Message from Pres John
Tonight we welcome Rosemary King from St Paul's Anglican Church. Please remember to bring food donations for a hamper of non perishable foods that Rosemary can take with her. Anna-Marie is looking for Nominations for the Vocational Excellence Awards. Please buy your tickets now and bring suitable Raffle items tonight. Thank you to those attending the Transfer Meeting to the Rotary Club of Blacktown City on Tuesday May 5th to hear about our Global Grant. There is a report below. We had a very succesful Sausage Sizzle for Burwood Council at the Enfield Aquatic Centre last Sunday. Thanks to pp Keith for organising and those Rotarians and partners for attending. It was particularly good to see Alf and Mary Dimarco.
From our last Club Meeting 13th April 2026
Meeting opened By Pres John at 7.20
Present: John Kane, Hugo Robinson, Sana Kamalesan, Anna-Marie Sanni, James Boggs, Rob Whitney,Paul Sarks, Keith Weeding Peter Moore
Apologies: John Mansour, Fred Walker, Patricia Abraham, Alf Dimarco ( sick) Irene Giardino ( sick) PP Dennise Herrick (LOA) Walter Bock, Fuad Jaafar, Maralie Bomediano
Visitors: Camilo Piovesan, Helen Jagger.
Presidents Report: RC Parramatta 100 year anniversary. ROMAC report.
PP Keith Sausage Sizzle details Sunday 5th May. Need help
Secretary PP Peter: District Assembly. April Fools Joke on radio, Transfer meeting, Term Deposit is maturing , information provided to St Geroge Bank by tomorrow,
Rob Whitney: To send Burwood Girls an offer for RYPEN and MUNA to sponsor candidates.
Anna-Marie – Vocational Excellence awards (Monday 25 May 2026), Waiver for hire fees, Croydon Park Club, Need Nomination, forms have been circulated. Raffle to be run that evening.
James suggest sending to Burwood Girls and Rosebank.
Paul suggests letting other clubs know and see if they’d like to attend and/or nominate people.
Sana – Update on Alf Dimarco
PDG Paul introduced current President Helen Jagger from Campsie Rotary Club.
Members heard an insightful presentation from Helen on the workings of Rotary Foundation Global Grants and a current international project involving prosthetic limb support in India.
Helen explained that Rotary Foundation funds are raised through donations from Rotary clubs worldwide. A portion of these funds returns to districts as District Designated Funds, which support local and international projects, while larger international projects are funded through Global Grants involving partnerships between Rotary clubs in different countries.
The project discussed involves a partnership between local Rotary representatives and a Rotary club in Tamil Nadu, India, supporting a hospital that provides prosthetic limbs for disadvantaged patients who have suffered amputations through trauma or complications from diabetes.
Helen described the significant challenges faced by many patients in poorer regions of India, where loss of mobility can severely affect a person’s ability to work and support their family. The project aims to provide affordable prosthetic limbs together with rehabilitation support to help recipients regain independence and mobility.
She also outlined the detailed Rotary grant application and review process, including project planning, peer review, accountability requirements, sustainability considerations, and ongoing reporting obligations.
The project has successfully secured approximately US$40,000 in funding through Rotary Foundation support, district contributions, and local Rotary involvement. Helen, together with a small committee, will assist with oversight and administration of the project.
Members appreciated Helen’s thoughtful explanation of both the humanitarian impact of the project and the importance of responsible stewardship of Rotary Foundation funds.
Guest Speaker — 2RDJ Community Radio
Members enjoyed an informative presentation from Camillo Piovesan of 2RDJ-FM, our local community radio station broadcasting on 88.1 FM.
Camillo shared the history of the station, which was established in the early 1980s and has served the Inner West community for more than 40 years through volunteer-driven broadcasting, multicultural programming, music, interviews, and community engagement.
He explained how the station operates as a community broadcaster, relying on volunteers, memberships, sponsorships, and grants to support its operations. Members also learned about the wide variety of local and ethnic programs broadcast each week, along with outside broadcasts at community events across the region.
Particular interest was shown in opportunities for Rotary and local community organisations to participate through interviews, promotion of community projects, and podcast features. Camillo highlighted the importance of local media in connecting communities and promoting the work of not-for-profit organisations.
We thank Camillo for an engaging and informative presentation and for the important role 2RDJ-FM continues to play in our local community.
Meeting closed at 8.05
raffle won by pp Keith
Report from Enfield Aquatic Centre
It was a beautiful day last Sunday where we attended Enfield Aquatic Centre for the last day before it closed for renovation. Burwood Council asked us to supply 500 sausage sandwiches with onions and salad.
We started serving at 10.00 and the crowds came in waves. We were supposed to serve from 10.00 to 4.00pm but we served the whole 500 sausage by 1.00pm.
The morning went well and thanks to all who attended including Alf who has been ill for the past few months.
Thank you to everyone who gave up their morning to help. Even though the sausage sandwiches were complimentary, we made over $400.00 in donations from the public in both cash and funds transfer thanks to Janette Weeding's encouragment.
District Assembly
The District Assembly serves as a cornerstone event for fostering collaboration, planning, and information gathering within the district's leadership structure. It is designed to empower club officers, presidents, district leaders, and committee members to share expertise, and develop strategies that advance the district's success. The assembly aims to:
- Provide training for incoming club officers and leaders.
