Swan Rotary meets on Mondays at 7th Avenue Bar & Restaurant, 75 Helena Street, Midland. Please be there by 6:15PM, the meeting starts at 6:45PM.
Club President Graham Ekert
Club Secretary David Uhe
General Enquiries info@swanrotary.org.au
🗓️ Rotary Mondays – November & December 2025
Date
Event
Notes
Mon, Nov 10
No Meeting
Directly follows fellowship weekend
Mon, Nov 17
Troy - Men's Mental Health
Partners Night
Mon, Nov 24
Project Discussion
Board meeting from 430 pm
Mon, Dec 1
Guest Speakers schedule to be confirmed and updated!
Mon, Dec 8
Mon, Dec 15
27 October 2025 & 3 November 2025
This Grapevine is a 2 for 1 deal – to try and save some time & emails
(Keep reading to see this week’s grapevine!)
📰 Swan Rotary Grapevine – 27 October 2025
👋 Welcome & Apologies
GE welcomed everyone and proposed the Toast to Australia.
Apologies: Eddie, Ninder, David U.
💰 Treasurer Report
Please remember to pay for your shirt.
Payment: Bendigo Bank
BSB: 633000 | Account: 218966901 | Reference: Your name
🗂️ Secretary Report
Prizes for the upcoming Quiz Night have been received at the PO Box – Handed to the Tails for Trivia team 😊
🛍️ Markets Report – Bill
Markets held at Bassendean.
Due to weather, bays were marked out on the morning of the event.
Good turnout from customers.
Thanks to all who helped.
BBQ was very busy and successful.
Robyn and Sue’s craft stall did well.
Community stall had good engagement and PR questions.
🛒 Midland Markets – Next Friday – 7 November
Rachel and Shane will be coordinating this one.
📦 Liebherr Report
We will be at Liebherr this Wednesday (5/11) & Thursday (6/11) – the people who are on know who they are. (updated due to the lateness of the grapevine)
🎤 Guest Presentation – Cheriley: Perth Vet Bill Assistance
Supporting WA Pet Owners in Times of Crisis
Earlier this year, the charity Perth Vet Bill Assistance (PVBA) was taken over by Cheriley and Katie, who have already made a meaningful impact—successfully assisting 5–6 cases, including two dogs, two cats, and a ferret (Cheriley’s favourite story!).
What is PVBA? Founded in February 2014, PVBA was created to fill a critical gap in animal welfare by helping pet owners in financial hardship during unexpected veterinary emergencies. Too often, beloved pets are surrendered, euthanised, or left untreated simply because their owners can’t afford the necessary care. PVBA exists to change that.
How It Works
Applications are submitted and assessed by Cheriley.
Funds go directly to partner vet clinics, who also offer generous discounts, ensuring every dollar goes further.
Strict guidelines ensure transparency and responsible use of donations.
Community-Driven and Compassionate PVBA is the only charity in WA specifically set up to help cover vet bills. It thrives on the power of community—bringing together caring pet owners and generous animal lovers across the state. The charity also promotes education around responsible pet ownership to help prevent future crises.
Get Involved
Volunteers needed! If you have skills or time to offer, PVBA would love to hear from you.
Fundraising efforts like Tails for Trivia are helping support this cause.
A community movie screening is also being considered—stay tuned!
PVBA is being promoted through local vets, so keep an eye out for more info.
🎯 President / Sergeant’s Session – Graham
22 cards in the deck.
Kitty: ~$1100
Cheriley found David Hayes’ ticket
David drew the 10 of Diamonds
💸 Fines
Graham – Failing the Four Way Test (stealing shackles from the trailer)
Bill – Welcome back & good job at the markets
Fred – Good job at parking at the markets
David C – Worried about the old bloke (Graham) & provided backup when packing away at the markets
Cheriley – Rob Thomas for 2 nights & great presentation
Bill, David, Graham – Bad knees
Ian – On his phone
John – Secret Mason’s handshake to Graham when arriving at Rotary this evening
Graham – Trouble with the bull’s fence at the farm
Manny – New car
Kathy – John hit keyless start instead of hazards and wondered why it was turning off
Sue – Thank you to Ian and David Hayes for Saturday setup of the Rotary PR stall
Sue (from Pat Schraven) –
Aubrey, David C – No badges
Cheriley – Happy fine: scrubbed in as vet nurse for the first time today
“On Friday night at the GFS Perth Inaugural Friendship Awards, our PDG Pat Schraven whom Sue sat with, showed her 2 photos of herself as a GFS Perth teenager member in the book we were all given. Sue asked her to sign both photos and said she would share with Swan Rotary members as a Happy Fine. Pat then gave Sue $2 for the fine. Now that's Rotary and GFS Perth coming together. Thanks Pat.”
