Rotary District 9690 Profile
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District Profile
Rotary District 9690, one of 530 districts worldwide, includes 36 clubs with a total membership of over 1,000 and centres on the western suburbs of the Sydney metropolitan area, south of centre of the coast of New South Wales on Australia's eastern seaboard.
Rotary is an organisation of more than 1.25 million business and professional men and women united worldwide that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build international goodwill and peace.
For administrative purposes, Rotary's 32,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas around the globe are grouped into areas known as districts.
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Area
A compact area of only 6,500 square kilometres, District 9690 extends from the inner suburbs of Sydney - Australia's first and largest city which is also capital of the State of New South Wales, over the beautiful Blue Mountains to Lithgow and as far west as the town of Portland-Wallerawang. The cities of Liverpool and Windsor, only 50 kilometres apart, provide the southern and northern extremities respectively.
Homebush, site of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, is located near the eastern end of the District, with their legacy being the many modern sporting facilities that are regularly used for both local and international events. There are many other top class sporting facilities within District 9690 - including Rosehill Gardens Racecourse (home of the famous Golden Slipper race for two year old horses), Parramatta Football Stadium and Eastern Creek Motor Raceway.
Sydney's western suburbs include many major residential areas, along with high density industrial and commercial complexes. West of major housing areas, there is a concentration of market gardens and small farming blocks. Across the Blue Mountains and west to Portland-Wallerawang, Lithgow and surrounds, there are larger farm holdings and several major coal mines.
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History
Sydney is situated on Port Jackson (or Sydney Harbour) and is widely acclaimed as one of the world's most beautiful harbours. It was settled in February 1788, as a British penal colony. In November of that year, an estuary of the harbour now known as the Parramatta River was explored and a second town established at Parramatta - which is located in District 9690 - and is thus the second oldest settlement in Australia.
For a time in the early part of the 19th Century, Parramatta was the seat of government and Old Government House remains one of the oldest public buildings in Australia.
In the early days of the colony food was in short supply and farms were established at Strathfield, Rosehill, Parramatta and Windsor, all within the current boundaries of District 9690. The Blue Mountains were a beautiful but forbidding barrier to the fertile farming land of NSW's western plains, until a way was found across in 1815. Today, the Blue Mountains are a major tourist area only one and a half hours drive from Sydney.
The first railway in the colony was opened in 1855 and operated between Sydney and Parramatta. One of the intermediate stops at Homebush serviced the race course which was the headquarters of horse racing between 1841 and 1860.
NSW's major abattoirs were situated at Homebush from 1915 until recently, and since 1975, the Sydney Farm Produce Market has occupied part of the old abattoirs site at Flemington. Within the district is Rookwood Cemetery, the largest cemetery in Australia and the second largest in the Southern Hemisphere. St. John's Cemetery at Parramatta is the oldest public cemetery in Australia.
(Top of Page)Service Projects
Each Rotary club in District 9690 determines its own projects and activities to meet local circumstances and needs - and the benefits are wide spread. From Citizenship Awards for High School and Primary School children and special road safety initiatives, to sponsored Christmas parties for senior citizens and a hydro therapy pool for a district hospital, clubs in District 9690 are always finding innovative ways to improve the quality of life in their respective communities.
Most clubs in District 9690 combined resources to raise almost $400,000 for the Rotary Wing of the new Children's Hospital built at Westmead on the western fringe of Parramatta.
Many Rotary clubs throughout the District place great importance on the sponsoring of Probus clubs - special fellowship clubs for retired business and professional people. One of the fastest growing organisations in the ANZO Region, there are now more than 130,000 members of Probus throughout Australia and New Zealand.
(Top of Page)Vocational Service
Many clubs throughout District 9690 support the principle of improved ethics and standards in business and industry with special vocational awards nights each year, at which time many people from all walks of life are honoured for outstanding service in their vocation. Several District clubs conduct Careers nights, in conjunction with local High Schools and Parents and Citizens Associations.
