Outback Science and Engineering Challenge

Each year the Rotary Club of Cobar supports the Outback Science and Engineering Challenge which is held in Cobar and sees students from schools in neighbouring towns gather to participate in a day-long competition designed to provide Years 9 & 10 students with a fun and educational science and engineering experience.
Each school team is split into 8 groups to complete in each of the 8 different workshop style challenge activity. Teams gain points for achievement in their individual activities and all points go towards their schools total. The winning team on the day goes on to complete in the state final later in the year.
Each school team is split into 8 groups to complete in each of the 8 different workshop style challenge activity. Teams gain points for achievement in their individual activities and all points go towards their schools total. The winning team on the day goes on to complete in the state final later in the year.
The Cobar Rotary Club spends the day at the BBQ, cooking breakfast and lunch for about 230 students, teachers and volunteers. After lunch the Rotarians enjoy watching the bridges, built by the students, being tested as part of the final competition of the day.
For more information about the Science and Engineering Challenge please visit their website.
For more information about the Science and Engineering Challenge please visit their website.
RETURN AND EARN RECYCLING PROJECt.
The Return and Earn project has been very successful for the Cobar Rotary Club.
The Club uses a number of specially manufactured cages located around Cobar to collect aluminium cans and plastic and glass bottles for recycling..
The proceeds from the sale of these containers is then utilised to fund local community projects.
Cobar Rotary has donated to local charities and Community Projects from the Return and Earn project each year since 2018.
In the beginning of 2022 Cobar Rotary Club was approached by Cobar Girl Guides with an offer is assist with the return and Earn project so that the girls had an understanding of recycling and environmental issues.
Each Saturday girls volunteer to assist Rotary Club members sort and pack recyclable containers with some friendly rivalry occurring regarding total number of containers packed.
The Cobar Rotary Club has become the defacto collection agency with many residents providing their returnables to the Club .
Bulk bags of returnables are then taken to the Vinnes return and earn Local deport operated by the Cobar Rugby Union Club.
Community Service - Drought Relief
During the second half of 2018 The Rotary Club of Club became very actively involved in Drought Relief efforts in western N.S.W.
Due to the worsening drought.
The club distributed some 490 grocery packs along with drinking water, working dog food and fuel,fresh meat and grocery vouchers for needy farmers across a large area of Cobar and adjoining Bourke, Central Darling and Bogan Shires.
To date the Club has spent over $1,000,000 of donated funds to provide essential fodder and essential grocery delivery service to farmers really doing it tough during the severe drought.
Other Rotary Clubs such as Dubbo South , Randwick , Bondi Junction, Kogarah , Corrimal ,Belmont in NSW and Eaglehawk , Castlemaine ,Healesville ,Keilor East, Benidgo and Mt Waverly Rotary Clubs In Victoria heard the call for help and have been strong financial supporters of the Drought Relief Operations at Cobar.
Funding Support has also come from the Charity Gulf Horizons Foundation and their partners Flash Market and Eye Candy Motor Sports who have provided some 8 road train loads of fodder to date for starving stock across the west of NSW.with another 3 loads delivered prior to Christmas 2019.
Prior to Christmas 2019 the St George Motor Boat Club in Sydney and some other private donors provided funds to enable Cobar Rotary to provide 27 farming families with young children a cash donation of $500 each to ensure that these families could have a family Christmas.
After Christmas this same Club conducted a Fund Raising night to purchase a Road Train load of Fodder for struggling farmers north wast of Cobar $30,6556 was raised on the night and the fodder was distributed.
The Rotary Club of Eaglehawk at Bendigo in Victoria was successful in obtaining RAWCS funding to supply 6 road trains of fodder for farmers around Cobar and the Rotary Club of Dubbo South in conjunction with Century Batteries provided funding for another road train of fodder for farmers in the Nymagee area.
The Rotary Clubs of Castlemaine Keilor East and Mt Waveley in Victoria has provided significant funding to support the ongoing distribution of essential grocery packs, bottled water and Working dog food to farmers by the Rotary Club of Cobar
This relief effort is ongoing in 2020 and Beyond with still more donations required to enable the Cobar Club to continue to support our farmers.
The Cobar Club has also been successful in obtaining Rotary RAWCS RABS funding of $73,000 to provide fodder and bill relief following urgent requests from farmers at Tilpa a locality 180 kms west of Cobar on the almost dry Darling River and at Nyngan east of Cobar.
Further RAWCS funding valued at $35,00 has recently been provided to Cobar Rotary to assist some 70 farming families with a $500 cash donation for Bill relief, education expenses and medical expenses.
The Rotary Club of Cobar has also been instrumental in providing local farmers with the necessary documentation for them to apply for financial support from the RAWCS Round 2 program.
Cobar Rotary has been able to get fodder and groceries etc into these areas with some 450 packs delivered so far but more is urgently required if additional funding can be found.
