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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-07-06 Daily Xml
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Rotary

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (15:19): I rise to speak about an important time in the Rotary community's calendar, and that is of course their changeover dinners. Of course, this year recognises the 100th year of Rotary in Australia, and so this week I have had the wonderful opportunity to go to the changeover dinners of two really important Rotary clubs in Adelaide, South Australia, and also in my area. They are the Rotary clubs of Glenelg and Holdfast Bay.

If we start with the Rotary club of Glenelg, they are in their 70th year, so they have been very consequential. Their club president, Alison Rogers, spoke at their changeover dinner about some of the highlights for the year for the Glenelg Rotary Club, ranging from raising funds, whether that is donations to Foodbank or, importantly, donating funds to the crisis in Ukraine, a war-torn country that is desperately in need of funds, and Glenelg Rotary Club has stepped up to the plate there.

The club has also been instrumental in sponsoring youth, either sponsoring a student in Tanzania or, importantly, helping over 30 youths take part in a fantastic initiative by one of the club's legends, David Binks, and that is taking them on the tall ship, the One and All, and teaching them great teamwork skills.

This year has also seen the Glenelg Rotary Club join forces with the Holdfast Bay Rotary Club to help purchase a beach-friendly wheelchair that is part of the upcoming construction of a universal access ramp on the beach in Glenelg right near the jetty. A disability ramp was certainly something that has been lacking from our premier metropolitan beach. I have been working with disability advocates towards the solution since 2015 after seeing the life-changing success of the access ramp down at Seacliff beach that the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Black, was instrumental in delivering.

Most notable of the advocates for such a solution I have been working with was Rick Neagle, who pushed for universal access at Glenelg beach because it is the key tourist destination here in Adelaide. Why should a significant element of our society, some say up to 20 per cent, be denied that fantastic experience?

In February 2022, I was really pleased to secure a $50,000 grant from the former Liberal state government to go towards the City of Holdfast Bay for this crucial infrastructure that has precipitated the council now providing wheelchair access. Providing this access to the beach and outdoor spaces will be a key aspect of an inclusive community, and I am very pleased to be able to play a role in delivering what will become an important community asset. Works are now underway for a disability access ramp at Glenelg beach right near the jetty, and I look forward to it being completed in time for summer.

As I said, club president Alison Rogers is going to continue on as the president this year really to take into account the fact she was not able to complete all of the role because of her daughter having ill health, and so we certainly wish her daughter a speedy recovery and Alison every success this year.

I also attended the Rotary Club of Holdfast Bay's changeover dinner, which saw Judy Shipp hand back the reins to previous president Anne Day. One of the signature programs that the club runs is the Locals Doing it Tough food drive. Twice a year, the club collects non-perishable food and goods for those in need at the Bayside Village Shopping Centre in Glenelg and also Brighton Central.

It was wonderful to join the club at the most recent food drive, which was at Bayside in June. It was heartwarming to see people who were going shopping buying extra items to drop off at the stall. This winter food drive supports the work of many local outreach programs in the bay to provide emergency food relief to individuals and families in need. Groups such as St Vincent de Paul, St Paul's Lutheran Church, St Peter's Anglican parish in Glenelg and also Mary's Kitchen that runs out of St Andrew's by the Sea.

Adding to this, I was proud to be present on Australia Day this year when the Rotary Club of Holdfast Bay won the Active Citizenship Award, which is a really fitting tribute to the club. It gave them a chance to showcase the terrific work they do. I wish both presidents, Alison and Anne, alongside all the Rotary club members of Glenelg and Holdfast Bay Rotary, every success in the upcoming year as they apply themselves to this year's theme, Create Hope in the World.

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