A newer program taken up by many clubs is Police Officer of the Year. This is also being extended now by some clubs to include Emergency Officer of the Year.
Clubs select students to participate in a number of science and engineering summer schools.
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A polio survivor takes a break from moving
through the streets in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The Rotary Foundation / International Service
Although not as strong as many Rotarians would like, there is considerable support for The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in District 9690. Many clubs are involved in Fourth Avenue in Motion (FAIM) projects, which involves voluntary service in the provisions of buildings and facilities in third world countries, and Donations in Kind projects under the banner of Rotary Australia World Community Service.
District Clubs have collected donations of valuable hospital and school equipment to fill containers for transport to needy third world countries.
Clubs have been strong supporters of the Rotary International Youth Exchange and Group Study Exchange programs for many years.
In youth exchange programs unique to the ANZO Region, clubs have also been very supportive of short term (three month)
Matched twin exchanges involving secondary school students in Australia and New Zealand; and the PACE (Pacific Australia Cultural Exchange) between students in Australia and the islands of the South West Pacific.
Almost without exception, Rotary clubs in District 9690 and around Australia have lent unstinting support to Rotary International's PolioPlus program. Clubs are now actively involved in a special "Awareness" program to urge young families to continue vital immunisation of infants, even in seemingly "safe" areas.
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Youth Service
Most clubs in District 9690 support the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and send young people to a week long camp at Blue Gum Lodge on the outskirts of Springwood in the Lower Blue Mountains.
This is a very popular program and has opened the way for establishment of Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) for younger members of the community. RYPEN is a similar motivational style program but is aimed at young people who might not have previously had opportunity for special personal development education.
The recent charter of new Rotaract Clubs within the District has provided the inspiration for the revitalisation of Rotaract. Interact is also active in District 9690 with three strong clubs operating.
One of the newest youth programs in Rotary, Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) is also strong in District 9690 with over 30 teams from various High Schools throughout the area taking part each year. The teams represent the nations of the world and debate current international issues.
The annual Recognition of Youth Award (ROYA) competition is unique to District 9690 and attracts support from a majority of clubs. The competition encourages recognition of outstanding young citizens of junior and senior high school age.
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Membership
Rotary International membership in District 9690 oscillates around the 1030 Rotarians. To be active in membership Clubs and Rotarians are asked to identify well-qualified members of their community who have a strong character and a commitment to service.
Programs to inform the community and Rotarians of the Rotary International Programs should be common practice in the Club. The District has had a 4% net growth in membership for the Rotary Year 2007 - 2008.
Rotarians should be talking to prospective members about their Club's community service efforts and successes and the broad international scope of Rotary service and fellowship.
Retention is the focus for Rotary Clubs in District 9690. Clubs and senior Rotarians should be active informing members to take the initiative and become more active. Clubs should allow new members to attend Board Meetings and encourage participation at the District Conference and Foundation Seminars. District 9690 has lost 6% of its members who started the Rotary Year. The challenge is keeping Rotarians informed and engaged to feel part of the Club.
(Top of Page)Public Relations
During over a century of service Rotary can be justifiably proud of its record of achievements that range from local community projects to worldwide service projects ,such as, the successful polio eradication campaign.
While the Rotary wheel is one of the most recognisable and respected symbols in the world, remarkably few people can detail the role of Rotary or nominate the projects it undertakes.
However, we do have to do more to promote Rotary. Promotion of our work in Rotary is not about seeking praise for its own sake. It is about ensuring that Rotary has a strong future.
It is about attracting new members. It is about generating more funds and business and community support for crucial local, national and international projects. It is about encouraging good citizenship and attracting young people, in particular, to programs that will develop their leadership potential. It is about establishing Rotary as an important resource in the community to assist those in need.
The most important duty we have as Rotarians is the protection of the integrity, value and respect of the Rotary name and symbol in the community.
