By Stephanie Kemp

Service before self

Rotary is not just about raising money – it is about helping communities.

Rotary International is a global network of more than 1.2 million people across more than 45,000 clubs, who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe and in our local community.

Rotary projects are involved in:

• Promoting peace by fostering cross-cultural conversations.
• Fighting disease by educating communities and equipping them to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria.
• Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene and sharing our expertise with community leaders and educators to make sure our projects succeed long term.
• Saving mothers and children by expanding access to quality care.
• Supporting education, in particular by projects that promote basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
• Growing local economies in impoverished communities
• Protecting the environment.

For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Because of the scale of the organisation, Rotary can take on huge projects like Polio Plus, which began in 1988 and has now immunised nearly 3 billion children against the disease.

As of June 2024, Rotary had committed more than US$2.6b to global polio eradication and is working to eradicate the wild polio virus in the two countries where it remains endemic.

For further information go to https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary.

And next time you buy one of our sausage sizzles, think of all the good causes you are supporting.

Gerringong’s role in the big picture

Fundraising is essential in making these projects happen. Gerringong’s 28 committed members and their families punch above their weight and are delighted to announce that in the last financial year, we were able to give over $48,000 to Rotary projects and local charities, including:

• Active Ageing NSW, a new not for profit, which runs our local Active Mindsteps groups, which assist members to maintain cognitive function and physical ability, the Alchemy Chorus, a choir for dementia sufferers and their carers, the Dementia Inclusive Dancing group and the Rock n Dance rock and roll dancing lessons once a fortnight at Gerringong Town Hall.
• SAHSSI - Supported Accommodation & Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra.
• SALT Ministries, a charity based in Bomaderry that supports the homeless and disadvantaged.
• Local educational initiatives, such as support for local students to attend the National Youth Science Forum, the Kiama High School Excellence Awards and the Apprenticeship Award.
• Flood relief in Queensland and Northern NSW.
• Shelterbox, an international disaster relief charity that provides temporary shelter and life- saving supplies to displaced families.
• Rotary projects including PolioPlus, Rotarians Against Malaria, ROMAC (Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children) and Rotary Foundation - a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, cultural exchange programs, and life-changing sustainable projects.

With other South Coast clubs, we are also arranging a major donation to supply a desperately needed ultrasound machine for Tumaini Medical Clinic in Kenya.

Our major source of income is the monthly market and barbecue, supplemented by the occasional extra BBQ at Bunnings.

The Gerringong market is more than just a fundraiser. The monthly social hub it creates is a service to the community.

It is a chance for locals and visitors to browse the stalls, have a snack, listen to the band and catch up with friends along with their children and their dogs.

Because our stall price is low compared to competitors, our market also supports local small businesses and gives new vendors a chance to get started.

To enable us to continue to support the community in this way, we need young strong volunteers to help us set up and take down the markets.

This would be a great way for high school students to pick up some practical skills and get some community service onto their CV. If you are interested, contact us at secretarygerringongrotary@gmail.com.

New members and friends always welcome - you can email us or visit www.gerringongrotary.com.au.