Welcome To Rotary Club of Launceston

 

The Rotary Club of Launceston has close to 100 years of demonstrated service to the community of Launceston and beyond.  It is widely recognised by its peers and the business community as a Club that demonstrates the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self”. 

Are you a person who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a commitment for community service, partnerships, and creating opportunities for fellowship. Becoming a Rotarian will connect you with a diverse range of people to share experiences and give back to communities.
Home Page Stories
It all starts with a cardboard box and some strong tape.  Okay, a really good cardboard box and lots of strong tape!  From there it is just a matter of turning that box into a boat made for two and hoping you can paddle that boat faster than it takes on water.  Otherwise, you and your boat will both have a soggy bottom! 
 
After a successful outing at the last Soggy Bottom Cardboard Boat Regatta organised by Rotary Club of Youngtown, where the RCL Platypus took out the Rotary Championship by a nautical mile (well at least 30 metres) it was dried out and ready to defend it’s title.  Always striving to do better, we found another really good cardboard box and lots more tape and set about improving the design resulting in the RCL Platypus II.  Longer, sleeker and lighter (perhaps not the crew though!) the RCL Platypus II took home the trophy making it two from two.  Be part of Team RCL Platypus III in 2024.
 
The RCL Platypus  crewed by Ed Kilpatrick and Maryanne Simpson take an early lead
 
RCL Platypus II crew of Andrew Kilpatrick and Sonia Smith find their rhythm  and start to make up ground
 
 Winners are Grinners and taking home the huge perpetual trophy and certificate
 
The Soggy Bottom Cardboard Boat Regatta is one of many Rotary organised community events that provides fun and  entertainment while raising money to support local, national and international youth, education and development programs. 
Proudly Hosted by the Rotary Club of Launceston.
 
Wednesday 01st March
Venue:  Hotel Grand Chancellor
 
The MC for the night was Co-President, John Dent, who ensured that the event ran smoothly for the fifty-one, Rotarians, family, friends, and special guests who gathered to hear the three guest speakers:
  • Exciting developments in Australian Rotary Health development and direction delivered by PDG Kevin Shadbolt OAM – Chairman of ARH.
  • Research into the Prevention of Youth Suicide in Rural Tasmania presented by ARH Scholar Laura Grattidge.  Laura commenced a PhD in 2020, building on academic and professional experiences to explore the role of communities in rural suicide prevention, and develop ‘Best Practice Guidelines for Youth Suicide Prevention in Rural Australian Communities’. 
  • New Treatments for Stroke Patients – a Promising Future presented by former ARH Scholar, Dr Jason Palazzolo. Jason Palazzolo was a PhD candidate with Monash University and recipient of the PhD Scholarship (Cardiology) supported by Australian Rotary Health and Rotary District 9830. Based at the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Jason performed his biomedical research where he aimed to develop novel therapies for the treatment of thrombosis and related diseases, specifically stroke. Jason’s research incorporated innovative therapeutic designs, including novel fusion proteins and nanoparticle technologies.  Jason has completed his PhD and his research has been highly acclaimed. He is now employed as a scientist with CSL.
 
The event was well supported by the District, with both support and participation on the night. Pictured above: District Governor Bob Calvert, DGE Mike Patten, PDG Ken Moore (District Chair of ARH), Lois Moore, PDG Kevin Shadbolt OAM (Chairman of ARH), Anne Shadbolt, Co-President PP John Dent AOM and PP Madeline Logan (member of ARH District Committee).
 
New Horizons Club provides sporting and social activities for people with disabilities in Launceston.  The Club has facilities in Mowbray.  Over time, the grounds had deteriorated and were unsuitable for club social activities.  The Rotary Club of Launceston came to the rescue and, in 2014,  launched a major project to upgrade the grounds.  Apart from voluntary labour from the Rotary Club of Launceston members, the club arranged for numerous trades and business organisations to contribute their products and services.
An extensive range of activities were undertaken e.g. regrading the grounds, installing new services e.g. electricity, removal of the old BBQ area, mending fences, installing new decking and paving and replacing gardens.  All up, the total cost was estimated at $200,000.
The upgraded facilities now provide an excellent location for Club social events.  No better example that the Annual Christmas BBQ and Party where members of the Rotary Club of Launceston do the catering for the event.  This project is a great example of the lasting benefits that the Rotary Club of Launceston has delivered to Launceston.  Members of the Rotary Club of Launceston are proud of being involved in a community project with lasting benefits.  
 
New Horizons Club members and guests enjoying the upgraded grounds at the Annual Christmas Party catered by members of the Rotary Club of Launceston.
 
Rotary Club of Launceston Co-President John Dent, serving New Horizons Club guests. 
Rotary Youth Exchange has been one of Rotary International’s signature programs, enabling students to spend 12 months in another country.  Unfortunately in 2020, the Rotary Youth Exchange Program had to stopped due to COVID, and students on exchange in many cases returned home.  The program has been in abeyance since then.  It has been revived in January 2023.
The Rotary Club of Launceston is sponsoring a year 10 student from Riverside High School, Holly May, to attend a year’s exchange in Suldrup in Denmark.
Holly was farewelled at a Rotary Club BBQ on Wednesday night, 18th January.  At the function, Holly was presented with a cheque to $500 to cover initial living expenses.
Rotary Club of Launceston Director of Youth Services, Sharon Deane, said youth exchanges like Rotary Youth Exchanges frequently have very positive outcomes for participating students.
Rotary Youth Exchange is one way the Rotary Club of Launceston benefits the Launceston community.
 
Rotary Youth Exchange student, Holly May (second right) with Sharon Deane (second left), and Co- presidents, Robyn Phillips  (left) and John Dent.
 
Holly May (left) and fellow exchange student from Hobart, Layla Mae Halliwell, at Launceston Airport, before flying out to commence exchanges in Europe.
 

An estimated 500 million people worldwide became infected. Many cities closed theaters and cinemas, and placed restrictions on public gatherings. Rotary clubs adjusted their activities while also helping the sick.

This is how Rotary responded to the influenza pandemic that began in 1918 and came in three waves, lasting more than a year.

The Rotary Club of Berkeley, California, USA, meets in John Hinkel Park during the 1918 flu pandemic.

Photo by Edwin J. McCullagh, 1931-32 club president. Courtesy of the Rotary Club of Berkeley.

Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.

During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter. 

Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.” 

 

Every hero has an origin story. “I was 10 years old when the entire journey started,” explains Binish Desai. It began with a cartoon called Captain Planet, an animated TV series from the 1990s about an environmentalist with superpowers. Desai can still recite the show’s refrain: Captain Planet, he’s our hero / Gonna take pollution down to zero! “That tagline stuck in my mind,” he says. “I wanted to do something to help Captain Planet.”