Guest Speaker Stacey Franklin from Carevan presented us with an ino the superb and extensive programmes of Carevan. The Carevan Foundation aims to create a sense of identity, a sense of belonging and a sense of achievement in those less advantaged in our society. The Foundation is focused on changing “us” and “them” to become “we”. The Carevan in Albury Wodonga has become an icon, a symbol that this community cares, and that a community through a strong volunteer network can fight hunger and poverty. “Sometimes a feeling from the heart becomes a jigsaw puzzle that is meant to be put together”.
President’s Message
It’s great to be able to report that Murray High School attained 2nd place in the NSW State Shakespeare Carnival for their rendition of ‘A Mid Summers Night’s Dream’. This was an event to which our club donated $1,000. It’s fantastic to assist these young thespians on their creative journey! Unfortunately for us, Katrine has gone home. She has been a wonderful inbound exchange student who has epitomised what it is to be a young Rotarian. I’m sure we are all looking forward to our next student. I really enjoyed Stacey Franklin’s presentation about Carevan at last week’s meeting. The good that they do for our community is fantastic and the fact that they engage year 9 students to help deliver the services is a masterstroke. When Stacey mentioned that the need for Carevan’s meal service doubles in the cooler months.
President’s Message
What a fantastic night our changeover dinner was. A night of fellowship, fun, music and ceremony, which was ably presided over by Greg Aplin. Many people contributed to making the evening the success that it was; thanks to Leigh (flowers), Julie (pretty much everything!), Ron (PowerPoint presentation), Terry (placemats), Bradley (Sergeant), Bruce (attendance and apologies), Roger Snell (sending out invites etc) and Wassim for providing a lovely venue and food. And a special thank you to our past President, David Gordon, for doing such a great job in his Rotary year and for perfectly demonstrating the Rotary motto of Service above Self. David is one of many great people to have been in the position before me and I feel that there is a lot to live up to!
The opening of the Catheter Lab was attended on Friday 29 June by past President David, Greg Aplin and honorary member Sussan Ley. By all accounts, it was a successful event with media in attendance. This is a great example of the work we do for the local community.
President’s Message
At the joint sitting of the new and old boards this week there was discussion about supporting 6 Murray High School students who have been selected to perform at a Shakespeare Carnival in Sydney. It seemed like a perfect fit for our Club considering that we are a big supporter of youth programs through Paying in Forward, Kitenden and Rotary Youth exchange. We are also a big supporter of the Arts via donations to Hothouse, Flying Fruit Flies, Mural for Substanability and Murray Conservatorium and last, but not least we support literacy through the River of Stories. I’m pleased to say that the board supported the Murray High kids to the “tune” of $1,000. This week’s meeting is our Changeover meeting as such we will have an evening meeting at La Maison. This is a great chance for us as a Club to reflect on all the good things we have achieved in the last 12 months – and that there have been a few is an understatement (hopefully you have all had a chance to read the annual report expertly put together by Peter Merk). Changeover is also a chance to recognise and reward those that have stood out for the year and to hear the plans and ambitions that President Stephen has in mind for his year. I’m looking forward to a great night of celebration and challenges. I’m pleased to see that our number of attendees is looking very good.
As this is my last President’s message I wanted to say thank you to you all for the support and encouragement you given to me this year. Together we have achieved some wonderful results and we have made a difference in our community. I’m proud to call myself a Rotarian and to call you all my friends. To conclude it is only right that I sign off with – Service Above Self.
President’s Message
A big thank you goes out to Greg Aplin this week for arranging the grant from the State Government of $7,000 to help us pay for a new BBQ Trailer – which was presented at last week’s meeting. Also to Dennis Hickey and Roger Snell for writing the submission that secured us this grant. One of the first tasks of the new board will be to ensure that we have this new trailer up and running ASAP. It was a fun meeting last week. It was great to hear about Katrine’s year with us (hard to believe it is nearly over) and to present her with her Aussie Akubra hat. Katrine has been an excellent exchange student and we will miss her when she leaves. We also presented Damien Toohey (Principal at Albury High) with a certificate of appreciation for supporting our exchange student program. Our work with youth programs including River of Stories, Kitenden and Paying it Forward are a large part of who we are as a Club and as Rod and Kellie remind us regularly – the future of Rotary. Last for this week. I’ve been wearing my new Rotary jacket into work from time to time. Mandy asked me one day if it was appropriate. That got me thinking about showing pride in being a Rotarian and telling people who we are and what we do. I wore the jacket to a client meeting one day to discover that the client’s father had been a Rotarian for 35 years. As my year draws to a close I’m going to set a challenge that we all tell one new person each week that we are Rotarians and that we are proud of that work we do in the community. Hopefully you will all accept this challenge.