The Rotary Club of Northbridge gratefully acknowledges the generous sponsorship of Northbridge Plaza
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
David Robertson
August 7
John Garrett
August 8
Peter Russell
August 14
Peter Hodgson
August 24
Anniversaries
Jon Gidney
Gail Giles-Gidney
August 17
Join Date
John Bolton
August 9, 2011
9 years
David Hyde
August 25, 1998
22 years
Fay Petrou
August 26, 2008
12 years
Club Meeting News - 11 August 2020
Welcome
President Kevin welcomed members to the meeting, including the Zoom attendees.
Toast
Andrew Rennie proposed a toast to the RC of Stawell, Victoria. Chartered in 1954, the club runs student exchanges but like many others its membership has dwindled to a low number of 8. Andrew showed us a short video of the club which introduced its new President, 18 year old Taia Hayter whose enthusiasm and commitment is sure to energise the club.
Announcements
President Kevin reminded members of the upcoming Food Drive on 26 September.
Guest Speaker
Barry Anderson introduced guest speaker, our own fellow Rotarian, Ian Burnet, author of a number of books, including the Spice Islands, East Indies which follows the rise of the East India Companies; Archipelago – a Journey Across Indonesia; and Where Australia Collides with Asia.
Ian’s latest book is called The Tasman Map, which is a biography of the Tasman Map. Every visitor to the Mitchell Library in Sydney can see the marble mosaic of the Tasman Map which fills the entire vestibule floor.
It was in 1925 and 1933 that the Mitchell Library in Sydney acquired the Tasman Huydecoper Journal and the Tasman Bonaparte Map which show the results of the early Dutch mappings of Australia, and Tasman’s voyages of discovery. This story of the first Dutch voyages to discover Australia is set against a background of the struggle of the newly formed Dutch Republic to gain its independence from the Kingdom of Spain and the struggle of the Dutch East India Company for trade supremacy in the East Indies against its Portuguese, Spanish and English rivals.
Over a period of 40 years from 1606 to 1644 and based on 16 separate discoveries, the first map of Australia took shape. The Tasman Map shows a recognizable outline of the north, west and south coasts of Australia which was not to change for another 125 years until British explorer James Cook charted the east coast in 1770.
The history of the first Dutch discoveries of Australia is linked to spices as Europeans considered that spices were worth their weight in gold. Medieval Europe could not grow enough feed to keep all their cattle alive during winter. Spices such as pepper, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon helped to disguise the flavour of salted or rancid meat and their antibacterial properties preserved meats that were slowly putrefying.
The other factor that brought European explorers into the southern seas was the concept of a large southern land mass. Since they knew the earth was spinning regularly on its axis it was easy for these early philosophers to conclude there had to be a land mass of equal size spread around the lower part of the globe. The 1570 world map by Abraham Ortelius shows the known unknown land. There were also those who believed that this unknown land would contain gold and silver similar to that found in South America.
As a trading company Dutch East India Company was looking for opportunities to reward its shareholders. Unfortunately, in the South Land they did not discover any spice trees, gold or silver and the Company lost interest in the land they had named Hollandia Nova.
While it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words, a map can tell a thousand stories.
Barry thanked Ian for his interesting and informative talk.
Ros Virtue
DID YOU KNOW
In October 1992 the Club organised a community function in Tunks Park to celebrate the centenary of the opening of the Suspension Bridge. This event saw several thousand people - local residents and visitors from surrounding areas attend. The event extended from mid-morning until well after dark. There were performers, bands and other events which took place throughout the day. The major problem was access in that the only road in and out is Lower Cliff Avenue and there was virtually no parking at the Park. Special buses had been arranged, running regularly between Northbridge Junction and the Park. All this mayhem was efficiently controlled by members of the Police Force from Chatswood Local Area Command. However, it was noted at the time that if the Police had had a mobile command post at the site, their job would have been so much easier. Accordingly, once the dust settled the Club set about raising funds to provide them with such a vehicle. After discussions with the local Commander a caravan was acquired and fitted out with all necessary facilities, including telephone and fax at a cost of $20,610 and in 1994 was duly presented to the Chatswood Local Commander for use at future community events.
A sign in a shoe repair store: "We will heel you! We will save your sole! We will even dye for you!"
Sign over a Gynaecologist’s Office: "Dr. George, at your cervix".
At an Eye Clinic: "If you don't see what you're looking for, You've come to the right place.”
On a Plumber's truck: "We repair what your husband fixed”.
On an Electrician's truck: "Let us remove your shorts”.
In a Non-smoking Area: "If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and will take appropriate action”.
On a Maternity Room door: "Push. Push. Push.”
At a Car Dealership: "The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment.”
