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This year's gala changeover evening will be held on Tuesday, 30 June at the Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club (MAAC), 67 West Coast Drive, Marmion. This is a time to celebrate the achievements of the 2025 - 2026 Rotary year with Co-Presidents Mick and Peter and welcome President-Elect John, along with the Board of Directors for 2026 - 2027. It is an event not to be missed! Everyone is welcome. Bookings must be locked in by 8.00 pm Thursday, 25th June.

Karrinyup Rotary has received an urgent request for funding from Foodbank WA. Right across Western Australia, more families are reaching breaking point. Parents are skipping meals so their children can eat. Households that were once managing are now being forced to choose between paying the mortgage, filling the car, or putting food on the table. In response to this appeal, Karrinyup Rotary has made an extra donation in addition to our regular annual donation. Friends are asked to consider making a secure donation via this link to the Foodbank WA website.

Karrinyup Rotary’s Nurse of the Year 2026 award was presented at a gala evening to honour outstanding nurses working at Osborne Park Hospital (OPH). This annual perpetual award recognises a nurse whose daily dedication and care epitomises the highest standard of quality and personal commitment. Karrinyup Rotary congratulates all of the 2026 finalists on their achievements and is delighted to recognise the 2026 Karrinyup Rotary Osborne Park Hospital Nurse of the Year – Gemma Hadwell, a most deserving winner.

RC Karrinyup is delighted to announce the 2026 recipient of the Dr Michael Chin Humanitarian Award is Sarah Lamb. Sarah has contributed over 16 years of dedicated service to individuals living with disabilities, developmental challenges and mental health conditions within our community in her work at Riding for the Disabled Carine. The Award, created in 2000 in honour of RC Karrinyup charter member Michael Chin, honours outstanding individuals who serve the community for their humanitarian activities. This year is the 26th Anniversary of the Award.

Happy Birthday to us! The Rotary Club of Karrinyup was chartered on 1 May 1974 and this week celebrated fifty-two years of service at a special birthday dinner at the Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club (MAAC). Co-President, Mick Rogers, acknowledged the past and present traditional owners of the land. He welcomed everyone and recognised the visitors.

Called on Pat Fosbery, widow of Founding President Graham Fosbery, to join him in cutting the cake, he then gave a brief overview of the many wonderful projects the club has achieved over the years. Everyone enjoyed a fabulous birthday evening. Read Mick's 52nd birthday address.

Youth Director Eddy Giacomel introduced our graduate from the 2026 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program. Arabella. She shared her experience of the week-long course she attended, sponsored by Karrinyup Rotary. Arabella described the experience as an intensive seven-day program focused on promoting self-awareness, leadership and personal growth, which was nothing like any typical work-centred personal development programs. She spoke of new learning experiences, making new friendships, experiencing teamwork, public speaking and gaining a huge boost in self-confidence.

Karrinyup Rotary was privileged to be nominated by the Apprentice Employment Network WA (AEN WA) and selected among seventy-four other volunteer organisations by the Department of Communities, Western Australia, to be recognised and honoured for the club’s dedicated volunteer work in building connected, inclusive global communities. A celebratory lunch was held on International Volunteer Day 2025 under the banner of Empowering Futures – International Volunteer Day.

The Rotary Club of Karrinyup has been privileged to support the Riding for the Disabled facility at Carine for over twenty years. The club was integral in converting their need for an all-weather facility into a proposal that could be submitted for approval and funding. This was completed and opened in 2019. Club support has been ongoing. Recently, the club was invited for an informative visit and given an eye-opening tour of the facilities. Members described this as an excellent initiative, saying it was good to revisit an organisation that we have supported for so long and witness ongoing progress.

Vocational Service Director Kay Durrant introduced Irene Walker, Executive Officer of the Apprentice Employment Network WA, (AEN WA), a registered Not for Profit Charity. This year, Karrinyup Rotary's Vocational Service team honoured ten outstanding apprentices/trainees with Special Recognition accolades and provided practical support by means of vouchers. Irene introduced the six award recipients present, who spoke on their career paths and explained how the club's practical support would assist with the purchase of tools and other essential work items.

Sudbury Community House was identified as a worthy recipient of funding from the wonderful Westral Foundation, which is administered by the team from Karrinyup Rotary. Recently, Sudbury reached out with a call for hands-on assistance to unload a pallet of fresh provisions, as well as sort predetermined orders for schools and other service organisations on a couple of weekday mornings up until Christmas. Sue, from the community service team, is seen here thoroughly enjoying herself among the veges. She will be returning next week. Contact Community Service Director Jane Wake if you can join her for an hour or so.

Sandra McGuire introduced guest speaker Nakita Kitson, founder of the Stellar Children’s Trust (SCCO). While volunteering in Cambodia in 2011, Nikita saw the needs of the displaced people. She established the trust to develop sustainable education and employment opportunities for them in Cambodia. Over the past few years, contributions from Karrinyup Rotary have enabled seven students to complete vocational training, bringing hope for a better future to Cambodian slum kids.

Since the inception of Foodbank WA over thirty years ago, RC Karrinyup has been a strong supporter. This week, Arnya Tait, Partnership Engagement and Events Manager at Foodbank WA, visited our club to bring us up to date on recent developments. Foodbank WA redistributes oversupplied and donated food to those in need. A cost-of-living crisis has seen this need in households across WA more than double. Karrinyup Rotary has recently made our substantial annual donation. Arnya thanked the club for the ongoing support.

