A reminder that we now meet on the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month (other than some exceptions).
Graeme is still looking for volunteers for the Athelstone Basketball BBQ. Please let him know.
Also, let Peter M know if you are attending the Service Clubs dinner.
President’s Message
As spring blossoms, so too does the energy within our club! Here's a snapshot of the exciting initiatives underway:
📜 Constitution & By-law Review
The dedicated review team has officially commenced their work, laying the groundwork for a refreshed and inclusive governance framework. Their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 17th September, continuing the thoughtful process of consultation and refinement.
🦆 Duck Race Planning
Quack-tastic progress is being made! The Duck Race team is actively shaping the program, with creative ideas and logistics coming together to ensure a fun-filled and successful event. Stay tuned for more details as the race takes shape.
🪔 Diwali Celebration – 1st November
The Diwali Event team has met and is crafting a vibrant celebration of light, culture, and community. Plans are underway for a joyful evening that promises to bring together members and guests in festive spirit.
🎗️ Lift the Lid on Mental Health Walk – 9th November
Our Community Group Team is working tirelessly as the Lift the Lid Walk draws near. With sponsorship outreach, media engagement, and route planning in full swing, this event is shaping up to be a powerful statement of support for mental health awareness.
🕊️ Walk for Respect – 11th October
Mark your calendars—this important walk is fast approaching. It’s a chance for us to stand together in promoting respectful relationships and community harmony. Preparations are well underway, and your participation will make all the difference.
Celebrating Compassion and Community: ShelterBox 25th Anniversary Dinner Dance
On Saturday, 6 September, a warm and spirited crowd gathered to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of ShelterBox at a memorable Dinner Dance event. Held in honour of ShelterBox’s enduring commitment to providing emergency shelter and aid to families affected by disaster, the evening was a beautiful blend of reflection, celebration, and connection.
Among the attendees were long-time supporters and friends of the cause, including Mike Greenslade, CEO – ShelterBox, DG Rajeev Kamineni and his wife Priya, Dan Edmonds and Peter Jarvis (District Representatives) whose presence added a personal touch to the evening’s festivities.
The dedication to ShelterBox over the years has helped shape the organisation’s impact both locally and globally.
Vin and I, Tim Mee, Peter & Emiko Mayer, and Sue Pullens and all others in attendance enjoyed a night of fine dining, dancing, and heartfelt stories that highlighted ShelterBox’s journey from a small Rotary project to a globally recognised humanitarian organisation. The event also served as a reminder of the power of community and the importance of standing together in times of crisis.
As ShelterBox looks ahead to the future, the 25th Anniversary Dinner Dance was a fitting tribute to its legacy—and a celebration of the people who make its mission possible.
Editorial
In the push to modernise Rotary — to digitise our systems, attract new members, streamline our structures — we risk forgetting something quiet but essential.
Not a process. Not a platform.
A person.
The long-time member who still arrives early and greets every person by name. The one who remembers why we changed venues in 2004. The one who says little, but sees everything.
Our elders.
They’re not just our past. They are Rotary’s living compass — carrying memory, context, relationships, and club culture in a way no handbook or CRM system ever could.
And yet, too often, they disappear without farewell. Not out of frustration — but because we stopped asking them to stay.
This editorial isn’t a eulogy. It’s a reminder. That the soul of our club doesn’t live in our bylaws or our branding. It lives in those who never stopped showing up.
Let’s make Rotary the place where legacy and energy live side by side. Where experience is not replaced — but respected. Where the new feel welcomed, and the long-serving feel needed.
In April 2025, Simon H James, a nurse and midwife from Lae, PNG, began a life-changing project as part of the Rotary PNG Midwifery Leadership Buddy Program. With support from his Australian midwife buddy, Glenda, Simon developed a business case to address a critical issue: mothers being forced to give birth in darkness due to frequent power cuts at the Waterbung Health Centre Labour Ward.
Through program funding of AUD $500, Simon purchased and installed solar lighting to ensure safe, respectful, and quality maternity care.
The installation was celebrated by staff and community members, many of whom shed tears as this was the first project of its kind in decades. Simon urged the community to take ownership and sustain the system, noting that it would directly save lives and improve outcomes for both mothers and babies.
This project is a powerful example of how the Midwifery Leadership Buddy Program empowers local leaders, strengthens communities, and delivers lasting impact through simple, sustainable solutions.
