The Good News Story of the Global Grant
"Say No - Domestic and Family Violence"
The story behind our Club receiving a Global Grant is a feel-good story.
The District 9510 Foundation Chair and DG 27-28 Nominee was to visit Alice Springs in June 2026 and was looking for things to see and do. He was going to have his partner travel with him, the DG 25-26 for District 9790. In designing an itinerary, we thought we could mix visits with the recipients of Rotary's District Grants in recent times with a visit to the quirky storage area for the Henley on Todd Regatta.
Not many of you would know, but the Henley on Todd has run for over 60 years and has been a great collaboration between the 3 Rotary Clubs in Alice Springs.
The projects we have supported via District grants have been, the Tools and Toolboxes for the Storm response Trailers at Emergency Services in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, the provision of an inflatable landing pit for the Alice Springs Youth and Community Association and an Electronic Whiteboard for WoSSCA. We also support the schools annually. So, visits were organised with these groups.
It was the meeting with WoSSCA that proved the most intriguing. In relation to Domestic Violence, WoSSCA has run the Women's Shelter and provided education services in the Domestic Violence space. Initial discussions were around our continued involvement with WoSSCA on the District Grants and attendance at the broader Domestic Violence Forums and activities in Alice Springs.
When they were asked what a way in which Rotary would be able to assist them, provision of a car was put forward. This is not something that can be covered by a District Grant.
But, of course, in our midst was a highly motivated couple of Rotary Leaders! Enter the Foundation Chair and mooted it could be covered by a Global Grant.
We picked our Treasurer up off the floor. With further discussion, it was evident a car would need to be part of a broader Domestic Violence prevention strategy. And so, the idea was born.
Over the next few weeks, the only representative left in Alice Springs was President Elect Paul Wilson. The onerous task of pulling the project together rested with him.
With the acceptance of the application by Rotary International, we have now been able to complete Phase 1 of the project, the delivery of a 4x4 Ford Everest to support the educational programs of WoSSCA in the remote ares of Central Australia.
Vehicle Handover Marks a Major Milestone
It has been a momentous week for Rotary in Alice Springs. The Rotary Clubs of Alice Springs–Mbantua and Alice Springs handed over a white Ford Everest 4x4 to Women’s Safety Services Central Australia (WoSSCA).
The handover marked the first phase of the Say No – Domestic and Family Violence project, developed in partnership with WoSSCA, the two Rotary clubs and Rotary District 9510, and funded through Rotary’s Global Grants Scheme.
Community and Rotary Support
The clubs gratefully acknowledge the people who helped bring the handover together:
- Centralian Motors: Neily O’Connell and Tim Blazeley provided tremendous support in sourcing a suitable vehicle and arranging the handover.
- Rotary district support: Damian Leach of District 9510 and Emma Davis of District 9790 assisted with contacts, drafting and administration. The Districts identified that the Rotary Club of Botany Downs (Auckland, NZ) was prepared to sponsor the project. This provided the important international link required to qualify for a Global Grant.
- District leadership: District 9510 Governor Tim Mee travelled to Alice Springs for the handover and highlighted the significance of the grant—the first Rotary Global Grant awarded for a domestic violence project in Australia and the first allocation worldwide in this area of focus.
- Rotary club support: The Rotary Clubs of Preston (Victoria) and Merimbula (New South Wales) also generously provided financial support for the project. We thank them for their contribution.
- Project leadership: President Paul Wilson and Virginia Loy, as project directors, played a major role in bringing the project together.
- Community representatives: Member for Araluen Mrs Robyn Lambley spoke of her pride in the Alice Springs community for supporting such a worthwhile initiative. Josh Burgouyne (MLA), a tireless supporter of the local Rotary clubs, also attended.
From an Idea to a Global Grant
The vehicle handover began seven and a half months earlier at a meeting at Virginia Loy’s home with Damian Leach, then District Governor Nominee for District 9510, and Emma Davis, District Governor for District 9790 in Victoria. Damian proposed that the Rotary Clubs of Alice Springs–Mbantua and Alice Springs contribute $10,000 towards a joint Rotary Global Grant application.
I took responsibility for preparing the application, with only six weeks to submit it. After initially knowing little about the process, I spent the first week completing Rotary learning modules. Damian and Emma provided invaluable guidance in getting the application underway.
Grant Requirements and Project Team
The Global Grant required a minimum project value of US$30,000, support from District 9510 and an international Rotary partner. The Rotary Club of Botany Downs in Auckland became our international partner.
A Global Grant committee was formed, with Ron Saint, Peter Mostran and Virginia Loy agreeing to serve. Kevin Hickmott, a Chartered Accountant, accepted responsibility for the accounting role. Their encouragement and support were essential throughout the application phase.
Scope of the Application
Preparing the application involved gathering information from WoSSCA and drafting supporting documents. WoSSCA requested assistance for:
- a vehicle;
- the development of a child-friendly area with furniture and sensory toys;
- four workshops with adult women in remote communities; and
- four Alice Springs workshops with Year 6 primary students.
District Designated Funds were secured from District 9510, District 9790 in Victoria and District 9920 in New Zealand. I then prepared the budget in Australian dollars, converted it to US dollars and matched each item to the available funding.
Review, Revision and Approval
The application was submitted with one day to spare. Soon afterwards, Steven Sundstrom of Rotary International identified several issues in a detailed email, followed by a late-night Zoom meeting to work through solutions. April was spent gathering further information from WoSSCA and preparing additional documents. The process was demanding, and the application faced strong competition from proposals in developing countries.
I sent many emails and text messages during the process, but I was determined to leave no stone unturned. Despite the considerable time involved, I remained focused on the project’s potential benefits for the Alice Springs Rotary clubs and the wider community. The revised application was submitted on the Tuesday after the Bangtail Muster.
After a month without further communication, Steven contacted me on the Saturday of the King’s Birthday weekend to request updated quotes. All quotes were submitted within two weeks. In the final week of June, Rotary International confirmed that the Rotary Club of Alice Springs–Mbantua had been successful: US$97,611 was approved, equivalent to approximately A$141,000. The Rotary Clubs of Preston and Merimbula also contributed donations totalling $6,000.
I waited before sharing the news with the Global Grant committee so that no one would be caught still sleeping.
Project Phases and Next Steps
- Phase 1 — Vehicle (A$65,834.45): The white Ford Everest handed over to WoSSCA.
- Phase 2 — Child-friendly area (A$31,000): Development of a child-safe space at the Women’s Shelter, including furniture and sensory toys.
- Phase 3 — Community workshops (A$51,000): Four workshops in remote communities and four workshops in Alice Springs.
With the vehicle now delivered, work moves to Phase 2. This milestone is a significant achievement for Rotary and the Alice Springs community, made possible through sustained local, district and international collaboration.
We again thank Tim Blazeley and Neily O’Connell of Centralian Motors for their support of this Rotary Global Grant.
