Rotary Club of Capalaba - Community Projects

THE BOOKFEST

Our next huge book fests are coming up in October 2020

To be held at the Scout Den, Cnr Gordon & Bainbridge Sts, Ormiston -

A team of dedicated book sorters take time out to go through the many books donated. The public donates a large quantity by placing them through a slot in the wall at our Bookshed. The barrel on the other side of the wall is often full to overflowing. Another source of books is the State Library, with many 'retired' high quality library books being donated.

We have a lot of help on the book sale days from club members, Cleveland Scout Group and their families as well as 136ACU Army Cadet Unit with 217SQN Air Force Cadet Unit and also Ormiston State School.

All proceeds going to worthy projects and charities. A team of dedicated book sorters take time out to go through the many books donated.

The public donates a large quantity by placing them through a slot in the wall at our Bookshed. Another source of books is the State Library, with many 'retired' high quality library books being donated.

If you have books to donate please visit our shed, behind the Scout den, on the corner Gordon and Bainbridge Streets, Ormiston.

BUSHCARE AT THE ROCKS

In June 2003 the Rotary Club of Capalaba formed a Bushcare group in association with local council. The objective is to enhance and maintain natural flora and to stabilise immediate surrounds of the Tingalpa creek area. It is also to historically preserve land markings of the original Rocks crossing. This was the initial gateway from Brisbane to the Redlands. The club was issued with a Biodiversity Award from R.C.C. in recognition of improvements to the environment.

The Rotary Club of Capalaba has a dedicated group of early morning risers who spend a couple of hours early on the third Saturday morning of each month to clean up an area called the 'THE ROCKS on Tingalpa Creek in Capalaba.

Some expert help was required to clear and plant suitable species for the area.. Since becoming part of the Redlands BUSHCARE Program in 2003 the Capalaba Rotary BUSHCARE Group has planted over 400 trees, bushes and ground cover plants from specimens in the Lomandra and Dianella species.

In 2008 the Group became a subset of the Brisbane Habitat Eastern Region under the leadership of Kylie Withers. Remnants of the 1874 bridge supports have been unearthed on the Brisbane side at the lower end of Whites Road (now Camrose Street).

In September 2009 the area was an important part of the Q150 (Queensland 150 years) celebrations.

Download a pdf Bushcare map here.

Every Christmas the Rotary Club of Capalaba holds a
CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

In recent years the Club has run a Christmas Trailer Raffle to raise money for local and international worthy charities. Supported by local businesses and shopping centres, this has been very successful in raising thousands of dollars each year. Ticket sales begin at the Club’s October Bookfest and go through until the second week of December.

All the proceeds go to the numerous deserving charities supported by the club.

If you would like to support this raffle please contact us.

This Christmas, December 2019, we raised approximately $18 000.00 for community projects.

BOWELSCAN

This is a Rotary program developed in 1982 in New South Wales and now conducted by over 250 Rotary Clubs across Australia.
These Clubs issue approximately 150,000 kits during their annual Colorectal Screening programs. Since Bowelscan commenced, it is estimated that more than 1,000 people with bowel cancer and 5,000 with polyps have been detected.

Bowelscan is a public awareness program seeking to increase community knowledge of bowel cancer and its symptoms as well as the distribution of faecal occult blood testing kits to facilitate early diagnosis.

The aims of the Bowelscan program are to:enhance public awareness of the need of bowel cancer screening

promote and coordinate the Bowelscan program annually
emphasise the importance of bowel cancer screening for both men and women over the age of 40.

Bowelscan is a not-for-profit initiative. The successful operation of Bowelscan, and its accessibility to a wide range of people, is made possible by the voluntary support of a large number of pharmacies, pathology laboratories and the Rotary Club of Capalaba members.

To learn more about Bowelscan go to www.nationalbowelscan.org.au

THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

Brisbane South Region.

This project is hosted locally by the Rotary Clubs of Loganholme and Capalaba along with Griffith University. Over the last 11 years it has been attended by approximately 800 students from 24 schools over three days each year. Participants are year 10 students who may be considering their future career options. The objective is to inspire young people about opportunities available in science, technology and engineering. Students take up the challenges with great enthusiasm. This is a national programme and events are staged across the country involving an estimated 2000 volunteers, all of whom are keen to see students take up university studies in science and engineering.

The Science and Engineering challenge was developed in 1998 by the University of Newcastle. Initially only local Newcastle schools were involved. The Challenge now is carried out in 14 regions around Australia and one in Singapore, which began in 2007. United Arab Emirates’ international schools have also indicated a desire to be involved too. Each region has an affiliation with a local university. Griffith University is the base for the Brisbane South region. Brisbane South held its first Challenge in 2005.

Organising the Brisbane South Challenge is carried out by a local Committee headed by a regional chairperson. The “Chair” is selected from Rotary representatives. Committee members consist of representatives from university, local business personnel and representatives of local Rotary Clubs, together with government bodies (eg Main Roads).

