Rotary Club Toronto Sunrise NSW

24/10/2026

Saturday 24 October is World Polio Day

World Polio Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis.

World Polio Day is observed annually to raise global awareness about the importance of polio vaccination and to celebrate the progress made toward completely eradicating poliomyelitis worldwide.

In 1988, Rotary partnered with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to form the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, joined the GPEI later.

When the initiative launched, there were 350,000 cases of polio every year. Today, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9% with only about 40 cases this year.

Rotary has contributed more than US$2.7 billion to fight polio and countless volunteer hours. Thanks to Rotary and its partners, more than 3 billion children have been immunized, more than 21 million people have been saved from the paralysis of poliomyelitis and 1.5 million lives saved.

To sustain this progress and to reach every child with the polio vaccine, Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million each year. The Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2-to-1 so that Rotary has a total of US$150 million annually to spend on global polio eradication efforts.

On World Polio Day, Rotary is calling for public support. Your contributions can help us reach the historic milestone of a polio free world and by sharing factual information you can encourage vaccine acceptance and uptake, preventing polio outbreaks in the future.

Donations can be made via the secure Rotary link:

https://my.rotary.org/en/polioplus-fund

This week club member Chris Giles brought us up to date with Rotary’s ongoing commitment to the global eradication of Polio.

Photo credit: Annette Mansfield

23/10/2026

This week saw Community Group and Area Finals of the Rotary District 9660 Public Speaking Competition for 2026.

The Rotary District 9660 Public Speaking Competition for 2026 operates across three progressive rounds, with speech nights taking place at local clubs and regional hubs across Northern New South Wales before concluding at the District Final.

Our Club coordinated the Area Finals at the Toronto Royal Yacht Club on Wednesday evening.

While the prepared speech can remain the same or be modified at each level, the stakes rise during the advanced rounds. An impromptu speech section is added at the semi-finals and the District Final. For this segment, students receive a surprise topic on paper, are given short preparation time, and must speak without having heard the other contestants

There were three very worthy contestants:
- Josephine from Morisset HS,
- Elisha from St Pauls College
- Ella from Toronto HS.

Ella was the winner and will attend the finals in Tamworth on the 22nd of November.

Congratulations to all students who participated this year and best wishes to Ella for the finals in Tamworth in November.

21/10/2026

This week it was a pleasure for our club to hand over a cheque for $20,000 to local charity NourishEd, being the proceeds of the Pig Day Out held earlier this month.

Nic Cade, Co Founder and Operations Manager of NourishEd was invited along to our meeting to receive the donation. Nic advised us the $20,000 will cover the purchase of food for the next 12 months.

NourishEd support families in Lake Macquarie Newcastle and Hunter with a free open pantry, Free laundry, Free haircuts, free dog food, feminine hygiene products, home cooked meals, hampers and bread. There are also pantry bags with ingredients to make a meal.

NourishEd are located at 6E Leo Lewis Close, Toronto.
Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9am - 2pm.
Free haircuts are on Fridays with pre bookings.
Free Laundry available Saturdays 10am - 12 noon, First come first served.

12/10/2026

Saturday 17 October
5–7.30pm
Progress Hall, Coal Point - BYO drinks and nibbles
$50 for a team of up to four, including your puzzle to take home.
RSVP by 15 October
Every puzzle sold helps CPPA care for our local environment, connect our community and maintain our community-owned Progress Hall.
A little piece of Coal Point, with a purpose.

Coal Point. 500 pieces. One very local puzzle. 🧩
We’ve created something rather special to celebrate 80 years of CPPA.
Our new Coal Point puzzle brings together a map of our place in space, snippets of local history and some familiar wildlife from around the peninsula.
And we’d love you to help us give it its first proper workout.
Join us for a relaxed Social Puzzling Night at Progress Hall, with soup, damper, sweet treats and plenty of good company.

Saturday 17 October
5–7.30pm
Progress Hall, Coal Point - BYO drinks and nibbles
$50 for a team of up to four, including your puzzle to take home.
RSVP by 15 October

Every puzzle sold helps CPPA care for our local environment, connect our community and maintain our community-owned Progress Hall.
A little piece of Coal Point, with a purpose.
https://events.humanitix.com/piece-together-coal-point-a-community-speed-puzzling-night

Toronto & Westlakes Community Notice Board
Toronto NSW Community Page & Noticeboard
Rotary Club Toronto Sunrise NSW
Toronto Community Centenary Hub
Coal Point Primary School Naturespace & Community Hub
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Lake Macquarie

12/10/2026

Rotary International has a zero-tolerance policy against sexual violence, abuse, and harassment, enforcing strict safeguarding standards across all of its programs, youth initiatives, and community activities.

Please join Rotary members, Lake Macquarie City Council and Lake Macquarie Domestic Violence Committee members along with community members on Friday 30 October 2026 for the RECLAIM The Night - a community march against sexual violence.

11/10/2026

06/10/2026

2026 Pig Day Out was a huge success.

- The weather was perfect,
- The venue is always great at Toronto Hotel,
- Beneficiary for the day local charity"NourishEd" volunteers were present and happy to give information about their fantastic charity
- Rotary Club Toronto Sunrise NSW members and friends were out in force volunteering and coordinating the day to ensure fun, entertainment, piggy races and raising funds all went successfully.

Thank you to everyone who came along to join in the fun and raise funds for such a great local charity.

Special Thanks to Volunteers, Sponsors, and everyone who participated in the pig racing, auctions and 100 club.

See if you can find yourself in our photos

Photo credits: Ann Dinning, Annette Mansfield and Tim Turner (all Rotary Club of Toronto Sunrise members)

02/10/2026

This is more than pig racing.
It's community.
It's generosity.
It's neighbours helping neighbours.
Free entry.
Family Fun

Your support helps NourishEd provide:
🍎 Food relief
🥘 Fresh meals
📚 Education
🤝 Connection
Every dollar makes a difference, supporting local families in need.

Rotary Club of Toronto Sunrise and Toronto Hotel invite you and your family to join us on Sunday 4 October at Toronto Hotel, from 11am.

28/09/2026

Pig Day Out:

For 30 years, the Rotary Club of Toronto Sunrise has been supporting local, national and international projects.

Pig Day Out is one of the highlights of our community calendar, bringing people together while raising funds for local causes.

Thank you for supporting Rotary and NourishEd.

Join us on Sunday 4 October at Toronto Hotel, from 11am. Free entry. Family fun. Great food. Pig racing with a purpose. Every dollar raised helps NourishEd support local people.