District 9705 takes each of the seven areas of Focus of the Rotary Foundation very seriously. In this newsletter I wish to highlight a few examples of District 9705 Clubs and their focus on Peace. (Read More for full stories and further pictures)
Cowra Rotary Club
Cowra is the home of the Australian World Peace Bell. This was the first World Peace Bell in Australia.
Cootamundra Rotary Club
The Rotary Club of Cootamundra has been instrumental in the establishment of an outstanding sculpture that recognises “Australia’s military and police forces that have served in peace keeping and humanitarian operations” across the world.
Wagga Wagga and Goulburn
In 1990 the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga Kooringal agreed to support the Rotary Peace City project, to dedicate Wagga Wagga as a Rotary Peace City.
Canberra Rotary World Peace Bell and Peace Poles
The United Nations and Cowra have led the way and there are now 27 World Peace Bells, with more planned to be placed around the World. This includes one currently being considered for Albury-Wodonga.
The Canberra Rotary Peace Walk
The Rotary Club of Hall has provided leadership for the Rotary Peace Walks.
Rotary Peace Scholar – Elly Torres from Honduras
Elly Torres is studying for her Masters in Peace Studies at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.
So many of Rotary’s programs and Rotary Clubs have peace at their heart. These few examples from across District 9705 provide an insight into just how much we value peace, and how important it remains for Rotary internationally.
It's time to announce a set of new commemorative coins that will put Rotary into the hands of every Australian in our centenary year and beyond.
The Royal Australian Mint has announced the launch of a pair of coins in 2021 for the Rotary centenary. A $1 coin will go into general circulation and also be available in a commemorative collectors pack. A special minting of a silver $5 coin will also be available marking 100 years of Rotary service and launching the next 100 years. (Ideal for collections, gifts, thankyou’s for speakers, Rotary archives, memorabilia and more.)
Many thanks to years of hard work from Hugh Bucknall (Founder R100 Campaign) has now paid off. The new coins will be launched in Sydney on February 4th along with a set of commemorative stamps. https://www.facebook.com/Rotary100downunder
In 2021, Rotary celebrates 100 years of community service in Australia and New Zealand. The 2021 event will also be recognised as the 30th Canberra Two-Day Walk. Register now for the two day challenge on 27-28 March 2021.
Event Director, Chris Edwards, explained a key component of the vision for the 2021 event; ‘By renaming the event the Rotary Aussie Peace Walk, we hope to create a colourful festival weekend focused on peace. And, because of travel restrictions, our overseas friends can’t get here, so we encourage every entrant, to choose a country to represent. It may be their place of origin or just a country they are passionate about. But to choose a country and bring a little of the culture of your chosen country to the event.’
This is very exciting for The Rotary Foundation as is now enables Donors to specifically fund Global Grants within Australia and that the contribution will be tax effective. We have always been able to conduct Global Grants in Australia, with the funding coming from The Rotary Foundation in part made up from Club Contributions which do not require a tax receipt. The PBI also helps overcome the perception that Global Grants are only for overseas countries. We want Clubs to do Global Grants in their own communities and having the PBI cements the position that the contribution will be spent within Australia.
