Last Week's Club Meeting 11th August 2026
Award-Winning Community Spirit!
What an incredible honour!
The Rotary Club of Emerald & District is proud to announce that we have been awarded Rotary International's Club Excellence Award for 2025–2026.
Past President Peter receiving the 2025-2026 Club Excellence Award.
Guest Speakers - RYLArian - Sebastien Nash
- Model United Nations Assembly - Millie & Heidi
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) - Sebastien Nash
Personal interests: A love of music, staying fit, and pursuing personal passions.
Highlights of the camp: Participating in a gala event that required teamwork under pressure.
Group activities: An Amazing Race-style challenge, Capture the Flag, a storytelling and negotiation exercise.
These activities strengthened teamwork, communication, and negotiation skills.
Daily reflection sessions: The "toolbox sessions" at the end of each day are one of the most valuable parts of the camp.
Sebastien thanked facilitators Keira and Sarah for helping create a supportive environment where participants reflected on their learning.
Building friendships: Arriving without knowing anyone but quickly forming close friendships.
Sebastien emphasized how meaningful these connections became over only a few days.
Growing confidence: Learning to express ideas without fear of judgment.
Becoming more comfortable speaking up and contributing in group discussions.
Improving communication skills, including giving instructions and constructive feedback.
Leadership development: Sebastien said these experiences will help both personally and professionally. He intends to continue developing these leadership skills.
Future involvement: Because of the positive experience, Sebastien signed up to return as a leader the following year.
Keira, Sebastien & Melinda
Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) - Millie & Heidi
2 Students from Emerald Secondary College describing their participation in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA).
Six students travelled to Warragul to represent Türkiye. Preparation involved researching Türkiye policies and ensuring arguments reflected Türkiye official positions rather than their own opinions.
Topics debated included: Immigration, weapons in space, other international issues.
Students found the most challenging aspect was responding to unexpected arguments during debate.
The experience strengthened skills such as: Critical thinking, research, public speaking, teamwork, listening, quick decision-making.
They conclude that MUNA was both educational and valuable for future academic and professional opportunities.
Environment Committee
Report from Vicki (Chair)- Recyclables
This year the Committee intends to step up the collection of recyclables to keep them out of landfill. But we need your help please.
Some of the articles we will collect are in the picture below.
They are:
- blister packs,
- milk bottle tops, paper liner removed and rinsed, with a 2 or 4 in the triangle,
- aluminium coffee capsules,
- writing pens, highlighters, biros and markers,
- mascara and eyeshadow tubes, eyeliner pencils and case, and medical ointment tubes.
We will collect the items on the 1st meeting of the month, and we will put a reminder in the last Sparkle of the month that the collection will be happening at the next meeting.
You put your recyclables into the especially labelled large plastic tub. We will keep a record of who is donating, and a prize will be given to the most prolific recycler. We know many of you are committed environmentalists and we want to streamline the process and reduce the number of items that are unnecessarily going to landfill. So, please continue/start collecting!
“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
Cardinia Shire Council's Waste team would like to invite your community group to attend a free community screening of the recently released Australian documentary The Plastic Country on Thursday 27 August 2026 at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, Pakenham.
Presented as part of the Catchment to Coast exhibition program, this thought-provoking documentary explores the impacts of plastic pollution on our environment and communities, while highlighting practical actions we can all take to protect our waterways, natural places and health.
This screening is an opportunity to continue the important conversations sparked through the exhibition and bring together community members who share a passion for environmental stewardship and creating positive change.
As a local group helping to protect and enhance our natural environment, we would love to have your organisation involved in this important community event.
Event Details
What: The Plastic Country (Australian documentary)
When: Thursday 27 August 2026, 6.00 pm screening start, Q&A to follow
Where: Cardinia Cultural Centre, Pakenham
Cost: Free (registration essential)