At the Electric Company: "We would be delighted if you send in your payment on time. However, if you don't, YOU will be de-lighted.”
In a Restaurant window: "Don't stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up.”
If anyone has any jokes or funny stories, feel free to send them to me for the humour section of the Bulletin! We certainly need a little humour in our lives at the moment!!! Email them to helen.gulson@ozemail.com.au
Local and international humanitarian disasters have become the new norm and the Rotary Club of Northbridge has been involved in assisting wherever possible. Recently COVID-19 has received the bulk of media attention. Before that it was the eastern seaboard drought and bushfires. Then, in April, Cyclone Harold devastated parts of Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga.
COVID-19 has considerably reduced Northbridge Rotary’s 2020 fundraising capability, including cancellation of its major fundraiser, the annual fireworks. Prior to this, the Club had raised $29,580 to aid those areas in NSW affected by the bushfires and drought.
With some of its remaining funds, the Club has committed $22,500 towards building a Community Pavilion at Kiah on the NSW south coast and repairing gardens around the Boomerang Centre in severely fire-damaged Mogo near Batemans Bay.
Internationally, the Club has been asked to assist in the fight against COVID-19 by the Rotary Club of Kathmandu in Nepal.
Covid-19 cases have increased significantly in Nepal since late May with tens of thousands of migrant workers returning home from India and Nepal commencing a phased reopening in mid-June.
With the assistance of other local Rotary Clubs, Northbridge Rotary has been able to donate $10,000 to help with the purchase of PPE equipment for medical staff, installing hand washing stations in strategic locations and supplying food for orphanages and others in need, as the photo(s)on this page illustrate.
3 weeks ago Sally, Valda and I along with 2 friends took a 5 day road trip down the south coast to support local communities and at the same time checked out the two projects that our Rotary Club has supported, namely at Mogo and Kiah.
The Mogo project near Batemans Bay Sally, Valda and I met with representatives from the Batemans Bay Rotary Club and visited the Boomerang Indigenous Centre where our Club had agreed to partially fund to the tune of $5,100 a landscaping project, which involved the tidying up of a landscaped area and replanting.
Mogo had been devastated by the fires with several buildings lost and it was interesting that the Batemans Bay RC were very involved with restoration by operating a Hub in Mogo, where counselling services are available as well as computers available for use by the local community.
The Kiah Pavillion project Whilst our group was in Bega I drove south to Merimbula to meet up with representatives of the Merimbula RC who drove me south past Eden to the little village of Kiah to see the pavilion project where our Club has contributed $22,500 in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Bega, Merimbula and Pambula.
The concrete slab has now been poured and the structural steel is now being manufactured.
After the inspection I returned to Merimbula and participated in their face to face Changeover Dinner where our contribution to the Kiah project was gratefully acknowledged, knowing that Rotary Clubs working together can make a difference.
Thank you to everyone in our community who contributed generously towards our Northbridge Shopping Centre bucket appeals, BBQs' fund raising and other activities.
Our traditional Rotary Club fund raising activities have been halted in recent months by the social isolation restrictions to prevent the spread of the COVID19 virus.
Members of the club have come up with a few innovative ideas to raise funds to help the needy in our community.
On the 4th July the club ran “Dine-in for a Cause” fund raising event.
The Dine-in for a Cause event was attended by 32, mainly Rotarians, over 4 Host homes. It included a Quiz and a Silent Auction, raising $1,425 all up, with the funds going to Phoenix House, a charity located at Crows Nest over the last 30 years, providing early intervention and support services to the most vulnerable and challenged young people living in Northern Sydney.
COVID 19 has severely impacted the ability of Northbridge Rotary Club to raise monies to support our various Charities, so one of our talented Rotarians has found a way to
combat cabin fever & put self-isolation to a good cause.
She has been busy knitting various children’s items from headbands, baby comforters, owl mobiles, snail cushions, toy animals & scarves. These would make ideal gifts for children, grandchildren or those of friends & relatives and you would be helping our Rotary Club with much needed funds.
Another option if you don’t have anyone to gift to, then choose an item and we’ll donate it to a child in our country areas which has been devastated by the droughts, bushfires and now the virus! Many of these families would not have the spare cash nor the ability to purchase their children a gift for that special occasion. Every item will come with a gift tag stating that the knit has been hand-made by a Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Northbridge.
As these gifts are knitted to order you have the option of choosing your own colours. Looking forward to your support.
The cost of these knitted items have been generously donated and prices range from $10 to $40.
Photos and costs of these knits are below (or on the next page)
You can make your payment directly to Northbridge Rotary’s Charity Account - BSB 032 199, Account 901063 and then email your order to Eleanor - erchevor@yahoo.com
