Another day, just another barbecue?

Yes Rotary do hold a lot of fundraisers but there’s a very good reason why, writes

STOP most people in the street and ask them what they know about Rotary and you will either get a blank look or, “Don’t they do BBQs?”

Part of the answer is, yes, we do “Do BBQs” – but the important part is why.

Visit any Rotary club and you will find a group of people, whether there are six or 60 in the club, looking to help the community, both locally, nationally and internationally.

I have just finished a year as district governor for Rotary Tasmania and even I have been astonished by the breadth of “stuff” that Rotary clubs do with the funds raised, and the ways it is raised. Fun runs, quizzes, art shows, car shows, Tasmania’s craft fair, markets, football gates, Festival of Voices parking, raffles and, yes barbecues are all used to raise funds.

So, what does it get spent on?

If you have a Grade 9 family member, perhaps they attended Rotary Youth Driver Awareness where schools take entire classes to learn about driving.

Or maybe they are interested in science and went to the Science and Engineering Challenge that Rotary helps organise. Perhaps they are a little older and went on the National Youth Science Forum where Rotary co-sponsors interested Grade 11 and 12 students to meet and learn from some the best scientists in the country.

The past couple of years have been tricky for youth exchange, but Rotary clubs are again going to start hosting and sending exchange students – aged 1618 – to live for a year overseas. Staying with international Rotary families and attending school is a totally immersive way to get an incredible experience. It has been described by many as not “a year in your life” but a “life in a year”.

And, just in case you think this is all about school-aged people, Rotary Youth Leadership Awareness continues – taking early career leaders for an amazing week with inspirational speakers, again supported and run by Rotarians.

On the wider front, Rotarians have staffed Covid vaccination clinics – the friendly faces that greeted you (and explained yes, you did need to fill the form in AGAIN). We have provided equipment for both the new play area at the Royal Hobart Hospital and the Loaves and Fishes commercial kitchen in Clarence Plains and have sent thousands of dollars to help support flood-affected victims in Queensland and NSW.

We have sent money to help Ukraine, both supporting refugees who have arrived in Tasmania as well as sending money to Ukraine and Poland to help with the crisis.

And that doesn’t even mention fundraising to provide safe water for villages in Tanzania, supporting a hospital in Zimbabwe or ongoing support for eye clinics in Nepal.

So, next time you see Rotarians at the hardware store barbecue tent, stop and buy and sausage. Ask them what they are raising the money for – it might be something for which you have a passion.