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Welcome to The Rotary Club of Northbridge Bulletin
Northbridge
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM
Northbridge Golf Club
296C Sailors Bay Road,
Northbridge, NSW 2063
Australia
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Venue Map
Please send apologies to Don Landers before 10:30am each Monday at don@cascadence.com 
Club Service Duty Roster
Club Service Duty Roster
Upcoming Events
Book Stall at Northbridge Plaza
Jun 19, 2022
 
View entire list
Speakers
Jun 07, 2022
Martha Jabour
Homicide Victims Support Group
Jun 14, 2022
Garth Carter
Pride of Workmanship
Jun 21, 2022
Luke Keighery
His Australian "Camino" Walk
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
Jon Gidney
 
President Elect
Robert Coote
 
Vice President
Robert Coote
 
Secretary
Liz Grey
 
Treasurer
Karin Eurell
 
Immediate Past President
Kevin Tattrie
 
Club Administration/Service
Helen Gulson
 
Community Service
Eleanor Chevor
 
International Service
Luke Keighery
 
Membership
Peter Grinter
 
Public Image
Peter Russell
 
Rotary Foundation
Therese Stubbs
 
Vocational Service
Garth Carter
 
Youth Service
Garth Carter
 
Fund Raising
Alan Hession
 
 
The Rotary Club of Northbridge gratefully acknowledges the generous sponsorship of Northbridge Plaza
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Alan Hession
June 23
 
Spouse Birthdays
Di Grinter
June 29
 
Join Date
Robert Coote
June 9, 2015
7 years
 
Ranald Stewart
June 10, 2008
14 years
 
Eleanor Chevor
June 20, 2017
5 years
 
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Club Meeting News - 31 May 2022
 
Welcome
 
President Jon Gidney welcomed members and our guests, Noel Phelan our Speaker tonight; Michelle Barry; and Anjana & Nash Karki who are to become members very shortly. Jon also mentioned that Noel had recently resigned from our Club due to his commitments with the Maritime Museum and the Naval Historical Society. He thanked him for his contribution to Rotary over 10 years.
 
Toast
 
John Turner proposed a toast to the Rotary Club of Mt Elizabeth.
 
Announcements
 
Jon Gidney reminded members that our Pride of Workmanship Dinner is scheduled for 14 June, and everyone is encouraged to sign up for the Changeover Dinner.
 
Jon advised that Joe Campisi is home now after a prolonged stay in hospital with Covid. Several other members also have Covid or are recovering from it, which is a reminder that we still all need to take care.
 
Alan Hession reported that Comedy for a Cause was a very successful evening, making over $2,000 for the Club. He thanked Peter Russell for his efforts in marketing the event.
 
Luke Keighery told the meeting that the Footy Tipping comp is doing well, with Chris Switzer still in the lead.
 
Peter Grinter informed members that the Rostrum Voice of Youth finals are to be held at Sydney University and anyone wanting to attend should let him know.
Guest Speaker - Noel Phelan - Battle of the River Plate
 
Helen Gulson introduced our Speaker Noel Phelan, who had very kindly stepped in at the last minute. She also acknowledged Noel’s many contributions as Speaker over the years and said we looked forward to hearing him on an ongoing basis.
 
 
Noel spoke to us about the first naval battle of WW 2, the Battle of the River Plate which took place on 13th December 1939.
 
The German pocket battleship Graf Spee engaged three British ships off the coast of Montevideo. The Graf Spee was a raider that had sunk many merchant ships in both the South Atlantic and Indian oceans. German raiders were under strict instructions to avoid confrontation with enemy warships.
 
The three British ships were the heavy cruiser Exeter and two light cruisers Ajax and Achilles, which was on loan from the NZ navy. Graf Spee had a significant advantage with her 12 inch guns against the 8 inch guns of Exeter and the 6 inch guns of Ajax and Achilles.
 
The battle lasted for 90 minutes and all the ships were hit by shells and damaged. Exeter was disabled and had to retire to the Falklands Islands for repair. The British ships, under the command of Commodore Harwood, had superior tactics and severely damaged the Graf Spee which sought refuge in Montevideo harbour. Captain Langsdorff was given only 72 hours to repair the Graf Spee and leave harbour.
 
The Graf Spee left the harbour and sailed into international waters before Captain Langsdorff scuttled the ship to spare his crew further casualties as he believed there was a vastly superior British force waiting for them at sea. The crew was taken off the ship and taken to Buenos Aires where they spent the rest of the war. Three days after scuttling the Graf Spee Capt Langsdorff committed suicide as he would have been court marshalled had he returned home.
Sally O'Neill
 
 
A little bit of humour ....
 
The difference between now and then ...
 
Parents today:
Text me when you get there; text me the names of the kids who are there; text me when you're coming home.
 
Parents in the 80s:
Bye!
 
 
If anyone has any jokes or funny stories, feel free to send them to me for the humour section of the Bulletin! 
 
Stories
NORTHBRIDGE COMMUNITY FIREWORKS RETURN A SUCCESS
Posted by Peter Russell on May 13, 2022
 
Many would have seen the North Shore skyline light up with the Northbridge Rotary Club’s annual community fireworks on the evening of 7 May.  And what a spectacular afternoon and evening of fun, food and entertainment it was. 
 
Well done to all those involved. 
 
The event, attended by some 4,000 people, raised close to $50,000 which the Northbridge Rotary Club will use to support a range of worthy charities and causes. 
 
Our special thanks to Willoughby  City Council and to Northbridge Plaza for what is now our 30th year of joint partnership with them for this event. Northbridge Rotary Club President, John Gidney, is photographed presenting a plaque to the Plaza management commemorating this achievement.
Fireworks Raffle Winners
Posted by Alan Hession on May 11, 2022
Thankyou to everyone who bought tickets in our fireworks raffle.
 
Winning ticket numbers are as follows;
 
 1. Ticket 0313 Major Prize: Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Overnight stay in Zoo Lodge for a family
                        of 2 adults & 2 children. Including the family entry pass to the Zoo. 
 
2. Ticket 0568 1 night stay at the InterContinental Hotel Double Bay.
 
3. Ticket 1891 Scenic World Blue Mountains Family Pass 2 adults & 2 children. 
 
4. Ticket 1523 Taronga Zoo Sydney Family Pass 2 adults & 2 children.
 
5. Ticket 1563 Back Vintage Wine
 
6. Ticket 1508 Hamper of mixed goods from Northbridge Plaza Shops.
 
Monthly Rotary Bookstall Sales Keep Growing
Posted by Peter Russell on Jun 01, 2022
 
 
Thanks to Northbridge Plaza management, the Northbridge Rotary Club bookstall continues at Northbridge Plaza on the third Sunday of every month from 9am to 5pm.
 
Our next bookstall is on Sunday 19th June 2022
 
The Club is selling a range of adult fiction at $4 each plus childrens’ books at $2 each; all in mint condition and sales continue grow each month.
 
Books can be purchased with cash or via credit card. As always, all of the money raised from these sales goes to a range of worthy causes. 
 
 
 
THE 4 - WAY TEST of the things we say or do

1). Is it the TRUTH?

2). Is it FAIR to all concerned?

3). Will it build GOODWILL & BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

4). Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?