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
Last Tuesday I listened to all the reports from our committees and thought wow! What has been achieved this year is amazing. Thank you to everyone who has help in any way however small. I am looking forward to the report regarding the tea and scones etc for the Bremer Art Trail. Roxanne will report briefly on this on Tuesday.
Arrangements for the Changeover Dinner are well in hand. If you wish to come and haven’t booked please do so asap. It is going to be a really good night as we celebrate our achievements this Rotary year and look forward to next Rotary year under the leadership of Roxanne Rowland.
Tomorrow, Sunday, Roxanne, Sally and myself are attending a G7 meeting at Auchendarroch House. These meetings are always interesting as we share what has happened in our Clubs and where we can help each other obtain goals.
The meeting for the RORP (repurposing playgrounds) has been postponed until July and M-L is back from Canada. At this stage Roxanne, Rob and myself will be attending.
Some interesting facts about Rotary Clubs:
The most remote Club is Papeete, Tahiti
The southernmost Club is Base Marambio, in Antarctica
The northernmost Club is Barrow, Alaska, above the Arctic Circle.
The highest Club is El Aguilar, Argentina, 4,880 meters above sea level
The lowest Club is El Centro, California, 12.2 meters below sea level
Changeover Dinner Booking
Dont forget to book for the upcoming Club Changeover Dinner.
What better way to spend a cold, sometimes wet Saturday than a visit to the Bremer Valley Gallery Trail and Pop-Up Gallery Market + Tearooms on Saturday 14th June at the Callington Memorial Hall. The gallery trail celebrates the creative spirit of the community. Artists set up the hall with amazing displays of their talented work and Rotarians arrived at 9-00am to accept the challenge to turn the Annexe into a cosy delightful Tearoom and serve Devonshire Teas to visitors and artists alike. All was ready to commence trade a little after 11-00am
Visitors were able to meet the local artists and explore handcrafted treasures in the pop up market while on the trail from Hartley, Callington and on to Kanmantoo. Those who ventured into the kitchen were amazed to see the cakes, biscuits, slices and other delights, along with fresh garden produce at the Rotary Trading Table. Visitors were keen to make a purchase with some coming back a second time to make sure they got all the goods they wanted.
Guests were able to see the scones being made and baked as they placed their orders for pots of Earl Grey or English Breakfast tea and plunger coffee. The CWA scone recipe was a real hit and those looking for a gluten free option were also accommodated. Scones were served with the choice of apricot or strawberry jam and freshly whipped cream. There was even a little time to sit and chat with guests in the tearoom.
Thanks to those who baked cakes, slices, biscuits and made jams, marmalades, and provided garden fresh fruits and vegetables. The tables looked amazing. Any leftover goods at the end of the day have been donated to Food Bank Murray Bridge.
Special thanks to the Rotarians who visited throughout the day, to check out the artwork, chat with the artists, purchase from the trading table and share time in the Tearooms.
As Stephanie A Urchick - RI President - reminds us this morning “Rotary is more than any one individual - it is a (global) movement, deeply rooted in fellowship and service, capable of adapting and thriving no matter the challenge” and members of the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge lived up to that today.
Our next venture into the Tearoom will be on Saturday 9th August when the Pop Up Market at Callington will be part of the SALA programme. Get the date into your diaries so you don’t miss out.
Hello Magical Hay Hero Rotarians!
It has been a while since I’ve provided an all points update to D9510 Clubs on our collective efforts to raise money to buy Fodder to save SA Farmers’ livestock!
I’m blown away by our Network’s response, by donating their hard earned $’s … THANK YOU
• Rotary clubs • Rotaract clubs • Inner Wheel clubs (including one from Rome, Italy!)
And beyond our own generous Rotary Network – we’ve had Businesses; Community Groups; Church Groups; Councils; Politicians and MANY members of the public who have also generously Donated - $352,000 in total to date!
Mental Health support has been bandied around by Federal and State Government in the media a lot of late. But I can tell you, of all the farmers we’ve supported and talk to on a daily basis, they clearly state that Rotary’s effort to supply feed for their Sheep and Cows is the BEST form of Mental Health support they can get right now.
