Swan Rotary

15/10/2026

💙 *A little means a lot when we give together.*

One of the things that makes Western Australia special is the generosity of spirit we see when our community comes together to care for those who need a helping hand.

Telethon is a wonderful expression of that spirit. Every year, people from across WA contribute what they can to make a difference in the lives of sick, vulnerable and disadvantaged children. And that generosity comes in all shapes and sizes — from a child donating their pocket money to people giving their time, sharing their skills or getting behind a cause in whatever way they can.

At a time when the cost of living is putting pressure on so many households, these acts of kindness remind us that making a difference isn't about how much we have to give. It's about what we can achieve when we each contribute a little.

At Swan Rotary, we believe in that same spirit of community. Whether it's volunteering, mentoring, providing practical support, sharing professional skills or helping fund worthwhile initiatives, every contribution has the potential to make life a little better for someone else.

Because a stronger, more caring community isn't built by a few people doing everything. It's built by many people doing what they can.

💙 *A little from each of us. A lot for those who need it most.*

Image credited to: Dreambuilders Care - Some of their Sunday team that help run the soup and sandwich night at The Local Hub - Dream Builders Care.

08/10/2026

🏡 Creating more inclusive communities for people with disability

Our Swan Rotary meeting on Monday was a thought-provoking and informative evening, with Brad Bell from WA Blue Sky and Caitlin Clifford from Inclusive Housing Australia joining us to share their experiences and insights into disability support and housing across Perth. The conversation highlighted just how much more there is to inclusion than simply having an accessible building.

For many people living with disability, finding suitable housing, appropriate amenities, meaningful social opportunities and the right level of support can be a significant challenge. Even where an individual has an NDIS plan, navigating changing funding arrangements and support decisions can create uncertainty — and the reality doesn't always neatly match the person's individual needs, goals and circumstances.

WA Blue Sky has been supporting people living with disability in Perth for more than 30 years, with a strong focus on personalised support and helping people live life on their own terms. WA Blue Sky and Inclusive Housing Australia provide Specialist Disability Accommodation designed around the needs of people with disability, with a focus on safety, independence, dignity and belonging. Inclusive Housing.

What stood out to us was the importance of looking beyond a house or a funding package and considering the whole person — where they live, how they connect with their community, what opportunities are available to them, and how they can live a life of choice and belonging.

At Swan Rotary, we believe that creating lasting impact starts with listening, learning and connecting with the people and organisations already making a difference. 💙

Together, we can help build communities where everyone has the opportunity to belong.

👉 Learn more about the organisations and the work they do:
WA Blue Sky
Specialist Disability Accommodation - Inclusive Housing Australia

01/10/2026

🌱 October | Economic & Community Development

Strong communities don’t happen by chance. They grow when people have opportunities, support, connection and the chance to build a better future.

October is Rotary’s month to shine a light on Economic and Community Development — helping communities become more resilient, creating opportunities and supporting people to participate and thrive.

At Swan Rotary, we believe lasting change starts with people. We know that lasting community impact is often achieved through partnerships. From our community garden supporting Dreambuilders Care, our growing relationship with Indigo Junction, to working with St John of God Midland Public & Private Hospitals improving care for neurodivergent patients, we bring people, organisations and resources together around real community needs. Through partnerships with fellow Rotary Clubs together with organisations such as Australian Rotary Health and ShelterBox, the spirit of collaboration extends beyond our local community to supporting people around the world.

When we strengthen individuals, we strengthen communities, and when we work together, we can Create Lasting Impact. 💙

25/09/2026

8mm forecast this Sunday 😭 Sadly, we will be cancelling. Our stallholders have raised concerns over their items being damaged and the crowd being caught up with the rain, long weekend, FREO and the royal show.

Next month we start night markets. Halloween! Saturday 31 October 🎃 4.30pm - 8.30pm👻

25/09/2026

🌏 ROTARY RESPONDS — AND KEEPS RESPONDING

Last week, we shared how Swan Rotary is responding to the devastating floods in Nepal, with our Board approving a $1,000 contribution through the RAWCS Nepal Disaster Appeal.

But Rotary's response to disaster doesn't begin or end with a single event.

For many years, Swan Rotary has provided annual support to ShelterBox — helping an organisation that is ready to respond when disaster strikes, wherever and whenever that may be.

Sadly, disasters are a reality of our world. Floods, earthquakes, cyclones, conflict and other emergencies can leave families without homes, belongings or the basic security we often take for granted.

And right now, that response is happening in Nepal. 🇳🇵 Following the devastating floods, ShelterBox and its partners have already distributed emergency shelter materials and essential household items to 700 families, with further aid arriving and a goal of reaching around 1,000 households in affected communities.

For families who have lost so much, items such as shelter, sleeping mats, blankets, household essentials and solar lights can provide something incredibly important: safety, dignity and a place to begin rebuilding. This is why ongoing support matters.

We may not know where the next disaster will strike, or when. But we can help make sure that when it does, people are ready to respond.

💙 Rotary Responds. Together, we create lasting impact.

