SALAMANDER Bay Rotary Club celebrated its change over dinner on Tuesday night.

The club recognised the theme for Rotary for the next year which is ‘making a difference’.

This is not just a theme for the organisation, for many years Rotary has been working on eradicating Polio and the goal is now well within its sights with only six cases internationally in the last year.

Among the Rotarians enjoying catching up with each other, there were several community groups present.

The Rotary Club is extremely active in the local community and this week it generously donated to 15 community organisations and schools in our community.

With Rotary Salamander Bay’s generous support going to Lifestyle Solutions, Port Stephens Palliative Care, Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services, Port Stephens Suicide Prevention Network, Port Stephens Women’s Cancer Support Group, The Real Futures Foundation, and Tomaree Prostate Cancer Support Group, Anna Bay Public School, Bobs Farm Public School, COPSY, Daffodil Day, Soldiers Point Public School, St Philip’s Christian College and the Rotary International Fund.

From dishwashers for the disabled and transport for cancer patients to suicide prevention and youth education programs for those at risk our local Rotarians have made a very real difference.

Along with local projects, the club is active in its funding of the Kula Spirit taking healthcare to villages and women in Papua New Guinea.

Outgoing President Darcy Geale told News Of The Area, “It is very important that we support the community and we have done this as a team.”

“We really want to establish a trust to make sure that our outreach work with Kula Spirit is sustainable for as long as it is needed,” he said.

The new Rotary board for Salamander Bay was welcomed and will continue to support the local community.

 

By Marian SAMPSON