Our Social Media feed is filled with heart felt messages of praise for our collective efforts.
Since We Started Delivering Hay on 24 February 2025
On Tuesday 6th June, Cameron and Lucas presented their reflections on their 5-day voyage with the Rotary One and All Sailing Challenge
As a Year 10 student at Unity College, living at Bow Hill, Cameron reflected on
The wide range of learning he experienced from gaining knowledge and experience in tying knots for the marine journey, to being able to identify all the parts of the ship and sails in nautical terms
Outlining the history of the One and All from built to present day
His nervousness at the commencement of the journey - well outside his comfort zone - to the incredible time spent getting to know the rest of his team and having to trust them implicitly in certain situations
The need to undertake rotational (and often repeated) routine activities to keep the ship fully functioning
While not getting seasick on the voyage, he did miss friends, IT and regular at-home activities
New friendships grew over the 5 days, but these will take a special commitment to continue beyond the journey
Lucas is a Year 10 student at Murray Bridge High School and was sponsored and supported by SAPOL’s Blue Light Boxing Programme.
He outlined the process he undertook from writing his letter of application and ensuring all aspects of the application process were completed accurately
He, too, was nervous and apprehensive as he arrived at the docks at Port Adelaide and saw the enormity of the sailing vessel which was to be his home for the next 5 days
Lucas outlined the importance of all the briefings for emergencies, even though they did not experience any of these during the journey - being prepared was so important
He shared the fun activities including Movie Night, time on the beach, experiencing the dolphins in the open seas and meeting new people
Laus was not sure if he would undertake the sea voyage again, but would like to consider more leadership opportunities should they be available for him to experience
The One and All voyage puts a unique group of people, never together before the event, in an out-of-comfort situation, and allows them to grow, both personally and in their nautical knowledge, while experiencing a once in a lifetime opportunity that both Cameron and Lucas thanked the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge for sponsoring.
Kai Martin raises more than $50,000 for local domestic violence services
Can we give a Big Thanks and Community Recognition to this young man, Kai Martin.
On the 23rd of May Kai Martin gave an amazing gift to his Murray Bridge Community.
He ran the Lavender Federation Trail, a 325 km ( approximately 202 miles ) trek from Clare to Murray Bridge - All to raise funds for Domestic Violence.
Kai is an inspiring young man who works with underprivileged kids and their families and has always been aware of Domestic Violence with a need to do something about it. His gift was running and setting a goal of raising $25,000.
Incredibly, Kai pushed himself so hard over 3 days - he was delirious when he arrived back at his home town in the early hours at 3am on Monday morning. But he had smashed his fundraising goal, netting more than $50,000 – and possibly much more – for local domestic violence support services.
Senior Community Constable Derek Mattner joined Kai at the 150km mark, running 130km through freezing conditions and challenging terrain. Kai expressed his gratitude, stating Derek’s support was crucial to the run’s success.
Rotary Australia World Community Service is assisting affected communities of the Western Victoria and South Australian Drought region through the network of local Rotary Clubs and in collaboration with local support agencies
Western Victoria & South Ausralia has been severely impacted by drought with farming land dry and barren and livestock feed and water running out fast.
Beyond livestock feed, the impact of the drought with the heartbreaking hardships the farming families themselves are facing as they watch their animals deteriorate. Mental health issues are often paramount. Some families themselves go without to ensure their livestock survive. This RAWCS project intends to raise funds to support humanitarian relief projects for those impacted in the drought affected regions.
RAWCS Drought Relief for South Australia Farmers & Livestock Fund
This fund was established in late February and has already provided a significant number of hay bales /livestock feed to farmers in the Mid North and West Coast of SA. Continued support for SA farmers and their livestock is desperately needed.
RAWCS Western Victoria Drought Emergency Relief Fund
Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) is assisting affected communities of the Western Victoria Drought region through the network of local Rotary Clubs and in collaboration with local support agencies.
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.