Work + Stay Project
During 2023 Cobar Rotary Club was approached to consider taking on a Community service project to support personnel commencing employment with Cobar Council .
This support is a Work + Stay program which involves meeting these new employees immediately prior to and following the commencement of their employment to ensure that they were aware off and became familiar with available local businesses and community/essential services and to introduce them to local people.
Many of these Council employees have recently arrived from overseas and English is not their first language and they are are not familiar with the Aussie Language and customs.
Club volunteers and friends of Rotary volunteer to assist these people over the first couple of months in the community to ensure that they settle into and stay he community .
This project is a great initiative to encourage people and families to come to and stay in rural communities and is a great community project for Rotary.
During 2024 the Club has assisted 5 new employees to settle into the Lilliane Brady Village Aged Care though this program.
Contact Club Secretary Gordon Hill on [email protected] for further information.
Due to the worsening drought.
The club distributed some 490 grocery packs along with drinking water, working dog food and fuel,fresh meat and grocery vouchers for needy farmers across a large area of Cobar and adjoining Bourke, Central Darling and Bogan Shires.
To date the Club has spent over $1,000,000 of donated funds to provide essential fodder and essential grocery delivery service to farmers really doing it tough during the severe drought.
Other Rotary Clubs such as Dubbo South , Randwick , Bondi Junction, Kogarah , Corrimal ,Belmont in NSW and Eaglehawk , Castlemaine ,Healesville ,Keilor East, Benidgo and Mt Waverly Rotary Clubs In Victoria heard the call for help and have been strong financial supporters of the Drought Relief Operations at Cobar.
Funding Support has also come from the Charity Gulf Horizons Foundation and their partners Flash Market and Eye Candy Motor Sports who have provided some 8 road train loads of fodder to date for starving stock across the west of NSW.with another 3 loads delivered prior to Christmas 2019.
Prior to Christmas 2019 the St George Motor Boat Club in Sydney and some other private donors provided funds to enable Cobar Rotary to provide 27 farming families with young children a cash donation of $500 each to ensure that these families could have a family Christmas.
After Christmas this same Club conducted a Fund Raising night to purchase a Road Train load of Fodder for struggling farmers north wast of Cobar $30,6556 was raised on the night and the fodder was distributed.
The Rotary Club of Eaglehawk at Bendigo in Victoria was successful in obtaining RAWCS funding to supply 6 road trains of fodder for farmers around Cobar and the Rotary Club of Dubbo South in conjunction with Century Batteries provided funding for another road train of fodder for farmers in the Nymagee area.
The Rotary Clubs of Castlemaine Keilor East and Mt Waveley in Victoria has provided significant funding to support the ongoing distribution of essential grocery packs, bottled water and Working dog food to farmers by the Rotary Club of Cobar
This relief effort is ongoing in 2020 and Beyond with still more donations required to enable the Cobar Club to continue to support our farmers.
The Cobar Club has also been successful in obtaining Rotary RAWCS RABS funding of $73,000 to provide fodder and bill relief following urgent requests from farmers at Tilpa a locality 180 kms west of Cobar on the almost dry Darling River and at Nyngan east of Cobar.
Further RAWCS funding valued at $35,00 has recently been provided to Cobar Rotary to assist some 70 farming families with a $500 cash donation for Bill relief, education expenses and medical expenses.
The Rotary Club of Cobar has also been instrumental in providing local farmers with the necessary documentation for them to apply for financial support from the RAWCS Round 2 program.
Cobar Rotary has been able to get fodder and groceries etc into these areas with some 450 packs delivered so far but more is urgently required if additional funding can be found.
Work + Stay Project
During 2023 Cobar Rotary Club was approached to consider taking on a Community service project to support personnel commencing employment with Cobar Council .
This support is a Work + Stay program which involves meeting these new employees immediately prior to and following the commencement of their employment to ensure that they were aware off and became familiar with available local businesses and community/essential services and to introduce them to local people.
Many of these Council employees have recently arrived from overseas and English is not their first language and they are are not familiar with the Aussie Language and customs.
Club volunteers and friends of Rotary volunteer to assist these people over the first couple of months in the community to ensure that they settle into and stay he community .
This project is a great initiative to encourage people and families to come to and stay in rural communities and is a great community project for Rotary.
During 2024 the Club has assisted 5 new employees to settle into the Lilliane Brady Village Aged Care though this program.
Contact Club Secretary Gordon Hill on [email protected] for further information.
Catering & BBQs
The Rotary Club of Cobar is often asked to cater for different groups and town events. We have catered for a number of events including Australia Day Celebrations,Inter mines Challenge Golf Day , the Outback Science and Engineering Challenge, The Running on Empty Festival, the Psychs on Bikes Group and 2 Nights for the Farmers to name a few .