Events

Martha Jabour OAM, Executive Director of the Homicide Victim's Support Group (Aust) will be our guest speaker, celebrating "International Womens Day".

MARTHA JABOUR OAM

 Martha Jabour has been the Executive Director of the Homicide Victims’ Support Group (Aust) Inc. since 1993. She was employed by the Institute of Forensic Medicine in 1993 to coordinate and set up the support group, providing counselling, support and referrals for the family members of homicide within the counselling section.

Martha trained as a grief and trauma counsellor after the death of her second son Michael to cot death at the Bereavement Care Centre and the National Centre for Childhood Grief. She acquired experience within the areas of Grief, Trauma, Policy Development, Strategic Planning and responding to crisis management whilst working both in a voluntary and paid position with the Sudden Infant Death Association of NSW. Her interests are to further promote victims’ rights and needs, with a special focus on crime prevention, particularly in the areas of domestic violence, mental health and juvenile justice.

In 2019 in recognition of her many years of tireless, selfless hard work and dedication she was awarded a medal of the order of Australia for service to the community through support for victims of crime and in 2020 was also elected Honorary Secretary of The Order of Australia Association NSW Branch.

This evening our guest speaker will be PDG Monica Saville speaking about the Magic of the Rotary Foundation.

This evening is a partners' night and will feature a speical presentation.

Monica describes her life as wonderful and exceeded all expectations. She was born and raised in Junee NSW in 1940, 3 months after WW2 was declared. She was an only child who contracted Polio at the age of 11. Polio affected her speech and her ability to swallow. Thankfully, she recovered fully from the decease, which debilitated many kids at the time.

Despite her parents’ disapproval about education for women, she always knew she wanted to teach young children and attended teachers’ college to receive her qualifications. Her first teaching job was at Eurongilly, a 2-teacher school (herself and the principal), which had no proper toilet facilities for women. Many years later, Monica travelled to India to oversee the construction of toilet blocks in 10 schools.

She met Geoff at a local dance in Eurongilly. They fell in love and were married in 1962. A few years later, with two young daughters in tow, she accompanied Geoff to the USA where he studied for a PHD. Monica also continued her education by earning a Science degree in Child Development and Education.

Back in Oz, Monica resumed her teaching career then spend time in Head Office where she produced learning materials. Back to teaching, she worked at many local schools. She became Deputy Principal at Epping West, then Principal at Lindfield Public School in 1995.

Monica’s Rotary journey began when she joined Epping Rotary Club in 1993. Rotary has been a second career to Monica. She became the first woman president of her local club in 1997/98 and District Governor in 2007/08. Together with her husband Geoff, who is a member of the Carlingford Rotary Club, they ran a nationwide Rotary Radio program for 4 years. She held many responsible roles within Rotary, including Regional Coordinator for the Australian Rotary Foundation, as well as Trustee and Treasurer of the Foundation’s Trust.

From vaccinating children in India by torchlight to adjudicating the Model United Nations in Russia, Monica Saville has done it all. Her work and dedication earned her an OAM in 2016.

Monica takes inspiration from her two daughters and from Geoff, her support in everything she set out to do

For information and registration:  https://rotarydistrict9685.org.au/page/district-conference-2023

I am a former secondary school teacher of Industrial Arts which is traditional Woodwork, Metalwork, Graphics and Engineering.  I worked mostly with boys of Years 7 through to Year 12.  When I retired from full-time teaching in 2006, I began nurturing an interest in local history and walking.  Back in 2007, I began leading free walks around the streets and suburbs of Sydney.  To give added value to these walks, I sought out details of the streetscape which were clearly visible but remained mostly unnoticed.  Included were the largest and the smallest, the oldest and the strangest and anything which had a story.  These stories often gave a surprising insight into our past.  Over the years the number of walks increased as I added to the list.  These grew into a catalogue which became a book.  Today I will give just a sample of the many places contained in my book Exploring Hidden Sydney.  These can be found by anyone who has the time to walk a couple of city blocks and look around.  All proceeds from the sale of the book ($35.00) are going towards the eradication of polio and other local and international aid projects through The Rotary Foundation.

TOM SWEENEY    OAM    JP    INTRODUCTION

A Past President (twice) of the Rotary Club of Crows Nest and a PHF, Tom has been in Rotary since 1999.  He has compared at least five District Conferences and District Change Over dinners.

His career as a guest speaker has spanned nearly 35 years giving presentations to Rotary Clubs, Probus and many community and seniors groups.

He joined the then Willoughby Musical Society in 1969 and started directing musicals in 1978. Since then Tom has directed over 40 productions for Willoughby and another 20 for other companies.

He directed the Australian premiere of Zorba, Meet Me in St Louis, Titanic, and The Scarlet Pimpernel and recently directed the NSW premiere of “Strictly Ballroom”.

In 1989, the then 18 year old Hugh Jackman was in his chorus for ‘Paint Your Wagon’.  Hugh doesn’t remember this but Tom does!

Now past President of Willoughby Theatre Company (2004), Tom and his wife Joy, also an accomplished director and costume designer, spend most of their leisure time involved with the theatre.

Michael Day is National Treasurer of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association, has an Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering and 15 years’ experience in the design and conversion of electric vehicles for himself and others.

Apart from having a compulsion for electric vehicle projects Michael has a passion for creating awareness, and dispelling myths about EV ownership.

AEVA is the oldest continuously active electric vehicle owner’s association in the world having formed in 1973. Its purpose is to create greater awareness of electric vehicles, encourage the rapid transition to electric transportation, and to be an official source of information on EVs in Australia. 

RSVP to Bass Bhaskaran - limited numbers.

Details to come !