Joint Rotary meeting and District Gov. Visit. Opening Fred Hasson began the meeting with an Acknowledgement of Country and a Toast to Australia and her people.
Welcome President Graham Ekert welcomed all guests and noted that District Governor Veronica Lawrence would be arriving late due to an unexpected mishap — she had locked her keys in the house.
Special Recognition Today marked a special occasion for Betty Pitcher, who has been a charter member since 1993, Happy Birthday Betty!
Thanks & Acknowledgements • Thank you to Sue Lloyd for the thoughtful table gifts.
A warm welcome to: • President June and members of RC Morley • President Geoff Francis and members of RC Mundaring • All attending Swan Rotary members
Apologies – Swan Rotary Members – David Uhe and Wife, Pauline, are traveling in Western Australia. As are Bill and Sue Scanlon.
Veronica Lawrence – District Governor Rotary Western Australia An award to the RC Mundaring for reaching a Level 1 Club Annual Donor recognition. Pres. Geoff thanked DG Veronica, and he was very grateful for the recognition.
Pres. June Siddique - Morley Rotary
Local Projects • Buddy Benches In collaboration with Bassendean Men's Shed, 50 benches were built and distributed. Project supported by Swan Rotary. • Education Grants Providing financial support to students for educational needs and development. • Youth Development Programs Includes participation in: • RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) • RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment) • NYFS (National Youth Science Forum) • One Year 11 student attended the UN Youth Conference in Adelaide. • Year 6 Four-Way Speaking Contest Promoting public speaking and Rotary values among primary school students. ________________________________________ International Projects • Support for Schools in Bangalore, India Funding provided for two schools. • Sister Club Partnership Established a sister club relationship with Bangalorablity to foster international collaboration. • Dignity Project Mk III Focused on creating employment opportunities for women, enhancing dignity and independence.
Pres Geoff Francis. Mundaring Rotary
Foundation Donations • Donations to the Rotary Foundation are strongly supported by Mark Williamson. ________________________________________ Community Support (Past & Present) • Rotary has historically supported: • Local community groups • Schools • ShelterBox • Food banks • Camp Opportunity • Disaster relief efforts ________________________________________ Youth Engagement • Bricks for Kids A hands-on STEM program that was very well received by children, promoting creativity and learning. ________________________________________ Fundraising Activities • Parking Control Regular involvement in managing parking at local events. • Swap Meets Held three times per year, generating funds and community engagement. • Bingo Night Scheduled for 30th October, offering fun and fundraising opportunities. ________________________________________ Club Culture • The club maintains a positive and vibrant atmosphere. “We have a great time!” reflects the spirit of camaraderie and enjoyment among members.
Pres. Graham Ekert – Swan Rotary
Community & Service Projects • Community Garden Members grow vegetables and herbs, which are donated to Dreambuilders Care to support their low-cost supermarket, helping provide healthy food to those in need. • Small Mob Shearing Day A service for hobby farmers with 1–5 sheep, ensuring animal welfare through accessible shearing support. • Rotary Info Stall at Markets Held during morning markets, this stall helps educate the public about Rotary’s mission and activities. Transitioning to Saturday Evening Markets in October. • BBQ Fundraiser Swan Rotary provides 3 lunches per month to a local construction machinery company. A major fundraising initiative involving detailed planning and logistics. • SJOG Midland Hospital Support Donations made to the ‘Pathways to Support’ program, enhancing care for neurodivergent patients at the local hospital. ________________________________________ Upcoming & Ongoing Projects • Chords to Eradicate Polio A concert fundraiser returning this year after a successful debut, supporting Rotary’s global polio eradication efforts. • Tails for Trivia 3.0 A fundraising trivia event inherited from Swan Rotaract, supporting the Animal Protection Society and Perth Vet Bill Assistance. • New Midland Market Launching on 11th October at Weipp Park, following the format of the Bassendean Markets to engage the community and raise funds.
Veronica Lawrence – District Governor Rotary Western Australia
1. Rotary WA Overview • 1,721 Rotarians in WA, including 305 Honorary, 24 Rotaractors, and 2 Honorary Rotaractors. • 82 Clubs (including 2 Rotaract and 2 Satellite). • Globally: 1.15 million Rotarians, 33,000 clubs, across 210 countries. ________________________________________ 2. Membership Decline • WA has seen a 30% membership decline from 2012 to 2025. • Nationally, Australia has experienced a 49% decline over 20 years. • The membership base is aging, and attracting younger members remains a challenge. ________________________________________ 3. Need for Change – The Pilot • The Regionalisation Pilot was introduced to address: o Declining membership. o Evolving community needs. o The need for greater visibility and engagement. ________________________________________ 4. Club & Membership Trends • Membership dropped from 2,092 (2022) to 1,718 (2025). • Number of clubs reduced from 90 to 78 in the same period. ________________________________________ 5. Generational Engagement • Emphasis on meeting the needs of different age groups to re-engage members. • Visuals suggest a skewed age distribution, with fewer younger members. ________________________________________ 6. Regionalisation Pilot Goals & Issues • Goals: Increase membership, decrease fees, modernise Rotary, and build public image. • Issues: o Disconnect between Regional Council (RC) and District. o Unclear roles for Rotary Community Leaders (RCLs). o Limited engagement from Rotary Community Groups (RCGs). ________________________________________ 7. Strategic Focus (2025–2027) • 2025–2026: Assessment & redirection (e.g., optional club models, public image). • 2026–2027: Strengthening membership and partnerships. • 2027 & Beyond: Focus on leadership and sustainability. ________________________________________ 8. Public Image & Communication • Strategies include: o People of Action campaign. – Focusing on photos of people doing things, not posed static photos. o Social media and digital storytelling. – Improve social media presence. o Community events, forums, and media partnerships. o Goal: Strengthen Rotary’s identity and visibility in WA. ________________________________________ 9. Call to Action & Next Steps • Target: 20% membership increase (approx. 4 new members per club per year). • Clubs encouraged to: o Build communications plans. o Support Rotary Community Leaders. o Share best practices. o Create tailored action plans—no one-size-fits-all approach.
Pres. Graham Ekert – Swan Rotary Special thanks to: June and her team at RC Morley Geoff and his team at Mundaring and the members of Swan Rotary for their ongoing support
Sue closed with the Rotary Charge
A reminder that due to the public holiday on the 29th, there is no club meeting.
