Edwardstown Rotary’s award-winning inclusion project

PICTURED: Initially shy and reserved, Richard and Guy now confidently network and manage logistics for their book recycling microbusiness, thanks to mentoring from members of the Rotary Club of Edwardstown.

The Rotary Club of Edwardstown, SA, has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to inclusion and empowerment, winning the 2024 Premier’s Community Service Social Inclusion Award. Presented at the Service Clubs Association of South Australia’s annual awards luncheon, the honour highlights the club’s inspiring mentorship project supporting two adults with intellectual disabilities to establish a thriving microbusiness.

The project began over three years ago when the club’s fundraising arm, The Rotary Book Exchange, was grappling with the cost of disposing unsaleable books. A club member who also ran a social group for adults with intellectual disabilities introduced two of her group members, Richard and Guy, who were struggling to get their small lawnmowing business off the ground. What they did have, however, was a trailer – perfect for transporting unsaleable books.

A partnership was formed, and with the support of a local Lonsdale company that recycles paper into kitty litter, Richard and Guy were offered the opportunity to collect and deliver books for payment – a recycling arrangement not available to the general public. Two Rotary members stepped in as mentors, guiding them through safe loading procedures, delivery logistics and paperwork at the weighbridge.

Over the following 18 months, club members offered consistent mentoring, gradually empowering Richard and Guy to take the reins. With growing confidence, the pair expanded their services to other organisations with surplus books, scrap metal and general waste, and marketed their business through

Facebook and letterbox drops. Their trailer got an upgrade, and they recently applied for an ABN to formalise their operations.

Initially shy and reserved, Richard and Guy now confidently network, manage logistics and have even delivered a presentation at a Rotary meeting that captivated and moved the audience. Their business success has also brought personal rewards – more independence, meaningful work and the means to enjoy holidays and special experiences like a weekend at the Tailem Bend Raceway, where they stayed at a hotel and took hot laps in
racing cars.

The Book Recycling Project has demonstrated that with proper mentoring and support, it is possible to change lives for people with disabilities. It has also saved the club’s bookshop thousands of dollars in disposal costs, while making sure that unsaleable books are not going to landfill.

For the Rotary Club of Edwardstown, supporting Richard and Guy has been a profoundly rewarding journey – one that reflects Rotary’s core values and shows what’s possible when community and compassion come together.