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
5 years
Ranald Stewart
June 10, 2008
12 years
Eleanor Chevor
June 20, 2017
3 years
President's Message
Malcolm Lye
Well, my four months as President will soon end. If Peter Antaw was the Drought President and Peter Grinter was the Bushfire President, I’m the Virus President. This miserable virus overwhelmed us during March and we have still not quite emerged into our everyday lives or resumed our normal Rotary activities.
As for our Club, it has been a strange time for all of us. The club seems to have survived more or less intact, thanks to a lot of innovation, cooperation and goodwill from our members. For that, I thank you all.
Despite the lockdown, our Club members also have achievements of which to be proud – a new $6000 COVID-19 project in Nepal; two bushfire relief projects on the NSW South Coast to which the club will donate close to $30,000; and several other projects which have occupied the Club during the lockdown.
For me, it has been an interesting time to be President and the role has kept me well occupied during the lockdown. I’ve tried hard to keep members connected with Rotary and with each other. Thank goodness for Zoom, a word few of us knew but which has become a part of our vocabulary.
Hopefully, in a few weeks’ time we should be back at dinners at the Golf Club and resuming our usual fundraising and other projects under President Kevin Tattrie. With Kevin’s energy and enthusiasm, I expect the Club will be even more dynamic after this period of change.
Thank you all for your support and contributions during this unusual period for our Club.
Keep well!
Malcolm
Notes from Zoom meeting of 16 June 2020
President Malcolm welcomed members and guest, ADG Ward Pollard, to the Zoom meeting.
Announcements:
President-Elect Kevin Tattrie advised the incoming 2020-2021 board had met recently and that he had sent out to members the new committee list. The formal Changeover will be via Zoom on 30 June. He said that a dinner with spouses to celebrate the Changeover will take place at a suitable time in the future.
The first Rotary meeting for the 2020-2021 year on 7 July will be a Committee Night and Kevin asked the various committees to get together via Zoom or at someone’s house to discuss their plans for the upcoming year.
July 14 will be the first regular meeting, either via Zoom or at the Golf Club depending on restrictions.
Rob Coote spoke about bushfire relief. Peter McNair, Sally O’Neill and Valda Andrews will be heading down to Bega next week to see some of the work being undertaken. The Kiah Pavilion, which was mentioned at a previous meeting, is due to start its construction next week. Everything is progressing well and the funds are in the process of being sent to the Bega region now.
Karin Eurell advised that the new club brochures have been updated and printed and are ready to be distributed locally to attract new members. A soft copy is also available.
She also advised that the Wellington Rotary Club had recently received the Shirley Stanley Memorial Trophy for the Dubbo Zoo project.
Luke Keighery updated the meeting on the COVID-19 situation in Nepal. From 59 cases of COVID-19 in early May and no deaths, they now have 10,100 cases and 24 deaths so the rate of infection is increasing very rapidly. Medical equipment has been purchased and food parcels distributed along with hand sanitisers. The funds we donated have been sent, and a cluster of North Shore Rotary clubs has been asked to help. So far Lane Cove has donated US$1000, $250 from Chatswood Sunrise and there has been an anonymous $250 donation. Crows Nest Rotary has donated US$3000 so all up another A$6000 has been raised to fight COVID in Nepal.
Sally O’Neill spoke about the "Dining for a Cause" fundraising project which has been supported by club members with 25 guests and 5 hosts so far. The $35 cost should be deposited into the club’s Charity Account by those attending. Sally thanked Eleanor and Luke for their creative initiative.
Jon Gidney reminded members that the half yearly membership subscriptions are due by 30 June.
ADG Ward Pollard spoke about the President’s Meeting which was held via Zoom recently. He praised International President Mark Maloney for his participation and contribution. Mark believes virtual meetings are becoming embedded within Rotary. Many clubs have found that more members have attended the virtual meetings than regular meetings and it is likely to be a fixture for many clubs going forward.
Ward also spoke about the Social Impact Network, an E-Club which has transpired out of Rotaract. Only 5% of those who belong to Rotaract actually ever join Rotary. The Social Impact Network was set up by Rebecca Fry during the pandemic and has 40 members from six countries and seems to be filling a gap in Rotary’s membership profile.
President Malcolm thanked Ward for his support and involvement in our club during his tenure as ADG. Ward commended RCN as a standout club, especially with the level of participation in meetings and projects by all members, and said we should be proud of our achievements.
Club Debate – That COVID-19 is good for Australia
PP Peter Grinter as adjudicator of the debate, introduced the two teams - Peter Garrett, Helen Gulson and Ian Burnet for the affirmative, and Luke Keighery, Fay Petrou and Peter Russell for the negative.
An interesting, humorous and at times heated debate ensued debating the merits or otherwise of the topic.
The adjudicator duly awarded the debate as a draw!
After the debate PP Paul Sullivan kindly auctioned another six bottles from his fine wine collection which netted the club’s Charities Account $165 thanks to Ian Burnet.
UK Virus ALERT– by John Cleese.
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to the COVID-19 threat and have therefore raised their threat level from “Miffed” to “Peeved.” Soon, though, the level may be raised yet again to “Irritated” or even “A Bit Cross.” The English have not been “A Bit Cross” since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out.
The virus has been re-categorized from “Tiresome” to “A Bloody Nuisance.” The last time the British issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
The Scots have raised their threat level from “Pissed Off” to “Let's Get the Bastard.” They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its alert level from “Run” to “Hide.” The only two higher levels in France are “Collaborate” and “Surrender.” The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.
Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout Loudly and Excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.”
The Germans have increased their alert state from “Disdainful Arrogance” to “Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs.” They also have two higher levels: “Invade a Neighbour” and “Lose.”
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Australia, meanwhile, has raised its alert level from “No worries” to “She'll be alright, Mate.” Two more escalation levels remain: “Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!” and “The barbie is cancelled.” So far, no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.
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
The Rotary Club of Northbridge is offering a Peace Scholarship in 2020-21
The Rotary Peace Fellowship is the premier educational program of The Rotary Foundation and supports Rotary’s mission to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace. It is intended for individuals who have chosen a career related to international relations, peace, and conflict resolution; who have work experience in these areas; and who have a commitment to community or international humanitarian service and working for peace.
These links explain the scholarships and where they are offered.
