What a busy week members have engaged in - many members and partners spend the days in the kitchen, baking a variety of goods - first for the Trading Table at the SALA event as part of the Bremer Valley Art Trails at Callington on Saturday and the again preparing foods for the High Tea at the Uniting Church for the Hamlin Fistula Foundation in Ethiopia

We had the largest number of  members support  the event on Saturday - each taking on specific duties - albeit setting up the Tearooms, making the batches of scones throughout the day, or serving the customers with their Devonshire Teas. And then there were the countless volumes of dishes that needed to be done in order to keep up with customer demand. The day was much busier than the previous event in June. Jacquie and Sandy used the event as part of their assessment for their Food Supervisors course.

Thanks to Lyn for organising support from the Callington Primary School families with some baking,  as the takings from this event will be supporting the Children’s end of year celebrations when they travel to Adelaide to the Semaphore Carousel for an adventure day.

We have already been asked to return to the Tearooms in October - let’s hope the event is just as successful as this one.

Sunday saw the International Committee present their High Tea event in the Uniting Church Hall. Final ticket numbers were nearing 100 (although final numbers may have been over 100). Sue and Marg were able to organise guest speakers, a great range of raffle prizes and an enormous afternoon, with many guests taking away plates of food as they left. A huge thanks to all those who helped throughout the planning and more specifically in the kitchen on the day, The event also formed part of the Food Supervisors course for Sue, Suellen and Sandy.

Thanks to members who have undertaken a tidy-up at the Rotary Shed and ensured excess gear is recycled in the most sustainable way. We will be orgnising several loads to go to RARE in the coming weeks to further reduce some of the clutter - at the shed and in my garage

Tuesday of this week will be a debriefing meeting to cover the Aged and Carers Expo, the Callington Tearooms and the Hamlin Fistula High Tea. Come along and give feedback on your thoughts for any or all of these events

The club has also been informed of another White Card Training day coming up in early September. Please let me know if you think the course will enhance your Rotary involvement in different activities.

And Remember…. “Our Club is not just inducting members, we are building a fellowship of dreamers and doers – one adventure, one purpose, and one partnership at a time” 

Rotary - the Greatest Adventure of Your Life

Roxanne

High Tea for Hamlin Fistula Foundation in Ethiopia

The Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation is a charity dedicated to eradicating obstetric fistula, a preventable childbirth injury that leaves women incontinent and isolated

Just imagine…

💔 Enduring days of agonizing obstructed labor
💔 Delivering a stillborn baby and sustaining a horrific childbirth injury
💔 Leaking urine uncontrollably because of your injury
💔 Walking barefoot for 15 miles over difficult terrain to receive medical care
💔 Feeling immense physical and emotional pain
💔 Often doing all the above alone.

This is the reality for many Ethiopian women living in rural communities across the country.

The International Committee of our Club was keen to help. They organised a High Tea at the Uniting Church Hall on Sunday 17th August, with a view to raise sufficient funds to assist as many women in Ethiopia as possible. Those unable to attend, donated directly to the Foundation through the website: https://catherinehamlin.org/about/about-us/ or donated to the club through Rotarian contacts.

Marg Whitehead outlined the geographic location and size of Ethiopia as well as providing many statistics, many of which are variable. Following, Marg introduced Dr Graeme.

• Approx 3.4m births per year (11,000 per day)
• Birth rate is 32 per 1000 (Aust 11.6 per 1000)
• Mortality is decreasing from 957 / 100,000 in 2000 to 267 / 100,000 in 2024 (Aust 2.4 / 100,000)
• 1 Doctor per 5,843 people
• 1 Nurse per 1000
• 1 Midwife per 4340

Dr Graeme Nicholson then addressed the meeting. Graeme was a Murray Bridge GP for many years and known to many present. His message to us all related to the tyrany of distance in an underdeveloped country, along with the fact that girls are giving birth before their bodies have developed sufficiently. This is a cultural issue which will improve with education which is being provided by the Hamlin Fistula Foundation. 

A glass of bubbles on arrival and a sumptuous range of foods served throughout the afternoon added to the event. A very successful raffle was organized to further increase the finances, hopefully allowing more women to have the life saving surgery.

SALA Art Tearooms at Callington

As the poster advertising the event states: Cold and Wet outside? Warm and Welcoming Inside!

Those who ventured to the Callington Memorial Hall on Saturday 16th August stepped in from the winter chill and enjoyed:

• A vibrant SALA exhibition by the Bremer Valley Artists
• A pop-up artisan market full of unique, handmade creations
• Freshly baked scones, jam and whipped cream served with hot tea/coffee with a Devonshire Tea served in the tearooms created by the rotary Club of Murray Bridge

A large group of Rotarians arrived just after 9-00am and began by setting up the Tearoom with beautiful lace tablecloths, layered with embroidered overlays - reminding us of older times when crafts such as embroidery or fabric painting were common. The final result was a beautifully set up room that was inviting those visiting the artists to stop for a while and enjoy each other’s company over a scone with jam and cream and a hot cuppa - with real china teapots.

Several Rotarians used the opportunity to brush up on their Food hygiene and food prep skills as part of their Food Supervisors Training. Another great opportunity provided by Rotary for its members

Freshly baked scones were coming out of the oven throughout the day and were very popular - especially the Gluten Free varieties - some visitors purchasing these scones to take home with them

While our Rotarians prepared lots of baked goods for the Trading Table, we were also assisted with the variety and volumes of goods from the families and friends of the Callington Primary School. The school will be the beneficiaries of the funds from the day when they travel to the City in December to spend the day at the Semaphore Carousel and the beach. The Caramel chocolate slice was so popular, it sold out in the first 2 hours.

The next planned event for Callington Tearooms will be in October.

Quiz Night!!!!

Expect the unexpected on 26th August

Bring a guest to garner bonus points!

High Tea For Hamlin

Couldn't Attend???

Couldn't attend the high tea but would like to donate?

Click the donate button to donate to the Murray Bridge funraising page.
 

District 9510 New Rotarians Network Night

Friday evening new Rotarians from across the region met at the Calledonian Hotel in North Adelaide for a networking get together. Sandy, Kevin and Tracey attended from our club. This was an opportunity to meet District Governor Rageev, DG Elect Tim and DG Nominee Damian.

Rotarians were also able to learn from other new members and their mentors.

This informal evening, organised by District Membership Chair, Damian Leach, brought together new members from across the District to build connections, feel welcomed, and enjoy a relaxed social gathering after a warm welcome from the District Governor

This event encouraged clubs to build a strong, welcoming Rotary experience, while participating in a District-wide initiative.

Want to know more? Chat with Sandy, Kevin or Tracey

Morning Tea in a Yurt

Last Tuesday I reported meeting a Mongolian lady named Hanna. As a response to my information about our sending playgrounds to Mongolia, Hanna invited Jack and Jill Reddin together with Rob and I to take morning tea - Mongolian style - in her yurt. 

Jack and Jill talked about their visit to Mongolia which kicked off the project to send the playgrounds. We discussed the history of Mongolia from Genghis Khan to present day, agriculture and industry in Mongolia, and most aspects of Mongolian culture not forgetting the weather/climate.

It was wonderful making a connection like this; hearing from Hanna’s son what the effects are on children when they have no play equipment.  All this confirms that Rotary is making a difference in the world no matter how small. Jenny Alexander-Walters

CALENDAR WINNERS 

12^th August

 

Draw Date

Value

Winning No.

Winner

Location

Sold by

12.8.25	$100	535	Lorraine Baker	Murray Bridge	Rotary
	$50	989	Ianko Cuitko	Murray Bridge	Rotary