“Every $1 that comes into the club goes straight back out and is injected into our community,” she said.
Rotary also runs the steam rally, one of the biggest – and longest running – events at Echuca.
But it and everything else the club does is only possibly because of its members.
Rotary has 27 but that number is slowly dwindling and Mrs Carlson fears clubs such as Echuca’s will eventually no longer exist.
That’s why the twin towns’ Rotary Club is running a membership drive, calling on people to put their hands up to volunteer for an organisation that’s doing all it can to help the twin towns not only survive the COVID-19 pandemic but thrive after it’s over.
“We need young people to join our club so that we can keep doing what we've always done,” Mrs Carlson said.
“It would be great if we could get six to eight adolescents to choose a project they can follow through.”
Mrs Carlson has been a Rotarian for almost 20 years. She's a Paul Harris Fellow and has contributed to hundreds of projects throughout her time. Though she modestly says being a member doesn’t require too much effort and there is only one pre-requisite.
“You need to be a person of good character and 18 or older,” she said.
“But I always say, everybody has a gift they can give in some way.”
That gift might be as simple as volunteering for meals on wheels, which drops lunches to clients across the region.
Or helping organise the club’s events including the family fun day planned at Rich River Golf Club at Moama on September 27 when 1500 golf balls will be dropped from the sky.
Raffle tickets will be sold and the person whose ball is closest-to-the-pin will walk away with $5000. And there’s prizes for second and third.
Since COVID-19 has cancelled most events across Echuca-Moama, it might just be simply listening to someone who needs to talk, Mrs Carlson said.
“It’s not hard,” she said.
“But it can make a difference.”
One of the biggest differences being fundraising for organisations dedicated to improving the mental health of young people.
“It has always been a cause close to the heart of Rotarians not just in Echuca-Moama but across Australia,” Mrs Carlson said.
She said being a Rotarian also meant being part of the bigger picture.
“For example, we have plans to run a race against ice rubber duck race along the Murray River,” Mrs Carlson said.
“Of course, it’s only early days and there’s lots to organise but it’s planning for things such as this – that we hope highlights the (drug) ice and its impact on our communities – that people can be a part of.
“If you care about your community then being a Rotarian is a good place to start.”
The club meets every Tuesday at 6pm for a 6.30pm start via Microsoft Teams.
Traditionally strict on attendance, Mrs Carlson said the club had become more lenient in recent years.
“We understand people can’t attend every meeting and that’s okay,” she said.
For information, phone Mrs Carlson on 0407 433 321.
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