Youth Director Eddy Giacomel introduced Daniel Stayt, who attended the 2025 London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF). Currently studying Frontier Physics at UWA, he was Karrinyup Rotary's 2024 National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) participant in Canberra, while in his final year at Warwick SHS. Daniel was jointly sponsored to participate in the London event through the collaboration of the Karrinyup and Scarborough Rotary Clubs. Community Director Jerry Pilcher from the Rotary Club of Scarborough is seen here with Daniel and Eddy.

Mambwe Nsanje introduced Zari Reed, a Karrinyup Rotary participant in the September 2025 Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN). Our 2025-2026 Rotary Youth Exchange student, Feli Villaro, also completed the program. Mambwe had completed the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program for 18-28 year olds earlier this year and has since become a coordinator for the younger participants' program. RYPEN is for Year 10 students who have leadership potential and demonstrate other positive personal attributes and who are actively involved in the community.

The Rotary Club of Karrinyup was delighted this week to welcome 2025 - 2026 Inbound Rotary Youth Exchange student Feli from Argentina. While Feli has been in Perth for a few weeks, this was his first chance to meet most of the club members. During his exchange year, Feli will stay with several different host families to broaden his cultural experience of our country. He is attending Warwick SHS, where he has already made friends. Karrinyup Rotary has supported Rotary Youth Exchange for most of our fifty-plus years.

Karrinyup Rotary members and friends assisted with the Camp Quality Kids Only Event held at the Aquarium of Western Australia (AQUA) Function Centre recently. The event was organised and managed by Camp Quality volunteers to allow the parents and carers some time of recreation and relaxation. The children were an absolute delight to be with, being well mannered, disciplined and cheerful and a wonderful time was had by all. Sincere thanks go to Karrinyup Rotarians and friends - the past members of Karrinyup Inner Wheel for their wonderful support and assistance towards this most worth cause.

Over the past several weeks, Karrinyup Rotary members have been preparing a welcome banner for the arrival of our 2025-2026 Inbound Rotary Youth Exchange student. A group of club members, together with his first host parents, gathered at Perth Domestic Airport for the arrival of Feli from Trenque Lauquen, Argentina via Buenas Aires, Santiago and Melbourne. Feli was delighted to be here and is looking forward to spending an amazing year with us. See Facebook photo.

Phil Ledger and Mick Rogers had the privilege of attending the inaugural Child and Adolescent Health Service Awards. This inspiring event shone a well-deserved spotlight on the dedication, passion and unwavering commitment of our incredible health workers. Karrinyup Rotary is immensely proud to sponsor this prestigious event and we eagerly anticipate its growth and continued success in the years to come. A heartfelt congratulations go to all the winners and nominees. Your hard work and dedication makes a profound difference in the lives of so many. We applaud you!

Congratulations to 2024-2025 recipients of Karrinyup Rotary Paul Harris Fellow recognition! Youth Director Eddy Giacomel was acknowleded with his first Paul Harris Fellow pin and framed certificate. Carolyn Prunster was recognised, for her consistent support as club secretary over the past seven years, with another sapphire to her Paul Harris Fellow pin. Newly inducted 2025-2026 Co-Presidents Mike and Peter surprised Phil Ledger with another sapphire for his Paul Harris Fellow pin. With no incoming President for the 2024-2025 year, Phil volunteered to step in and serve as club president for the fourth time during his Rotary career.

At the RC Karrinyup Changeover Evening, John Maker was named as the recipient of the prestigious Graham Fosbery President’s Award for 2024-2025 for dedicated 'Service Above Self' with consistent technological support at club meetings as well as outstanding support for the Stirling Farmers Market and manager. The award is given each year by the President to a person or group, who is considered to have contributed significantly to the success of the Club in that President’s year or progressively over time.

Congratulations to Karrinyup Rotary's President Phil Ledger, who was named in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List and awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia General Division. The citation is for service to the pharmaceutical industry and to the community. This community service includes over fifty-six years of 'Service Above Self' as a Rotarian. Phil has served as District Governor (9455, 1991-1992) and is currently serving as Club President for a fourth time - Kellerberrin (1969-1970) and Karrinyup (1987-1988, 2017-2018 & 2024-2025). A well deserved honour and wonderful promotion of Rotary!

The Zambia Water Project involved scoping and drilling a bore to sufficient depth and installation of a pump and water tank.  This has now provided clean drinking water for the school of some eighty orphaned and vulnerable children under the support of Arising Life Ministries in Ndola, Zambia as well as to the community of the Kaloko area.

The winner of the 2016 Rotary Club Karrinyup Osborne Park Hospital Nurse of the Year Award, created some 26 years ago, is after hours Clinical Nurse Manager, Rebecca Crellin. This Award is highly regarded by the staff and promoted extensively by the Hospital.  Congratulations Rebecca!

The Earbus has been completed and informally handed over to the Earbus Foundation. The vehicle will now go through operational trials to ensure the design is fit for purpose and any issues found during the field trials will be adjusted.  Finally, the vehicle will be transformed with an appropriate Aboriginal livery for its work in the field before the formal handover takes place in the New Year.  On behalf of the thousands of Aboriginal children, who will benefit from this asset, thank you to all our generous donors. The RC Karrinyup is honoured to have been part of this journey with you. 

Over three years ago, Professor Harvey Coates AO, Clinical Patron, Earbus Foundation of WA, envisaged a mobile 'go anywhere' clinic capable of travelling to remote areas of the northwest of Western Australia. For patients unable to travel to a town clinic, it was necessary to take the clinic to them in the battle against the exceedingly high incidence of ear disease among the population of that area. Professor Coates is thrilled that, thanks to the efforts of the RC Karrinyup, this vision has now become a reality.