Community Service

Community Service

Community service is one of the Four Avenues of Service, which encourages Rotarians to offer service to their communities.  Every Rotary Club and every Rotarian assumes a responsibility to find ways to improve the quality of life for those in their communities and to serve the public interest.

  • Encouraging and fostering the ideal of service to the personal, business and community life of every Rotarian
  • Opportunities for every Rotarian to exemplify 'Service Above Self'
  • A chance to respond to the needs of a local community
  • Are relevant to the community
  • Serve as a learning experience for Rotarians
  • Identify a Rotary Club’s role in its community
  • Determine how Rotarians can help with the resources at hand.

Our Community Service Director for 2011–12 is Nora Etmekdjian.  Please see our events calendar for all upcoming Club programs and activities.

Current Community Service Programs

  • Graffiti Removal Program

    Initially started by Turramurra Rotary Club, our Club adopted the graffiti removal project in 2010, launching it on graffiti action day.

  • Bowelscan – Now Called BowelCare

    Rotary Bowelscan commenced in Rotary D9680 in 1990.  With more than 12,000 new cases of bowel cancers diagnosed each year. Read more

  • Circus Quirkus

    Rotarians plan and carry out a remarkable variety of humanitarian, educational and cultural exchange projects that improve people’s lives at both the local and world levels. Read more

  • Tree of Joy

    Our annual Christmas Present drive for local children in need. This year at West Ryde Marketplace and Top Ryde City. Come and support your community and shine a little light in the life of a child. Read more

  • Charity Golf Day at Oatlands Golf Club

  • Meals On Wheels

  • Mental Health Forums

  • Red Shield Appeal

  • Nursing Home Visits and present-giving (Mothers Day & Fathers Day)

  • Family Eco Fun Day BBQ – Lane Cove National Park

  • Christmas Cakes & Puddings

  • Ryde Hospital

  • Australian Medical Health Research

    Ryde Rotary has contributed in excess of $68,000 to the Rotary Wing of the Children's Hospital Westmead (Sydney) by providing funds on an annual basis to the Australian Health Research Fund.  The Fund has grants in excess of $500,000 p.a.

Past Community Service projects have included:

  • NRMA Careflight

  • Lottie Stewart Hospital

  • Ryde Public School

Reports from previous Community Service Directors:


Each year, at Club Changeover, the chairs of each avenue of service provide an annual report. These are published in the annual Changeover Program. Go to our downloads page, and you will find all available Changeover Reports listed.

A Global Service Network

Rotary International, the world's first service club organization, is made up of over 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.  Its members form a global network of business and professional leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities and the world. Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the organization's members.