Rotary Club of Richmond renews international links

A long-standing international partnership between the Rotary Clubs of Richmond, NSW, and Panglao Island, Philippines, continues to transform lives through shared service, cultural exchange and sustainable community projects.

Eight members and friends from the Rotary Club of Richmond, NSW, recently travelled to the Philippines to renew the club’s partnership with the Rotary Club of Panglao Island, Province of Bohol.

This connection was first established in 2011, when Rotary District 9680 (now 9685) sponsored a Group Study Exchange team to the area to build better friendships and relationships. This was led by Past President Ian Jordan and four selected team members representing the Hawkesbury: Constable Rebecca Rose, social photographer Kylie Pitt, fireman Martin Crew and bank manager David Martin.

In 2025, Rotary Club of Richmond President Peter Chidgey, wife Vickie, President-elect Debbie Cooper and sister Beverly Gordon, Secretary Ian Jordan and wife Judy, and Rotarians Janelle Munro and David Kirkby self-funded a 10-day trip to Panglao Island to be hosted by Richmond’s sister club, the Rotary Club of Panglao Island in District 3860.

The party was welcomed with extraordinary hospitality, meals and accommodation in local Rotarians’ homes, with travel support each day. A combined Rotary meeting was held, which included a renewal and re-signing of the sister club agreement.

Since 2011, the Rotary Club of Richmond has been supporting several of the signature programs of the Rotary Club of Panglao Island in this impoverished area of the Philippines.

Two large shipping containers were sent in 2012 and 2014, which contained furniture, clothes, toys, sporting equipment, medical supplies, technology, hospital beds and light blankets. The second container was put to good use following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2013.

Ian and Debbie visited the area on several other occasions. Notably, Debbie took four members of the Hawkesbury Rotaract Club to Panglao Island to work with Rotaract members there on nutrition and conservation projects.

Members of the Rotary Club of Panglao Island were hosted in the Hawkesbury on a visit in 2014 and again in 2016.

Recognising the significance of this long-standing relationship, Western Sydney University contacted the Rotary Club of Richmond to arrange for Bachelor of Science students to travel to Panglao, where they were hosted by Rotary and the Municipality of Panglao in 2018 and 2020. The International Sustainable Development Program focussed on conservation, resource management, geochemistry, food security and sustainable agriculture. The ongoing tours have proven to be extremely successful programs.

A major project of the Rotary Club of Panglao Island that has been supported by the Rotary Club of Richmond over the past 14 years is the Little Angels Orphanage. With funds raised through Rotary and private donations, an additional bedroom and toilets were constructed at the orphanage.

A second major project is the Feeding the Children nutrition program. The program targets malnourished six-year-olds in elementary schools in nearby poverty-stricken villages. The Municipal Community Nurse identifies children for the 100-day program, while the Rotary Club of Panglao Island supplies the food protein and trains parents and grandparents to help feed their children.

Each child must gain weight before ‘graduating’ from the program.

The 2025 touring party were privileged to visit the orphanage and participate in the feeding program during their visit. Both experiences were emotional and heartfelt.