mental Health event on 9 November - 4.5km along Linear Park at a cost of $30
To help people affected by the financial crisis of 2008, the Rotary Club of Summit County (Frisco) began serving a weekly dinner free of charge in the Colorado ski town. Sixteen years later, they haven’t stopped. In January, the club and its partners served their 200,000th meal. “The housing and mortgage crisis deeply affected people in Summit County, so in November 2008 I went to a nonprofit in the county and asked the director what was needed to help people through it,” says club member Deborah Hage. “For people displaced, living in their cars, or sofa surfing, there was no way for them to prepare meals with the food being distributed by the food banks and pantries.” On a typical Tuesday night, 100 to 500 people — children, families, retirees, and even donors who simply enjoy the camaraderie — come together to share restaurant-quality dinners and good company.
Dogs are feeling especially lucky in the Yukon territory thanks to the Rotary Club of Whitehorse-Rendezvous, which bakes, packages, and sells pet treats to raise funds. The club’s annual dog biscuit sale has generated about CA$3,000 since it began three years ago. Proceeds benefit the 
In December, the Rotary E-Club of Greece began delivering wheelchairs to archaeological sites and museums throughout the country. Through May, the e-club and three other clubs — Halandri, Preveza, and Psychico — had distributed 17 wheelchairs valued at $2,600. Benefiting institutions included the Aegean Maritime Museum on Mykonos, the Archaeological Museum of Patras, the ESIEPIN Press Museum, and the Museum of Cycladic Art. “This is a large-scale project covering almost all of Greece, with deliveries planned for 14 museums and archaeological sites,” says George Stavropoulos, immediate past president of the e-club.
The Rotary Club of Kigali Golf is passionate about more than just hitting the links. Within months of its formation, the club began supporting programs to foster entrepreneurship within the deaf community and other underrepresented groups. In November the club delivered more than a dozen sewing, knitting, and textile heat-press machines to the 
In March, the largest wildfires in Korea’s history swept across the country’s southeast, scorching nearly 120,000 acres and forcing more than 37,000 people to evacuate. Rotary districts swiftly assessed the needs and delivered food, water, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies to shelters and affected communities. Rotarians were able to reach even more people in need through $100,000 in funding from 
