Community Projects

Following the Welcome to Country and City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin's address, Karrinyup Rotary President Phil Ledger spoke to the assembled crowd at the opening of the Lake Gwelup Story Trail. Phil stated that this new project builds on the legacy of decades of commitment to community engagement, which is deeply ingrained in our Rotary Club. The trail involves three essential narratives - Aboriginal History, European Settlement History and Ecological Significance. He urged that as we come together, we strive for a society that walks together, learns together and builds a stronger more inclusive community for generations to come. Watch a video of Phil's speech.

Karrinyup Rotary commenced planning a 50th anniversary project in 2021. The Golden Project was to be one of significance to celebrate the Club's 50 years of Rotary service. The designated club team worked with architect Alex Godfrey and the City of Stirling. Over the years, it was decided it would be the 'Lake Gwelup Story Trail', an interactive experience, celebrating Nyoongar culture, environmental and historical stories of Lake Gwelup, where the club has a long history of service to the community. The project has now been completed and will be launched on 23 November. Peter Polain and Peter Durrent are seen here toasting the successful completion of the project.

President Phil Ledger and Treasurer Paul Callery represented Karrinyup Rotary at the 30th anniversary of Foodbank WA. We were delighted that Pat Fosbery, widow of Karrinyup Rotary charter president Graham Fosbery, was able to join us as a special guest. The Rotary Club of Karrinyup has had a long association with Foodbank WA having been involved since its inception in the early 1990’s. Charter President, Graham Fosbery, served as a Founding Director during those early years and remained a supporter throughout his life. 

Each year, the Karrinyup Rotary Community Homeless Working Group collects and donates socks and backpacks to the homeless in the city. These items are distributed on our behalf by the Perth Homeless Support Group, as they have developed an innovative “Community Model” over time, which focuses on assisting individuals experiencing homelessness, displacement, and those in transitional housing. Sandra, Jane and Carol are seen here dropping off the goods collected for distribution this winter.

The Karrinyup Rotary Community Homeless Working Group collects and donates socks and backpacks each year to the homeless in our city. Over time, the team has developed an innovative 'Community Model', which focuses on assisting individuals experiencing homelessness, displacement and those in transitional housing. The items are distributed on our behalf by the Perth Homeless Support Group. The object is to relieve stress by providing some basic needs, as well as educate those experiencing homelessness of other services that are available to help them.

Karrinyup Rotary commenced planning for a 50th anniversary project back in 2021. The Golden Project was to be one of significance to celebrate the Club's 50 years of Rotary service. The designated team of Peter Polain, Jenni Wilke and Peter Durrant worked with the City of Stirling and over the years the idea morphed into the 'Lake Gwelup Story Trail'. This will be an interactive experience, celebrating Nyoongar culture, environmental and historical stories of Lake Gwelup, where the club has a long history of service to the community. Earthworks have now commenced with construction on schedule for a planned opening in the spring of our Golden Anniversary year.

Building on twenty years of Black Swan Health's Freo Street Doctor Service Success, Black Swan is now providing very much needed services to the Northern Corridor at a new location in Mirrabooka. The operation is jointly funded by the Rotary Clubs of Karrinyup, Osborne Park and Scarborough, The weekly three hour clinic commenced operation on 13 March. Rotary collaborating to contribute to the well-being of the homeless community and 'Create Hope in the World'.

For several months, a team from Karrinyup Rotary has been volunteering at Tranby Hub, which exists to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice. To this end Tranby Hub provides a very wide range of services, and members were  keen to learn more about these. Team leader, Carol O'Lone introduced Rhys Powell, Manager Community Engagement, and Danni Evans, Operations Lead for Transitioning from Homelessness Services at Tranby Hub, to tell us about the many aspects of services provided.

Winter will soon be upon us again and with this in mind Karrinyup Rotary Club is once again providing backpacks for Perth’s homeless community. This year we will be sending out fifty backpacks to the community with the help of the Perth Homeless Support Group. The backpacks contain items, which will provide some comfort and warmth during the cold winter evenings. A community stall will be held at the Stirling Farmers Market on Sunday 7 April, however the items can be left at the administration stall on any Sunday up until 5 May.

The EndTrachoma programme, which was commenced in the eastern states has been very successful in seeking to eradicate trachoma in Australia, the only western world country to still have this disease. In July 2023, Karrinyup Rotary committed to supplying 300 toilet kits for children in the Goldfields, to help with education and the eradication of the disease in this area. To date, 200 bags have been shipped with the last 100 scheduled to be transported to the area in May.

Peter provided a little of the background of the Golden Project, a significant project to celebrate the Rotary Club of Karrinyup's 50 years of Rotary service. He used maps and diagrams to outline the plans for the Lake Gwelup Story Trail, which will be an interactive experience, celebrating Nyoongar culture, environmental and historical stories of Lake Gwelup. Plans have been drawn and submitted to council. The team of Peter Polain, Jenni Wilke and Peter Durrant are working with Hunt Architects and the City of Stirling. 

Black Swan Health has delivered fully accredited General Practice medical services and attended to a broad range of health issues for the homeless and those on low incomes via Street Doctor for many years. The Rotary Clubs of Karrinyup, Osborne Park and Scarborough have collaborated to provide the necessary funding for a Street Doctor clinic to commence within the City of Stirling. The service launched in Mirrabooka on 13 March. Rotary collaborating to contribute to the well-being of the homeless community and 'Create Hope in the World'.

