The first weekend in May every year is set in the Rotary calendar where the clubs continue to engage and support this iconic event which attracts huge crowds to enjoy an action-packed program.

This year, with idyllic weather, each of the clubs participated in various activities with the event organisers Mark and Kerry Bright donating a total of $10,000 to the five clubs.

On Monday last, a special presentation function was held in the main hangar at HARS Museum, with representatives from the various community organisations chosen as recipients for the funds distributed by the local Northern Illawarra Rotary Clubs and donated by the Brights. 

Master of Ceremonies was Leigh Robinson, President of the Rotary Club of Wollongong.

Each club chooses its charity and community program.

This year, six local organisations were nominated and presented with their respective donations. 

The Rotary Club of Wollongong shared their donation of $1000 between St Marks Anglican Church Project, “Feeding the Needy of Wollongong” and Dapto Anglican Church Project, ‘Streetcrew” – supporting the Youth of Dapto. 

Each of the following donated $2000 to their respective organisations: Rotary Club of Fairy Meadow – Wollongong Emergency Family Housing; Rotary Club of Illawarra Sunrise – Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven, Illawarra; Rotary Club of Corrimal - The Imagination Library; Rotary Club of West Wollongong – Sky’s the Limit Mini Olympics.

“We’re very grateful for the generosity and donation towards our Mini Olympics and can’t thank you enough, and we would love to share the day with you in October,” Melinda Montgomery, marketing/administration manager of Essential Personnel, said.

Similar sentiments were forthcoming from each of the other beneficiaries.

For further information about Rotary and the projects contact Sue Clark on 0402 818 075.