Get Involved - Parliament

North Shore Electorate Rotary Clubs

Published on: August 2025

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-156228

North Shore Electorate Rotary Clubs

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (16:46:19):

I have deep pride in and heartfelt appreciation for the three wonderful Rotary clubs that call my electorate of North Shore home: Mosman, Crows Nest and North Sydney Sunrise. As we all know, Rotary is so much more than a service organisation; it is a global movement of 1.4 million people who see a need and step up to help. It is formed of people who act with compassion, lead with integrity and bring communities together. For many people in my electorate, being a Rotarian is a calling. The strength of their work, whether it is local or international, reminds us all of the power of collective goodwill. Recently our local clubs celebrated their annual changeover dinners, which are special evenings that mark the transition to new leadership and celebrate the achievements and contributions of members over the past year.

I have had the pleasure of attending many of those events over the years, and they are always filled with warmth, fellowship and community pride. I begin with the Rotary Club of Mosman, whose work continues to have a profound impact both at home and across the globe. I warmly congratulate the incoming board for 2025‑26: Richard Vahtrick, Dominique Rabu, Derek Andrew, Ruth Thompson, Halyna Koscharsky, David Fergusson, Rabinderpal Gill, Barry Starr, Brian Owles, Shirley Owles, Graham Robinson, Di McKenzie-Rabu, Mark Wallis and Therese Webb. Mosman Rotarians dedicate themselves to service with unwavering energy and heart. They perform creative fundraising efforts like their Christmas and Mother's Day raffles, where they sell jigsaws and tea towels, and they also fundraise through their community wishing well.

Those efforts go towards supporting a wide range of causes, including Mary's House, which supports those impacted by family and domestic violence; Oneland, which helps children in remote communities; and the Rotary Youth Exchange, which helps students who are embarking on life-changing experiences. They have also extended compassion beyond our shores, funding aid to injured servicemen in Ukraine and supporting hand surgery training in Vietnam. The generosity of that club reflects the very best of what Rotary stands for.

I turn now to the Rotary Club of Crows Nest, which, while modest in size with just over 20 members, is known for punching well above its weight. Its reputation for getting things done and supporting others is well earned. I congratulate the 2025-26 board: Mark Staples, Gloria Bailen, Owen Houston, Louise Steblina, Angelo Raveane, Adrienne St Clair, George Condell, Ross Gugliotti and Tom Sweeney, OAM. This year's changeover dinner was a particularly special occasion, with three outstanding members honoured. Incoming president Mark Staples received the Cyril Clark Club Rotarian Award, Louise Steblina was named a Paul Harris Fellow, and Bill Lee, a Rotarian of 50 years, was celebrated for his extraordinary service and was personally congratulated by Rotary International president Stephanie Urchick.

The club's major projects include D-Caf at the Crows Nest Centre, which supports people living with dementia; the Tree of Joy; and the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards both here and in East Timor. The club also provides ongoing support for Mary's House and the Crows Nest Community Centre. That work has a real and lasting impact. Their much‑loved Christmas carols in Crows Nest are a highlight for local families each year. My kids especially love the face painting and Santa. At the peak before COVID, the Crows Nest Rotary club's annual donations reached $50,000. Today they are climbing again, already above $30,000, and every dollar reflects the labour and love of people who care deeply about the wellbeing of others.

Finally, I turn to the Rotary Club of North Sydney Sunrise, a club which I am also proud to be a member of. We are a small but diverse group who meet regularly over breakfast, united by a shared commitment to fellowship and service. I congratulate the 2025 board Ken Preshaw, Andrew Harvey, Don Napper, Iain Clark, Allan Coates, Patricia Veale, Cathie Glinka, Trent Zimmerman, Greg Blainey and Stephen Bool. Our major fundraising event each year is the World Festival of Magic, which brings joy to local families while raising funds to support community organisations such as StreetWork, Royal Far West, Books in Homes and the Crows Nest community centre. We also proudly contribute to Australian Rotary Health and global efforts such as polio eradication, School for Life and the Nusa Tenggara Association in eastern Indonesia. North Sydney Sunrise is a place where friendships are formed, ideas are shared and hope is built, for not just our community but also the world.

The Rotary clubs of Mosman, Crows Nest and North Sydney Sunrise embody the true spirit of service above self. I offer my deepest thanks to all their members past, present and future, who give so much of themselves quietly, humbly, but with extraordinary impact. I congratulate all the new board members stepping into leadership and to those who have contributed in leadership positions in the previous year and wish them good luck for the year ahead. I look forward to seeing their continued contributions to not just our community but well beyond. I thank every Rotarian across New South Wales. Their service strengthens the very fabric of our society and we are all the better for it.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Ms Donna Davis):

As a former Rotary exchange student, I understand the power of Rotary.

Ms LIESL TESCH (Gosford) (16:51:14):

I thank the member for North Shore her contribution. I am a former Rotary Youth Leadership Awards recipient, which was for me, a young girl from the regions coming to the big city and connecting with other leaders across the community, possibly my first real taste of leadership. I also thank all of Rotary clubs for the incredible work they do. Rotary is the best example of community development ever. They see the grassroots need in their own community and create the change they need and they also look at a much larger scale, both statewide, nationally and also around the world. I commend Rotary and thank the member for North Shore.