President Peter welcomed members and guest speaker David Gordon.
Toast
Garth Carter proposed a toast to the RC of Kurrajong North Richmond.
Announcements
President Peter said that Derek Matz has been unwell and is in hospital but will hopefully be out in a few days.
He also thanked Helen Gulson for hosting the club Christmas Party last Saturday. A total of 60 members and partners enjoyed a very pleasant evening of good company, good food and good wine. Photos from the evening can be viewed by clicking on
Use the left and right arrows on your keyboard to scroll through the photos.
President Peter also reported on the Gratefulness Program at St Philip Neri which the club sponsored and which was completed by years 5 & 6 students. The program aims to improve self esteem and confidence in the children. They also gained an awareness of the plight of country folk and the children themselves raised $300 for the drought appeal. This program is part of the club’s Youth Program and will look at linking with the schools in Wellington.
He also spoke about the presidents’ meeting he recently attended at Hornsby. The Riseley Shield for best performer was awarded to our District 9685, which raised in excess of $475,000 for the drought appeal. Other clubs were astonished at the amount our club raised at our recent bucket appeal. He also advised that the discussion of the merger between Districts 9685 & 9675 had been discontinued for the present.
Fay Petrou reminded members that next week's meeting will be at Wild Sage (now called Miller's Kitchen Cammeray). The time is as usual - 6pm for 6.30pm.
Rob Coote reported on the Soar & Roar event held last Sunday at Luna Park & Kirribilli. Seven club members volunteered to assist on the day with registration of drivers, crowd control and flagging away the cars. Celebrating International Day of People with Disability, some of the young people with a disability had the opportunity of riding in the cars on their journey to the festival at Eastern Creek. This event raises funds for Special Olympics.
President's Message
Peter Grinter
We had a well-attended meeting on Tuesday, 10 December 2019, and a very interesting presentation by David Gordon from Technical Aids for the Disabled.
There were reports regarding our participation in Soar & Roar, and the thank you from St Philip Neri School who participated in the Gratefulness program.
I gave a short report on my attendance at the Presidents' meeting on 6 December 2019. I expressed my well-deserved congratulations to our Club for the enthusiasm with which we participate in so many programs, which is the envy of many of the clubs in District 9685. PDG Susan Wakefield gave an informative report which can be read by clicking on
Paul Sullivan finished off the evening really well with a comprehensive fine session and wine raffle, which raised over $250!
I look forward to seeing you all at our last meeting for the year at Wild Sage Restaurant in Cammeray next Tuesday, 17 December.
Guest Speaker - David Gordon
Rob Coote introduced guest speaker David Gordon. David Gordon is the volunteer speaker for Technical Aids for the Disabled (TAD), an organisation started over 30 years ago to create and modify equipment for individuals who live with a disability. TAD and its volunteers and in-house therapists have delivered 30,000 pieces of affordable, specialised technology and equipment including "Freedom Wheels".
David spoke about the three 3 areas in which TAD assists people with a disability (PWD) – daily living, work and recreation.
Freedom Wheels, which give PWD the opportunity to ride a bike, are bikes adapted to suit the needs of each individual. This gives the individual independence, mobility and the benefits of exercise which all adds to the improvement of health.
TAD will also go into the workplace or the home of an individual and find solutions by adapting furniture and equipment. David showed slides of numerous items which have variously been adapted – shopping trolleys, prams, tractors, etc. TAD has a workshop at Northmead.
Paul Sullivan thanked David for his entertaining, informative and instructional talk.
DID YOU KNOW
In 2008, after nearly four years of discussions, before finalising its winding up, Sydney Enterprise Education Inc (SEE) transferred its net cash reserves of $42,460 to our Club. This money was and is kept separate from the Club’s other funds and is to be used solely for the purpose of enabling and assisting young people to achieve qualifications necessary in assisting them in gaining a viable career. Initially, there was great difficulty in sourcing an avenue by which the desired purpose could be achieved. Finally, a partnership has been created between the Club and Taldumunde whereby the Club funds the purchase of educational aids, such as laptop computers and course fees, for young people who have been helped by Taldumunde and are recommended by that organisation as being suitable young people worthy of the assistance so provided. In the last couple of months StreetWork has joined the program with the supply of laptop computers for 2 worthy young people sponsored by that charity.
If anyone has any jokes or funny stories, feel free to send them to me for the humour section of the Bulletin! Email them to helen.gulson@ozemail.com.au
The Rotary Clubs of Northbridge (Sydney) and Wellington (NSW) have embarked on a joint project to support the families of drought-affected communities in Western NSW. There are 744 primary school kids from the Wellington District and they are all being treated to a day at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo including a BBQ lunch.
The project is being run over a 7-week period. Rotarians from Northbridge are driving there to connect with their fellow Rotarians in Wellington and to jointly run the BBQ. Northbridge President, Peter Antaw, said that of the families: “The children are suffering as well, most of them don’t understand the financial and extreme pressures that their parents are going through.” The families are anxious about their future but there is also much determination to keep their communities alive.
Australia is experiencing one of its most severe droughts on record, with areas in NSW facing the prospect of running out of water by mid-2020.
The Burrendong dam is now at 4.5% capacity and dwindling rapidly.
The crisis is severely impacting the Wellington area and so special treats like a visit to the zoo is just not possible for many locals and their families.
3000 muesli bars, supplied free by Nestles, as well as 744 sausage sandwiches and a cold drink will be given to the children of the district which includes regional small towns such as Geurie, Mumbil, Stuart Town and Euchareena.
The joint project was launched on 11th September and Channel 7 Prime TV attended the Zoo to film the event. ABC Morning Radio interviewed the Presidents. The kids thoroughly enjoyed their day with most of them citing the Cheetahs and Meer Cats as their favorites.
Ben Shields (Mayor of Dubbo Regional) and Daryl Thompson (Headmaster of Wellington Primary) also attended the launch. They both congratulated the Rotary Clubs for identifying children as the hidden victims of the drought. President Greg Hart of Wellington Rotary also thanked Northbridge Rotary and the Rotary Australia Benevolent Society for their very generous contributions to the project, and for driving up from Sydney to help at the BBQ’s. Without Northbridge, Wellington would not have taken on this project.
