We're trialling a new format for this week's bulletin! Send any feedback through to Nathan. Upcoming Events should allow you to sign up as a volunteer, this might be an easy way to keep track of who is available going forwards - please try it out!
The Rotary Club of Port Augusta has been nominated for the 2025/2026 Port Augusta Business Awards!
To accept this nomination we will need to complete a submission by 5pm, Friday August 21. The finalists will then be notified ahead of the Gala Dinner on Friday October 16.
We'd love everyone's input into our submission, you can add your thoughts here.
Following the June 2026 Rotary International Board meeting, where the in-principle decision was made to modify the 19 current districts in Zone 8 to a planned 9 districts. It is proposed that District 9510 clubs redistrict with the relevant clubs of Districts 9560 and 9780 to form a new district comprising 93 clubs across all of South Australia, the Northern Territory, Timor-Leste and neighbouring cross-border communities of Mildura and surrounds, Broken Hill, Wentworth, and Robinvale-Euston.
Effective 1 July 2028, with the district number to be assigned by Rotary International. As a Club, we need to consider and vote on this proposal. The suggestion is a 30 day decision period for Club members to consider their position.
Further details can be found in the files attached to this bulletin.
This week we discussed several proposed donations:
Shelterbox
We have not donated to Shelterbox in some time, and had provisionally agreed to a donation after a guest speaker visit in 2024/2025. A donation of $1000 was suggested by Cynthia and seconded by Nathan. For those unable to attend, please reach out to Nathan with any concerns.
Sponsorship of Adelaide University Rural Health Alliance Trip
We have been approached to sponsor a trip for 10 Adelaide University students to Port Augusta and the Flinders Ranges, where they would meet with hospital staff, local elders, RFDS workers, and other key community members to increase the exposure of students studying health degrees to rural indigenous communities. Cynthia proposed a Bronze sponsorship of $1000, Helen seconded this. Again, for any concerns - please contact Nathan.
A member of our Rotary Community Group (the group of 13 Clubs from our region, stretching from Port Pirie to Alice Springs) has proposed that the 10 South Australian Clubs in our Community Group come together to organise Emergency Services Awards, with the first award round next year. These would use a similar model to that already in use in NSW, Victoria and the ACT - involving no financial contribution from Clubs, but instead assistance with promotion and judging. Helen was happy to be on this committee and part of the judging. Anyone else interested can let Nathan know.
Global Grant - Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia
The Rotary Clubs of Alice Springs were successful in receiving a Global Grant from Rotary to expand and upgrade facilities and services at the Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia. They have been awarded aroun $95,000 but are around $35,000 short of their total funding target to complete all of their objectives. The 13 Clubs in our Community Group have been asked if they would be interested in supporting this project. We discussed some possible funding models including:
Once off donation
Specific fundraising activities (e.g. redirecting the raffle and Quiz Night funds for this year to this project rather than to mental health research)
Recycling drop off hub
Cynthia visited Murray Bridge last year and spotted the recycling hub in their local library, and has proposed something similar for Port Augusta. She will reach out to the Murray Bridge library to see where the resources are sent to see if this would be feasible for us. She will also seek support from the Council, who currently host a blister pack drop-off point. A possible funding source for this could be a Ventia Community Grant (up to $2000). If that's not successful, this could also be an idea to seek corporate sponsorship from (such as BHP).
Pride Picnic
As we only have one EFTPOS machine, Cynthia suggested we seek sponsorship to be able to give away free doughnuts at the 2026 Pride Picnic (as this event is the same day as the NDMA Show'n'Shine). Nathan will take this to Together in Pride (the Picnic organisers) to see if they have any possible funding sources.
