President's Report |
Monday 17 February 2025 |
President’s introduction:
Welcome guests – Terese Wilson from the Rotary Club of Kenthurst; members and partners. Especially Angelo whom we have not seen for some time.
Welcome to our guest speakers.
I would like to briefly summarise who we are what our club does in the community and beyond. We do more than just cook sausages at Bunnings.
At last Monday’s meeting members agreed that we move our meetings to the Hotel Pennant Hills. We will meet their next week, but will not formally start meeting there until March 10.
Thank you to the members who helped with the book sale sort last Saturday. A great turnout and lots of camaraderie. Robyn will have more to say later. Now that we do not have the free assistance of SMS Municipal Services to dispose of our discarded books we are using box trailers. Harry Wilson has sold his SMS business. We are learning how to use the trailers especially at unloading time. Unloading went much better this time due to using tarps between layers of books. A further refinement will be to put all discarded boxes on the top of the load.
Colin Baxter, Janelle and I were invited to Wesley Mission to receive a thank you for our Tree of Joy project. Other organisations that provide Christmas gifts were also present. Elevation Church Castle Hill, and Hills Kellyville Rotary Club. Hornsby Men’s Shed, Boarder Express and Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School were not present. We received a loverly food hamper which will be the raffle for tonight (minus the pens). It also had a thank you message that I will read now and an Appreciation Certificate. We also heard stories from case workers about the reactions from those receiving gifts. I will play you one of those at a future meeting.
We held a very successful Valentines BBQ last Saturday evening, with 20 attending. Thank you to Sandra for supplying the venue at Sanctuary Gardens and Dr Don Dingsdag for supplying his BBQ skills.
We had a District Governor’s Presidents meeting last Saturday morning. You will hear more about the DGs plans for the rest of this Rotary year at next Monday’s meeting.
The Board held its monthly meeting last Wednesday. The minutes will be circulated shortly.
Closing Remarks
Welcome guests – Terese Wilson from the Rotary Club of Kenthurst; members and partners. Especially Angelo whom we have not seen for some time.
Welcome to our guest speakers.
- Hills Shire Mayor Councillor Dr Michelle Byrne
- Hornsby Shire Mayor Councillor Waren Waddell
- Castle Hill MP Mark Hodges
- Hornsby MP James Wallace.
- I would like to extend an invitation to our guests to also attend our Pride of Workmanship Awards event at our May 19 meeting The purpose of this Award is to bring to public awareness the exceptional pride employees take in their job and epitomise. the Rotary motto - “Do it Once. Do it Well. Build a better Australia”.
- I would also like to extend an invitation to our guests to also attend our Changeover on June 20th when the next President will be inducted. The President role will be shared between Anne and Sandra.
I would like to briefly summarise who we are what our club does in the community and beyond. We do more than just cook sausages at Bunnings.
- Chartered in 1987 and currently have 42 members + 19 Honorary Members. Member’s partners are an important part of the club. Members reside beyond just West Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook.
- Run a Christmas Tree of Joy at Cherrybrook and Westleigh shopping villages. Our 12 contributing Charities provide gift requests for their clients who may not otherwise receive a Christmas gift. We collect around 1200 gifts with an estimated value of around $50,000 from the community.
- We support:
- DV Transition houses run by Kenthurst Rotary Club.
- Helping Hearts Survive Charity at Dural who provide meals etc to needy people.
- Rescued and Reused at Arcadia that provides home wares and clothes to needy people around Sydney, especially refugees.
- Grace’s Place run by Homicide Victims Support Group that supports children affected by homicide.
- We support Rotary Youth Programs by funding students and young people for
- Youth Exchange Sending students to other countries and receiving students from other countries),
- RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards),
- RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment), and
- Science Experience to help Year 9/10 students choose a future career in science.
- We run international projects
- that is providing water and sanitation to Flores in Indonesia.
- That is providing “Teacher in a Box” also in Flores. This program is an interactive library of school resources that can be accessed without the internet. The required used laptops are donated by local businesses.
- We support the Rotary “Say NO to Domestic and Family Violence and YES to Respectful relationships” Janelle Craig our Youth Director is the District Chair of the Respectful relationships program.
- We fundraise by cooking lots of sausages, holding a book sale, a Trivia night and market days.
- We provide funds/support to disasters locally and internationally.
- We provide funds to the Rotary End Polio program. We are nearly there. One case so far in 2025. The total for 2024 was 73.
- We provide funds to The Rotary Foundation that provides grants for global projects. We currently have one to support of water and sanitation project in Flores.
At last Monday’s meeting members agreed that we move our meetings to the Hotel Pennant Hills. We will meet their next week, but will not formally start meeting there until March 10.
Thank you to the members who helped with the book sale sort last Saturday. A great turnout and lots of camaraderie. Robyn will have more to say later. Now that we do not have the free assistance of SMS Municipal Services to dispose of our discarded books we are using box trailers. Harry Wilson has sold his SMS business. We are learning how to use the trailers especially at unloading time. Unloading went much better this time due to using tarps between layers of books. A further refinement will be to put all discarded boxes on the top of the load.
Colin Baxter, Janelle and I were invited to Wesley Mission to receive a thank you for our Tree of Joy project. Other organisations that provide Christmas gifts were also present. Elevation Church Castle Hill, and Hills Kellyville Rotary Club. Hornsby Men’s Shed, Boarder Express and Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School were not present. We received a loverly food hamper which will be the raffle for tonight (minus the pens). It also had a thank you message that I will read now and an Appreciation Certificate. We also heard stories from case workers about the reactions from those receiving gifts. I will play you one of those at a future meeting.
