President's Message
Welcome to our website. Our club meets via Zoom on the First and Third Sunday of the month
and you are very welcome to join us.
 
For login details email our Secretary,  secretary@rotarygreatersydney.org  and you'll receive an email with a login link.
 
If you would like to join our club, please click on the Get Involved tab above and select the Apply for Membership menu item.
Our members live in a wide range of areas beyond Sydney:  from Kenya in Africa to Canberra, Queensland, Melbourne, and across New South Wales.

Our club is involved in a number of overseas projects and numerous domestic ones. There are many
international projects managed by our members registered with Rotary Australia Worldwide Community Service Ltd (RAWCS) in Uganda, Thailand, Nepal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cambodia, Philippines, Kenya, Timor-Leste, and Nigeria as well as Worldwide projects.  In addition, our club works with other Rotary clubs in Turkey, India, and Sri Lanka to sponsor Rotary Foundation Global Grants.
 
Please join us, anytime, as we Imagine Rotary together.
Club News
Hungarian Club Helps Ukraine

Hungarian club overcomes challenges to help Ukraine

 
Rotary Club of Budapest-Margitsziget,
Members of the Rotary Club of Budapest-Margitsziget, Hungary, with supplies they collected for Ukraine.

By Beatrix Turner, Rotary Club of Budapest-Margitsziget, Hungary

My Rotary club wanted to do our part to help the people of Ukraine after hearing about the terrible war in their country. We were honored to be able to join three other clubs, Berlin-Gendarmenmarkt, Germany, Paris-Quai d’Orsay, France, and Milano Sud-Ovest, Italy, to coordinate an €18,000 project to collect and deliver donations to help Ukrainian refugees.

Robert Rojak, the president of the Intercountry Committee for Ukraine-Hungary and a member of the Rotary Club of Uzhgorod, Ukraine, helped us compile a list of needed supplies. He has been instrumental in coordinating incoming donations and distributing them to places where they are needed inside Ukraine. We received our list of essentials for daily life and spent a busy two weeks collecting items.

Medicine bound for Ukraine.
Medicine bound for Ukraine.

The Bethesda Children’s Hospital in Budapest helped us prepare medicines, bandages, and blood infusion supplies. We collected a huge amount and were happy with the results.

Our next challenge would be transportation. We connected with the Hungarian Reformed Church Charity Service, a lovely team of people who were a pleasure to work with. They provided us with an experienced driver who had a diplomatic passport, and the entire border crossing went smoothly.

During the entire operation, we were amazed by the cooperation, love, and spirit of selflessness demonstrated by all the people we worked with.

To be honest, I was very tense when we reached the Ukraine border. We were transporting a valuable cargo of relief supplies and wanted the operation to go well. We made it across the border quickly and met with Robert, who helped us unload everything. I was so relieved and happy that it had worked out successfully.

Robert’s wife asked if we had been afraid and I answered that we were not because of the skilled people we worked with. It was an exciting project and a wonderful example of Rotary in action.

Bee good to Bees
Bee a honey and consider joining Rotarians for Bees
Did you know…you can help save your local environment without even leaving the house? Bees in your neighborhood are dying due to a lack of flowering plants to feed on. Humans need bees to survive and you can help by adding three bee-friendly plants to your balcony or garden.
It’s as simple as 1, 2, Bee!

1. Source your bee-friendly seeds locally
2. Plant your seeds
3. Share your new plants and 3 positive thoughts or actions
 
There’s a growing buzz amongst Rotarians to get more active in supporting Rotary’s latest area of focus, the environment. Anyone in eClub of Greater Sydney or beyond who is interested in environment, conservation, gardens, climate change and yes, bees, is invited to contact Environment Director Judy Charnaud to learn how you can get involved. Contact Judy on jcharnaud@yahoo.com.au.
Members Doug Vincent and Penny Vos, along with President Val Bland, have already jumped on board with other Rotarians and friends to support bees and pollinators, with the goal of ensuring food security around the world. On April 19, they visited the dynamic town of Hall ACT (near Canberra) and learned how this community has collaborated to embrace bees.
If you would like to visit Hall, too,  an ideal opportunity is coming up with activities planned around World Bee Day May 17-22. Special fora at embassies in Canberra, a farmer’s market in Hall and other family-friendly events are planned.
 Have a look at this short video about Hall: https://m.facebook.com/hallrotary/videos/237329934194039/.
For details about World Bee Day or to put up your hand to join the buzz around NSW and ACT expansion of Rotarians for Bees www.rotariansforbees.org,  contact Lucy Hobgood-Brown on handupcongo@gmail.com or 0417 272 101.
 
