President Peter Smith's Column

Vocational Service Visit: What a wonderful night we all had last Wednesday at Ryde Hospitality College. A good roll up of 35 Rotarians (we had 5 late apologies) and partners enjoyed great food, great wine and great fellowship.

And to think that we while enjoyed our selves we were doing our bit to help the future stars of the hospitality world learn the tricks of the trade! The hospitality students practise and develop their skills in the restaurant, creating memorable meals and service in a modern setting.

Ryde College has exceptional hospitality training facilities including four bars, two restaurants, a café, the Sydney Coffee Academy and the Sydney Wine Academy. The college is also home to the Le Cordon Bleu Sydney Culinary Arts Institute. It was an enlightening vocational visit. My thanks to Darrell Slater for organising the evening – and to my wife for originally suggesting the venue!
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Tonight we are pleased to welcome our District Governor Marilyn Mercer.
Getting to know our DG - Marilyn was born in Sydney and now lives in Windsor. She is married to PP Dudley and they have five children. Marilyn holds a Bachelor of Education Degree and a Diploma in Teaching. Working in science education she has worked with the NSW Board of Studies in writing and reviewing Science Syllabuses and was the NSW representative for the team which wrote the National Standards for Science Teachers. Her teaching at the Australian International Space School resulted in Marilyn being selected as the first Australian Teacher to work with NASA’s "Future Flight" at the University of Hawaii.
Marilyn has been recognised with the Australian Academy of Science Teachers Award, the Ben Lexcen Teachers Award and the NSW Science Teachers Award. After 38 years of teaching in High Schools around NSW, the final 12 years, were spent at Bede Polding College, South Windsor, from which she retired in 2002, as Head of Science.
Marilyn joined the Rotary Club of Hawkesbury in 2003 – and became President in 2005-2006. However, her association with Rotary began earlier due to her work with Dudley on the 9690 Rotary Youth Exchange Committee. At District level, she and Dudley have been Hosts for YEP, PACE and GSE inbounds.

However, tonight Marilyn is here to talk to us in her role as District Governor – and will no doubt discuss how we, as part of District 9690, can help make Rotary “Bigger, better and bolder”!

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Cowboy logic 2 – “The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket”

oooOoo