- Establish a shared vision for the upcoming year.
- Encourage networking and idea-sharing among clubs and the district team.
- Discuss strategies for increasing membership and enhancing community impact.
- Review resources, tools, and platforms available for clubs and district operations.
Agenda will be sent out prior to this meeting
Bookings are required so we can book meals for attendees.
May 16, 2026 9:00 am - May 16, 2026 3:00 pm Bankstown Sports Club Bankstown Sports Club
8 Greenfield Place Bankstown, NSW Australia 2020
Redistricting Update from the DG
Greetings from DG Renga.
I would like to share an important update from today’s NSW DGE, DGN, and DG Train meeting with RI Director Jennifer Scott and Redistricting Committee representatives Andrew Best and Murray Wilson.
I am proud to advise that our district presented a strong, united, and well-argued case in support of the One District Model for New South Wales. Our leadership team made it clear that a single district structure is the strongest path for collaboration, membership growth, financial sustainability, and long-term Rotary strength across the state.
Importantly, the Three District Model strongly pushed by our neighbouring district also did not receive broader support during discussions, reflecting the significant concerns many leaders continue to hold regarding its practicality and long-term impact.
The committee carefully received and considered all submissions, feedback, and perspectives shared during the meeting. Our district’s position was presented with clarity, professionalism, and strength, ensuring our voice was heard clearly at the highest level. The Redistricting Subcommittee will now continue its deliberations and is expected to determine the final model at its next meeting scheduled for Tuesday. I will continue to keep you informed as further developments arise.
Regards
Renga Rajan
District Governor 2025-2026 RID 9675
Mobile: +61 448757785
Report of Transfer Meeting May 5th Global Grants
Protecting Dreams, Rotary's drive to prevent teen pregnancy in Palawan, a partnership project of the Rotary Club of Puerto Princesa D3830, Rotary Club of Burwood D9675 and Roots of Health [Ugat ng Kalusugan] is now newly supported by the Rotary Club of Blacktown spearheaded by Filipino-Australian president Tess Sayas. Recently, the Roots of Health: Changing Lives in the Philippines, a Special Presentation by Amina Evangelista Swanepoel, Co-Founder/Executive Director of Roots of Health was hosted by the Rotary Club of Blacktown City on 5 May 2026 at Grace's Place, Doonside
Amina Evangelista Swanepoel co-founded and leads Roots of Health/Ugat ng Kalusugan, bringing experience from Human Rights Watch, the Guttmacher Institute, and UNHCR India, in human rights, youth health and HIV education. A Wellesley and Columbia graduate, she is an Atlantic Fellow, Ashoka Fellow, Equity Initiative alumna, Asia Society Young Leader, and board member of the Forum for Family Planning and Development.
Reproductive health is a major concern in the Philippines, where many women and young people in marginalised communities lack access to essential education and clinical services. This gap drives high rates of adolescent pregnancy and deepening socio‑economic disadvantage, limiting opportunities for healthier, more secure futures. Adolescent pregnancy has become an urgent national social and health issue. For over 15 years, Roots of Health has been the only reproductive health organisation operating in Palawan, and one of the very few in the country, delivering life‑changing education, clinical care, and community programs to women, adolescents, and families in under-served and disadvantaged communities. Their work improves health outcomes and helps lift the socio‑economic lives of the people they serve.
Rotary Club of Blacktown City is honoured to welcome Amina Evangelista Swanepoel, Executive Director of Roots of Health. Amina presented powerful insights into the challenges faced in remote communities and the transformative impact of Roots of Health’s services. Such was a valuable opportunity to hear directly from a leader creating real, measurable change on the ground. Roots of Health is a recent recipient of a Rotary District Foundation Grant. Advancing the advocacy is essential, as the need is great, and ongoing support and shared commitment truly matter. The event is supported by the Australian Filipino Women’s Support Network, and Rotary Club of Burwood headed by president John Kane and past president Walter Bock who also focuses on overseas projects like Palawan and Ginoog, Philippines.
Let us join in the vision of Roots of Health: self‑reliant women, young people, and families leading healthy reproductive lives and building stronger socio‑economic futures across the Philippines. To have a tax deductible donation: RAWCS Eastern Region - Donate - Project 52-2025-26
Report by Marilie Bomediano
Days for Girls Fundraiser
From Faye Helou
Days for Girls is holding their major fundraiser for the year on Sunday, 31 May - a Gala Lunch. Last year's event was fabulous, and this year's is going to be even better than last year's. We have a celebrity MC - Josh Horner, ex Dancing with the Stars judge, and the speaker is Jessica Rowe, journalist, TV presenter. We have music and dancing - so much fun!
Feel free to invite friends, family, business colleagues to help over 2000 girls to attend school every day, and achieve improved health, education and livelihood outcomes.
Bookings are now open:
New Post Office Box
Our new Postal address is PO Box 2093 Burwood North 2134.
The Post Office Boxes are in Victoria Road East towards Shaftsbury Road
Meeting Apologies
Please remember to send your apologies to Past President Sergeant Keith if you are unable to attend a club meeting. Email: Keith.Weeding@gmail.com