 
Foundation News 
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Last month, we reported that April was a great time to donate to The Rotary Foundation, and many of your responded!  Members of our District donated almost $AUD 40,000 to the Annual Fund last month.  Currently, members of 63 of our 67 clubs have contributed something to OUR Foundation so far this year, and our per-capita giving has reached the $US 100 mark! Almost all the clubs in our District have set Annual Fund goals for the year, and you have almost reached those goals as well.  As of 30 April, clubs have reached 87% of their goals, so please remember to allocate some of your club’s fundraising proceeds to OUR Foundation in your end-of-year plans.
 
Disaster Relief Grant Completed for Flood Relief
We received $34,500 from The Rotary Foundation to assist flood relief victims in our District and now have distributed this money using Woolworths and Bunnings Vouchers with the help of Rotarians at Kurrajong/North Richmond, The Hills Kellyville, Windsor, The Ponds, and Kariong Somersby. 
Thanks to everyone involved in reaching out to members of our community in need!
 
Reminder
Please include The Rotary Foundation in your giving plans as we end the financial year.
  1. Support the Annual Fund.  Your club and individual contributions to the Annual Fund are used for District and Global Grants, as well as for Trustee programs, such as Peace Scholars.  Our hope is that every club member contributes at least $100 to the Annual Fund to become a Centurion member each year.
  2. Support Polio Plus.  The battle against polio is being won despite the turmoil of the pandemic and war.  Our continuing support is essential, and every dollar donated is matched by two dollars from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
  3. Support the Disaster Response Fund.  This fund, created in 2019, provides emergency support to districts around the world when disaster strikes.  Our District has already received three of these grants – for bushfires, the pandemic, and for flood relief. 
  4. Make a Global Grant Directed Gift.  Recently the Australian arm of The Rotary Foundation announced a new program to “Supercharge” your project.  This program encourages companies and individuals (but not Rotary Clubs) to donate $50,000 or more to assist with Global Grant projects here in Australia or overseas.  These donations are fully tax deductible and can be directed to be used by our District in specific areas of interest. 
Please contact me or any member of the District Rotary Foundation Committee for more information on any of our programs.
 
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PP David Dean
District 9685 Rotary Foundation Chair
0412 798 526
 
PP Haran Ramachandran 
Grants Subcommittee Chair
0419 980 529
 
Donations to E-Club Projects
Please consider donating to our Club-Sponsored Projects
 
The E-Club of Greater Sydney is proud to sponsor a variety of registered projects around the world through
Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS).
 

Spread Joy by Donating to Our Projects

sewAID to developing countries, Worldwide - (RAWCS: 22-2006-07)
 
To offer selected poor women in developing countries the opportunity to sew &
also provide them with machines, equipment & skills they need to start a small home business.
Micro loans are provided to recipients who require them.
 
To Donate, Click Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Medical Equipment for Hospitals,  Worldwide - (RAWCS: 47-2009-10)    
 
Worldwide project to fund the supply of Ultrasounds, Foetal Heart Monitors &
other new medical equipment for hospitals in countries with limited resources.  
 
 
To donate, click here
 
 
 
Reproductive Health in Karen State, Thailand - (RAWCS: 26-2019-20)
 
The Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) was established in 2006 in response
to the increasing number of children on the Thai-Burma border who required complex
medical treatment that was simply not available.
 
BCMF has also branched out into direct activities in Karen State,
including dissemination of Reproduction Health information in schools and
communities in jungle regions of the State.
This project will train community health workers and provide RH information
and services to all relevant persons in the Ler Per Her districts,
together with providing wheelchairs & training in expanding & maintaining the chairs.
Wheel chairs will be donated by Wheelchairs For Kids - Project set up by RC of Scarborough WA.
 
To Donate, Click Here
 
 
The United Mission Hospital, Tansen, Nepal - (RAWCS: 78-2018-19) 
 
 
To supply funding & medical equipment to The United Mission Hospital, Tansen, Nepal
 
The Hospital has a capacity of 169 beds.
 
