It was good to see so many Rotarians and partners attend the Combined Service Clubs Meeting last Tuesday night. A great night of fellowship with a chance to speak to other clubs about what they are doing. One thing we all seem to have in common is attempting to attract new and younger members. Even though it was not publicly announced our meeting was an official meeting.
This week we look forward to our music night at Murray Bridge High School with another chance to listen to our up-and-coming musicians.
December 5th is our AGM, with reports needing to be sent to Julieanne shortly, and anything to be included on the agenda.
Remembrance Day on this Saturday November 11th at Sturt Reserve where we will be laying a wreath on behalf of the Rotary Club.
See you all Tuesday night at the High School.
Gordon.
CALENDAR WINNERS 31st October
Draw Date
Value
Winning No.
Winner
Location
Sold by
31.10.23
100
347
John Keer
North Plympton
Strath Darts Club
30
139
Tony Pasin
Murray Bridge
SPONSOR
20
652
Terry Jacobs
Murray Bridge
J. Whimpress
Near Moolooloo - Flinders Ranges
Mallee Emu-Wrens at Monarto Safari Park
The story below is copied from the Monarto Safari Park website and updates the work our Club carried out over a significant timeframe.
Activities included, field and habitat surveys, providing logistics and catering for field trips to Wyperfeld National Park and Murray Sunset, provided design and construction labour for the aviaries now used to house the Emu-Wrens plus we promoted the program across the Rotary District.
It is my intention to contact Manarto Safari Park to ascertain if there is a further role for our Club in this amazing program.
Robin LeGallez
"After 10 years in the making, ten endangered Mallee Emu-wrens have arrived at Monarto Safari Park, forming the first ever ex-situ population of the species and marking a major milestone for their conservation.
The Mallee Emu-wren is one of Australia’s smallest birds, with adults weighing a tiny four to six grams! They are listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List. In August 2023, a team of staff from Zoos SA and Zoos Victoria, and independent ecologists travelled to Victoria’s Mallee country to collect ten birds and create a small ex-situ population at Monarto Safari Park. Zoos SA’s Conservation Ecologist, Claire Hartvigsen-Power, has been driving this project and says it is a monumental milestone after years of hard work.
“Bringing Mallee Emu-wren to Monarto Safari Park will allow us to study the birds and build a valuable knowledge base to support the conservation of the species.
“Over the next few years, we aim to maintain a population of these birds in captivity, developing skills and expertise to assist on-ground conservationists and land-managers to quickly intervene if the wild population is under an emergency threat.” Claire says studying the birds at Monarto Safari Park will also shine a light on the Mallee Emu-wren’s biology, with limited research currently available due to the endangered status and cryptic nature of the species. “Having expert knowledge about the Mallee Emu-wren could be the difference in whether the species survives the next Victorian bushfire,” finished Claire. In the public eye, conservation work is recognised at the pinnacle of a project, with programs earning their moment in the spotlight for a new birth or wild release. But it’s the years of tireless work behind the scenes that the community doesn’t see which makes this conservation success story so special. For Zoos SA, the Mallee Emu-wren conservation story starts in 2013. A series of bushfires during 2013 and 2014 saw the local extinction of Mallee Emu-wren in South Australia, reducing wild populations to three national parks in north-west Victoria. A single catastrophic bushfire at the site of one of these remaining populations could push this species very close to extinction. The loss of the South Australian population sparked an emergency response to develop recovery techniques to respond to such a critical situation, with collaboration between Zoos SA, Zoos Victoria, threatened Mallee bird experts and State and Federal Government. In 2013 Zoos SA committed to developing a knowledge base on how to best care for Mallee Emu-wren in captivity at Monarto Safari Park. Good research is crucial in conservation because for endangered animals, there are rarely second chances. In 2015 we took our first major step, undertaking husbandry trials with the closely related Rufous-crowned Emu-wrens to test the feasibility of bringing Mallee-emu Wren to a specially designed aviary at Monarto Safari Park. Assistant Curator of Natives and Primates at Monarto Safari Park, Tom Hurley, helped coordinate these trials. “Through our work with the Rufous-crowned Emu-wrens we’ve built a valuable knowledge base on best practice husbandry techniques. “This helped Zoos SA support partner organisations to move Mallee Emu-wrens from Victoria home to South Australia in 2018,” said Tom.<\ Five years later, we’re now making the next moves to safeguard the species and extend research through the first ex-situ Mallee Emu-wren research project at Monarto Safari Park. This important research will shape how we approach the conservation of Mallee Emu-wren both in captivity or the wild in years to come. As a conservation charity, Zoos SA is proud to be having a real impact on saving the Mallee Emu-wren from extinction. Each time the public visit, they are supporting us in our mission to save species from extinction."
November 2023 is Foundation Month and a time to reflect on the Good Woork performed by our very own Foundation.
Traditionally our Club contributes to the Foundation on an annual basis during the final months of our Rotary year but we are urged to make contributions at any time.
Centurions are people who make an annual contribution of at least $100. If you wish more information in relation to this or any other form of donation to the Rotary Foundation, please contact Robin LeGallez.
