Stories

The Rotary Club of Morialta’s Duck Race returned to Thorndon Park on Sunday 1 February, and it delivered everything we hope for in a community event — strong attendance, great weather decisions, wonderful collaboration, and a meaningful outcome for charity.

All 3,400 ducks were sold, with the final tickets snapped up 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. After adjusting the event date and start time for the second year in a row due to heat, the decision paid off. Conditions were cooler and safer, and the park welcomed an estimated 1,500–1,800 people across the afternoon.

Bright colours, beautiful dancing, delicious food and an incredible sense of community — our Rotary Diwali Cultural Night truly lived up to the festival’s spirit of light and friendship. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening shine! 🌟

Rotary International has featured the Papua New Guinea Midwifery Leadership Buddy Program — supported by Rotary District 9510 — in a global story highlighting Rotary’s impact on maternal and child health. The story celebrates the partnership between Australian and PNG midwives, and the success of a mentorship model that strengthens leadership, builds local capacity, and improves outcomes for mothers and babies.

Rotary International has featured the Papua New Guinea Midwifery Leadership Buddy Program — supported by Rotary District 9510 — in a global story highlighting Rotary’s impact on maternal and child health. The story celebrates the partnership between Australian and PNG midwives, and the success of a mentorship model that strengthens leadership, builds local capacity, and improves outcomes for mothers and babies.

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.

In July, the Rotary Community Workshop continued to build more than just timber projects — it built connections, creativity, and community pride. From a magical reading tee-pee for local children to handcrafted frames and polished placemats, members brought skill and heart to every piece. Read on for highlights from another month of meaningful hands-on impact.