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Bundaberg City Daybreak
 
Photo by Bundaberg Today 3.3.2022

Women proud to be members of Rotary

Bundaberg Today. Article By Angela Norval —

When you speak to Carol Cullen and Nancy Harrison, these are strong women who are proud to be Rotarians and always happy to put their hand up when their community needs. BY Angela Norval from Bundaberg Today

Carol and Nancy are members of the Rotary Club of Bundaberg City Daybreak, one of the well-known clubs around the Bundaberg region doing their part for the community whenever needed in a variety of different ways and of course cooking a mighty tasty sausage or two.

It was only in 1986 that women were invited to join Rotary and since then they have worked hand in hand with their male fellow members to continue to achieve in the name of these important clubs.

For Carol Cullen, she joined Rotary by invitation when she lived in New Zealand and right from the start recognised that whatever skills a person has, they are always able to use them well through Rotary.

Carol Cullen — Image by: Bundaberg Today 3.3.2022

“When I initially joined, I was worked for myself and found I enjoyed meeting new people and visiting other clubs on my business travels, as well as having some welcome companionship by being a part of Rotary Club dinner meetings in different towns,” she said.

“I continue to travel a lot and always make a point of visiting the different Rotary clubs around the world, as we are all part of an integral network and it great to know you are really making a difference and have the backing of a worldwide organisation.

“I have found through Rotary that if you get to know a local, you get to know the community and that was great for me when we moved to Bundaberg and have since been very welcomed and continue to enjoy the regional lifestyle.”

As a knowledgeable and well-travelled woman, Carol is confident that nothing has held her back as a woman, especially as part of Rotary.

“As a smaller club, the Rotary Club of Bundaberg City Daybreak is very much like a family and we are proud of the money we have raised, the community we have helped and the fun we have had doing it.

The Bundaberg City Daybreak team — Image by: Bundaberg Today 3.3.2022

“Being a part of Rotary makes me think often just how wonderful it is to be able to help others however we can and I encourage anyone interested to via our Facebook page and consider becoming a part of Rotary.”

Nancy Harrison is another woman who is well versed in business, having operated her own outdoor café in Canberra well before this was considered a regular thing.

Carol Cullen and Nancy Harrison — Image by: Bundaberg Today 3.3.2022

It was here she was opened to the idea of Rotary as members of a local club would frequent her café and even ended up presenting her with a Pride of Workmanship Award.

Nancy then went on to own a gourmet food shop focused on a gluten/allergy free menu and despite being hugely busy, decided to give Rotary a try.

“I had been knocking back membership for eight years given that I didn’t know where I would find the time, but I was attracted to Rotary as a local business woman wanting to network,” Nancy said.

“Rotary is all about making a change that lasts and making a real difference in the community and that is what has continued to make me happy to be a part of Rotary.

“I have been a member of Rotary for five years and in that time have made some amazing friendships in Australia and even throughout the world, sometimes simply via zoom meetings.”

Returning to her home town of Bundaberg last year, Nancy chose the Rotary Club of Bundaberg City Daybreak as it was a smaller club, yet still very active in their community.

“Through Rotary I have discovered so many interesting things about my community because we regularly have some really good guest speakers at our meetings who have educated us on different local businesses and programs.

“I previously came from a large club in Canberra and have found the Rotary Club of Bundaberg City Daybreak to be a really good bunch of people and there is always someone willing to give up their time to help where they can; we are very much like a family.

“Through Rotary I have been able to see the good side of people which is always comforting and I see that everyone’s ideas, experiences and values are recognised and celebrated.”

While Nancy admits to being a Rotarian first and foremost and not a real focus on being a woman, she is excited that Jennifer Jones, member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, will become Rotary International’s president for 2022-23, a ground-breaking selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the service organization’s 115-year existence.

“I believe this appointment will see a marked increase of woman becoming a part of Rotary.

“With our club, the last new member to join was a woman; because for us it is about being a part of our community as Rotarians through Agrotrend, Australia Day celebration and so much more.

Rotary women shine at Agrotrendin Bundaberg — Image by: https://www.facebook.com/agrotrendbundaberg/

“We are all there for the greater good and when I put my Rotary shirt on, everything has been good and we have been involved in so many great things and shared so many different perspectives.

“We are focused on a strong and positive year and I encourage others to see the difference that being a difference that being a part of Rotary can bring.”

(Permission granted for useby 2022 Bundaberg Media Pty Ltd. I would definitely be most happy with you sharing the article, especially as it contains the stories of such wonderful local women who I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with. If you could be kind enough to mention that it is by myself Angela Norval from Bundaberg Today)