The Rotary Club of Murray Bridge gathers at the Bridgeport Hotel 2 Bridge St, Murray Bridge on Tuesday evenings. Fellowship from 6.00pm with Dinner starting at 6.15pm. Apologies or guests to be notified to Jacquie Best by 12pm Monday. 0409 377 343
Each year on March 22nd, the world pauses to recognise World Water Day – a day dedicated to celebrating water, raising awareness of the global water crisis, and inspiring action to tackle water-related challenges. In 2026, the theme resonates more urgently than ever: ‘Water for All – Leaving No One Behind’.
While Rotary’s efforts are often concerned with World Water Challenges, I am reminded of the local challenges many of our farmers and food producers face – challenges like the droughts in the past years, personal struggles with financial hardships, often unable to have fodder for their animals and finances for family meals, (or more recently fuels to keep the business running) It is with this in mind that the Rotary Clubs of South Australia have been asked to Unite For Good and get behind the Pioneer Adventure Day at Old Tailem Town on Sunday May 3rd – when we hope to raise the spirits of farming families and give HOPE. We want to continue showing that we care. Have you checked out the latest information on the website as to what is happening on the day – beyond what our club is offering? Check it out here: https://rotarypioneeradventureday.au or better still, have a look at the Facebook page – Rotary Pioneer Adventure Day. New groups and posts are being added daily as businesses and organisations come on board.
If you see another way you, or our Club could be involved, please let me know. This week’s Shout Out goes to Jenny Phillips and the Yarn Groups at the Murray Bridge Council Library – what a fantastic effort with the knitting and crocheting of the Beanies for the event. So many being collected each week – Thank you and well done to all involved in this part of the event
Let us use this event to create a story of Hope, Challenge, and Rotary Action
Tuesday night we shared fellowship with Gino Martino and his family and some workers from Australian Portable Camps at Monarto. We heard of the growth of the company, now across Australia with their accommodation camps – more than a traditional camp style building for workers in remote and regional areas. APC supplies generators, water, septic, transport and specific buildings to make the camp life more like home. We also heard of their Van Of Hope – Sharing Meals, Spreading Hope - a mobile kitchen supplying more than 150 meals each week, to those in need, every Thursday night in Murray Bridge. Gino shared that it is ‘about connection, time, attention and kindness, not just handing out meals’ Each week the meals are planned by the Chef at APC, prepared in their kitchen and then served to those in need, by the staff at APC. This ‘Service Above Self’ exemplifies Rotary – one of the reasons Gino’s father Frank was acknowledged with a Paul Harris Fellowship last year and also nominated for the Heide Taylor Community Volunteer Award at the recent Premier’s Community Service Awards
This week we will hear from Fiona Cockburn from Heartprint – an Australian Charity as well as a locally registered NGO working in Cambodia, funding community projects to support families living in need. This should be another interesting guest speaker enlightening us on international projects
This is the last gathering before many of us travel to Horsham for the Multi-District conference. If there is anyone who is still looking for shared travel, or is able to offer a seat in their car, please make me aware and I will announce it on Tuesday evening. Those travelling to the conference are also most grateful to those who have agreed to attend the Bunnings BBQ on the Sunday.