The Murray Bridge Combined Service Clubs Dinner was held at the Murray Bridge RSL Club Chaired by MB City Lions Hylton Moritz with about 80 in attendance. Volunteers are a good measure of the strength of the community. Represented were Kiawanis, Rotary Club of Murray Bridge, Rotary Club of Mobilong, the Inner wheel Club of Mobilong, Murray Bridge City Lions, Soroptimist International and Lions Club of Murray Bridge. Guest speakers were Mayor Wayne Thorley speaking about future development with housing, skills development, revitalizing the main street, continuing with the welcoming city theme, transport and the Adelaide Regional Development Plan before opening up to a lively question time from the floor. The second speaker was Colin Hill a life member of the Astronomical Society of SA who explained Neutron Stars, Black Holes, Supernovas and White Dwarfs. The Society has several observation sites Stockport 80 Km north of Adelaide, Tooperang 50 Kms south of Adelaide and Meldanda in the Murray River Dark Sky north of Murray Bridge. A good meeting to network with other volunteer groups to keep our region viable and moving forward. John Scarvelis
Mobilong Meetings
Recent discussions with Mobiong President Sally has resuled in both Clubs sharing their upcoming speaker list to update members
15th NOVEMBER
Kai Martin + Tim Law Domestic Violence
RSL
22nd NOVEMBER
Seun Akande & Bolaji Akinbo Our journey from Nigeria to M/Bridge
RSL
29th NOVEMBER
VOCATIONAL Putt putt golf with M/Bridge Rotary @ Avoca Dell
2nd DECEMBER
Christmas Dinner
?
13th DECEMBER
Emily Hudson Reserved for potental speaker from Council = Van health rules 2b confirmed
RSL
20th DECEMBER
Speaker unlikely
RSL
If you are wishing to attend, please ensure you book in.
Punjabi Celebration
A major event held in Murray Bridge on Sunday 22nd October attracted a crowd of nearly 4,000 from all over southern Australia with a large contingent coming from Melbourne and others from Adelaide, the South East, the Riverland and the Murraylands. A celebration of Punjabi Culture the 6th Punjabi Virasat Cultural Mela Event held this time at the Murray Bridge Racing Club. Local organiser Jagtar Singh Nagri and his team were extremely pleased with the response. The event commenced at 11 am and went thru until after 7pm. Punjabi dance, singing, lots of stalls, great food, volleyball, tug of war all contributed to a fun family day. Murray Bridge is being recognised as an important component of Multicultural settlement, a significant hub with a great lifestyle and potential for futher development. A welcoming rural city! John Scarvelis
Australia Post Grant $10,000
Your Vocational committee has been successful in securing a Community Grant for Mental Health and Mental Wellbeing from Aust Post. We are very privileged to be 1 of 4 recipients in South Australia. Our project is called Murray Bridge Rotary supports teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA).
A program offered by Mark Smith an ex Rotarian and CEO of Safer Communities called teen Mental Health First Aid tMHFA was reported in a RDU issue last year where his company in partnership with Rotary clubs was able to offer this course at a discounted rate to local high schools. When the grants were advertised with little time to respond Directors Lyn and Simon had a zoom meeting with Mark where he agreed to do the lions share of the grant application. So with tongue in cheek we applied with no real expectations.
The program offers 3 x 90 minute group sessions for up to 240 students and will include some teachers who will provide adult resources at the school. Mark has opened discussion with the school Welfare Head and Managers at Headspace and Centacare to partner with us and provide resources in the community. Please check out https://www.safercommunities.com.au/teen-mhfa for more information.
Thank you for your support as always.
In the words of the Great Jakal “Who wouldn’t want to be a Rotarian”.
Let's celebrate a century of Rotary in South Australia with lunch on the 4th of February 2024 at the William Magarey Room, Adelaide Oval.
Full details are on the attached flyer including the link for booking.
The Rotary Club of Murray Bridge in conjunction with Heart of the Nation are seeking to create a complete list of defibrillators or AED's in the Murray Bridge area and add them to the phone app to ensure immediate access is available should the need arise.
If you know of an AED can you please contact Darryl Webb 0409 621 469 and he will ensure the details are entered onto the phone app.
Food Business Notification Number Rural City Of Murray Bridge
Trading Business Name: Rotary Club of Murray Bridge Food Business Notification Number: RCMB118 This business is now notified with the Rural City of Murray Bridge. If there are any changes to the food business notification details, such as a change in address or ownership, please ensure Council is notified with the appropriate form. While Council has a responsibility for the administration of the Food Act 2001 to ensure compliance with standards and food safety requirements, we consider our primary role is to provide support. We can provide advice and guidance on all Food Standards Code matters.
Object of Rotary
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Rotary Work Shirts
Darryl Webb has arranged with Grandisons to supply Bisley Rotary work shirts in various configurations.
Please visit Grandisons and select your shirt which will then be embroided with our Club logo.
Pay for the shirt and retain your receipt.
Upon presentation of the receipt to Sam Cozens, you will be reimbursed $20 as a subsidy
What's happening on our Facebook page
John Scarvelis has been posting up a storm with some great content.
The story below is copied from the Monarto Safari Park website and updates the work our Club carried out over a significant timeframe.
ged with Grandisons to supply Bisley Rotary work shirts in various configurations.
