On Thursday 22 October 2026, two days before World Polio Day, members of the Rotary Clubs of the Illawarra will be visiting all the railway stations in the Illawarra to raise awareness, funds and support to end poliomyelitis, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens the children of the world today.
A total of 36 cases have been officially reported globally so far in 2026
Country Endemic Polio Cases (WPV1)
Afghanistan 32 cases
Pakistan 4 cases
The End Polio Train Ride is among many events to be held by Rotary clubs around the world in honour of World Polio Day, 24 October
Polio anywhere is a threat everywhere, and Rotary members from the Illawarra have long worked to end the paralysing virus, which will be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated.
Rotary has contributed more than US$2.9 billion to fight polio and countless volunteer hours since launching its PolioPlus program in 1985. In 1988, Rotary joined in partnership with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to form the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, later joined. When the initiative launched, there were 350,000 cases of polio every year. Today, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent.
To sustain this progress and continue to reach every child with the polio vaccine, Rotary has committed to raising up to US$50 million each year to support global polio eradication efforts. The Gates Foundation has renewed its pledge through 2029 to match that 2-to-1 for a total yearly contribution of up to US$150 million.
About Rotary
Rotary brings together a global network of community leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.
We connect 1.2 million members from more than 45,000 Rotary clubs across the world.
Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.
Visit Rotary.org and endpolio.org for more about Rotary and its efforts to eradicate polio.
Maslow Entertainment is delighted to be releasing GUIDED BY HORSES, a beautiful and inspirational film about Aboriginal scientist Professor Juli Coffin who brings healing power to Indigenous children by connecting them with wild horses. Set in the stunning Kimberley region, this powerful story celebrates kindness, the resilience of the human spirit, and our connection to nature.
The Dollywood Foundation announces “Give Like Dolly Day” on September 25, encouraging the world to make a difference in a child’s life.
Since 2014 Imagination Library Illawarra (Rotary Clubs of the Illawarra) has donated over 30,914 books by sponsoring over 1380 children (plus their siblings).
The project relies completely on public donations, Rotary Club donations, fundraising events and grants from local organisations.
Thank You Dolly for this inspirational project.
Please give generously to help children's education in the Illawarra. https://bit.ly/47lWN5P
By donating you are giving the gift of early childhood literacy to children in Illawarra.
Give Like Dolly Day honours Dolly’s lifelong commitment to children and her Imagination Library
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – The Dollywood Foundation, home of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, recently announced Give Like Dolly Day on September 25, a global day dedicated to supporting local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Programs and honouring Dolly’s extraordinary legacy of inspiring children to dream big and develop a lifelong love of reading. As Dolly often said, “If you can read, you can do anything, dream anything and be anything.”
At the heart of Give Like Dolly Day are the thousands of Local Imagination Library Partners around the world who help carry Dolly’s mission forward in their own communities.
The Dollywood Foundation announces “Give Like Dolly Day”
Members of the Rotary Club of Fairy Meadow are proud to announce our annual High Tea Fundraiser for KAIROS Outside is on again at Corrimal RSL on Saturday 31st October starting at 2:00 p.m.
The High Tea will be preceded by a Fashion Showing presented by Scremlins Designs Ladieswear when you will be able to order garments.
KAIROS Outside, the recipients of this fundraising event, provides support to women who have been impacted by the imprisonment of a family member or friend.
Registration will close on Wednesday 14th October at 11:59 p.m. and there will be a Wait List.
If you are unable to attend or you would like to make a donation as well as attending, you can make a donation during the registration process.
Our annual Razzamatazz shows took place on Wednesday and Thursday 15th and 16th April 2026 at Woonona-Bulli RSL and the four shows were extremely well supported by local children's community groups, carers, grandparents and parents.
Members of the Rotary Club of Fairy Meadow would like to thank all the sponsors of these shows without whose support these shows would not be possible.
If you would like more information about sponsorship in 2027, please contact Kath on either 1800 067 545 or 0405 123 058
Life Education is the largest non-government provider of drug and health education to children and young people, Australia wide. Life Education Illawarra’s mission is to empower young people in the Illawarra to make the best choices for a safe and healthy life. This is achieved through their leading drug education programs, which are driven by the popular Life Education mascot Healthy Harold the giraffe.
