Our Initiatives

Local

We had a wonderful time promoting one hundred years of Rotary with the baton relay early in 2021.

By sponsoring the delivery of the SafeTalk program we enabled members of the community to participate in a training program that prepares helpers to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources.

Our commitment to the future of our community is strongly focused on our youth. We have sponsored young people to travel to and participate in a range of Rotary programs including Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Rotary Youth Program of enrichment, Rotary Youth Science Forum and the International Youth Exchange program.

Global

The fundraising efforts of the Rotary Club of Discovery Coast supports many global community groups that assist families around the world in times of need - The Rotary Foundation, Shelter Box, Australian Rotary Health, Umoja Children’s Home in Kenya, Romac, The Centenary Rotary Water Project in Timor Leste are projects that are supported.

Local Voice for Nature (LVfN) is a sub-group established within the Discovery Coast Rotary Club to meet the challenge of the new Rotary area of Focus – Environment.

With the support of GRC and other interested groups, Local Voice for Nature endeavours to protect and enhance the conservation values within the Workman’s Beach and Springs Beach reserves.

Local Voice for Nature supports Gladstone Regional Council in identifying potential opportunities for improvement the way the reserves are managed.

Through this Project Plan, LVfN volunteers aim to minimise the impacts of invasive grasses present within the reserves, through manual weed removal targeting:

• Green Panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume)
• Guinea Grass (Megathyrus maximus var. maximus )

And if identified, and at LVfN’s discretion, removal of other weedy grasses* that may be present amongst the guinea grass, including:

• Grader grass (Themeda quadrivalvis)
• Giant Rat’s Tail Grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis, S. natalensis )
• Red Natal Grass (Melinis repens)
• Mossman River Grass (Cenchrus echinatus )

*Species listed are known or likely to occur within the Workman’s and Spring’s Beach reserves.

Revegetation activities will also be undertaken where practical to support natural regeneration. Enhancement of existing native vegetation will assist to shade out weed regrowth and prevent uncontrolled pedestrian access.

Timing of revegetation activities should aim to coincide with seasonal rainfall to ensure greatest chance of plant survival, however supplementary watering may be required during plant establishment (first 6 weeks) or periods of extended dryness. When determining planting sites and numbers of plants, consideration should be given to availability of water access points and practicality of transporting water to site.

We work for an hour early in the morning at 7am once every fortnight. You will need a spade or digging tool, hat, water, wear long sleeves and pants and closed in shoes.

Enhance the environment with us by volunteering in our local project. We welcome all who are interested. Please call m. 0488087622

Community Groups

Local Ambulance Committee, Wildlife carers, Rural Fire Brigades, State Emergency Services, Capricorn Rescure Helicopter, Boomerang Bags, Orchid Society, meals on Wheels, Discovery Coast Health and Community Services, Mens Shed, Volunteer Marine Rescure, RSL, 1770 Festival.

Sporting Groups

Agnes Water Tennis Juniors, Discovery Coast Sport and Recreational Club, Captain Creek Pony Club, Marlins Womens Rugby League, 1770 Dragons, Little Athletics and Agnes Water Skate Boarders.

Schools

Goora Gan Steiner School, Agnes Water State School, Rosedale State School, Discovery Christian College, Wartburg School.

Discovery Coast Rotary either run or assist with the annual Melbourne Cup function. Always a sell-out, the event sees guests travel from around the region for the chance to dress in their finest, enjoy great food, entertainment and win fantastic prizes.

Each year we host a Biggest Morning Tea. Held in a beautiful graden setting, our high tea event gives the community the opportunity to learn more about the prevention and detection of cancer while devouring delish homemade cakes and pastries. All funds from the event go directly to Cancer Council Queensland.

Just for something different... each year we hold a quirky event to entertain and enable community members to have fun and fundraise at the same time. Whether its visiting a local winery or a Larc tour, there's lots of laughter and funds to benefit community groups.

We acknowledge and support our fellow community groups by volunteering at festivals and events in the region. You can expect to see Rotary shirts at music festivals, fishing competitions, parades and sporting events.

Our region is characterised by a lack of health infrastructure and services with residents having to travel up to three hours to access many health services. Through partnering with IMPACT Community Health Service, Discovery Coast Rotary through our District Grant process has provided telehealth equipment to support access to a broad range of services and to maximise the client/ clinician experience.

IMPACT provides a range of community nursing and allied health services to the Discovery region including telehealth for mental health, speech therapy, diabetes education and specialist services. Our Telehealth Project addresses needs in three Rotary Areas of Focus - Disease Prevention and Treatment, Basic Education and Literacy and Maternal and Child Health.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is fatal but reversible, with the best chance of survival being a shock from a defibrillator within the first five minutes after collapse. Access to emergency services can be limited with only two Queensland Ambulance centres in our Discovery Coast Region. We are pleased to support our community with the provision of two defibrillators located at Sandcastles Resort and Rocky Crossing Caravan Park to compliment the availability of defibrillators already in our community. This project supports Rotary Areas of Focus - Disease Prevention and Treatment.