District 9520

The District stretches from the south coast of South Australia, through the southern half of the metropolitan area of Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Lower Murray, the Riverland area of South Australia to the Sunraysia district of Victoria on to Wentworth and Broken Hill, in New South Wales, and into the south-west corner of Queensland.

There about 1,600 Rotarians in 57 Clubs.

Group 1

Broken Hill, Broken Hill South, Irymple, Merbein, Mildura, Mildura Deakin, Red Cliffs, Robinvale Euston, South Mildura , Wentworth.

Group 2

Barmera, Berri, Lameroo, Loxton, Renmark, Waikerie.

Group 3

Blakiston, Mobilong, Mount Barker, Murray Bridge, Onkaparinga, Stirling, Tailem Bend.

Group 4

Encounter Bay, Goolwa, Hindmarsh Island, McLaren Vale, Strathalbyn, Victor Harbor, Yankalilla.

Group 5

Blackwood, Coromandel Valley, Flagstaff Hill, Noarlunga, Noarlunga East, Reynella.

Group 6

Brownhill Creek, Eastwood, Glen Osmond, Hyde Park, Mitcham, St Marys, Unley.

Group 7

Burnside, Campbelltown, Kent Town, Magill Sunrise, Morialta, Norwood, St.Peters.

Group 8

Brighton, Edwardstown, Glenelg, Holdfast Bay, Hallet Cove, Marion, Somerton Park.

For more information about District 9520 please visit the District 9520 Website

District 9520 Governor - Peter Ochota and Meredith

Peter joined the Rotary Club of Somerton Park in 1990, and was President in 1993/94. He is a Paul Harris Fellow. Peter and Meredith have been involved in the Long Term Youth Exchange having hosted an inbound student from Germany and supported their elder son as an outbound student to South Africa.

Peter was District Governor’s Representative in 1994/95, has been a member and chair of the District MedicAlert Committee, and Assistant Governor for three years.

Peter studied Civil Engineering and Economics at the University of Adelaide, and Management at the University of South Australia. His working career included various professional, managerial and executive positions in SA Water, the Department for Industrial Affairs (responsible for encouraging safe work practices and sound industrial practices in workplaces throughout South Australia), the South Australian Ports Corporation and its successor Flinders Ports Pty Ltd (responsible for planning, construction and maintenance of infrastructure at ten sea ports in South Australia). Peter retired in 2004.

Meredith is a registered nurse who was involved in the development of national infection control guidelines, established infection control courses in South Australia and Papua New Guinea and initiated an infection control accreditation system for dental, medical and allied health practices. Before retiring in 2003, Meredith was the senior Infection Control Practitioner in the South Australian Public Health System.

Peter and Meredith have lived in metropolitan Adelaide, except for one year in the UK when Peter was a Confederation of British Industry Scholar, and two years in Mount Gambier as Regional Manager, SA Water. They have two sons They enjoy music, travel (caravanning and overseas), various water sports (swimming, kayaking, sailing and skiing), hiking and relaxing at their holiday house at Goolwa.

Click here to listen to Peter Ochota's Radio Interview with Malcolm Elliott in July 2007 (MP3 Format ~ 4mb)

District Governor Elect Peter Shipp and Judy

Peter migrated to Adelaide from Hull, Yorkshire, England in 1951, went to sea in 1957 studied for his Marine qualifications and became a Ship’s Master at age 32. Peter next took up land based roles as harbourmaster/pilot for South Australian Regional Ports, then returning to Adelaide in 1981 to work for Department of Marine and Harbours. Peter was responsible for the Marine operations in Port Adelaide, the Marine Safety Standards in State waters (including the River Murray), and Senior Examiner of Marine Qualifications. In 1995 he was contracted to the newly formed South Australian Ports Corporation for the position of Executive Manager Port Operations responsible for all operational issues in the State’s 10 major ports; retiring in 2001.

Peter has joined three Rotary Clubs: Ceduna in 1977, Port Pirie in 1978, and finally Holdfast Bay in 1981, where he was President in 1987/88. Assistant Governor for 2004 to 2007, he has been involved on District committees, (Rotaract, Interact and Aged ), and is a Paul Harris Fellow/Sapphire Pin. Peter and Judy have been hosts to 6 Long Term Youth Exchange students, and Ambassadorial Scholars.

Peter has been President of three Amateur Football Clubs, and numerous Professional Maritime bodies and is the Immediate Past President of “The Friends of the Maritime Museum”. Golf is a leisure activity as is Travel and Reading.

Judy was involved in the Aged Care Industry for 25 years, firstly in Activities and for the nine years prior to retiring in 2004 was the Departmental Head of Leisure and Health in an Aged Care Complex. She is a Charter member of the Holdfast Marion Inner Wheel Club and was President in 1999/2000. Judy is a member of the local Church Council, a volunteer at the Hutt Street Centre for the Homeless and has a great interest in all crafts.

Peter and Judy have 4 adult children (David, Andrew, Louise and Nicholas) and 6 very special Grandchildren.

District Governor Nominee Dick Cuttle and Karina

Dick joined the Rotary Club of Onkaparinga in 1989, after moving from Burra with Karina, Andre and Antony. He had just retired from the Apex Club of Burra, and was awarded life membership.