Little Wings is a children's charity that provides free, professional and safe flight and ground transport services for sick children and their families in rural and regional NSW.
Your journey is our mission, and we strive to help sick children access specialised medical services and treatments at the Children's Hospital that are only available in major cities or towns.
We do everything we can to support families by easing the financial burden, emotional strain and travel fatigue that they experience due to the long-distance travel associated with receiving vital medical treatment.
A school that provides education opportunities to very needy children especially orphans and children from very impoverished households in southwestern Uganda.
If sponsors would like to see their company details shown on this website, please contact the telemarketers on 1800 067 545.
If your community group is not on our mailing list to receive free tickets to one of the shows please apply to the secretary by clicking here.
The Rotary Club of Fairy Meadow (D9675) Australia has committed to supporting a school, Divine Mercy School in Kanungu in southwestern Uganda, that provides education opportunities to very needy children especially orphans and children from very impoverished households.
The Rotary Club of Fairy Meadow has been awarded the RI Club Excellence Award for 2025-26 from Rotary International, the highest recognition a Rotary club can receive, for its service, growth, and commitment to the community it calls home.
The award, signed by Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo and Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Holger Knaack, recognizes the club "for fostering a positive experience for its members and reflecting the values of Rotary."
This recognition from Rotary International celebrates our commitment to achieving our goals, strengthening Rotary, and making a real difference in our community.
Congratulations to all our dedicated members, friends and supporters!
A Peace Project celebrating 100 years since the foundation of Rotary was initiated in 2021.
The original idea was for 100 Rotary Clubs from around Australia, to be invited by the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin, to become involved in this joint Centenary Project by donating a peace pole to a primary school in their area.
This has now exceeded all expectations.
Now, there is no limit on the number of schools or poles that can form part of the project in fact the project has now passed over 600 Peace Poles donated with poles now located in every state and territory of Australia.
The Rotary Club of Fairy Meadow is proud to have three schools with Peace Poles:
Clubs sponsored/mentored by the Rotary Club of Fairy Meadow
Chartered on September 25th, 2020 and has 11 active members.
Rotaract is a global organisation that empowers young people to create positive and lasting change in themselves, their local community and around the world. Every Rotaractor shares a unique passion for taking action.
Illawarra Rotaract Club organised a Morning Tea to raise funds for the Tenali Project to assist the Dayamani School that past RYLArian Megan Biggs volunteered in for two weeks of her school holidays.
The End Trachoma Project which was their charter project is still ongoing and continued support for the Ampilatwatja School Community in NT by partnering with the RC Belconnen and Food Bank Central Australia. Christmas hampers were delivered last year, and more hampers are currently being organised.
They are very active in our Say No to Domestic Violence and Yes to Respectful Relationships Walks and Projects.
The Club also participates in numerous other activities and projects as well as connecting with other Rotaract and Rotary Clubs.
Established 16th June 2006 – 20 years this year!. Now thriving and currently has 35 members.
They are a very active club and have just completed a three month campaign on Respectful Relationships.
Very actively involved in the Illawarra Womens’ Day of Dance and Culture with Healthy Cities Australia.
They also have raised funds for the Caritas Gaza Appeal.
This Rotary Club supplied Interact Aprons. Their response to us:
“On behalf of Interact, I want to express our gratitude to Rotary for generously supplying us with custom aprons for our fundraisers, the girls absolutely loved them! Your support means a lot to us and has significantly contributed to the success of our recent event, a hairspray stall at Good Samaritan Day, which is a big day for us at St Marys.
The aprons not only looked fantastic but gave us good exposure as a club, created a sense of unity among our volunteers and added a professional touch to our look… We felt very special! Truly, we are very appreciative of your generosity and kindness. We look forward to using them more in the future, to create positive impacts as a community.
Kind regards and many thanks,
Interact Co-President”
So proud to be associated with such an amazing Club. We also would like to thank Liz Davis for all her hard work over many years and the mentoring teacher Luisa Tiberio.