Over 2,000 visits require treatment paid by charity or are given credit.
The Medical Assistance Fund (MAF) provides charity to the poorest patients.
Each year the Hospital is seeing more and more patients in need of assistance,
hence reducing funds to purchase much needed equipment. (2020 Newsletter).     
http://www.tansenhospital.org.np/
 
The Hospital, founded in 1954, is located at Tansen, 1,350 metres above sea level
in the mountainous Palpa District serving an area of nearly a million people. 
“The hospital is placed in a beautiful area crowded with poor people struggling to survive”.
 
  To Donate, Click Here
 
 
 
Mama Wimbi Buntings for Independence and Education, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - (RAWCS: 103-2017-18)
 
DRC is one of the few countries which does not provide its citizens with ANY free education,
even at primary level. Paid employment is in very short supply and is often so underpaid
that even teachers who work 6 days a week survive by begging.
 
We plan to establish an export business to enable mothers to support their families
using the sewing skills that they already have.
 
We plan to teach local people the skills to manage international marketing via the internet so that the business will become independent of outside support.
 
To Donate, Click Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supporting Disadvantaged Children and Community of Siem Reap, Cambodia - (RAWCS: 1-2016-17)
 
To provide educational, vocational and outreach support for the disadvantaged children
and community of Siem Reap serviced by Feeding Dreams Cambodia.
 
To Donate, Click Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Building a Healthy Congo,  Democratic Republic of Congo - (RAWCS: 47-2015-16)
 
To support the development of quality higher education and medical care
in the Democratic Republic of Congo through the Université Protestante au Congo
and selected educational and medical institutions.
 
To Donate, Click Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cararoo Foundation in partnership with Rotary Community Corps Manggahan Merville, Philippines - (RAWCS: 29-2005-06)
 
To educate & train the poorest of poor communities to be self-sufficient.
Working in partnership with Rotary Club Makati Dasmarinas to educate the community in good
health, dental as well as HIV, Drugs and family planning.
 
To Donate, Click Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lotumbe Community Development Project, Democratic Republic of the Congo - (RAWCS: 20-2013-14)
 
To provide sustainable improvements to existing health and education services
for villagers, and the well-being of women in Lotumbe, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
Rotary Australia World Community Service and other project partners,
work with the Lotumbe community on a wide range of capacity building projects.
 
These include sustainable beekeeping, women's micro credit, duck eggs and
fruit sales that help pay for orphans' schooling, and agriculture.
In spite of being accessible only by canoe or forest paths, Lotumbe is a rural hub,
with K-12 schools (approx. 1000 students) and a reference hospital.
A population of 87,976 accesses these social services.
 
To Donate, Click Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kisaru Nkera Initiatives (KINI), Trans Mara, Kenya - (RAWCS: 72-2012-13)
To help Masai children and their communities to a better life through education,
health care services and community programs at Trans Mara, Kenya
 
To Donate, Click Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maternal & Child Health Project (MACH), Worldwide - (RAWCS: 17-2014-15)
 
To provide funding for programs to provide Maternal & Child Health projects
in Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, PNG, Myanmar,
Nepal, Vietnam, Laos, Philippines, Cambodia and Bangladesh
 
To Donate, Click Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sustainable Villages Project, Oecusse, Timor-Leste - (RAWCS: 50-2011-12)
 
To assist villages in the Oecusse area, Timor-Leste in environmental challenges impacting on health and livelihood.
Specifically reducing the incidence of infant mortality & disease by improving food supplies, water, sanitation & the environment.
 
To donate, click here.
 
 
 
 
 
The Gift Project, Nigeria - (RAWCS: 96-2020-21)
To help Nigerians suffering from extreme poverty and under- privileged members of the communities who find it difficult to access medical treatment.
Combining the provision of donated medical equipment with the training of local health care workers to enable local Nigerian communities to be able
to have access to quality medical facilities. Assisting with the provision of equipment to maternity and Neo-natal wards will improve maternal and
child health and help reduce the infant mortality rate.
Providing a steady and regular medical outreach in rural communities will help to identify members of the community who have serious medical issues
and need urgent medical attention. Surgical interventions will also be organized for more serious issues.
 
To donate, click here.
 
 
Our club also conducts service projects in the Greater Sydney area, primarily to assist students and young adults
with leadership and development projects.  These projects do not qualify as tax deductible activities,
but your support would be gratefully received.
 
To make a contribution, please click here.
 
For more about Rotary Australia World Community Service, please watch this short video!