🎄 Norwood Christmas Pageant 2025 — Call for Marshals
Once again, our club has been invited to assist as official marshals at this year’s Norwood Christmas Pageant — one of the community’s most loved events.
Event Details
📅 Saturday, 22 November 2025
⏰ Pageant begins at 10:00am (arrival details TBC closer to the day)
📍 The Parade, Norwood — starting from Wood Street
What’s Involved As marshals, we help ensure the event runs smoothly and safely — guiding floats, supporting families along the route, and being a friendly Rotary presence in the crowd. It’s light work, but an important role.
How You Can Help ✅ Let Sue Pullens know if you’re available to assist ✅ Wear Rotary gear (hats/shirts) to make us visible as a club ✅ Bring your Christmas cheer — it’s a fun morning for families and Rotarians alike
The City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters have specifically asked for Rotary’s support, and it’s a wonderful way to give back to the community in the festive season.
Please RSVP by Monday, 27 October with your availability so Sue can confirm numbers with council.
Let’s help deliver another magical Christmas pageant for Norwood — and show Rotary at its best.
The third annual Walk for Respect will take place on Saturday, 11 October 2025 in Adelaide. This district-wide initiative brings together Rotarians and community partners to stand against domestic violence and in support of respectful relationships.
📍 Event Details
Meeting Point: Victoria Square (Tarntanyangga)
Arrival Time: 9:00am (care pack drop-off available)
Walk Begins: 10:00am along King William Street
Finish: Elder Park Rotunda (approx. 1.2km), followed by short speeches and fellowship
🧳 How Members Can Be Involved
Walk with Us: We’d like to have a strong Morialta presence. Wear your Rotary shirt and join the group.
Contribute to Care Packs: Bring along essential items (kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom basics) for people setting up safe homes after leaving violent situations.
Support in Other Ways: If you can’t attend, you can still donate items for care packs at an earlier club meeting.
💡 Why It Matters
This is more than a walk — it’s Rotary showing up together. Domestic violence is a reality in every community, and this is our way of saying we see it, we care, and we support change.
📌 What’s Next
Please let Rosemary know if you plan to attend so we can coordinate as a group. More details will follow in meetings closer to the date.
Let’s stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Rotarians — and make sure Morialta is well represented.
🌍 Welcoming Back Axel Vater — Our 1989–90 Youth Exchange Student
We’re delighted to share some special news: Axel Vater, our Rotary Youth Exchange student from 1989–90, will be returning to Adelaide for a short visit — his first since that unforgettable year with Morialta.
Axel, who was hosted by several of our club families — including Kevin Roberts, Peter Caruso, David Riggall, Gordon Penner and others — has never forgotten the warmth of his exchange. He recalls his time with Morialta as full of kindness, generosity, and adventures that took him across Australia.
When: Thursday 18 – Sunday 21 September, 2025 (following a speaking engagement in Brisbane)
What’s Happening:
Plans are underway for a casual reunion gathering that weekend.
David Riggall (now with Campbelltown Rotary) is helping coordinate details.
We’d love to include any members who remember Axel, or those who simply want to help celebrate the occasion.
How You Can Help: ✅ Join the reunion gathering (details TBA soon) ✅ Share any photos, stories, or memorabilia you may have from Axel’s exchange year ✅ Help us show Axel that the spirit of Morialta is as strong today as it was in 1989
This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with Rotary history, celebrate the impact of Youth Exchange, and remind ourselves of the lifelong connections our club helps create.
For more info, or to get involved, please contact Peter Mayer or Rosemary Padmanabhan.
Members are warmly invited to attend the 2025 Service Clubs Dinner, a great evening of fellowship with neighbouring service clubs.
📅 Date: Tuesday 30 September 2025 🕕 Time: 6:00 pm for a 6:30 pm start 📍 Venue: Café Va Bene, 8/636 Lower North East Rd, Campbelltown 🎤 Guest Speaker:Professor Patrick O’Connor AM – Director of the Centre for Global Food and Resources, University of Adelaide. Patrick is a leader in applying economics to biodiversity, conservation, and climate change.
💵 Cost: $50 per person (includes three-course meal & beverages)
Club Arrangements:
Please let Peter Mayer know if you can attend.
Payment is to be made directly into the Rotary Club of Morialta account.
RSVP by 16 September so we can confirm numbers.
