Taken from RDU HERE

Turning the tide on waste in Bali’s coastal communities

Bali’s growing waste problem has been in the news recently due to its massive ocean debris and plastic pollution. Now, dedicated Rotarians from Bali and Australia are working together to create meaningful and lasting change.

Plastic Free Bali is a forward-thinking project introducing sustainable waste management practices across four villages surrounding the iconic West Bali National Park. This is Bali’s only national park, and just offshore lies Menjangan Island – a place of spiritual significance, with many Hindu temples and a world-renowned diving destination with crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs.

When floodwaters surged through Western Queensland last year, they didn’t just wash through streets – they tore through lives, homes and the fragile stability of remote communities. Isolated by distance and stretched thin by limited resources, towns already battling the outback’s harsh conditions suddenly found themselves fighting a disaster far bigger than anything they could face alone.

But help came – fast, coordinated and deeply compassionate.

Rotary Districts 9560 and 9620, backed by the strength of Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS), launched the Western Queensland Flood Appeal, rallying Rotarians and generous Australians nationwide. Funds poured in, and when families needed immediate relief, Rotary delivered: $49,000 in early cash support, followed by $150,000 in debit cards distributed by dedicated Rotarians in Longreach, Quilpie and Thargomindah. RAWCS added another $50,000, ensuring no family stood alone in the first days of recovery.

A major Rotary-led partnership has delivered a transformative covered arena and facility upgrade for Whakatū Riding for Disabled, NZ, ensuring year-round access, improved safety and long-term sustainability for its riders, volunteers and horses.

The completion of a covered arena, staging area and a makeover of the existing infrastructure marks a significant milestone in the Whakatu Group Riding for Disabled’s (WRDA) future – for its staff, volunteers, clients and horses.

Taken from RDU HERE

From a childhood in refugee camps to a Rotary Peace Fellow, Gatdet Bol Bangoang is translating lived experience into measurable, community-led peacebuilding in South Sudan.

Words: Anne Matthews. D9560 Passport Rotary Club. Qld.

Gatdet Bol Bangoang studied for a Professional Development Certificate in Peacebuilding at The Rotary Peace Centre at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, in 2024-25. He was supported by District 9920.

Across rural Cambodia, Rotary clubs and community partners are delivering lasting change by combining clean water, safe housing and human connection to transform lives one village at a time.

In the rural and remote provinces of Cambodia, where access to clean water, safe sanitation and secure housing can never be taken for granted, Rotary is once again proving the power of service in action. A dedicated RAWCS project led by the Rotary Club of East Maitland, NSW, has been quietly but profoundly changing lives, one family, one village, one connection at a time. This year, the impact has grown further, with the Rotary Club of Morisset, NSW, joining the project and the Rotary Club of Maitland Sunrise, NSW, providing valued support.