August was a quieter but successful month for the club. Our BBQ raised $2,025 — a credit to our hard‑working teams. We also welcomed our guest speaker, Catherine DeVry, whose insightful presentation on her life journey and learnings was very well received. It was pleasing to see five clubs attend this interclub social night, reflecting strong collaboration across our Rotary community.
Local Community Focus
As highlighted previously, our strategy continues to centre on supporting the local community. The Crows Nest Community Centre remains a priority as service needs continue to grow. Our District Grant Project approval is expected next month, but work has already commenced on upgrading the Centre’s shower facilities, including the installation of a washing machine and dryer for towel laundering.
Louise also attended the annual Tresillian conference, where she learned first‑hand about the positive impact RCN’s support is making. This reinforces our club’s ongoing commitment to essential community services and the excellent outcomes being achieved by the club.
Other Club Activities
Youth Policy. George is clarifying the policy implications for our BBQ activities (there will be an email with further details). In the longer term, the club will need to adopt the Youth Policy, and we are seeking nominations for a Youth Protection Officer. George will continue to provide updates and an implementation plan.
Car Boot Sale. A pilot Car Boot Sale is planned for November, with Bev and Angelo finalising the arrangements.
Redistricting will have no direct impact on our club, and we will be voting YES. District Governor Michele will attend the September 1 meeting to further explain this change.
While September may be a little quieter, the final months of the year will be busy. In October we have:
Crows Nest Fair – October 17 Our annual marquee will return to the Crows Nest Fair, and George is seeking volunteers to assist for a couple of hours. Last year, the team attracted 13 potential new members — a result we hope to build on.
End polio train ride - October 23
Mary’s House Walk – October 25. We will again be running one of the Rotary BBQs at the Mary’s House Walk. Please note: this year the BBQ will operate after the walk, rather than before.
CareFlight 40th Anniversary Dinner – October 24 Tickets are $35.
The club has a vibrant membership who enjoy socialising outside of meetings. We are looking for someone to lead the social planning. If you are interested, please speak with me.
Don’t forget the District Conference – March 2027. Registration is now open, It would be wonderful to have a strong club presence. Please take a moment to review the keynote speakers and the non‑Rotary activities listed on the conference website and consider attending: rotarydistrict9685.org.au/page/conference.
YIR
Mark.
GUEST SPEAKER
Beyond Timbuktu – Journeys of Hope and Humanity
Our 25 August meeting and dinner was held at the new Willoughby Club, in partnership with four neighbouring Rotary clubs. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening where long‑standing friendships were renewed and new connections were made. The highlight of the night was our guest speaker, Catherine DeVrye, whose presentation was warmly received and set a positive tone for this special inter‑club gathering.
Catherine is a former Australian Speaker of the Year, author, and world traveller. She delivered a highly insightful and uplifting presentation, drawing on her extensive global experiences and her optimistic outlook on humanity. She shared stories from her travels and reflected on the many lessons learned along the way, offering a thoughtful perspective on the kindness and resilience she has witnessed across cultures.
Catherine’s presentation centred on a simple yet profound theme: kindness. She reminded us that kindness often appears when we least expect it, demonstrating that we are all deeply connected. Throughout her talk, she shared example after example showing that people around the world are far kinder than the headlines suggest — noting, “It’s not a big idea. It’s a simple idea that we’re all connected.”
Drawing on insights from her travels to 150 countries, Catherine offered an inspiring and optimistic worldview shaped by decades of experience and reflected in her writing. Her anecdotes highlighted the generosity, compassion, and quiet humanity she has encountered across continents. Her message was rich with experience and practical wisdom. We gained valuable insights, including:
We can’t always control circumstances, but we can always control our attitude.
Focus on what you can do rather than waste energy on what you can’t.
Dreams take detours — and it’s never too late to reset yours along the journey
She concluded by encouraging us to remain open‑hearted and curious, reminding us that these qualities can lead to new adventures, deeper understanding, and unexpected opportunities. She then left us with this reflective poem:
From Timbuktu to Kathmandu,when moonlight fills the sky,from snowy peaks to sandy dunes,we all love, we laugh, we cry.
The names of those far‑flung landsevoke a mystique so grand,where prejudice melts into awein ancient places, near and far.
Beneath horizons wide and near,dreams take detours, hope quells fear.From melting ice to drifting sands,a random stranger lends a hand.
Kindness shown when least expectedreminds us that we’re all connected.
MEETINGS
NEXT MEETINGS (both at Crows Nest Hotel):
September 1 - District Governor Michele Ellery will update on "Our Future. Our Choice. Our Rotary".
September 15 - Louise Johnson- Harpist
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS
The club is growing and we are wanting to expand our activities. We do need volunteer help. Specifically, we need volunteers for:
Club Flyer needs updating & online version
Social co-ordinator
YEAR OF THE HORSE
"Small steps are still proof that you are moving"
ROTARY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Did you know Rotary offers far more than club meetings and BBQs? There are many resources available worldwide. Rotary provides three key avenues through which members can connect with others, expand their knowledge, and participate in enjoyable and meaningful activities.
Rotary offers far more than meetings and BBQs — it’s a global network of learning, connection, and inspiration. One of the most valuable resources available to every member is Rotary’s free online Learning Centre. Whether you’ve been part of Rotary for two months or twenty years, there is always something new to discover.
By logging in to My Rotary, club members can explore a wide range of self-paced courses (https://learn.rotary.org/members/pages/36/course-catalogs ) covering:
Rotary Basics, Club Leadership, Membership Development, The Rotary Foundation. Public Image, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Youth Protection, Project Planning, …and much more.
Rotary Action Groups
Rotary Action Groups bring together Rotarians who share professional expertise and a passion for a particular cause. These groups provide opportunities for members to contribute their skills while collaborating with Rotarians from around the world — an excellent way to connect with people from other jurisdictions. There are Action Groups covering topics such as: Mental Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Peace, Alzheimer's and Dementia, Diabetes, Microfinance and Community Economic Development
Rotary Fellowships
One of Rotary's greatest strengths is friendship. Rotary Fellowships connect worldwide members who enjoy the same hobbies or interests such as photography, bird watching, gourmet cooking and other hobbies.
