A big thank you to all for helping at last week’s Rotary awareness meeting. It sounds like everyone enjoyed themselves with the possibility of a couple of new members wanting to join. We need new members, and this type of meeting show cases what Rotary is all about, and if we get two or three new members it’s well worth the effort.
An update on the shelter bags we ordered, they should arrive in April, fingers crossed.
Monday was another day spent fencing at Monarto Safari Park, ideally, we would like to see more attend, morning tea.and lunch is supplied. A big announcement last week when we heard the fantastic news about the Mallee Emu Wrens breeding. It may have taken 10 years but it’s happened. Knowing Rotary played a big part in the conservation of these tiny birds, makes you proud to be a Rotarian.
With the Swap Meet coming up very soon, your valued help is needed, contact John Whimpress if you able to help.
Looking forward to our Foundation meeting Tuesday night at Sue Foster’s, please bring along your chairs, drinks, and food and we can look forward to a great night of fun, fellowship, entertainment and guest speaker, with all money going to the Rotary Foundation.
And don’t forget the Aerogard.
Gordon
Foundation Evening
Please remember to to bring all of your needs for Tuesday evening's meeting at the home of Sue Foster on Jervois Road.
This includes chairs, food, drinks plus anything else you wish to bring.
Cost for the evening is $10 per person with all funds raised being donated to the Rotary Foundation.
Past District Governor Jerry Casburn will talk to us about the Foundation.
Centenary of Rotary in SA
Exactly 100 years today, the Rotary Club of Adelaide was chartered and the story of Rotary in SA began.
Shortly after charter, the Rotary Club of Adelaide began an expansion of Clubs across the state with our now District 9510 encompassing parts of NSW, Victoria, Notherrn Territory and all of SA north of Bordertown.
Today approximately 360 guests gathered at the William Magarey Room at Adelaide Oval and celebrated this event.
We were entertained by the Radio 5 Police Band, the Rotary Adelaide Choir (not a choir of Rotarians but a project of the Club which encourages community members to participate) and our keynnote speaker was Prof Veena Sahajwalla. Professor Veena spoke of her passion for innovation and recycling. She is well know as a judge on the New Inventors and also has been featured on Australian Story plus widely reported in the press.
An inspiring welcome to country plus an opening address by Her Excellency, Francis Adamson AC Governor of SA were highlights of the afternoon.
Attending from the Murray Bridge Rotary Club were Ron and Sabine Jericho, Simon and Lyn Sickerdick, Roxanne and Wayne Rowland, Julieanne Sissman, Sam and Liz Cozens and Robin and Rhonda LeGallez. Peter Jarvis also joined our group as did Mobilong and Waikerie members.
Mallee Emu Wren Success
The Rotary Club of Murray Bridge has been involved in saving the Mallee Emu Wren and reintroducing it to South Australia following devestating bushfires in the Ngarkat Conservation park which made it extinct in SA.
Last Tuesday evening members heard that the project had evolved and that recently 4 pairs of birds had been translocated to the facility designed and built by Rotarians at the Monarto Safari Park. Unexpectantly the birds have nested, laid eggs and then finally the young chicks have hatched and are flying in the enclosure.
What a success story with which to be associated.
Below is a brief history of our involvement from day one.
The Rotary Club of Murray Bridge has a number of members who are keen bird watchers and therefore an interest in the environment
Why this bird?
As part of our interest in birds we became aware of the Mallee Threatened Birds of which the Mallee Emu-wren was part.
Its habitat in SA was primarily Ngarkat Conservation Park which is South of Pinnaroo and runs along the SA-Victorian border. Mallee Emu-wren have never lived north of the River Murray.
In 2014, wildfires swept through Ngarkat and destroyed the entire population of these birds and also the habitat required for them to thrive. Mallee Emu-wren were now extinct in SA.
About The Mallee Emu Wren
The Mallee Emu-wren weighs approximately 6 grams or about the weight of a $2 coin. Requires a specific habitat to survive consisting mainly of unburnt spinifex which is at least eight years old. Does not fly into trees but remains close to the ground where cover is available to avoid predation. Feeds on insects and seeds. Lives in family groups. Is rated as endangered!
What Did We Do?
Our Club became involved in a number of activities relating to preserving these birds. We partnered with Victorian, South Australian Government agencies, Universities, Birds Australia, & ZoosSA with funding from the Federal Threatened Species Commissioner. As part of this partnership we initially undertook vegetation surveys in Wyperfeld National Park in Vic followed by surveys in Murray Sunset National Park. Provided logistical support during the capture of 78 birds within the Murray Sunset National Park (near Mildura). Processed the birds and farewelled them to their new home in Ngarkat Conservation Park. Processing included sexing, banding, taking DNA samples and weighing as well as providing a tasty snack of mealworms.
Was It Worth It?
Those translocated birds raised young in Ngarkat and have since dispersed. Our project has raised awareness regarding the requirement of diversity in relation to the understory. Whilst it is important to plant trees to provide a canopy, it is equally important to look at the entire habit. For these birds who do not regularly roost in trees, the needs of a viable understory is critical. As a community we must always look at the total habitat needs of our birds, animals, invertebrates and reptiles. As part of an ongoing interest, our Club has build an aviary in conjunction with ZoosSA at Monarto Safari Park to maintain an insurance population of these birds.
Buying a Smile for Nani, who lives in Malaysia, is a Project for our Rotary Club, promoted through the International Committee.
Our Rotary Club recipient of ‘Buy a Smile’ corrective facial surgery, Nani, is now recovering from the operation, and our contact Neil Silver reports that all is well.
Early in February a medical review of the operation on Nani will be undertaken, and in the fulness of time I am confident we will learn more about this young lady as she faces a more certain future in her community in Sandakan, Sabah, a province in Malaysia.” Reported by Sam Cozens on behalf of our International Committee.
CALENDAR WINNERS
30th January
Draw Date
Value
Winning No.
Winner
Location
Sold by
30.1.24
100
473
Robin LeGallez
Murray Bridge
R. LeGallez
30
330
Heather Sladdin
Murray Bridge
Mobilong Rotary
20
15
Roxanne Gamble
Minnipa
Strath. Darts Club
Near Moolooloo - Flinders Ranges
70 Years Since Charter Granted
Dear President Gordon Schultz ,
This is Suren Poruri, District Chairman - Global Grants, RI District 3150, from India.
Your rotary club of Murray Bridge was chartered on December 23, 1953, which is today. Your club completed 70 years service today in RI District 9510 in serving the communities across the world .
I would like to extend my warm wishes to you and to all your club members on this joyous moment.
Rotary is the only organization which has global foot print and is working towards happy communities across the world with it's noble initiatives.
Thanks to our rotary club founder Rtn Paul Harris, we are able to make a difference in the communities where we live.
Rotary clubs across the world executes service projects worth 2 billion dollars every year in their communities. Rotarians gives 25 million volunteer hours to their communities across the world every year.
Thanks and regards
Suren Poruri
District Chairman - Global Grants(Successfully executed 1 million dollar worth of global grants)
RI district 3150
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.
ged with Grandisons to supply Bisley Rotary work shirts in various configurations.
