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What Our Club Does

Rotary Club Wetherill Park has chosen to put a lot of its energies into Youth. We support the Rotary projects of RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment) which is aimed at giving year 10 students a sense of teamwork and adventure; ROYA (Recognition Of Youth Award) for high school students, and Adventure In Citizenship. We have also sponsored the formation of an Interact Club (a club of school children with high community ideals) at Mary McKillop College Wakeley, and we are hopeful of chartering another at Bossley Park High School in the next 12 months. We are joining with other local clubs in promoting formation of a Rotaract Club (a sort of junior Rotary for like minded 18-30 year-olds). Another popular youth program we support is RYLA - Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - a week-long residential camp that is a marvel of motivation. Aimed at the 'achievers' aged 18+, it includes team-building, public speaking, motivational speakers and even a bush dance! RYLA now comes under the Vocational classification (see below). A new project for Rotary in our district is RYDA - Rotary Youth Driver Awareness - and we are helping out to enable as many of our local students as possible attend this excellent one-day program.

As for International Service, we support The Rotary Foundation (a world-wide fund used to make grants to underprivileged areas etc) and most of our members are Rotary Centurions (committed to a yearly donation of $100 to the Foundation). The Rotary International Exchange Student Program enables students to spend a full year in another country. We recently welcomed a local student (Rebecca) back from a year in Brazil, and hosted a Brazilian boy, Bruno. Bruno stayed at four different host-parents homes, including Rotary members, and also that of Rebecca's parents. International Exchange is a wonderful way of breaking down the barriers of intolerance.

Rotary Club Wetherill Park are active in our local Community, hosting events such as an Annual Charity Golf Day at Fairfield Golf Course, and Carols-In-The-Park, held at Horsley Park Showground. We have also taken part in tree-planting programs of both the local council, and of the National Parks & Wildlife department. Local schools, sporting groups and churches are encouraged to participate in the Rotary Community Chest and Treasure Trove raffles as an easy fund-raising program, where Rotary provides the prizes. We distribute literature for the annual Rotary BowelScan program in local shopping centres and coordinate distribution and collection of test kits. We are also strong supporters of the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.

For Vocational Service, we annually reward local business people, trades persons and professionals for "work ethic" with our Pride In Workmanship Awards. A similar scheme for school children is effected with the help of our local MacDonalds Restaurant at Stockland Mall, Wetherill Park. This award is for Motivation, Achievement & Contribution. The MAC award has gained great support in our area and looks like being trialled by other clubs. The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is a two-week-long excursion to Canberra by selected year 11 students with a leaning toward science. Students spend time with practising scientists, take part in debates, visit significant sites of scientific endeavour, get a feel for university life and practice job interviews. Another excellent project we support each year is RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) which is for 18-25 year-olds who have leadership qualities. It features team-bonding, motivational speakers, public speaking and fun!

Club Service is that area which deals with the internal housekeeping of a Rotary Club. The search for new members, (and how to keep the existing members happy!), guest speaker programs, inter-club activities etc, all fall at the Club Services Director's feet. Here, the fellowship that is so necessary for a successful club is fostered. Rotary is one of the few service clubs with a growing membership worldwide and fellowship among members is a great part of this success.