Victor Szwed

Daylesford Rotary Club has been busy this year supporting a range of Community groups and projects. To date this year they have provided $4,638 with another $2,000 set aside for upcoming grants and a further $3,500 being donated to support international humanitarian causes.

Daylesford Rotary Club is the only remaining service group in Daylesford. There are many other groups providing support for specific causes, however Rotary provides community support across various needs.

Andrew Littlejohn, Daylesford Rotary President 2023-24 said, “Our Club has been operating for 71 years and like many volunteer groups has faced increasing challenges in recent years. COVID and other issues have resulted in fewer volunteers for most community groups. We have been re-grouping to ensure that Rotary continues to serve our community. We also have a great team of Friends of Rotary who regularly help out.”

“For 2024-25, we have four dedicated Rotarians each serving as Club President for 3 months. Victor Szwed is our President from July, followed by Danny Moynihan, Koos Hulst and Lesley Hewitt. Rotary has evolved to better meet the expectations of volunteers. Rather than ask what can you, as a member do for Rotary, we are now focussing more on what can Rotary do for you to achieve community outcomes.”

Grants made since June 2024 include:

  • $1,623 to the Daylesford Regional Arts Cooperative to help stage their art show opening on the 26th of September at Stanbridge Hall,
  • $1,000 towards the new Daylesford RSL Avenue of Honour sign,
  • $500 for the Daylesford New Years Eve event,
  • $165 for fuel for a local family with Ian and Trish Tinetti kindly providing the wood at half cost,
  • $750 to continue our sponsoring of Panda a Daylesford Riding for the Disabled horse,
  • $300 for vital supplies which a local is taking to a shelter for Women and Children in Bali, and
  • $300 to Friends of Cornish Hill for track and creek crossing improvements.

There are two other significant local projects which Daylesford Rotary has set aside $2,000 to support. Internationally, Rotary provides $1,000 most years for a Shelter Box to go to an area that has experienced a disaster. These boxes include a tent, cooking gear, water purification equipment, blankets and other gear to help up to eight people survive for several months while recovery efforts take place.

The Club also supports the Rotary International Polio eradication program with a $1,000 donation. Another $1,500 is going to Rotary International which can cover various causes.

Their main income is from our annual Daylesford Rotary Art Show which takes place over the Cup Day long weekend and also from funds raised at the monthly Market held on the fourth Saturday at the Daylesford Primary School.

Rotary Daylesford welcomes interest from anyone.  If you would like to know more about Daylesford Rotary as a Friend of Rotary or to join as a member,  contact Danny Moynihan on 0407 501 994.

Victor Szwed is a Daylesford resident and a member of the Rotary Club of Daylesford.