President Kevin welcomed all members to the 2021/22 Zoom Changeover Meeting. He also welcomed Penny Lye, Jan Duggin and our guest speaker, Trent Zimmerman, MP.
Toast
Joanne Coleman proposed a toast to Honorary Member and PP Ross Pickard who died during the week. Joanne spoke of their friendship and of her close family association with Ross over many years. Ross was very active in the club during his membership, served on the Board for 7 years, including as president and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in 2002. Ross was duly toasted by all members present.
President Kevin then inducted PE Jon Gidney as the Club President for 2021/22. Jon acknowledged it was a privilege and honour to be president of such a vibrant club and is looking forward to the year ahead. He said he enjoys the fellowship of members and the community work and is looking to develop and improve on what the club has already achieved. He also hopes to enhance the enjoyment of the club by its members.
The 2021/22 Board was also announced, being:
President: Jon Gidney
Secretary: Elizabeth Grey
Treasurer: Karin Eurrell
Immediate Past President: Kevin Tattrie
Vice President / PE: Rob Coote
Membership: Peter Grinter
Club Service: Helen Gulson
Community: Eleanor Chevor
International: Luke Keighery
Communications/PR: Peter Russell
Foundation: Therese Stubbs
Vocational/Youth: Garth Carter
Fundraising: Alan Hession
President Jon thanked Sally O’Neill for all her work with regards the BBQ, Kim Wilkins for his work with the Bookstall and Don Landers for looking after the Welfare of club members.
Guest Speaker - Trent Zimmerman, MP
Helen Gulson introduced Trent Zimmerman, MP as our guest speaker. Trent has been the Federal Member for North Sydney since 2015 and is well known to the members for his involvement in the club on many occasions.
Trent congratulated Jon Gidney on his induction as President, and also PP Kevin Tattrie for his role as president during a particularly trying year. He also noted that Rotary Australia celebrated its centenary during the year.
Trent said that he joined RC of North Sydney Sunrise in 2005. He spoke about the great camaraderie of clubs and the incredible role Rotary plays in the Community.
Trent then updated us on the current situation with regards to Covid vaccines. He said that over 200 vaccines are in the process of being developed worldwide. He mentioned the UQ vaccine which looked so hopeful early on but in the end had to be abandoned due to the fact that when tested on people to whom it had been administered, it showed up as being a false positive for HIV, even though the actual vaccine worked.
The Pfizer vaccines should be readily available to the Australian population from August and continue to be available until everyone is vaccinated by the end of the year. Other vaccines will also come online towards the end of the year and into next year.
Trent also spoke about the establishment of an MRNA factory in in Australia; and the impact of the pandemic on all businesses in the country.
After questions from the members present, Helen Gulson thanked Trent for his update.