One of the things I’ve always enjoyed in Rotary is engaging with local community and building on relationships. This brings me to our breakfast meeting this past Wednesday at St Edmund’s College.
For over a decade Wahroonga Rotary has been providing financial support for disadvantaged families and students in the form of an annual Bursary. The Bursary funding is usually presented at our annual St Edmund’s breakfast meeting, and for the past few years we have been entertained by students giving a percussion performance. The students were unable to perform this year, but we did have a mini performance by the new Principal Michael Farrell who entertained us with a tap dance. Michael is well known to some of our members. Building on our relationship with St Edmund’s, we did have student involvement with our Centenary event in Wahroonga Park, and students have been invited to perform at the Wahroonga Village Fair. There’s also the possibility of having students involved in the Wahroonga laneway gardening project.
During our breakfast meeting I felt it would be honouring to spend some time reflecting on the remarkable and long life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and to observe a minute silence.
Three remarkable ladies have left us within a matter of weeks: Judith Durham AO, Olivia Newton-John AC DBE, and Queen Elizabeth II. With the recent passing of Judith Durham, I have been interested in learning more about The Seekers and their music. This included downloading some video clips including the story behind the song I Am Australian. To me, this is one of the greatest Australian songs ever crafted and I have been privileged to accompany this song with the didgeridoo on several occasions. Venues include the Sydney Town Hall, The Star Event Centre, John Cameron’s DG Conference in Port Macquarie, etc. Here’s a link to an interview with Bruce Woodley, a member of The Seekers and co-author of I Am Australian https://youtu.be/zMjk4G_5qaA
As mentioned in last week’s Wahroongler, we had PDG Bruce Lakin visit our club (Zoom) on Wednesday 20th July to talk about Regionalisation. Rotary Zone 8 (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands) is one of two Rotary Zones chosen to take part in a pilot study that could determine the future structure of Rotary International. A copy of Bruce’s Zone 8 Pilot presentation is attached together with his summary of questions asked by some clubs attached.
Also attached is a Regional Project document from RISPPO (Rotary International South Pacific and Philippines Office) advising that a ballot will be conducted this month to decide if the propose Rotary Zone 8 regionalisation pilot will proceed. Club presidents will vote by representing the views of the majority of their members; it’s a yes/no vote. The wording of the vote is in the attached Regional Project document. This Wednesday I’ll call for a show of hands.
Thank you to all the members together with family and friends who assisted with the Bobbo Cycle Classic this past Sunday. This was a major event involving the Rotary Clubs of Turramurra, St Ives, Ku-ring-gai and Wahroonga. (see story and pics below)
This Wednesday our guest speaker is Daniel Allars, Top Blokes Foundation. Some might remember Daniel who was the PCYC manager during the construction of the new club.
A sensational day on Sunday for the Bobbin Head Classic - an annual Bike ride throughout the Ku-ring-gai LGA and surrounding areas. The event is managed by the four local Rotary Clubs of Ku-ring-gai, Turramurra, St Ives and Wahroonga.
Our Club responsibility this year (a very early start) was to set up/take down and run the Start and Finish location at Karuah Oval Turramurra. The management for which fell to Dave Rigby who did a fantastic job and all the pieces came together with little in the way of dramas (that were visible anyway) - congratulations Dave - a job well done (along with your team of helpers). John Collins supervised the ride sector from Karuah to Asquith and return with a team of road volunteers from our beneficiaries.
Daybreak
Some of the early morning team
1900 riders/400 volunteers across the event - about 100 contributed by Wahroonga RC and its beneficiaries. We had one active rider Judy Tanna representing the SAN - well done Judy, and several partners of members also pitched in to assist.
Our Beneficiaries the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Womens Shelter and Hornsby Connect will be the proud recipients of our funding share along with the key beneficiaries - Lifeline Harbour to the Hawkesbury and KYDS.
An outstanding effort by all our Rotary Clubs and their members.
Click - here - to view a pictorial record of activities in an around the Karuah Oval during the morning.
For Club members and families - there are two events to be held at the Wahroonga Park during October so please save the date and your volunteering participation is welcomed.
The Ku-ring-gai Council Twilight Concert on October 15
Click - here- for the event information. Our Club has agreed to join with Hornsby District Rotary Club and our Rotaract Club to provide volunteers between the hours of 4pm - 8pm to assist Hornsby Connect (the primary event applicant) with a BBQ and soft drink stall to service the attendees expected to be up to 3000 people.
Volunteer registration is now open - please indicate your interest (for part or all the event) click - here - to register.
The Ku-ring-gai Food and Wine Festival on October 30
Click - here- for the event information. Our Club will have a stall from which we will sell Raffle tickets and distribute Club brochures to attendees between the hours of 10am and 3pm on the day.
Volunteer registration will be open shortly and the link emailed to you.
Patrick Price, a Rotarian from Sydney was shocked at the authoritarian and violent approach to teaching he found in Nepalese schools. Determined to do something about it he founded the Centre for Learning and Children's Rights a non profit organisation delivering educational and humanitarian projects in Nepal regardless of age, gender, religion or caste. including the successful Heartland Academy. www.forchildsrights.org and www.heartlandacademy.edu.np