He worked at Mt Barker High School as a Maths coordinator, while Karina taught German in several small schools around Birdwood.

Two and a half years later Dick became President of the Rotary Club of Onkaparinga due to the unexpected transfer of the President-Elect. The following year he was appointed as DG’s Representative by Ken Knights.

In 1995 he was offered a promotion back in the country and the family moved in turn to Kimba, Keith and then returned to Birdwood at the end of 2001. During this time Karina retired from teaching, and further developed her interest in collecting and trading antiques. Dick rejoined the Rotary Club of Onkaparinga in December 2001, and became Chair of the District Short Term Youth Exchange Committee in July 2002. After 3 years he became Australian Coordinator of this programme. He and Karina are still involved by being camp parents at times. Karina has also joined the Rotary Club of Onkaparinga, and is in her first term as secretary.

At district level, he led a GSE team to D6630, Ohio, in 2006, and then became a member of the GSE committee for the 2006-7 year. He is in his second year as Community Projects Coordinator. The family hosted their first Youth Exchange student in 1983, and continues to support this programme as host parents.

Dick has played, coached and umpired in several sports over the years, and now he and Karina follow the Crows. When time permits they are avid travelers, locally and internationally.

About Rotary

Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.

The main objective of Rotary is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self.

Although Rotary clubs develop autonomous service programs, all Rotarians worldwide are united in a campaign for the global eradication of polio. In the 1980s, Rotarians raised US$240 million to immunize the children of the world; by 2005, Rotary's centenary year and the target date for the certification of a polio-free world, the PolioPlus program will have contributed US$500 million to this cause. In addition, Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote and assist at national immunization days in polio-endemic countries around the world.

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes world understanding through international humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and others who share its vision of a better world. Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, which are initiated and administered by local Rotary clubs and districts.

Organisation of Rotary

Rotary is essentially a grassroots organisation, with most of its service efforts being carried out at the club level. The district and international structure is designed to support the clubs and help them provide more service in their local communities and abroad.

Clubs

Rotarians are members of Rotary clubs which belong to the global association, Rotary International (RI). Each club elects its own officers and enjoys considerable autonomy within the framework of Rotary’s constitution and bylaws.

Districts

Clubs are grouped into 532 RI districts, each led by a District Governor who is an officer of RI. The district administration, including Assistant Governors and various committees, guides and supports the clubs.

RI Board

The 19 member RI Board of Directors, which includes the RI President and President-elect, meets quarterly to establish policies. Traditionally, the RI President, who is elected annually, develops a theme and emphases for the year.

The Secretariat

Rotary International is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, USA, with seven international offices in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Korea and Switzerland. The office of RI in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI), located in England, serves clubs and districts in that region.

The Secretariat’s chief operating officer is the RI General Secretary, who heads a 650 member staff working to serve Rotarians worldwide.

Supported Projects

School of St Jude In 2002 a young lady, Gemma Rice (now Gemma Sisia), from a sheep farm in Australia, opened a small school in Northern Tanzania with the help of her family, friends and local Rotary Club. What started with only a handful of children and one teacher is now a thriving school of almost 850 children, 60 teachers and 200 staff. This school has the potential to really influence the quality of Tanzania's future leaders. In 2006 Arthur Manser, District Governor of Rotary District 9520, presented a cheque to Gemma at the Broken Hill Conference to fund the purchase of a new bus for the school. A short video is available to provide some background to this amazing project which was the idea of one person with vision who was able to harness the energy and support of her local Rotary Clubs. Further information is available on the St.Jude website www.schoolofstjude.co.tz

A Toast to Rotary International

It is my pleasure to propose a toast to Rotary International.

Rotary International has 1,207,438 members in 32,504 Clubs in 529 Districts in 207 Countries. In Australia, there are 34,001 Rotarians in 1,172 Clubs.

Why is Rotary International such a prestigious organisation able to achieve great outcomes. It is largely due to its members. People who want to make a difference, want to lead the way, want to share the Rotary ideals with others and provide service beyond self.

We are all familiar with the multitude of projects with which Rotary International is involved. These range from the mammoth international project of polio eradication to say a local community project of supporting a disadvantaged child in a primary school who would be unable to attend a school camp without a small donation from Rotary. I am sure you all sometimes spend five minutes thinking of the good that Rotary International has done and continues to do.

I think the line “vision to see, faith to believe, courage to do” is what is required of us to be successful in Rotary. We must see the needs around us, believe we can make a difference and step forward to act.

Rotary International President, Bill Boyd, has said “every intelligent act of generosity, every project that helps others to lead better lives, is also an act of hope. We Rotarians share the belief that love for others does make a difference. Each small act of kindness, from one human being to another, brings us closer to each other and to the kind of world we hope to leave to our children. We think we are only helping to equip a school, supply a clinic or build a well for a faraway community. But in truth, what we are doing is helping to build a better, more stable and peaceful future.”

We can all be proud of the achievements of Rotary International.

I ask you to stand and toast the first and greatest service Club in the world, Rotary International.

Proposed by President elect Brenton Aird at the Somerton Park Changeover 26Jun 2007

Further information about Rotary

• Rotary International
• Rotary in Australia
• The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
• Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS)
• Rotarian Action Group for Population and Development
• Save Water Save Lives (SWSL)
• Rotary Against Malaria (RAM)
• Adopt-a-Village