We welcome District Governor Rajeev to our club meeting this week.
President’s Message
Unite for Good – A Season of Collaboration and Celebration
As we move into the final quarter of the year, it's inspiring to see everyone working hard together with a shared purpose. The spirit of unity is alive and well across our committees!
Next meeting
Visit by District Governor next meeting 24th September, bring your partners and friends.
Duke Race Committee
The Duke Race Committee has met and is actively developing plans for an exciting event. Stay tuned for more details as preparations unfold!
Diwali Committee
The Diwali Committee is also in full swing, working on a vibrant flyer and finalizing bookings for our Diwali celebration on 1st November. It promises to be a joyful and colorful evening!
We’re currently looking for volunteers to assist with the event. Volunteers will receive free entry, so it’s a great way to get involved and enjoy the festivities.
Rotary Clothing Orders
In the coming weeks, we’ll be reaching out to members to see if they’d like to order additional Rotary clothing. It’s a wonderful way to show your pride and stay cozy as the weather cools.
Let’s continue to unite for good, support one another, and make these upcoming events memorable for all!
President Rosemary and Jordan
Damian and Jordan
Jordan
Meeting Summary
Jordan shared a candid journey from book-obsessed child to published author, threading through a difficult epilepsy diagnosis in Year 12, multiple incomplete tertiary attempts, and eventual resilience through writing. His fantasy series, Twins of Legend, began at age 11 and now spans three published volumes (with a dyslexia-friendly layout that has helped many families) and a fourth due this year. In 2020 he wrote a standalone, Lavender’s Yard, in one month to mark Epilepsy Awareness Month, featuring a heroine navigating seizures and treatment.
Beyond writing, he has deep roots in Scouts (Australian Scout Medallion; Queen’s Scout; youth leadership), volunteer service, and youth mentoring, plus stints in theatre and as a professional magician. He is three years seizure-free, newly diagnosed/treated for ADHD, completing a Certificate IV in Child, Youth & Family Intervention, and aiming for school-based wellbeing roles. He’s also helping re-energise local Rotaract and hopes to bring author visits to children’s hospitals.
Editorial
Most Wednesday nights, the Rotary Club of Morialta meets — just like we always have. The faces change, the projects evolve, but the heartbeat is familiar.
Yet sometimes, it’s worth stepping back and seeing the bigger picture.
Because Morialta isn’t just a club that meets in Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs.
We are part of one of the world’s largest civic engines — a living, breathing global movement of service, leadership, and purpose. Across 46,000 clubs, in over 200 countries, over a million people just like us are working toward something bigger than themselves.
This essay, From Club to Movement, asks us to think not just in terms of meetings, minutes, or local service — but to recognise the global momentum we’re part of.
When we serve in the kiosk, we are doing movement work. When we send midwives to PNG, we are doing movement work. When we welcome a new member, we are not just growing our club — we’re reinforcing the civic fabric of Rotary worldwide.
In a world fractured by mistrust, Rotary still works — because we don’t just gather. We move.
And Morialta doesn’t sit on the edges of that movement. We help power it.
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.
Your Board met on 10 September to review club activities, finances, and upcoming events.
Membership
Responsibility for membership is transitioning from Damian to Shipra. Planning is underway for an Information Night in November to welcome prospective members.
Community Service
The Diwali Committee confirmed plans for the 1 November celebration at the Campbelltown Function Centre, with invited guests including MP Claire Clutterham, Mayor Jill, Brad Chilcott, and DG Dr Rajeev Kamineni. Funds raised will support Welcoming Australia. Volunteers will be needed on the night.
A grant application for the Gumnut Garden project has been submitted.
The club will support the Walk for Respect and Lift the Lid Walk. Assistance is needed with trailer transport.
Fundraising
The club will again assist with the Norwood Christmas Pageant.
Volunteers are sought for the St Pius School BBQ on 29 October.
Kiosk and BBQ fundraising remains steady and continues to provide important income for projects.
International
PNG Midwifery Leadership Project – Recruitment has commenced for seven Australian midwives (applications close 13 October; two EOIs received so far). RC Bendigo may provide additional funding. Dr Jay has returned from Darwin and joined the PNG committee. Thanks to Peter Mayer for his strong management of project finances. Next project meeting: 29 September.
Ukraine New Dawn Project – Support continues; Tim Mee will give a presentation update.
Future projects – Committee remains alert to international project opportunities and disaster relief needs.
Rotary Foundation – Updates provided as required.
Media & Promotions – Rotary International will publish a feature web story on the PNG project in October. An article has been submitted for the next CoG.
Youth
The Board agreed in principle to sponsor applicants for both the National Youth Science Forum and the One and All Sailing Challenge, covering 50% of fees. Shipra and Damian will invite the Sailing Challenge Chair to a club meeting.