A Science and Engineering Dinner is held on the evening prior to the three day Challenge. The Challenge is funded by local University together with sponsors from the business community, Rotary clubs and the Young Science and Engineering Australia Group. Raising funds for this great initiative has indeed been a challenge in itself.

Information about the local Challenge can be obtained from School of Information and Communication Technology, Griffith University, phone 3382 1086. The website for the Australian Challenge is here.

LITERACY

Jarjums Yarnin’ at Dunwich State School on

North Stradbroke Island

To promote value of reading and telling stories with young children from birth, the Rotary Club of Capalaba sponsored Jarjums Yarnin’ with the Dunwich community.

The project has involved distributing books to children through the Yulu-Burri-Ba health centre, playgroups, Early Years Centre and Dunwich State School.

The Rotary Club of Capalaba hosted a literacy picnic attended by the mayor of Redland City, staff from the State Library and Redland City Council Library, as well as Rotarians. The project also involved writing and publication of a book. Alphabet Antics is a colourful depiction of the English alphabet, illustrated with drawings from Year 2 students at Dunwich, photographs featuring students and local environment.

Children at the school started discussing and writing the books in November last year but it was after the flood and cyclone in January that the idea was born for What is a Disaster I Hear You say? Volunteering Queensland also played a role in bringing the books to print. The colourful book outlines plans of action the students propose in the event of disasters such as a tsunami, earthquake or road accident.

The Rotary Club of Capalaba continues to support early reading and literacy projects both in the Redlands and elsewhere.

DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

The Rotary Clubs of Giza Cosmopolitan, Egypt and Capalaba, Australia
Ard Meabed Drinking Water Supply - Opened 2010

The area of Meabed is on the outskirts of the Governorate of Giza in Cairo. It is a very poor rural area classified by the government as an area of “Random Settlements”, due to the random nature in which the buildings in this area sprung to constitute a neighbourhood. Consequently, the area suffers from lack of basic humane services, such as a sewage system and a source of clean water. The only source of clean water was located around one and half kilometers away from the nearest home. It was mostly the women who had to walk this distance, to and fro, more than three or four times a day, to fill buckets of water.

In 2008 the Governorate of South Giza had, prepared a feasibility study for extending about one kilometre of water pipes from a main water pipe to the houses, in addition to the installation of individual meters for each flat. The project was not implemented because of lack of funding.

In 2009 both the Rotary clubs got together and raised the necessary funds to contract the installation and implementation of a project to provide an average of 1000 beneficiaries with clean water in their homes. This project raised so much awareness that the local government also supported it with a further two public taps and an animal watering trough. It was officially opened in 2010, when members of the Capalaba Club visited Egypt.

Maintainence of this project
The Rotary Club of Giza Cosmopolitan and the Governorate of Giza is collaborated together to implement the project , with the Governorate being responsible for all the maintenance required and the area was officially put on “the clean water map” of the governorate.

VOCATIONAL AWARDS

Rotary is proud of it's tradition and success in encouraging our youth in whatever they attempt in life.

Capalaba Rotary is involved in promoting our youth in a number of project areas, one of which is is the Educational Rotary Allrounder Award.

This award is presented to student/s through the school they attend as being involved in all aspects of student life and who has not only achieved academically but also contributed to other aspects of the school's program and extra curricular activities.

The club also has adult achievers awards -

Phil Boron Award: Apprenticeship/Traineeship – is given to an Apprentice/Trainee who has met all requirements of the Employer and Tertiary Institute of Training and has demonstrated skills over and above requirements.
Rotary Pride in the Workplace Award: Best Business Practices – is given to the best employer or Company who/which has excelled in his/her/its approach to business, customers and employees. Entrepreneurialism is one of the identifying factors here.
Stan Green Award: Sales and Customer Service – Identified criteria for this include demonstration of improved sales, interpersonal skills and adaptability in and to the workplace. Consider duties over and above the norm.
Rotary Pride in the Workplace Award – is given to the best employer or company who/which has excelled in his/her/its approach to business, customers and employees.

Stan Green Award is given to people under identified criteria including demonstration of improved sales, interpersonal skills and adaptability in and to the workplace. Theirs is performance over and above expectations.

Download the nomination form here Nominations close on the 21st of September

POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR - POTY

Each year general public of the Redlands nominate police officers for Rotary Club awards for community service and acts of courage that go beyond the call of duty.

The Police Commissioner embraces the programme and it is received by police officers as a prestigious and recognition by the public.

There are three awards given to local officers including The Police Officer of the Year Award – for overall satisfaction of the criteria acknowledging courage, compassion, understanding or devotion to duty. Other awards include the Community Award and Outstanding Performance Award.

The Awards were started in the Redlands District in 2006 and has since expanded to Logan and Ipswich Districts. Capalaba Rotary Club also financially supports Police Legacy.

Rotary Club of Capalaba