Steve’s Snippets
23 October
I know there are times when we wonder why we are in Rotary, and why we bother to come to meetings at all. And then there are weeks like last Wednesday when the feeling of being a Rotarian is almost "euphoric". I don’t believe I cannot express adequately in words my feelings after seeing eighteen wonderful and deserving people receive the "Pride of workmanship" plaques, enjoying the wonderful hospitality and food of "Le Montage" and the excellent speech of the Hon Michael Gallacher MLC. What I can say properly to Keith and Sue Byrn, Brian Johnston and Graham True is "Bloody well done". It was a great evening but it was made possible by our club members nominating the awardees in the first instance. Well done fellows!
Thanks also to President elect Keith for his "Keith’s komments" section last week and of course to master raffler George for arranging the prizes which, after including the surprise auction items netted the club over $1,500.
Thanks also to our Rotarians who assisted in the BBQ in Parramatta last week to help out "Anglicare", including Keith, Harley, Kevin Beltrame, and of course our queen of the BBQ, Shirley. Thanks guys.
Last Friday evening Pres Elect Keith, Harley Tarrant and myself attended the District Foundation seminar at Penrith Panthers. An important component of this night was for those Rotarians who became "Centurions" last year to renew their commitment to the foundation with a donation of A$100.
The Rotary Foundation is a complex organisation and not always easy to understand, but please remember it is OUR foundation, and it does need our assistance.
On Wednesday afternoon (today) there was a replanting of many new trees at the Rotary Grove at Edwards Park South Strathfield, in honour of our past club presidents, many of who’s trees had " gone to god". Thanks to PP Peter Foss for his interest in the park, and to Strathfield Council for their assistance and cooperation. It is of course our attention to "look after" this park, and certainly our "Grove area" better in future.
On a final note (with apologies to Truey), our cycling group had two rides last Sunday. The "new boys" under the care of Kevin Feund I believe rode to Brighton Beach on Botany Bay, while the "old brigade" (figuratively of course) of Euan, Allan, Keith, Rick and myself (along with Lillian Stockall and another non rotarian member of our group) rode in The Lions Club Charity Ride from Long Jetty to Wyong and almost out to Ross Brown’s house in the Yarramalong Valley, before returning to Long Jetty, a distance of around 73km. Congratulations to Euan who after being very unwell last week, shot out ahead and finished 15th overall. And yes, yours truly had another puncture (but I did finish), but it was not Allan Taylor’s day, having a spectacular blowout 20 metres from the start and another 30km later. All this is good training for the 92 km Sydney to the Gong in a fortnight, the RTA Cycle Sydney ride four weeks from now, and the (bloody difficult) New Zealand Lake Taupo ride in six weeks. Expect to see some tired but hopefully fitter cycling Rotarians in the next few weeks.
Finally, yes this is the last week, next time you question yourself why you are in Rotary, think of the good things we all did last week. If you don’t like sowing the seeds of "love", sow the seeds of "goodwill" instead.
Have a great week everybody, and well done to all.
Steve