Club Administration & Fellowship
Draft By-Laws are being prepared, aligned with Rotary International standards.
Community Workshop
Membership remains strong at 62 active members, with two inductions pending. Projects include school furniture, bird boxes, and photo frames for Calvary Hospital. Safety measures, inductions, and fire drills are being updated. The Christmas Function is booked at the Windsor Hotel on Friday 12 December. Shed closure: 11 December; reopening 13 January.
Finance (as at 31 August 2025)
Club Admin Account: $15,439 – funds for running the club (subs, meetings, insurance, etc.).
Project Accounts: $87,817 – funds raised for service and community projects.
Total Net Assets: $102,461. The club remains in a strong financial position.
President’s Notes
Recent connections included attending the Lightsview Quiz Night and 25th Anniversary Dinner Dance.
Community Group 3 continues planning joint projects.
Work has begun to review the club’s Constitution and By-Laws.
We look forward to welcoming back Axel Vater, our 1989–90 Youth Exchange student, visiting Adelaide for the first time since his exchange year.
General Business
Due to changes at the Tower Hotel, the function room will not be available on 2nd Wednesdays. Options being considered are shifting to a 1st & 3rd Wednesday schedule, remaining on 2nd & 4th Wednesdays in the public area (and the function room on the 4th), or moving venues.
Next Board Meeting
📅 Wednesday 8 October 2025 🕗 8:00pm 📍 Tower Hotel
🌸 Thorndon Park Kiosk – Spring Success & Upcoming Roster
What a weekend! The fine spring weather brought crowds to Thorndon Park, and the kiosk team had their hands full — with fantastic results:
Saturday 13/9/25: $718.30 (Cash $136.80 + EFT $581.50) Team: Emiko M, Sue P & Richard H
Sunday 14/9/25: $1,605.95 (Cash $230.70 + EFT $1,375.25) *Team: Peter M & Josh McD — reportedly extremely busy!
➡️ Weekend Grand Total: $2,324.25 A huge thank you to our volunteers for keeping things running so smoothly.
This current weekend, the kiosk didn't open due to the weather. Thankyou to Bianca, Christian, and Sue Pullens for being available.
Now it’s time to look ahead. We’re preparing the kiosk roster for October, November, December, and January, and we need your availability.
Please update the roster by Friday 27th September so we have time to finalise the schedule.
Chair: Rosemary Padmanabham
Rotary Information: Judi Brown
🎬 Dr Rajeev Kamineni
Dr Rajeev Kamineni is the Academic Director at the University of Adelaide Business School and a distinguished voice in movie entrepreneurship. With a career spanning bookstore beginnings to leadership roles across Australia, India, Dubai, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, and the UK, he brings rich global insight. He has authored Indian Movie Entrepreneurship: Not Just Song and Dance, and has produced around 14 Indian films, challenging Bollywood stereotypes and spotlighting regional cinema’s entrepreneurial pulse. In April 2025, he headlined an “Evening with Dr Rajeev Kamineni” at the University of Adelaide, and in July 2025 began serving as District Governor (9510) for Rotary.
Rotary is one of the largest, most influential networks on the planet — and yet many members don’t realise just how vast and connected our organisation truly is.
Rotary By the Numbers
• 1.4 million members • 46,000+ clubs • 200+ countries and regions • 35,000+ Rotaract clubs • Millions of alumni, donors, and partners
Why It Matters
Being a Rotarian means more than just attending your local club. It means you’re part of a global family of people of action — a network that spans every time zone, language, and background.
When disaster strikes, when communities need support, or when youth need mentoring, Rotary is already there.
Key Takeaway
Our club may be local — but our reach is global. Every project, every handshake, every fundraiser contributes to something far bigger than ourselves.
Not on the Agenda
ROTARY LESSON: WHEN THE GLOVE FITS… DON’T SHAKE HANDS
Rotary Club of Cambridge, NZ – May 2025
During a club service day, members were volunteering at a local food bank. One new member — eager to impress — showed up early, gloved up, and got straight to work.
At the morning briefing, the club president welcomed everyone and reached out to shake hands… and our new Rotarian, without thinking, returned the handshake — still wearing a bright blue disposable glove covered in flour and banana mush.
The president paused, looked at his now gooey hand, and deadpanned: “Rotary connects the world… sometimes a bit too intimately.”
They laughed, took a photo, and now that member has a new club nickname: “Glove Guy.”
Rotary Lesson: Clean hands, warm hearts, and always check before you shake.
Unite for Good – A Season of Collaboration and Celebration 
Duke Race Committee
Diwali Committee
Rotary Clothing Orders