📅 Next Meeting
Guest Speaker: Trish Rawlings – History of the Hills
Rotary Charge: Betty
📰 Swan Rotary Newsletter – 3 November 2025
📍Venue: 7th Avenue Bar and Restaurant 📅Next Meeting: Monday 17 November – Guest Speaker: Troy (Men’s Mental Health)
👋 Welcome & Apologies
Toast to Australia & Acknowledgement of Country: David Uhe
Welcome by President Graham
Guest Speaker: Tricia Rawlings – Mundaring & Hills Historical Society
Partners Attending: Pauline, Clare, Robyn, Liz, Jim, Sue
Honourary Member: Sue
Welcome Back: Karen Beale and Eddie
Apologies: Ninder, Linda, Shelly
📋 Secretary Report
Nothing to report
Mail received: Registration for the train trail
💰 Treasurer Report
Nothing to report
🗣️ President’s Report
Tails for Trivia – Saturday Night
A successful evening
Estimated fundraised amount was: ~$1700 (which is to be split between Animal Protection Society and Perth Vet Bill Assistance)
Despite tricky questions, it was a fun night
Certificate presented to David for being MC
There is a Board Meeting: Scheduled for 24 November – Everyone is welcome to attend as it give great insight into the managing of the club.
Angela: Taking a leave of absence due to moving to the western suburbs, and the house she has been leaving in being sold.
David U: Celebrated 51 years in Rotary
Cape to Cape ShelterBox: Received a Bronze Support Letter
🛍️ Markets Update
Midland Markets – Friday Night
First market of the season
Rachel will lead coordination as many members will be in Beverley
Market dates to be included in the Grapevine
🧳 Fellowship Weekend – Beverley
David U: Slightly revised program and catering menu
Check your emails for updates
Weather looks promising – should be a fun trip!
🎁 Foundation Month – Gift from Sue
November is Rotary Foundation Month
The Rotary Foundation transforms gifts into service projects that change lives locally and globally
👶🏥A note from SJOG - (pass on to Sue)
Thank you and your network for the generous gift donation for the children that attend SJOG Midland Paediatric Ward.
Knitted bears x 13
Activity Packs:
Pencil cases
Back packs
Bags
Other goodies
I have seen that these bring great joy and happiness to the recipients.
Thank you all for your ongoing kindness and generosity, it is greatly appreciated
Mundaring & Hills Historical Society Inc. Tricia has always been fascinated by old photographs she manages the Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575531764404. She started as a volunteer at the local tourism centre and her passion grew from there!
This evening she shared stories and photos including:
Purpose & Location: Mundaring Weir was constructed to supply water to the arid goldfields nearly 600 km away. The site was chosen for its ideal geological features — narrow valley, bedrock foundation, and high elevation (320 ft above sea level).
Engineering Vision: Engineer T.C. Hodgson recommended the site, estimating the dam could impound 4,619 million gallons of water, with 3,330 million gallons available annually. The catchment area spans 350,000 acres, traversed by the Helena and Darkin Rivers.
C.Y.O’Connor
O’Connor’s most ambitious and visionary project was the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, designed to deliver fresh water from Mundaring Weir to the arid goldfields of Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie, over 500 km away. This involved:
Constructing Mundaring Weir to collect water from the Helena River.
Building a pipeline stretching across the state, powered by a series of steam-driven pumping stations.
Overcoming significant engineering and logistical challenges, including terrain and public skepticism.
Mundaring Weirwas built between 1898–1903
Mundaring means “on a High Place” in Noongar
The project was ground breaking and essential for sustaining the booming gold mining towns in the Eastern Goldfields.
