Tyler Redway
RECENTLY, Mount Gambier was visited by the Rotary district governor, who toured all of the local rotary clubs in the area while observing the opportunities Rotary developing in the region.
After being appointed as District 9780 governor two years ago, Kathy Rivett said the job was never something she aspired to do until she was repeatedly asked to fill the position.
“I thought maybe people think I have something which can help the district because I’ve been a Rotarian for 22 years,” Ms Rivett said.
Ms Rivett said she was currently visiting all of the district’s rotary clubs to help with projects, marketing or anything which required assistance and hoped to wrap the tour up by November.
“After that I will be looking at working with the clubs on a marketing campaign to let people know what Rotary actually does,” she said.
“There’s a lot of people in the community who don’t know what we do and the change we make in the world.”
Mount Gambier Rotary West president Ray Herbert said there were many events supported by Rotary coming up, such as the Blue Lake Fun Run, as well as a variety of other events which would benefit the community in the future.
“We want to do a community needs analysis which will hopefully spread across all sectors of the volunteer industry to see what gaps there are in the community which haven’t been met and we will see what resources we can throw at them,“ Mr Herbert said.
“There is also an extension of the Blue Lake Bunyip book, it’s a tourist and literacy project we are launching through schools.”
Mr Herbert said the biggest challenge for Rotary wasn’t preparing events and future opportunities but was in fact how the organisation could be sustained with volunteers.
“I don’t think it’s events and opportunities, I think the challenge at the moment is growing rotaries to better serve the community and getting enough people engaged to carry on the work,” he said.
“There are a lot of things which need to be done but the biggest challenge is sustaining the organisation.”
Ms Rivett said Rotary was also encouraging people to consider volunteering for various rotary clubs in the district for anyone who was interested in the type of work.
“If you have a look at the projects we are doing, the fun we have doing them and the difference we are making to people’s lives,” she said.
“If anyone cares for humanity and wants to get involved in some volunteering, Rotary is the way to go.
“I have loved my journey in it and we can only encourage people to come along because it is life changing.”
She added there were programs available to youth who may decide to volunteer, such as the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), which would allow young people to learn skills and build confidence.
“There is a lot we can do out there to help our own Aussies as well as people overseas.”
