Rotaspoke

Club President's Message
Over the weekend, I attended the Rotary District 9660 District Showcase in Tamworth.  This was a terrific opportunity to meet the Club Presidents of this very large district that stretches from Newcastle up to Coffs Harbour and west to Lightning Ridge, Bourke and Dubbo.  Great to hear about the many inspirational projects that clubs are undertaking - focusing on homelessness, mental health, children in foster care, supporting victims of domestic violence.  Being a city-girl, I particularly enjoy meeting with Rotary members from regional centres and remote locations. I extended a greeting from Rotary Carlingford to everyone there.
 
This week is our club AGM which is an important meeting.  I encourage all club members to attend, to vote for the incoming Board of 2023-24.  A Zoom link is available for any member not available to attend in person.
 
We will also be discussing Flood Relief activities and also the Telopea Community Garden renovation.  
 
 
Stories
Western NSW Flood Relief
The current flood disaster in Western and Southern NSW is devastating to so many families.
Rotarian Ed Strom has been able to provide insight from first-hand knowledge of the terrible damage at Eugowra.
Want to help through donations of cash, goods or volunteer your time and energy ?  Read on.....
 
 
Want to help communities to recover from the current devastating flood disaster ?  Here are 3 ways you can help:
 
1) Donate non-perishable goods, cleaning equipment,  tools, storage containers, microwaves and washing machines.
 
2) Volunteer your time - go out to Cowra, Forbes and beyond to assist with clean-up and recovery.  Note you need to arrange your own accommodation which could be camping in a tent or caravan.
Contact Bob O'Shea for the sign up sheet.
 
3) Donate CASH - vouchers will be distributed by Rotary to families in need.  Donations are tax deductible via a Registered Charity operated by Rotary Australia World Community Service.
 
Read more...
Eugowra Flood Update from Ed Strom - November 23rd
 
Further to our visit to Eugowra we advise that they do not need any more clothes, bedding or food mainly because their storage is at capacity.
 
People have done a fabulous job with cleaning up and the only people they need is those with front end loaders and dump trucks, that may change as time goes by and people start to rebuild.  I mention only Eugowra and not Forbes, Canowindra, Cudal, Condo and Cowra.  I think the other towns, although just as devastating had different types of floods.  The ferocity of Eugowra’s flood was so unexpected and beyond anything they had had before, just as an example the biggest flood we have had in my living memory came just under the floor boards in our house, this time it was 1.6 metres up the walls inside the house.  I’m only guessing but about 75% of the population lost everything.
 
There is a “city” at the show ground which caters for all the displaced families, however they do have a wish list of immediate requirements, as follows;
 
Microwaves,  toasters,  jugs,  washing machines,  fry pans,  saucepans,  barbeques.
 
Extension cords,  power boards,  power tools,  hammers,  screw drivers,  shifters,  spanners,  drills and bits,  screws,  nails.
 
Washing powder,  fabric softener,  pegs,  clothes horses,  mops,  buckets,  sponges,  toilet brushes,  tarps.
 
Salad bowls,  mixing bowls,  sharp knives,  cutlery,  tongs,  egg lifters,  general utensils,  plastic tubs.
 
I have rescued quite a many of my father’s tools which I have  cleaned up and will be returning them to Eugowra, I also have extension cords and a few power tools.  I can see as time goes on there will be further requirements but this gives us something to work on.
 
I believe we can donate through the Salvation Army or RAWCS Central West Flood Relief (donations@rawcs.org.au), Project ID 32-2022-23.
Hub Report
Sergeant Justice Rhule opened the meeting at 7.15pm in the Vikings Club Dundas.
 
President Trudy Stevenson introduced guests Vicky Anderson, John Barber, Jenny Young, Neil Donovan and guest speakers Kathryn Hammond from Dundas Area Neighbourhood Centre (DANC) and our latest member Sandra Payne.
 
Apologies received were Jules Adan (Overseas), Paolo Santiago (getting Married), Ed Strom (Eugowra Floods), Joseph Mack (not well) and Russ Riddell (Baby sitting in Queensland).
 
James Addo did not let us down and was the only member to remember it was a Ghanaian dress theme evening, wearing a rich maroon and gold broad stripe jacket and matching hat.
 
Mike Morgan was called upon to announce the passing of our late PDG Graeme Turnidge’s wife, honorary member and Paul Harris Fellow Elaine, who passed away on Saturday night at the age of 88. The funeral will be held on Monday 28th November at Allan Drew Heritage Chapel 221 Old Northern Road Castle Hill at 2pm.
 
Last Sunday’s Market Treasurer John Green advised there were 45 Stalls, 8 tables hired and $459.70 made in donations at the gate, making a total of $2299.70. Our rain god Market Manager Bob O’Shea scared away the rain at 5am and brought on a new challenge the wind at 9.30am. There was a few breakages and a couple of early stall leavers as a result.
 
Phil Newall announced Dr Dahlia Sartika, speech therapist, sponsored by our club, working in Indonesia, received acknowledgement for her work on development of the Indonesian Speech Recognition Threshold Test for Children and Normative Study. Her work was accepted for publication in the journal of Hearing Science as advised by the Associate Editor Wiktor Jedrzejczak.
 
Guest Speaker Kathryn Hammond has been the manager of DANC for the past 18 months. The Centre is in its 45th Year running community programs for early intervention, community and justice support and is located at 21 Sturt St Telopea. The administration team who coordinate the support consist of 1.6 and works in conjunction with the local church and community groups such as Rotary.
 
