Consider giving the gift of Rotary this Christmas to your friends and family by inviting them to join our family, the family of Rotary.

Article by PDG Adrian Roach, Regional Rotary Coordinator

You can make a difference in this world by helping others in need — from supplying a vaccine to protect a child from polio to training peacebuilders in conflict resolution to help build a more peaceful future.

Serving others changes lives including our own. I have learnt by experience that from serving in the highlands of Papua New Guinea in the province of Jiwaka has truly changed my life. Not only has it changed my life but also the lives of the people of Jiwaka. Bringing the local people, the basics like clean fresh water and water storage, a library with 3000 books, providing repurposed hospital beds for the patients to use instead of lying on the floor, providing school learning materials, textbooks, notebooks, pens, and pencils. providing School desks and chairs, helping, and teaching them to install concrete floors so they don’t have to sit on the floor to learn. Providing a state-of-the-art Dental facility so the 40,000 children can have access to a Dentist. http://dentalproject.greenhillsrotary.org.au/

The lives of the volunteers who came with me to assist were also changed. I can still recall taking a team of young school leavers (in November 2018 pre COVID-19) who wanted to experience a “real schoolies” adventure, see what a difference Rotary had made and them asking the question, “how can I become involved in Rotary?” Some of those people are now Board members of my club The Rotary Club of Greenhills-Maitland and one about to become the Club President.

Here is a photo and quote from their Facebook page.

I think that involving new people in projects and Rotary Fellowships can be a great way attract new members. Let them see firsthand that we do more than just cook sausages and raise money and that we can make a difference in a community both locally and overseas.

Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta says “To be able to do more through service, Rotary needs to increase membership, Mehta said. Membership has hovered around 1.2 million for the past two decades. Mehta’s 'Each One, Bring One' initiative asks every member to bring one person to join Rotary.

Increasing membership while also continuing our commitment to eradicating polio, fighting COVID-19, and serving our communities is an ambitious goal. “And that should excite you,” Mehta said. “Rotarians love challenges.”

Rotary Club of Greenhills-Maitland President Elect Kiarni Telfer presents Sister Lucy with Mother and Baby packs to encourage Mothers to give birth safely in the Clinic.

From all our membership team, Wishing all our Rotarians in Zone 8 a very happy Christmas and best wishes for 2022. Consider giving the gift of Rotary to your friends and family by inviting them to join our family, the family or Rotary.