It promises to be an excellent night with good food, fellowship, and inspiration.
In April 2025, Simon H James, a nurse and midwife from Lae, PNG, began a life-changing project as part of the Rotary PNG Midwifery Leadership Buddy Program. With support from his Australian midwife buddy, Glenda, Simon developed a business case to address a critical issue: mothers being forced to give birth in darkness due to frequent power cuts at the Waterbung Health Centre Labour Ward.
Through program funding of AUD $500, Simon purchased and installed solar lighting to ensure safe, respectful, and quality maternity care.
The installation was celebrated by staff and community members, many of whom shed tears as this was the first project of its kind in decades. Simon urged the community to take ownership and sustain the system, noting that it would directly save lives and improve outcomes for both mothers and babies.
This project is a powerful example of how the Midwifery Leadership Buddy Program empowers local leaders, strengthens communities, and delivers lasting impact through simple, sustainable solutions.
Olayinka Hakeem Babalola of Nigeria will serve as Rotary International president 2026-27. He’s a longtime Rotarian, and active supporter of The Rotary Foundation.
Jordan Hawkey is an author based in Adelaide, South Australia who openly shares that he lives with epilepsy—an inspiring detail that speaks volumes about his resilience.
His Literary Magic: Twins of Legend Series
He's the imaginative creator of the Twins of Legend series—a middle‑grade fantasy saga that stars two meerkat twins, Pan and Samson. Their world gets turned upside down when their town is attacked by snakes, thrusting them into a high-stakes quest involving powers, a secretive brother named Jackie, and a mysterious disc that holds everything together. The story unfolds across at least three books:
Book 1: The Disc of Power – The thrilling introduction to the twins' epic journey
Book 2: The Vault of Souls – They return home, but new dangers lurk in a hidden vault that could spell disaster
Book 3: Invasion of the Isles – With chapter teasers like “Fighting in the Field”, the adventure continues to escalate
Interactive Universe: Ghonsor’s Lore
Jordan doesn't just stop at books—he’s also building a rich lore called “History of Ghonsor,” where fans can explore short stories about characters like King Mirthrid and uncover hidden histories of the land where the meerkats roam.
From His Pen to the Community
Not only does he write, but he also shares his craft—hosting writing workshops like the one held in January 2025 at the Gawler Civic Centre, where he helped aspiring writers learn about storytelling, character development, editing, and even publishing and marketing strategies.
Why He’s So Cool
Creative world-building with adventurous meerkat heroes who capture hearts and imaginations.
Community champion, empowering emerging writers with real-world advice.
A personal narrative of strength, living openly with epilepsy and channeling that into his art.
All Rotary projects connect to one of our 7 Areas of Focus — global categories that define the scope and purpose of Rotary’s service. These areas are not just theoretical. They guide how clubs apply for funding, plan impact, and align with international development goals.
✅ The 7 Areas Are:
• Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution • Disease Prevention and Treatment • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) • Maternal and Child Health • Basic Education and Literacy • Economic and Community Development • Supporting the Environment
🌟 Why It Matters
These areas ensure Rotary projects are strategic, sustainable, and measurable. Whether it’s funding a clean water initiative in Cambodia or supporting literacy programs in South Australia, every project we do aligns with one of these pillars.
Rotary International also uses these Areas of Focus to determine eligibility for global grants and scholarships — so understanding them helps us unlock more support for our club’s work.
🧭 Key Takeaway
Rotary doesn’t just “do good” — it does it with focus, clarity, and purpose.
When your club initiates a project, link it to an Area of Focus — and you connect your local work to a global movement of impact.
Not on the Agenda
From the Rotary Club of Mandurah City, WA – April 2025
During a club breakfast fundraiser in April, a well-meaning Rotarian was in charge of the beverage table — coffee, tea, juice, the usual. Except, in a classic early-morning mix-up, the “orange juice” they proudly poured for guests… was actually sweet and sour cooking mix from the commercial kitchen fridge.
First reaction: silence. Second reaction: pained expressions. Third: polite Rotarians pretending it was “a bold citrus blend.”
One guest apparently said: “This orange juice slaps — like a margarita at 7am.”
To their credit, the club took it in stride — they made light of it on social media, renamed the drinks table “The Rotary Bar”, and had a record turnout at the next event.
Moral of the story? Always label your jugs. And if life gives you vinegar, just serve it with confidence.
