Rotary Charity Regatta Sets Sail for the Sydney Children’s Hospital

31 October 2011, SYDNEY - Nearly 35 companies will take to the water on Friday 11 November to compete in the 17^th annual Rotary Charity Regatta in support of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick.

The Rotary Club of Sydney Cove, which organises the event, is predicting a record turnout for the race of 50 yachts, each of which is sponsored by a local business.

Club President, Deborah Homewood, said the lion’s share of funds raised on the day will be donated to the Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick to help establish the first 24 hour paediatric operating theatre in NSW.

“Last year’s event enabled Sydney Cove Rotary to contribute $91,000 to the Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick’s Diabetes Service to pay for insulin pumps for children suffering from diabetes,” she said. “This year we hope to raise even more so that we can fund the purchase of essential equipment for the hospital’s new operating theatre.”

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network CEO, Elizabeth Koff, said the money from this year’s Rotary Charity Regatta will be used to purchase a new operating table and a diathermy machine.

“This critical apparatus will enable us to furnish a full time operating theatre, the only 24 hour paediatric surgical service available in NSW, revolutionising the care we can provide to our children,” she said.

Since its inception 17 years ago, the regatta has raised over $2.8 million for various charities, of which more than $1 million has gone to The Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick.

Many of Sydney’s biggest companies are lining up to sponsor a yacht and set sail this year, including AAPT, Allianz Australia Insurance, Captain Cook Cruises, Centennial Coal, Checkpoint Software Technologies, Jones Lang LaSalle and PacNet, to name just a few.

They and their guests will be hosted on some of the best yachts to call Sydney home, including Wild Oats X, Brindabella, Loki and Vanguard. Each yacht comes equipped with a working crew, enabling the sponsoring companies to choose between playing an active role or just sitting back to enjoy the race at their leisure.

The Rotary Club of Sydney Cove is grateful to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in RushcuttersBay for providing its expertise in running the race, which will begin at 3.00pm. The event will conclude with the annual trophy presentation at the club that evening.

Among its many charity initiatives, Sydney Cove Rotary Club also supports the CYCA Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Trust, donating $15,000 from the proceeds of last year’s regatta.

The SOLAS Trust was established after the tragic events of the 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race to assist the needy families of those lost at sea during yacht races, provide assistance to search and rescue organisations, and foster research and training to improve safety at sea.

The Rotary Club of Sydney Cove was established in 1988 with the common goal of giving back to the community in which we live and work. With over 90 members, the Rotary Club of Sydney Cove is one of Sydney’s largest and most active clubs, supporting 30 community service projects including: working with the homeless, disaster relief, assisting organisations caring for the disabled, youth leadership programs, providing education resources support, international scholarships and the support of local charities. The Club meets every Friday morning from 7.15-8.45am on the Captain Cook Cruise boat moored at Pier 6 on Circular Quay.

For more information on Rotary Club of Sydney Cove visit www.sydneycoverotary.com or contact Alex Allwood | alex@holla.com.au

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