Monday was our first night back for the New Year. Considering the apologies due to work and
holidays it was well attended. Unfortunately our guest speaker the DG was unable to attend due to ill
health. We will try and reschedule his visit later in the year.
We are again indebted to Tom Sweeney who stepped in at the last minute and gave a great
presentation on his experiences putting together shows with the Willoughby Theatre Company.
Again a reminder of our upcoming conference in March. A number of us are going but the more
members going the more fun it is. One of the Keynote speakers is Eddie Pinto, my right hand man in
Timor. Eddie oversees RYLA and RYPEN in TL. Also we are looking at having a joint meeting with
Mosman, Northbridge and Lane Cove Clubs the week after the conference where Eddie will give a
different presentation.
Some of us are attending the Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner next Tuesday organised by North
Sydney Sunrise Club. If you wish to join us please let me know by Friday at the latest.
A reminder to Tom’s and my BBQ teams that we have our next BBQ on the 1 st of February. Please let
Tom or me know if you are not available.
Tom is organising our Pride of Workmanship dinner at a great restaurant in April. Please start looking
for suitable candidates for this award.
Last Meeting - Monday 20th January - Happy New Year
Toast: Included in Members News
Members News
Meeting Notes – First Evening Meeting of the Year
A warm welcome to our first evening meeting of the year! We were delighted to introduce potential new members, Tracey and Sam from Shirley Road, and to have our old favorite, Vince, back with us.
Guest Speaker Update
Unfortunately, our scheduled guest speaker, the District Governor, was unable to attend due to illness. Stepping in at short notice, Tom "Just for a Change" Sweeney provided an engaging and insightful presentation—more on that later.
Announcements and Reminders
Chinese New Year Celebration
North Sydney Sunrise is organizing a celebration for Chinese New Year next Tuesday, 28th January. If you're interested in attending, please let Sue know.
District Conference in March(see dates below)
Location: Penrith
Events: Friday night dinner followed by the conference on Saturday night.
The President encourages more members to participate—there’s even talk of potential Bollywood dancers!
RYLA Program Highlights
Angelo shared an update on Eddy, the Timor club’s main RYLA representative, who will be a speaker at the District Conference.
Last Tuesday’s RYLA dinner was attended by our sponsored participant, Lucy, along with the Condells and Raveanes.
Upcoming BBQ – Saturday, 1st February
A reminder to account for the sausages already in storage.
Exciting news: Some of Mark's poker-playing mates have offered to assist with purchasing sausages, bread, and other supplies for our BBQs. More details to come.
International Toast – Panama
Kate proposed an international toast to Panama, recognizing a bilingual (Spanish and English) club doing important work in the community. She highlighted Panama's stark economic divides and the many worthwhile projects being undertaken by the local Rotary club.
Future Events
March: Joint meeting with Lane Cove Club and potentially North Sydney. Venue and date to be confirmed.
April/May: A night at Infusion ,Cammeray is in the works, involving a local Gym sponsorship and fitness-themed activities.
Pride of Workmanship Awards: Discussions ongoing about combining efforts with Lane Cove and North Sydney.
RYLA Success
Angelo emphasized the success of the RYLA program in Timor, particularly as a reference for employment opportunities for the local youth.
Guest Speaker – Tom Sweeney
Tom shared his passion and extensive experience in community musical theatre, spanning over 55 years. His talk covered the challenges and triumphs of staging productions:
Productions Mentioned: Les Misérables, Catch Me If You Can, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Behind the Scenes of Priscilla:
Total production cost: $300K, including $70K for the iconic bus.
Costumes sourced from New Zealand, scenery crafted in Brisbane, and orchestra assembled locally.
Venue: Chatswood Concourse.
Ticket Sales: A minimum of 4,000 audience members needed to break even.
Tom also mentioned upcoming productions: Chorus Line in May and Anything Goes in October.
A heartfelt thanks to Tom for stepping in and delivering an entertaining and inspiring presentation.
