My fellow Rotarians and friends of Rotary,

As members of the Rotary family, we are 1.2 million neighbours, friends, and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting changes in our communities and worldwide. Our diverse occupations, cultures and backgrounds give us a unique perspective. Our shared passion for service drives us to take on the world's most challenging problems.

Rotary Club guiding principles include the Four-Way Test (Truth, Fairness, Goodwill and Friendship). Other principals involve Rotary's commitment to Service above Self, which is channelled through the Five Avenues of Service: Club, Vocational, Community, International and Youth & New Generations. 

As we reached fifteen weeks of our Rotary year this week, it is good to have a snapshot of our progress so far. With our energetic board members and generous club members, we have achieved significant milestones in all the avenues of service despite the pandemic lockdown, restrictions and without in-person meetings.

Club Service:

We reached the fifty-member mark last month, at which we had five new members inducted, coinciding with the Governor's visit.

• We are happy to announce that one-fifth of our members are females.

• All our online meetings were well-attended by members, with an average of 30 members attending last month.

• We also introduced a 100% Attendance Recognition Program and have already have three lucky winners.

Community Service:

• Cool room project to support the community through "Parish Pantry" of St. Paul's Church at Burwood.

• "Mind Your Health" social media campaign with a Multicultural NSW Grant.

• GoFundMe online fundraising to support all our club's social service projects.

• COVID-19 Vaccination Promotion via social media.

• Mental Health Day - Event on 31 October 21

• Supporting the District Governor's Partner Program, the 'Aboriginal Child and Family Health Program 2021-23'.

Vocational Service:

• Foundation Grant - empowering indigenous youth for workforce. A landmark project to help the indigenous community obtain beginner skills in the new digital and technological world.

• Organising the annual "Police Awards" for the local community's law enforcement officers.

International Service:

• The inaugural AHIMSA Peace Symposium 2021, a cultural diversity initiative.

• Partnership contribution of AUD25,000 for Matching Grant Projects by Australian Health Humanitarian Aid.

• Global Grant Project on COVID-19 and Maternal Health in Northern Sri Lanka to provide medical equipment worth USD90,000 for an Operation Theatre and COVID-19 Treatment Centre.

• Global Grant Project on COVID-19 and Basic Health in Southern India. Due to COVID, pregnant women cannot travel to Tiruvannamalai General Hospital; the goal is to equip these remote primary health care centres to save lives.

Youth & New Generations:

• Formation of Rotaract Club of Strathfield.

• NYSF nominations for three candidates

• District Grant application for 'Peter Smith Youth Awards' for Youth Empowerment

I am sincerely grateful to our board of directors and all our club members for initiating and executing all these projects. Our club is full of encouraging members. One word of encouragement can be enough to spark one's motivation to continue with a difficult challenge. Unfortunately, we have not yet met in person since we started our Rotary year on the 1st of July 21. But our close fellowship and the bond of friendship in our club is helping us to survive strong winds.

'

"Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world, it will be known by the results it achieves"

Paul Harris

 Yours in Rotary,

Thaya Ponnia