News

Rotary Community Awards: Leadership in Conservation, Volunteers of the Parks

These awards (formerly known as Ranger of the Year) have been presented since 1983 – over 40 years! In 1988, the category Volunteer of the Parks was added. National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia staff and volunteers were recognised for their dedicated conservation efforts. Congratulations to all nominees and winners on the night for your hard work and dedication.

The Rotary club has been giving to the Burnside Hospital from the outset, starting with the donation of a TV set in 1978. Amazingly, a colour TV.

Burnside’s International outreach

Tanzeed is an Adelaide based charity supporting young people in the Maasai region of Tanzania with primary/high school education through to building schools in that area to enable access to education. Co-founders Adam and Karen Burford live in Adelaide. Namelock School situated in Kiserian via Arusha, Tanzania, has grown in almost two decades from a handful of pupils to over 300, providing excellent elementary education with pupils now enjoying regular progress to high school. As the school and its buildings have grown, so has the need for furniture and equipment, and the Rotary Club of Burnside is delighted to have provided funding since 2019 for desks and chairs for the growing numbers.

The latest delivery of chairs and desks arrived at the school in March 2026 and not only is this good for the pupils previously sharing 4 to a desk, but to the local economy, as the furniture was manufactured locally.
In Australia we take the provision of education for granted but in areas like the Maasai region Namelock School allows young people who would otherwise have nothing, to grow and learn at a successful rate.
Education of young people including women and girls leads to the empowerment of a new generation of leaders in the community.  

Club involvement was made possible with a matching grant from District 9510. See also earlier post titled Adam Burford Tanzeed

A sincere thank you to Mark Carter of Homes for Hope for his presentation on Wednesday 22nd April 2026. It sparked engaging and meaningful discussion, including reflection on the tragic history of the Khmer Rouge and the stark contrast to the values we seek to uphold. It was also a timely reminder that something as simple as building a modest home can achieve far more than providing shelter alone — it contributes to stability, dignity, and opportunity.
President Dr. Andrew Bradley.

A sincere thank you to guest speaker, Benno, assisted by Melanie from Baptist Care, for their presentation on Tumbelin Farm. Their initiative is inspiring and thought-provoking. “Tumbelin,” a Ngarrindjeri word meaning “Awaken and Live,” speaks to the heart of the program’s purpose. The farm represents more than rehabilitation alone. Addressing substance dependency is only one part of the journey. Important also is restoring a sense of value, dignity, and purpose in those who may feel they have lost it. However difficult the path may be, there is something deeply important in recognising the inherent worth in ourselves — and in one another. With that recognition comes agency: strength drawn not only from within, but also from community. Yet with that freedom comes responsibility — to apply discipline, to learn from experience and from those who have come before us, and to consider what we, in turn, contribute and leave behind. Coming to terms to terms with this understanding, leads to the aptly named “Awaken and Live” — Tumbelin.
Submitted by Dr Andrew Bradley President

Director Brian Higgins is awarded with a Paul Harris Fellow (with two sapphires), recognising his continued and consistent support of the Rotary Foundation.

Neighbourhood Watch Annual BBQ Sunday 29^th March 2026

Always a pleasure to be invited to participate in the Annual Neighbourhood Watch BBQ. Perfect day for an outing in Warrego Reserve. Residents slowly filled up the park, and we enjoyed handing out Sausages provided by Neighbourhood Watch. Great opportunity to bring residents together to meet new friends and enjoy a chat on local events.
Jack Batty MP arrived and it was an opportunity to congratulate Jack on his re-election. Always one to attend local events and meet with everyone. He could not stay long as another event was waiting for his appearance.
Mayor Anne Monceaux was also in attendance. Mayor Anne will always attend local events, and it is a pleasure to meet up with her, she does enjoy a Burnside Rotary sausage.
We all enjoyed the day as it is relaxed and fun meeting everyone. JC does an amazing job on the BBQ, so very organised. Thank you to Arth Tiwari, Coordinator for inviting the Rotary Club of Burnside to participate in the Annual BBQ event.

Community Wellness Hub Thursday 19^th March 2026
Beautiful day to have such an event. However, we are still low on numbers which is disappointing.
Guest speaker was Neville Williams from the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Neville spoke about the history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service which was started by John Flynn. He was aware of patients in outback areas needing transport to city hospitals. Victorian pilot Lieutenant John Clifford Peel heard Flynn’s public speeches sent Flynn a letter explaining how he had seen a missionary doctor visiting isolated patients using a plane. In 1928 Flynn formed the AIM Aerial Medical Service, a one-year experiment based in Cloncurry, Queensland. This experiment later became the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The rest they say is history.
The RFDS is now a common practice in the outback. Providing emergency evacuations and providing community medical clinics to people in isolated areas of Australia. Neville presentation was truly inspiring and fascinating.

No Chair exercises this week.
Many thanks to all the volunteers. Special thank you to Annette and her sister Heather for filling in as many volunteers were away.
Thank you to Des, Chris Gascoine and Kevin Williams for setting up and Kevin putting together the IT equipment.   Margie Maloney