We held a very successful Valentines BBQ last Saturday evening, with 20 attending. Thank you to Sandra for supplying the venue at Sanctuary Gardens and Dr Don Dingsdag for supplying his BBQ skills.
We had a District Governor’s Presidents meeting last Saturday morning. You will hear more about the DGs plans for the rest of this Rotary year at next Monday’s meeting.
The Board held its monthly meeting last Wednesday. The minutes will be circulated shortly.
- Rosemary’s follow up to the Club Health Report and the Board’s response has been circulated to members and partners.
- An action is that the President will report on the Board meeting at the next available meeting on items that are not confidential
- . I will do that after the Directors Reports. However, due to time restraint there was no report tonight.
Closing Remarks
- Thank you to Mayor Michelle, Mayor Waren, MP Mark and MP James for a great insight into the issues in their areas. As evidenced by the questions.
- Thank you to Janelle, Peter, Neville, Georged and Carol who did duty roles tonight.
- Next week’s District Governor Niranjan Deodhar will be visiting. Please come and hear what he has to say. It is also our chance to show him what a great club we are.
- No book sorting this weekend.
- Portfolio Directors please hold your first committee meeting for 2025 as soon as possible.
- If you do not have the “What’s on” and club calendar set up on your phone, please let Neville know so that a time can be arranged to do so.
- If you have a duty role and are unable to do it please swap with someone else and let Sandra know.
- If you are going on leave, please let BOTH Ros Hogan and Sandra know.
So, Let’s stay safe look after each other and create magic.
Tonight is remembering the 1970s and 80
Editor's Note: "Lightbox" is On - Click on a photo to see larger size.
Night Report
Opening: Brief introduction by Janelle Craig
Welcome to our guest speakers.
President’s Report
Refer President’s report in bulletin.
Director’s Reports
No Director’s reports this evening so more time devoted to discussions with our guests.
Guest Speakers
Hills Shire Mayor Councillor Dr Michelle Byrne
Hornsby Shire Mayor Councillor Waren Waddell
Hornsby MP James Wallace.
Castle Hill MP Mark Hodges
Lots of enthusiastic questions for our guests regarding our community and state government areas.
Terese Wilson – RC Kenthurst
General Business
Welcome to our guest speakers.
- Hills Shire Mayor Councillor Dr Michelle Byrne
- Hornsby Shire Mayor Councillor Waren Waddell
- Castle Hill MP Mark Hodges
- Hornsby MP James Wallace.
- Wilson, Terese – RC Kenthurst
President’s Report
Refer President’s report in bulletin.
Director’s Reports
No Director’s reports this evening so more time devoted to discussions with our guests.
Guest Speakers
Hills Shire Mayor Councillor Dr Michelle Byrne
- Thanked our club for our community support.
- Discussed issues regarding Domestic Violence, Homelessness, Mental Health.
- Discussion of projected population increases 200- 300k in 5 years.
- Population planned at Metro Hubs however the infrastructure (Schools, Parks, Roads…) are not in place. Continuing advocacy with State Government. Funding is not in place- State Govermant says “Raise Rates”
Hornsby Shire Mayor Councillor Waren Waddell
- Council runs a budget surplus $1.5mill
- Diverse community, known as the “Bushland Shire”
- Discussions on Galston Village, Hornsby Town Center, Rural Land Study.
- Public access to Hornsby Quarry and Westleigh Water board site.
- Village plans: Civic pride, Urban Renewal, Graffiti Removal
Hornsby MP James Wallace.
- Metro stations and parking hubs. Explore short term parking 2-4 hr.
- New Line road- expansion to 4 lanes and improved traffic flow.
- Cherrybrook- Investment in infrastructure ahead of the planned apartment high-rise apartments.
Castle Hill MP Mark Hodges
- Cost of Living – State Govt pulled the budget from the HillsShire
- New housing needs infrastructure
- New Line road – 4 lanes and upgrades.
- Annangrove Road.
- Crime and Anti Semitism
- Transport Buses.
Lots of enthusiastic questions for our guests regarding our community and state government areas.
Terese Wilson – RC Kenthurst
- Their club’s focus on Transitional Housing and Mental Health.
General Business
- Colin will provide a board update next week.
- Robyn will advise regarding the Book Sale next week and email.
- Elise- quick update on the week
- Joined an AFL team for sport
- Visit to Parramatta
- Picnic in Centennial Park with Sandra
- Next week- Opera House, Swimming carnival, Art Gallery.
- Please send Book sorting photos to Keith, if you have any.
- Agreed to support BBQ with Flower Power and cancel Mother’s Day market.
- Appreciation bouquets for Colin Baxter, Julianne Stanton and Sue Colins.
- Thank-you to George, Gino and Colin for discarded book and paper run to waste collection.
- Raffles won by: Angello and Terese Wilson – RC Kenthurst
Photos
Vocational Visit to Parramatta Female Factory |
13 February 2025 |
Photos courtesy of Kerry, many thanks.
Colin accepting thanks from Wesley Mission for Tree of Joy |
13 February 2025 |
Second Book Sort Photos |
15 February 2025 |
Valentines Day Celebrations at Sandra's |
15 February 2025 |
Night Photos |
17 February 2025 |
Photos courtesy of Tony C - Many Thanks
