Our Story
The Rotary Club of Griffith Avanti was chartered in May 2006 so it is a relatively new club with around 28 members all of whom are willing and enthusiastic to work together to make a difference in the community. They are one of four clubs in the city. Read more for the full story about their battery recycling project and TV advertisement and other community activities.
At the Rotary Club of Griffith Avanti, our activities include the inevitable Bunnings BBQs, fruit and vegetable picking for Foodbank,
providing entertainment for Carols by Candlelight and the Rotary Carnival. (Image right: As part of our community service , we assist whenever we can to gather produce for Foodbank. Here we are with a load of pumpkins.)
providing entertainment for Carols by Candlelight and the Rotary Carnival. (Image right: As part of our community service , we assist whenever we can to gather produce for Foodbank. Here we are with a load of pumpkins.)We support our neighbouring communities and recently received a district grant for a BBQ and shelter in the park at Goolgowi, we distributed drought vouchers through the Rural Counselling Service. We recently spent the weekend touring nearby towns, overnighting, eating out and discovering their attractions, thereby adding to their community’s economy.
We have recently established a vegetable/herb plot in unused garden beds in our community gardens with sponsorship from Bunnings. The winter vegs are almost finished so we will be planting our summer crops soon.
We support other organisations by attending functions such as the Pink Ribbon Breakfast and RUOK day and assist others either in kind or financially through our end of year donations. We have a partnership with our local Men’s Shed, we deliver Meals on Wheels and volunteer as parking attendants for Relay for Life.
Globally we continue to sponsor Sara for her education at the School of St Jude to ensure she receives a quality education that will in the future give her opportunities for employment thus alleviating some of her family poverty.
Our main source of income for our annual giving is from the collection of used batteries from the likes of cars, trucks and tractors for example, all collected, stacked, wrapped and sold. We have made a TV ad to increase awareness of our battery campaign and of our club.
The above image is a still from the TV ad that we made promoting our used battery collection project. We are most grateful for the wonderful assistance from WIN TV, who produced and aired the ad, as well as Redbak Studios, Leeton and Stickie Fingers Band, Griffith who produced the jingle to accompany the TV ad. Advertisement
Apart from Bunnings BBQs we also welcome funds from our book stall at the Rotary Markets and raffles.
Our weekly meetings bring us together for a wonderful mix of fellowship, banter, laughter and information. We enjoy learning about our community through guest speakers who increase our knowledge about their business or industry or passion and we do visit their premises to observe what they do first hand.
We have an active youth program and are partnered with a local high school where we conduct Mock Interviews and find students willing to attend RYPEN and Rotary’s Science programs.
We chase up the 18 plus age group for RYLA and have hosted Exchange Students, more recently Clara from Belgium. (Image left: In 2019 we welcomed Clara from Belgium as an exchange student. Here we all are at one of her many farewells.)
During the year we connect with other Rotary Clubs with combined meetings and function and have formed a Corporate Membership Team to attract new members to promote Rotary and to bring new ideas and enthusiasm to our clubs.
We are also part of a large community project working to provide accommodation for patients who will receive treatment at the soon to be constructed radiotherapy unit.
As I write this I find that our Club is more active in the community than I first believed. Apart from all of these projects that I have mentioned our members still find time to get together for social events, picnics, theatre events and walks in the local national park. We also came together before lockdown to learn how to make the traditional Italian passata, not a scrap wasted.
We have adopted the catchcry – it must be fun – so all in all as we work for Rotary we enjoy ourselves and ensure that fellowship and fun come as part and parcel of our gatherings.
Regards, Val O’Meara, Public Image / Facebook Admin