Our congratulations to Ascot Rotary for another outstanding event at the weekend, Bricktober. It was a joy to witness the huge variety of people, young and not-so-young, who arrived at Curtin University for the event, full of excited anticipation, especially the number of families with passionate children. It was also very encouraging to see the number of Rotary clubs who were assisting Ascot Rotary in numerous roles. As a small club it speaks volumes that they can run such a huge annual event, thanks largely from the support freely given by so many fellow Rotarians. What a wonderful organisation! We look forward to welcoming similar support from Ascot, and others, as our Jacaranda Festival looms.
Gordon D, Ray P, Chris W and Hamish T (what a team!)
With the next Jacaranda Festival meeting on Thursday and the next Perth Makers Market at the weekend it may feel like all work and no play but, wait, there is some fun scheduled! Please note Lorri has offered to host the next Sundowner at her home on Thursday week, 22nd October. Please note the date in your diary so we can enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed home setting.
Importantly, please save-the-date for our Christmas Party and special celebration to be held on Sunday 29th November. Details will follow shortly.
Making a difference together in Rotary,
Margaret Brede
Rotary Youth Exchange - FIFTEEN STUDENTS FROM TEN COUNTRIES
RYE Inbound Camp 15 students plu Rotarian Chaperone/Leaders. Camp was held at Manjadel Scout Camp south east of Byford. Rotarians Graeme Fardon, Miriam Bailey (Margaret River RC), Bryan Martin (Belmont RC) and Rochelle Bird (North Perth RC).
Since launching the PolioPlus program in 1985, Rotary and our partners have made incredible progress toward eradicating polio. We’ve celebrated vaccination milestones, cheered as regions of the world were certified polio-free, and contained wild poliovirus to just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
But polio anywhere will always be a threat to children everywhere. We made a promise to the children of the world: One day, they won’t have to fear being paralyzed by polio.
This is why it’s so important for Rotary and Rotaract clubs to use World Polio Day on 24 October as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds. Explore the resources below and use them to inform your community about the incredible progress we’ve made toward eradicating this disease.
Setup for this Sunday's event at the Lowerlands car parking area is looking more positive than our previous market.
The photo is of the Lowerlands car parking area with the access paths just sand however compacted due to the truck movements. There will be pedestrian access via the goat track, the path on the yacht club side and the path at the Yarning Circle Shelter.
The sprinklers will be protected by metal pickets and flagging tape. The access tracks in and out wil be marked by bunting rather than fencing this time. There are freshly installed trees and plants that will need to be protected by our volunteers.
We will still have three parking areas to manage which will test our available resources especially with some of our key volunteers not being available.
Any extra volunteers and/or extra volunteer hours will be greatly appreciated.
At our last meeting we had the pleasure of meeting Lennon Matthews-Rowell, who founded his own company, LMR & Co. in 2024 to provide services to Perth’s retirement and aged care community.
Lennon is a financial planner who helps people identify their financial goals and create strategies to achieve them.
During his informative delivery he covered the main topic of “Retiring Comfortably”, which of course is on our minds as we enjoy our golden years.
Lennon started with a recap of superannuation, focussing on the Accumulation and the Pension phase, with simple explanations of both aspects. He explained how to make additional member contributions until the age of 75 years of age and the internal taxation implications; mirrored with the tax-free investment environment of a well-positioned pension and accessing your super.
There are different types of contributions - Concessional and Non- Concessional, alongside the annual cap amounts and various taxation rules currently in place. Then there are downsizer contributions. While most of us have an idea about superannuation and pensions, it was excellent to receive an update to assist future disbursements.
This was followed with a thought-provoking discussion about Retirement Standards and expectations with our retirement spending ... exploring the aspects of a modest and comfortable lifestyle.
The most interesting part of this guest speaker’s delivery was the “Home Equity Access Scheme”, as this was something I had not heard about. This allows Australians to access the equity in their homes without the need to sell. People can explore this approach alongside the Reverse Mortgage scheme which is offered by some of our banks.
From the “Q & A” aspect and after the club meeting, there was a genuine level of interest to engage with Lennon, who was very happy to share his knowledge and advice.
Our club thrives when members step forward to lead. If you know a Rotarian who brings energy, commitment, and a steady hand, please encourage them to nominate for President‑Elect.
It’s important to do this now, so the incoming President‑Elect has time to prepare before taking on the role of President for the 2027–2028 Rotary year. This is a key leadership position and plays a vital part in shaping the future of Applecross Rotary.
No prior Rotary leadership experience is necessary — you learn on the job and other club members support you every step of the way.
Danielle Sartorelli is a writer whose work explores the complexities of family relationships, addiction, and the human capacity for resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges.