The Karrinyup Rotary volunteer program with Uniting WA (Tranby Hub) is up and running. This week Tess Gardner, Kay Durrant, Carol O'Lone, Hilary Thraves and Beth McCormack spent a morning supporting this fantastic project. It gave us all a chance to see what can be done in our community for our homeless and less fortunate. Between us we served lunch, did loads of dishes and sorted clothing donations, They have received considerable support from community and business organisationas with clothing donations, but it was noted that unfortunately items of ladies' and men's underwear were in short supply. Karrinyup Rotary is looking to rectify this shortfall in the near future.

A group of Karrinyup Rotary members met with Elaine, volunteer manager at Tranby Hub, to discuss ways in which they could provide support. Elaine explained how the Hub, run by the Uniting Church, does fantastic work with our city’s homeless catering for 300 - 400 people a day, seven days a week for breakfast, morning tea and lunch. The Hub also has showers and computers and provides contact with doctors and Centrelink. They are always looking for volunteers and the Karrinyup Rotary team is very excited and looking forward to their future volunteer work with Tranby Hub.

The Karrinyup Rotary Community Service team again sponsored the City of Stirling Biennial Art Awards with a prize for the local artist. This year the judges selected two winners of the Local Art Award. President Kay Durrant and Community Service Director Mike Murphy attended the official opening on Friday 3 November, where Mike presented the awards. He is seen here with one winner - Marina van Leeuwen. The exhibition is free and open to the public until Sunday 12 November (10am – 5pm daily) so there is still time to visit.

At this year's Rotary Convention, Rotary Club of Karrinyup members made a commitment to send three hundred EndTrachoma bags to the Goldfields. In July we saw the first part of this Convention Commitment Fulfilled, with the first one hundred bags delivered to Kalgoorlie. After a busy bee this week, the second one hundred bags are now ready to transport. Well done, team! Check out the photos of the team hard at work and enjoying a well deserved lunch afterwards.

Want to be part of something life-changing? You can with support for Guide Dogs WA. Members will remember Anna Presser and ambassador dog Annie visiting the club. Karrinyup Rotary member Beth McCormack, a very talented artist, has come up with a wonderful idea to paint a portrait of your pet (she does cats too) for a fee, with the funds raised to go to Guide Dogs WA. All you need to do is supply a photo. These would make fabulous gifts for pet lovers. View the poster.

The Rotary Club of Karrinyup Community Service team is proud to announce the the results of the inaugural Karrinyup Rotary Photography Competition. This was a novel and enjoyable way to fund raise specifically for childhood cancer and help support ongoing research. The photography competition, which celebrated natural beauty and interesting people, was open to all. Amateur and professional photographers could all enter. There were four categories: Community Service, Environment, Life on the Street and Photography as Art. These are the winning photos.

Camp Quality gives kids facing cancer the chance to be kids again, providing a support network and a range of non-medical support services for children living with cancer and their families. RC Karrinyup has been a strong supporter of the program over many years. Along with our substantial donation this year, a team from Karrinyup Rotary provided hands on support and assistance for Camp Quality volunteers for some special 'Kids Only Time,' held recently in the Function Centre at the Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA) at Hillarys.

The City of Stirling in partnership with Karrinyup Rotary will construct its first Story Trail to celebrate the club's 50th anniversary. This will be the Club's Golden Project. To gain a deeper understanding of how the community engages with Lake Gwelup in developing the Story Trail, to support the project and bring the local community together, a barbeque and Walkshop event was held recently at Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space. The community is invited get involved and help shape the next chapter in the Lake Gwelup story.

Camp Quality gives kids facing cancer the chance to be kids again, providing a support network and a range of non-medical support services for children living with cancer and their families. RC Karrinyup has been a strong supporter of the program over many years. Along with our substantial donation this year, a team from Karrinyup Rotary provided hands on support and assistance for Camp Quality volunteers at 'Kids Only Time,' a Family Camp held recently in Guildford.

At the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, the Karrinyup Rotary delegation responded to a request for Rotary to supply hygiene kits to assist in educating at risk children in the Goldfields in how to avoid trachoma and other diseases. A team of volunteers worked hard to source and prepare the first shipment of one hundred bags, which have now been delivered to the Goldfields Trachoma Team. Plans are underway to provide further hygiene kits. Any contributions from clubs or individuals would be most welcome. Please contact Sandra McGuire.

 In addition the club currently supports the following Community Service projects and programs:

• Australian Rotary Health
• McCusket Alzheimer's Research Foundation
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Foodbank WA
• Passages
• Riding for the Disabled
• Camp Quality
• Trigg Island Surf Lifesaving Club

Plans for a number of other future projects in the local community are currently underway. 

Several weeks ago, Mick, Sandra, Jane and Tess from the RC Karrinyup community service team set out on a mission to provide some relief from the cold for homeless people in the City of Stirling in the form of additional winter clothing. The aim was to collect a quantity beanies, socks, gloves and small blankets to be distributed by the City of Stirling in backpacks. Being 'People of Action', the team gathered items from work and friends and operated a stall to collect donated items from the local community at the Stirling Farmers Market.

Last year, the club's Winter Woollies project team hosted a community stall at the Stirling Farmers Market to collect warm garments for the homeless. This led to a lovely knitting group, who were very excited to help, making contact with us. These wonderful ladies from the Wembley Church knitting group have already started off our winter appeal with beanies and scarves, as well as helping wheelchair for kids with blankets and toys.