Well, it’s been another great month. We had our annual changeover dinner and a great club discussion. The club is growing in membership (3 new added this year) and the club energy and community is strong. I plan for this year to be one of consolidation, building on the strong foundations and achievements of the past year while continuing to strengthen our impact and effectiveness.
Our key priorities will be to:
Maintain a strong focus on meaningful community projects and ensure we remain more than just a fundraising club.
Continue to grow and strengthen our membership.
Broaden participation by sharing skills and responsibilities across the club, while actively supporting succession planning.
Enhance our public image through improvements to our website, Facebook presence, and wider community engagement.
Keep Domestic Violence awareness and support initiatives as a key priority.
Continue collaborating with neighbouring Rotary clubs through joint activities and projects.
The club discussions have been very engaging, with several initiatives now taking shape. Looking ahead, the District Conference will be held in Mudgee next March. Angelo is coordinating a group from our club to attend, and all members are encouraged to join. If you're interested, please let Angelo know.
The District Youth Policy was also tabled for discussion. George will provide an update once further consultation with the district has been completed. Finally, Angelo and I will once again lead the club's annual Melbourne Club Trifecta adventure. Please also note that the minutes from the last Board meeting are now available via the club link.
We were pleased that Willoughby Council, at its most recent meeting, paid tribute to Tom Sweeny, recognising his significant contribution to the community and the lasting impact of his service. It was a well-deserved honour.
We have a number of community events coming up and look forward to seeing you there:
Crows Nest Fair – 18 October
End Polio Train Ride – 23 October
Mary House Walk & BBQ – 25 October
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.
