Words by Xavier Perdriau
Hey Scouts! Down in The Mall, you can find two stalls alike in name, but even more in mission. The 26th Australian Jamboree is quite fortunate to have both the Maryborough-Sunrise Rotary Club and Maryborough City Rotary Club set up in The Mall.
You may be wondering, what is a Rotary Club? Rotary International is a global non-profit made up of a network of over 45,000 clubs, with over 1100 in Australia, and 1.2 million Rotarians running the clubs, including 30,000 in Australia. It’s an organisation that is over 110 years old, built on helping other people and contributing to the community and the world. Like Scouts it is full of dedicated volunteers who do what is right and believe in themselves. With so many clubs across Australia, make sure to keep in mind that Rotary might be a pathway to go towards in the future, especially if you share an enjoyment in the community aspect of the Scouting Movement.
Running since 1985, the Rotary Club of Maryborough City is an all-men’s Rotary Club which meets once a week at the local Maryborough RSL. Their aim, according to Treasurer Hayden Lyons, is to “enjoy fellowship while giving back to the community.” Fundraisers run by the club have benefited the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program, the Yoorana Women’s Domestic and Family Violence Service, the Rally for a Cause charity’s Dunga Derby and the starting of Men’s Business Maryborough, a charity focused on men’s mental health and wellbeing. At their stall, Maryborough City are selling sausages, burgers, potato chips and soft drinks, with profits going back to helping them support more local community organisations. Currently, the group have been selling a Jamboree deal, to get a burger, potato chips and a drink for $13, and welcome any Scouts to come and have a bite.
Maryborough-Sunrise Rotary Club, a merger of two clubs beginning in 1931and 1998 respectively, are a mixed Rotary Club that gather once a month. For why the club does what they do, President Kathryn Bannister quoted that “[they’re] out here knowing [they’re] helping other people,” and it “gives a warm fuzzy feeling inside.” Notable projects that the club have funded are also Yoorana, raising money for local NDIS recipients, school backpacks for struggling families and students, the local Animal Refuge, and global projects including building water wells in Timor Leste. The club are vending gluten free hot chips, hot dogs, and a couple of soft drinks to keep cool, with profits going to the club’s continuing contribution to the community. So, if you’re in the mall looking for some snacks, as Maryborough-Sunrise members put it, you can find “hot chips, hot dogs, soft drinks and lots of smiles.”
Overall, it’s clear that the two messages of Rotary and of Scouts line up similarly, and they’re a lovely organisation of lovely people who the Jamboree are grateful for. Make sure to stop by to say hello and grab some fuel to keep you going for the day. See you in the next one, Scouts!
