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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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May 31, 2022
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Jun 07, 2022
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Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Luke Keighery
May 3
 
Kevin Tattrie
May 6
 
Ros Virtue
May 18
 
Douglas Herridge
May 29
 
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May 26
 
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Michael Bartok
May 14, 2002
20 years
 
Ian Burnet
May 17, 2005
17 years
 
Peter McNair
May 17, 2005
17 years
 
Sabina Allman
May 25, 2021
1 year
 
Valda Andrews
May 25, 2010
12 years
 
Rhondda Kingsbury
May 26, 2021
1 year
 
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Club Meeting News - 24 May 2022
 
Welcome
 
President Jon welcomed members and our guests, Darlene Richard, Peter Russell’s publisher, and Peter’s wife, Jill.
 
Toast
 
Ros Virtue proposed a toast to the Rotary Club of Upper Northern Beaches which meets on a Wednesday evening at the Sands Hotel, North Narrabeen. It has about 40 members who are involved in projects such as an Australia Day Breakfast, Christmas Carols in the Park, a Golf Day and overseas projects in Cambodia and Timor Leste.
 
Announcements
 
Jon Gidney expressed his thanks to Board members for the work put in at the last Board meeting. Distribution of funds for the year was discussed but not completed until the Fireworks’ financials are finalised.
 
Our Pride of Workmanship Dinner is scheduled for 14/6, the Food Drive for 23/5 and finally, everyone was encouraged to sign up for the Changeover Dinner.
 
Luke Keighery reported that $12,000 has been raised at the Indonesian fundraiser in support of Nusa Tenggara Association.
 
Luke also updated us on the current status of the Footy Tipping competition. Chris Switzer is leading with Joe Campisi in second place.
 
Alan Hession reminded everyone about Comedy for a Cause this coming Thursday night. We are close to the 100 guests sought. There had also been strong support for NGC’s Dinner on the night with 30 registering to date.
 
Helen Gulson encouraged members to look at the flyer on their tables, Stargazing Spectacular 2022, to be held 28 Nov – 6 Dec 2022 on Norfolk Island. The tour provides for an Astronomer to take everyone on tours of the night skies. The cost of $2519 includes airfares, accommodation car hire, island and night tours, and more! Contact Helen ASAP if you are interested.
 
Guest Speaker - Peter Russell, Author
 
Alan Hession introduced the guest speaker, our own member Peter Russell, with the emphasis being on Peter’s topic, “What If – The Genesis of Foreign Interference in Australia in the mid 20th Century”
 
Peter, equipped with his 5 books (the fifth book is yet to be published) gave an extremely interesting insight into Australia’s handling of its intelligence services since the 1960s. He stressed that foreign interference was not restricted to the superpowers, the Soviets and China. Whilst Peter's books are fiction, they are a based on fact. Some key comments:
  • In the late 70s, ASIO was know as Scorpion and Lotus was the man behind the Hilton bombing.
  • In the 80s, Whitlam cut a lot of costs out of ASIO, but by the mid-80s, KGB were running ASIO - just hollow men!
  • The Petrov defection was a world beater and put ASIO on the map! Mrs Petrov was the most important spy of all!
  • Why no defections since? Because the knock-on effects are too great.
  • Why did the Soviets “invest” in Australia? Penetration of everything in Australia was the key as we had such good assets and the Soviets were able to drag in a lot of people. ASIO started to recruit women in the 80s.
Sally O’Neill
 
Rotary Meeting on 10 May 2022 –
Guest Speaker Jaroslav Duma, OAM
 
As there was no Bulletin after the meeting on 10 May, below is a report on the very moving presentation by the Hon Consul of Ukraine, Jaroslav Duma, OAM. Former Northbridge Rotary exchange student Vicki Skure-Eriksson, who has been working to help the Ukrainian refugees, zoomed in from her home in Sweden.
 
Bob Edwards introduced Vicki Skure-Eriksson being an exchange student some 34 years ago from Sweden. Vicki travels to Poland taking resources to help the Ukraine refugees. She is deputy mayor in her town of Vasteras. Her friend Vasyl Derun, a Ukrainian who came to Sweden with his family about 15 years ago, has been four times to Poland with food, clothes, blankets, diapers, medical equipment etc. Vicki gave us an insight into the Ukrainian situation from her perspective, and thanked us for the money we have sent over to assist her.
 
Kim Wilkins introduced our guest speaker, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine, Jaroslav Duma OAM, who is a Rotarian and represents Ukraine in Sydney.
 
Jaroslav showed a short video of the history of Ukraine from 1991 when it regained its independence from the Soviet Union. The video showed a people living happily and freely, not under the current atrocious conditions.
 
Jaroslav said he and his fellow countrymen have been overwhelmed by the support from the world since the war commenced in February 2022. The Australian Government has sent military equipment and humanitarian aid and $3.8m has been raised through the Ukrainian Crisis Appeal - a joint appeal between Ukrainians in Australia, a RAWCS project sponsored by the Rotary clubs of Sydney Cove and Holroyd, and Caritas Ukraine. A further fund has been set up in conjunction with Rotary to support displaced Ukrainians arriving in Australia from the war zone, again set up through RAWCS.
 
Jaroslav gave a very emotional speech about the destruction of Mariupol - the atrocious killing, torture and rape of men, women and children and the targeting of schools, hospitals and innocent children and the elderly. He said Putin had no humanity and wanted to raze the country. He likened the current state to WWII and how the rest of the world took years to stop Hitler when the systematic murders were happening. He said Putin must be stopped before he starts on other neighbouring countries.
 
Jerry asked that we all take the following message to our local MPs, to the Prime Minister, to everyone in authority - “Stop the killing, murdering, bombings, and make Ukraine free again”.
Ros Virtue
 
A little bit of humour ....
 
A Few Seniors' Sayings ...
 
As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake!
 
I'm responsible for what I say, not what you understand.
 
My tolerance for idiots is extremely low these days. I used to have some immunity built up, but obviously there's a new strain out there.
 
It's not my age that bothers me, it's the side effects!
 
As I watch this generation try and rewrite our history, one thing I'm
sure of...
it will be misspelled and have no punctuation.
 
My mind is like an internet browser - at least 19 open tabs, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no clue where the music is coming from!
 
 
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
 
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.
Comedy for a Cause & Dinner Evening
Dinner will be available prior to the start of the show.
 
 
 
Fireworks Raffle Winners
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
 
 
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 22nd May 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. 
 
 
 
5/6th February Tonga Volcano & Tsunami Relief Appeal
 
 
Thank you to all shoppers who donated to the Northbridge Rotary Club a bucket appeal on the weekend of 5/6 February, at Northbridge Shopping Plaza, raising funds for those in Tonga who have lost their homes, possessions and in some case family members to the recent volcano and tsunami. 
 
Special thanks to 2 school boys Will Hyde & his friend Alex (pictured) who helped with our appeal. Both Wil and Alex have spent time in Tonga as part of a post school volunteer program, but unfortunately were pulled back early due to COVID, hence their interest.  They have been in contact with the school principal in Tonga to let them know what is being done here to support them.
 
 
 
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?