At the club’s annual changeover dinner on Monday night, outgoing treasurer John Tushuizen reported Rotary was still able to donate more than $33,000 in the 2019/2020 year.
It was significantly higher than the $12,600 in donations in the previous 12 months.
Mr Tushuizen said the ‘‘highlight of the year’’ — and the reason for the large increase in donations — was the Bushfire Extravaganza concert.
It featured more than 30 local artists at the Deniliquin Golf Club on February 2 this year, to raise money for the Rotary Bushfire Appeal.
‘‘This fundraising event allowed Rotary to donate $17,121 to the Bushfire Appeal,’’ Mr Tushuizen said in his report.
‘‘Rotary also made a meaningful donation of $5000 to Navorina Nursing Home, and the Deniliquin Lions Club donated $7000 to Navorina.
‘‘The combined donations will enable Navorina to acquire a used vehicle to support elderly residents.’’
Other individual donations in the 2019/2020 year included $1912 to Deniliquin High School’s hospitality program, $1000 each to Rotary Foundation and Rotary Health and $1120 to support Elle Parsons to attend the Rotary Youth Leaderships program.
Other donations of $500 or less were gifted to local schools, the Deniliquin Salvation Army, Vinnies Services and Movember.
The smaller donations also included $297 for t-shirts for the Rotary Youth Committee’s new program Busy Feet — which is designed to encourage activity through dance and song for physically and mentally disabled children.
Incoming for Rotary in the past 12 months was a $5000 grant from Edward River Council, which went in to the $6250 upgrade of the catering trailer.
Immediate past president Wayne Sheean said the impact of Coronavirus lockdown on club activities in the next 12 months is still unknown.
‘‘Most of our major events were cancelled from early 2020 and this will affect the club financially, and the amount of money that we distributes annually to the community,’’ he said in his report.
‘‘In saying this, Deniliquin Rotary has sought to maintain weekly contact with members with the use of Zoom conferencing and looks forward to the time when the ‘new normal’ allows community events in which Rotary is involved to re-commence.’’
Denise Phillips, who has been acting president of Rotary since April following Rev Sheean’s resignation, officially succeeded Rev Sheean as president at Monday’s meeting.
Neville Ladson is vice president, David McPherson is treasurer and Bev Forchi is secretary.
As president elect for the 2021/202 year, Lesley Hills is also a member of the Deni Rotary board. Other board members are Ian McAtamney, Dan Salmon, Di Hand, Martin Wilmshurst and Angela Frino.
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