This week we heard from Chris D’Arcy, who is the President of Search Dogs Sydney. Chris leads a specialist search and recovery team with specially trained canines and state of the art drone technology, to locate “live” and “deceased” humans. He, Adele Jago and dog Koa, gave us a fascinating insight into the work they do assisting police and emergency agencies in the search for missing persons.
They shared some shocking statistics, one of which was that in Australia a person is reported missing every 15 minutes. Another fact, this time positive, is that a trained search dog can cover the same amount of ground it would take about 30 humans to search.
If you want to help out volunteers in various roles are always welcome. Contact Chris D’Arcy on 0412 524 715. www.searchdogssydney.org
The club’s changeover dinner is coming up on Wednesday evening, 26 June. Bookings are open via Humanitix. Come and join us celebrating one year and welcoming in the next! Pleasant surroundings, good food, great company – what more could you want!
The Board will meet 6.30pm at PCYC on Tuesday 14 May. All welcome.
This coming week, 15 May, we will be joined by Indu Balachandran, who leads work in strategy and governance in the social-purpose sector. She is a global Atlantic Fellow and co-chair of waste/recycling company Community Resources which employs 700 people nationally. Indu is also on the Board of Western Sydney University’s Institute of Culture and Society.
The following week, Wednesday 22 May, we will have a vocational meeting at KIESER, PYMBLE. This will be in place of the normal meeting. Same time as usual – 7.15am for 7.30am to 8.30am. We will enjoy breakfast there at our normal cost of $25 and hear about strength training for all ages. The title of the presentation is Strength for Wellbeing. We will also have a ‘tour’ of the machines used there.
A gesture from Kieser to us, as Rotarians, will be to offer half price on an initial assessment, 4 weeks complementary core membership, and ongoing 25% discount on memberships/sessions with a member of the Physiotherapy team.
The annual Ku-ring-gai Chase Fun Run is to be held on the 16th June - at the Claude Cameron Oval East Wahroonga. In past years we have conducted the BBQ for the competitors and visitors.
The students from Knox Grammar School also take part to act as mentors for the disabled competitors.
Well it's that time of the year again - the sunset on President Mentie's leadership and the dawning of that for Sallianne. We thank Mentie and her team for the positive contribution to our Community throughout the year.
This event is an opportunity to reflect on our achievements and acknowledge members' contribution.
Please join your colleagues at our Annual Changeover Dinner at Magpies Waitara on the 26th June to share in the celebration.
You can book for this event at: Humanitix - Bookings close on the 12th June
YOUTH matters are the District Topic for MAY and we have found that Wahroonga Rotary has raised almost half a Million dollars towards Youth in the past 15 Years!
The Rotary Club of Wahroonga’s Youth Committee has been a very active and vibrant part of Wahroonga for many years. In fact, over the past 15 years, the Wahroonga Youth Committee has raised over $485,000 for community projects…. which is an average of $32,000 per annum.
We chose a period of 15 years as we have clear records of where our $485,000 in Revenue and our $433,000 in expenditure was sourced and applied. We believe that the Award should not only recognise exceptional annual efforts but also recognise longer term sustainable progress supported by Youth innovations such as the NOVUS Foundation which allowed Wahroonga to maintain their Youth support over a quite lengthy period. We will provide a summary of this distribution in the next Wahroongla.
Over half of this was down to the Wahroonga Rotary’s biggest innovation, the NOVUS Foundation a not for profit organisation established to assist Youth in our Community.
The NOVUS Foundation was a cooperative effort by the SAN Hospital, the McCarroll Automotive Group and Wahroonga Rotary. It was a Not for Profit Foundation limited by Guarantee. NOVUS was established in 2007 and was active for over 18 years. The Gala Dinners raised around $2 million for Youth in our area. When we started, we thought it may have a life of only 3 years but due to the exceptionally effective effort by the three parties they were able to run 16 annual Gala Dinners and it ceased to operate in 2022.
When you add together the District Youth contributions over this same period, it would amount to many, many millions of dollars directed by our District Rotary Clubs.
Money that would otherwise not have been raised!
Our Youth Committee is made up of a group of dedicated individuals (12 in all) who each have an individual passion for specific activities which ensures they stay interested, committed and dedicated.
Membership has remained fairly constant with about half long term and others quite new. I should also like to thank all Club members for their support for our Youth activities over the many years.
At this time of the year there are several interesting District events at which members may wish to participate. You are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to learn more about our District and Rotary and for incoming Board members the chance to equip them for their year ahead.
Note that 20 – 26 May 2024 is Australia’s volunteer week, to thank volunteers for their contribution, Ku-ring-gai Council has organised two movie days for your volunteers in Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai area. Every volunteer can bring a friend or a family member to watch the movie. Please kindly promote the events to your volunteers.
Thank you. Lily
The film: The Fall Guy
Tue 21 May 10.30am, Event Cinema Hornsby Westfield
The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is an intensive leadership experience where students develop their skills as a leader while having fun and making connections. They build communication and problem solving skills and learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers and peer mentors. Thowshi Dimantha, a Sydney student describes her recent RYLA experience and significantly the lessons she learned.
tate of the art drone technology, to locate “live” and “deceased” humans. He, Adele Jago and dog Koa, gave us a fascinating insight into the work they do assisting police and emergency agencies in the search for missing persons.
