99 Rotary clubs join Epic Day of Service

 
See what happens when Rotary clubs join a global movement for maximum impact
(Pictured: Rotary Club of Adelaide erecting a Peace Pole)
 
This May, Rotary, Rotaract, Interact and Inner Wheel clubs across the South Pacific joined a global day of action for the Epic Day of Service. What began as a project in the United States has grown into a worldwide effort, bringing together members and their communities. 

Endorsed by Rotary South Pacific (RSP), the initiative reflects RSP’s aim to strengthen collaboration across the region and amplify the impact of clubs throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
 

Collective efforts

Service Programs and Projects Director for RSP, Amanda Barnes, reflects on how this has come together for our region. 

“In 2024 my club got involved with localised clean ups. Last year, my Rotary Community Group got involved and my club participated with a blood donation drive across various locations in Australia and one of our members raised funds for health services by taking part in the Relay for Life in the Netherlands,” Amanda explained. “This year, it’s been amazing to see other clubs get involved increasing our zone’s involvement from 9 clubs in 2025 to 95 in 2026!”

Across the South Pacific, 99 clubs from 15 districts took part, delivering more than 75 projects with the support of over 200 community volunteers. Each project responded to local challenges, but together they showed what is possible when clubs work with their communities in a shared effort.

Local support, real needs

Clubs nominated projects which would benefit their local community or communities abroad. There were a wide range of projects in the south pacific to address the various needs of communities. 

“The best parts about this project is that it was never about asking clubs to do more than they were already doing,” Amanda said. “It was about leveraging the amazing work already happening in our clubs, adding a focus on bringing in our communities and activating on the same day for collective impact.”

In Australia, some clubs focused on health-related projects, like blood donation drives, relays for life, providing kits full of essentials for birthing or supporting families in need; while others focused on shelter, warmth, food or simply entertainment. 

In New Zealand (Aotearoa), club projects varied from environmental projects like testing the health of local rivers or caring for community spaces, to making sure their communities stay safe and warm this winter with free hot meals and kindling for their wood burners. 
 
Club across the Pacific Islands also got involved, with projects that supported children’s wellbeing or access to healthy foods. 

Impact 

The Epic Day of Service is more than a single day. It is a chance for clubs to work together across the region and with their communities, building stronger connections and increasing their collective impact.
When combined with efforts happening around the world, they form part of a much larger story of people coming together to make a difference. 

Thanks to the clubs involved, our communities are cleaner, our environment is protected, mothers and children have lowered mortality rates, bellies are full and homes have been warmed. And that’s only a glimpse of the impact one day of serving communities has made. Of course, the work doesn’t end just because this coordinated effort is over. In fact, Rotary clubs work all through the year on amazing projects to make our world a better place. 

Rotary South Pacific thanks all the local clubs for getting involved to create this Epic Day of Service. Their efforts will be counted in this year’s global figures available on www.epicdayofservice.org  

Like what you see? Discover ways to volunteer with Rotary or better yet, become a member. 
More Rotary South Pacific News.