Weekly Message From President Ngaire 18 June "the Last"
Martin Culkin was our speaker this week and what an inspired choice he was, given the close association RCH has had with Hawthorn Secondary College over many years and the exciting developments that are now happening at the school. Martin, who has spent 45 years in education in Victoria, is the newly appointed Principal of HSC which will close at the end of this year to reopen in 2014 as Auburn High School, a bi-lingual school offering accelerated courses and alternative choices in education. Martin spoke openly of the challenges of his appointment and the excitement and opportunity that lie ahead. He is very well qualified for the position, having coordinated 68 different language groups while Principal of Dandenong High School, a school of over 2000 students. We will certainly look forward to an update from Martin next year after Auburn High School has opened its doors. Meanwhile our vocational team is all fired up at the renewed interest in our mentoring program and the Tasmanian exchange program this October will certainly receive a lot of school support.
It was an exciting last meeting for me this week. It is always a joy to induct a new member and on Tuesday we welcomed David Bradshaw and his wife Lynne to our club. David, whose classification is Automotive Engineering, is on the Community team with Ken McNamara as his leader, and he and Lynne are very much looking forward to contributing fully to our local projects and joining in our social functions. Do please make yourself known to David and Lynne at Changeover next week.
And then a moment of sheer delight with the awarding of a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition with 1 Sapphire to our indefatigable Treasurer Robert Ball. Robert and Leonie are unable to join us at Changeover so we decided to make the presentation at this last meeting for 2013-14, so it was totally unexpected. It’s not often RB is lost for words!! Then we further dumbfounded him by presenting him with The Rotarian of the Year award, for services above and beyond. Robert is our go-to person for everything to do with financial management, ClubRunner and the website, as well as a myriad of other tasks that I and others need information about and help with. And then there was Conference!! He has done an absolutely extraordinary amount of work for our club for the past 2 years. Our congratulations, Robert, on a very well-deserved recognition.
I would like to acknowledge Rotarians Neil Roberts and Vic Burns who have both been invited to Honorary membership of RCH. They are valued Rotarians who have given many years of outstanding service to our Rotary Club and we welcome them both.
We had a great Yarra Cluster Presidents’ meeting on Monday, chaired by AG Bob Slater, with both retiring and incoming Presidents in attendance. It was our opportunity to report on end of year activities and discuss annual plans and ideas for next year. These meetings have been a great support for all the Presidents and we have thoroughly enjoyed the chance to work together on local projects.
The June meeting of Boroondara Cares was very well attended and the ideas for joint community projects keep coming. We heard from Andrew Smith, Vice President of Swinburne and responsible for Engagement with the Community. The very active Student Association at Swinburne (would you believe 3000 members!!) is very keen to get involved in community projects. I have volunteered to liaise with them and help coordinate a roster of Rotary projects that could use additional volunteers. And here’s the good news: DG Dennis Shore has accepted the role of Chairman for Boroondara Cares so - watch this space.
As this is my last Presidential bulletin I would like to express my appreciation to you all for your support and friendship over the past 12 months. I have thoroughly enjoyed my year as President of the Rotary Club of Hawthorn, and especially in this Conference year, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in that capacity. I wish PE Gordon Cheyne a wonderful year at the helm of what I think is the best Rotary Club in District 9800. But then, I am just a little biased!!
Prepare to enjoy Hey Hey, It’s Changeover!! - Thursday June 27. Please note, start time is 6.30pm for pre-dinner drinks and canapes at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, dinner at 7.15pm. I will so look forward to seeing you all then for a night of fun and merriment and wonderful fellowship – and new beginnings for Hawthorn Rotary. How exciting!!
Yours in Rotary,
Ngaire
Thought for the week, attributed to Goethe, born 1794, German poet and author,
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!”