Speeches
Monday, 09 October 2023
Rotary Adelaide and Rotary South Australia Centenary Reception
This evening we celebrate a centenary of service by members of the Rotary Club of Adelaide, and Rotary in SA.
It’s my pleasure to be patron of the centenary celebrations and also an honorary member of the Club of Adelaide.
It’s wonderful to see Rotarians from across the metropolitan area as well as many parts of country South Australia here this evening.
Some of you have been members for over 50 years, while others are much newer. I thank you all for your dedication to Rotary and your service to our community.
Rotary has made a significant contribution to South Australia since its inception 100 years ago, providing community service at a local and international level; as well as friendship and social support for members.
This evening we celebrate the many achievements of the Rotary Club of Adelaide over the past 100 years:
You championed the introduction of Medic Alert in SA.
COTA grew out of a Rotary Adelaide initiative.
You helped make the first Adelaide Festival in 1960 a successful event by billeting visitors and artists.
You were also involved in the establishment of the Crippled Children’s Association, now known as Novita.
I also thank South Australian Rotary clubs for their involvement in these Centenary Projects:
Aboriginal Chronic Disease Prevention Project - the major Centenary Legacy project in conjunction with the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide, SAHMRI, Australian Rotary Health and Rotary District 9510. This project will enable two Aboriginal health scholars to complete PhD Awards to research a culturally appropriate model to prevent and manage chronic disease;
100 Peace Poles, where Rotary is donating 100 peace poles to schools and community organisations. In June 2023, the number one peace pole was installed at Adelaide Oval, where the Rotary Club of Adelaide meets;
The inaugural No to Domestic and Family Violence walk through the City of Adelaide on 25 November 2023. Thank you for bringing awareness to the problems of domestic violence and coercive control in our communities.
I thank Rotary in South Australia for its commitment to supporting diversity both within its club ranks, as well as in our community more generally.
You understand that cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is essential to realising a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.
Rotary members here this evening are currently in leadership roles within their clubs, or have been in the past. I thank you all for the time and energy you donate your club; for your efforts to attract new members and to keep the club strong into the future.
I thank everyone in the room for living out the Rotary motto: “Service above Self”, and I wish everyone the best for the Centenary of Rotary in South Australia lunch at the Adelaide Oval which will be held on Sunday 4 February 2024.