Umina resident hopes to re-establish Rotaract

Umina resident Alanna Julian is hoping to re-establish a Rotaract Club on the Central Coast.

Rotaract is a Rotary International initiative which aims to empower students and young professionals aged 18 to 30 to make positives changes in their communities and around the world.

Despite the success of the last Central Coast Rotaract, the club folded in 2015.

Ms Julian was first introduced to Rotaract through a chance encounter with a Rotary representative.

She was invited to Gosford North Rotary as a guest speaker, advocating for people with disabilities, and was, as result, nominated for the Rotary Youth Leadership Award.

The award saw Ms Julian recently attend a weeklong seminar in Sydney.

Ms Julian said the opportunity to talk with and learn from other leaders prompted the idea of restoring Central Coast Rotaract.

"The seminar motivated me to get a Rotaract up and running on the Coast by giving me the belief in myself that I can do this," said Ms Julian.

Ms Julian said there was a multitude of ways Rotaract could support young people.

"It assists young people from all backgrounds who want to develop leadership skills and work effectively with others.

"[These] are skills that will help, whether it is getting ready for employment after university or helping them develop further in their profession," Ms Julian said.

Rotaract also offers young people the chance to give back to society, "whether in their local community by contributing to exciting events for fundraising, or supporting causes they are passionate about," said Ms Julian.

Ms Julian said she believed that, while Rotaract helped young people feel like they were making a difference in the world, the program also allowed members to socialise with peers in local and cross-cultural settings.

Ms Julian said re-establishing a Central Coast branch was important as "Rotaract club is one place young people can come together to contribute and share ideas".

"It's an opportunity to work alongside and meet with people in your community you may have not known otherwise.

"It is not a political or religious organisation and gives young people an opportunity for friendship and a purpose.

"It is an open door to network for employment opportunities," said Ms Julian.

Ms Julian hopes to secure a venue, create social media presence and distribute flyers to generate interest in the group.

Interview, 21 Jul 2016

Alanna Julian, Umina Beach

Reporter: Elizabeth Campbell