It was an enjoyable meeting in Wahroonga Park last week, and a pleasure to induct Arija McQuillan into the World of Rotary. Arija is now a member of the Rotary Club of Wahroonga with the classification of Buyers Agent. Arija has been assigned to the Community Avenue of Service. We also welcome Arija’s partner David Cummins and their children Roman and Rafael into our Rotary family. Arija is a Warrawee resident and has an office in the Wahroonga Village. (see story below)
Additionally, it was a pleasure to welcome Len Stanley and to hear some holiday stories from a few of our members. I’m still not sure about a whiskey breakfast!
We’ve just had an enjoyable Australia Day with great summer weather. Unfortunately, the date has become rather controversial with some activists wanting to either delete or change the date. As I have mentioned in some talks I’ve given recently, it’s still our National Day and a time to reflect on who we are, where we’ve come from, and to enjoy the freedoms this great country has to offer. It’s also a time to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and pay respect to elders past and present. The First Nations people (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) have occupied the lands for thousands of years with a connection to land, water, community and culture. As part of my Australia Day involvement, I was invited by a few Rotary clubs to support their activities by playing the didgeridoo; this was part of a National Australia Day Grant. Here’s a link to an interesting video link https://fb.watch/ih_ENMAzTc/ titled WugulOra Morning Ceremony.
Our breakfast meeting this Wednesday 1st February will be back at the Warrawee Club. Our guest speaker is Annette Gurr from the National Centre for Childhood Grief.
The annual Seniors Festival sponsored by the Ku-ring-gai Council and Community groups is scheduled from the 1st -12th February
This year the Club has collaborated with the Mark Moran Aged Care facility and the Ku-ring-gai Neighborhood Centre (KNC) to provide two free movie events at the Mark Moran theatre facility in Warrawee for people to enjoy during the festival.
Casablanca - Monday 6th February at 10.30am
Armchair travel to Italy - Wednesday 8th February at 10.30am
Following the movies there will snacks and refreshments available.
(with a Theme flavour)
There will also be transport available sponsored by KNC- to be arranged when bookings are made.
The 5th of March is the annual Clean Up Australia Day, and the Club will be looking for litter in Wahroonga Park, the Village and surrounding streets. Please help – more hands make light work of the task.
We will meet at the rotunda at 8am and should be finished by 10am. Please let Ron Wainberg know if you can come, and don’t forget to bring:
Hat
Gloves
Good shoes
Drink
Food
Bags to collect litter in (Clean Up NEVER give us enough!)
Sunscreen if you are sensitive
Sense of humour
The park and the village are the heart of Wahroonga – let’s keep it clean and welcoming!
Volunteers can sign up for this event, click - here
Courtesy of Tony Butera from Radio Northern Beaches, we meet Tony James from the Upper Northern Beaches Rotary Club who explains a humanitarian program he launched to change the lives of children in one of the poorest countries in the world, Cambodia.
An inspiring example of putting service above self.