Sometimes people find it difficult to understand exactly what kind of support they need and where to find it. Dundas Area Neighbourhood Centre can help them get started on that journey by working together to discover what specialist support they may need through their information and referral service. They have a wide variety of information at hand including mental health, families and children, health, housing and more. Once people are comfortable and with their permission, they are referred to professional groups and government assistance agencies to receive the support they need. The centre’s contact number is 02 96844250. Opening hours are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10am-3pm.
 
The Centre works with community Groups to provide a range of activities for fitness of body and mind. This includes table tennis Mondays 12pm-3pm, Art classes Mondays 12pm – 4pm, Guitar get- togethers Friday 3.30pm -5pm. More community groups are invited to set up and those interested are asked to contact the centre to share their ideas.
 
Friday Connects is a luncheon and preparation of food hampers, thanks to the support of Second Bite and Coles. Sunday night meals are provided through the organisation of the local church and we are able to contribute with the generosity of market stallholders such as Gus and his family and Lisa with bread, eggs fruit and vegetables.
 
The main project Kathryn is asking us to assist with is the upgrade of their community garden. The plan is to have 30 raised plant beds and each family will be allocated one with an open community plot in the middle. This produce will go towards supporting the meal efforts that are provided at the centre. A working bee is planned to remove rubbish and to create 30 concrete beds. The area is fenced off and each bed owner will be issued with a key to gain access. The plan is to be ready by March 2023. Land & Housing are the owners of the land on which the project is situated.
 
Our second guest speaker and our very own Sandra Payne was introduced by Uncle Chris Johnson who gave us an insight to the innocent baby child through to the adventurous women of today. This included being Helen and Chris’s flower girl at their wedding. No doubt Uncle Chris would have influenced Sandra to her first Rotary exposure of RYPAN and her second as guest speaker at our club. Sandra completed Hornsby Girls High before completing a TAFE course in bush regeneration. This led to Macquarie University to do degrees in Science and Biology. Her career was rightly headed to Ryde Council Capital Works as their Bush Care Coordinator and Bush Fire Manager.
 
Our Sandra is full of life and bought her first Honda Motor Bike in 2009 (Kevin), Travelled Argentina and toured  on a BMX650GS and as if that was not enough she later travelled from Airlie Beach to Fremantle Western Australia on her bike ,as you do. She now also has a BMW bike (Roy).
 
To spice up her life even more in 2010 Sandra joined the Australian Army reserve in the Transport Division and you name it she has driven it. In 2014 she was involved in Operation Resolute,  Sovereign Boarders and Darwin Larakia before joining her fellow comrades in Batemans Bay carrying out water distribution during the notorious bushfire season.
 
Sandra has now decided to swap the army life for Rotary and aren’t we glad she did.
 
Rod Jolly gave acknowledgement to both speakers who fulfilled our thoughts and aspirations and members joined him in appreciation by acclamation.
 
A quick heads and tails was won by Cristy Newall (how she looks after her man).
 
Happy Fines were dominated by James Addo who went to great lengths to explain how a disgruntled stall holder thought what a wonderful man John Green was when he came to her rescue with the right things to say.  Trudy’s 10 year old niece received a Bronze Medal in a national competitive field in long jumping. She was also happy her husband James survived having found a tick in his head.
 
Trudy thanked our guests for attending and reminded that the AGM is next week.  She thanked Ed Strom and Bob O’Shea who are returning to Eugowra on Monday and will advise what things are desperately required for the flood effort. They are desperately short of people to prepare and cook meals but you would need to be able to provide your own accommodation. There are showers and toilets available at the showground.
 
Book now by Humanitix for the Xmas Party on Friday 16th December at the FC Social Barefoot Lawn Bowls 6 Park Road Rydalmere. Tickets $60 per head.
 
Meeting Closed 8.15pm.  
Hub Reporter Gary Hayman.
NORTH ROCKS MARKET ROSTER
 
Upcoming Events
Rotary Carlingford AGM
Vikings Club
Nov 29, 2022
7:15 PM – 8:15 PM
 
Club Meeting with Guest Speaker
Vikings Club
Dec 06, 2022
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
 
North Rocks Christmas Market
NextSense
Dec 11, 2022
7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
 
Carols by Twilight
John Wearn Reserve
Dec 11, 2022 5:30 PM
 
Club Board Meeting
Vikings Club
Dec 13, 2022 6:30 PM
 
End of Year Barefoot Bowls & Dinner
F C Social
Dec 16, 2022 5:00 PM
 
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Floro Valdez
November 15
 
Ben Fox
November 16
 
Chris Long
November 18
 
John Allsopp
November 26
 
Sam Rad
November 30
 
Tony Colaco
November 30
 
Spouse Birthdays
Francis Yunita
November 1
 
Join Date
Geoff Saville
November 1, 1982
40 years
 
John Davidson
November 1, 1980
42 years
 
Paolo Lorenz Santiago
November 2, 2021
1 year
 
Ellen Harvison
November 17, 2009
13 years
 
DJ Javellana
November 21, 2017
5 years
 
Virginia Chin
November 27, 2018
4 years
 
Bulletin Editor
Trudy Stevenson
Please add mailservice@clubrunner.ca to your safe sender list or address book.
To view our privacy policy, click here.
 
ClubRunner
102-2060 Winston Park Drive, Oakville, ON, L6H 5R7