Swan Rotary is proud to continue playing our part with an annual $2,000 contribution to ShelterBox, supporting their ability to respond to disasters around the world. Wherever disaster strikes, whenever it happens, Swan Rotary is ready to help respond.

17/09/2026

🌏 ROTARY RESPONDS — NEPAL

When disaster strikes, Rotary responds.

Nepal is facing the devastating aftermath of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), with communities facing urgent needs for relief, rehabilitation and the restoration of essential services and livelihoods.

At this week's board meeting Swan Rotary approved a $1,000 donation towards disaster recovery efforts in the affected areas.

But we know that lasting recovery takes more than one contribution. It takes people coming together — across Clubs, communities and countries — to turn compassion into action.

Through the Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) Nepal Appeal, donations will support immediate relief and rehabilitation, restoration of essential needs and livelihoods, and longer-term rebuilding and resettlement.

💙 You can help Rotary respond.

Tax-deductible donations can be made through the RAWCS Nepal Disaster Appeal:

👉 https://directory.rawcs.com.au/17-2026-27

Every contribution, large or small, can help communities rebuild with dignity and hope.

Rotary Responds. Rotary takes action. Rotary creates lasting impact.

11/09/2026

25 years on. Today marks 25 years since the attacks of 11 September 2001.

For those of us in Swan and across Australia, New York can feel a world away. Yet what happened there changed the world which we all live in. Twenty-five years is a long time. People have grown up who have no memory of that day. Communities have changed. Priorities have changed. And the world itself is different.

But one thing hasn't changed: people helping people.

In the days and weeks after 9/11, the Rotary Club of New York established a disaster relief fund. Rotarians around the world responded, ultimately raising almost US$1.5 million to support those affected by the tragedy. It is a small but powerful reminder of what Rotary can be.

Rotary began in the United States more than a century ago, but its reach has grown around the world. Today, more than 45,000 Rotary clubs are working in communities large and small — tackling enormous global challenges while also responding to the needs right in front of them.

Here in our own community, Swan Rotary's work is much closer to home. Supporting mental health. Helping young people. Supporting those experiencing hardship. Building connections. Creating opportunities. And sometimes, quite simply, showing up when someone needs a hand.

None of these things will make the headlines in the way that 11 September 2001 did. But they matter. Because nothing stays the same. People change. Communities change. Circumstances change. And sometimes the smallest act of kindness can change the course of someone's day — or even their life.

Today, we remember with respect, with empathy, with gratitude and with compassion those whose lives were taken, the families, friends and communities who carry that loss. We remember those who ran towards danger to help others, those who survived but whose lives were forever changed. While the world moved forward many people continue to live with grief, trauma and absence long after the headlines and cameras had gone: the impact of a moment can last far beyond the moment itself.

From moments that changed the world to moments that quietly change someone's world. We remember. We care. We keep showing up.

03/09/2026

🐑 Swan Rotary Small Mob Shearing Day

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the Gidgegannup Showgrounds!

The morning is filling up, but we still have booking spots available in the afternoon. Please contact us as soon as possible to secure your time. 😊

A few important reminders for those bringing sheep:
Please keep your sheep dry in the days leading up to Shearing Day.
Sheep must also remain dry while being transported to the showgrounds, so please ensure your trailer is covered with a tarp.
Please reduce their feed during the 24 hours beforehand for their welfare during shearing.
Animals must be in good health. Acceptance for shearing remains at the shearer’s discretion.

Come along for brekkie and a cuppa! All funds raised support Swan Rotary projects within our community.

It's on again Saturday 5th September 2026 and we have our fingers crossed for clear, dry conditions!

If you have just a few sheep and struggle to get a shearer, the annual Swan Rotary Small Mob Shearing Day is just what you need!

Contact Rachel to book a time slot 0413 011 610

03/09/2026

28/08/2026

Opening doors through literacy 📚

As schools celebrate Book Week and we look ahead to Rotary’s Basic Education and Literacy Month in September, we are reminded that learning to read is about so much more than books.

Literacy gives people confidence, independence and the ability to participate more fully in everyday life. It opens the door to education, employment and opportunities that can change not only one life, but entire families and communities.

This week, the world farewelled Dolly Parton. While she will always be remembered for her music, one of her most enduring legacies was born from a deeply personal experience. Her father never learned to read, inspiring Dolly to create Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that gives children a free, age-appropriate book every month from birth to age five. Since its launch, the Imagination Library has gifted more than 300 million books to children around the world.

There is a wonderful Rotary connection, since 2009 Rotary International has partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with Rotary clubs helping promote the program, raise funds and bring books into the hands of children in their communities.

Dolly herself described Rotary as a “wonderful partner” and shared a simple hope: “that no child will ever have to grow up without books.” Her story is a powerful reminder that one person's experience can inspire change for generations, and that when people and organisations work together, that change can reach even further.

Every book shared, every child encouraged and every person helped to read brings us one step closer to a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

📚 This September, Rotary celebrates the power of literacy — and the doors it can open.