Photo: Cherrybrook ​metro station by John Cowper 

Inside This Issue

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President's Report

Night Report

Humour

Club Calendar

Upcoming Events

The Board has agreed to the following:

• Cancelation of Multi-club event on 6th April.
• Cancelation of Changeover event at Pennant Hills Golf Club. (20th June)
• Cancel Monday Night meetings from now to the End of May.
  • This is an initial period and will be subject review for post May meetings.
• Investigate alternative forms of meeting, either as a group, or, as smaller groups, watch this space.
• Continue with the BBQ Trailer upgrade project, and, continue with installation of containers.
• ​West Pennant Hills Lions 2020 Anzac Commemoration Community Dinner - 20th April 2020 - Cancelled

Recent Club Activities:

Rotary Giant Book Sale

13, 14 & 15 March 2020

The West Pennant Hills & Cherrybrook Rotary Club had a successful 2020 Book Sale on Friday 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April, raising about $15,000 despite all that is happening now.
Thank you so much  to the public for supporting our efforts. Books and reading are still very popular activities in this area.
The book sale is a great way for our members to participate in community service to raise funds for well deserving charities and local community projects that are undertaken by our club.  It also provides fellowship, satisfaction and enjoyment of working together as a team.
We would like to thank everyone that either came along to help during our book sort days, the lead up preparation to the book sale, or during the sale itself, including members sons & daughters, Probus club members, students and other friends of Rotary.
Once again, the Sunday clearance sale, where customers could buy good quality books, records, DVDs and CDs by the bag, proved to be extremely popular.
Many customers commented on the high quality of the books, including how well organised the overall layout was with fiction books sorted by author surname and non-fiction sorted into 34 main categories, which allowed them to easily find what they were looking for.
Thanks also to the Cherrybrook Uniting Church for use of their premises and support for the book sale.
The West Pennant Hills & Cherrybrook Rotary Club would like to thank all those who generously donated books, records, DVDs and CDs.  Without your kind generosity, the book sale would not have been the success that it was.
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​Regards Rosemary

​Duty Roster

Irrelevant until meetings start

If you are unable to be at the meeting please contact the person doing your role the following week/s, arrange a swap and advise Douglas, so he can amend his records.
​Also, to avoid being rostered on, please notify Douglas of any upcoming known absences (eg holidays) from meetings in the next twelve months.

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President's Report  25 Mar 2020

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Hi all,
Just a few words on Club activity this week.

BBQ Trailer
A group worked on the BBQ Trailer on Sunday cleaning componentry and deliberating on upgrade methods – see emails from Tony and Adrian

Container Foundations
Gino has selected an alternate posthole digger and Tom has agreed to use his purchasing power and ordered sufficient concrete for Saturday 4th April.
I have yet to secure a toilet key – a job for tomorrow.
The Prime Minister’s update on COVID 19 (24 Mar) prompted me to question Tom & Gino about continuing and they have replied in the affirmative.  Adrian has confirmed intent to attend.
If you wish to be part of the crew on Saturday 4th April, 7am start, please feel free to contact me.

Exchange Student in Austria
Janelle has supplied a report from Katherine, our exchange student in Austria that discusses the effect of COVID 19 in Austria.

International
Peter S has supplied information on a WW2 cemetery that may be of interest.

Thank You from Rosemary
Rosemary has supplied a thank you for all the work involved in the Book Sale.

Heritage Park
I thank Paul and Max for stopping me being a “loner” at the park.

ZOOM Meetings
I am still learning more about ZOOM.
Paul and Peter have experimented with its use.
I have started learning via You Tube.
The son has agreed to assist me in understanding the program.  “It is our default communications tool at work” he reports.
Kalma has indicate that meeting of less than 40 minutes are free.  Robert Erskine, our AG, reports he uses ZOOM when attending ARHF meetings.
Neville now has experience as the Uniting Church uses ZOOM for broadcasting services.

I hope you all stay safe and well.
Rotary Rocks
Keith

Youth- International Exchange Student- Thanks Katherine Louey
​Covid-19 Update from Austria

Dear WPHC Rotary Club,

It’s been a few months since I’ve made contact, and I hope you are all doing well during this difficult period. I have recently passed my second month on exchange in Austria, and wow, what a journey it’s been already! I have ventured through some thrilling experiences and met many wonderful people from all across the globe. I would like to send you a report on my adventures, hardships, and thoughts throughout my exchange so far, although at the moment I would like to update you on the situation of Covid-19 here in Austria, and how it relates to where I am currently staying. Soon, I will send you a full report of my exchange so far, equipped with many photos!

I am aware that Corona Virus has affected countless countries, hence being labelled a ‘pandemic,’ and would like to send my well wishes to you in Australia and to your friends and family members. Although it is difficult for me to remain in Austria and not be with my loved ones and my home country through this difficult time, it is recommended that I stay here for the safety of myself and others. Fortunately, all my family and friends are safe and healthy. In Austria as of March 21st 2020, there have been 2664 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Breaking this up by federal states, this accounts to the people in Burgenland (35, +3), Carinthia (74, +11), Lower Austria (390, +73), Salzburg (175, +28), Styria (350, +51), Tyrol (568, +78), Upper Austria (507, +108), Vienna (350, +73) and Vorarlberg (215, +36). (The plus indicates the amount of new cases from the previous day). The number of confirmed deaths are 7.

I am currently staying in Upper Austria. There have been a few cases of Corona in my town, however, my host family and I are safe and healthy. As of last week, the Austrian Federal Government ruled that all schools should be closed until the next month, and everyone should stay at home unless they need to go to the grocery store. Essentially, Austria has gone into a temporary shut-down in an attempt to prevent further spread of Covid-19, and to so to speak, “flatten the curve.” The idea is that the government wants to prevent a situation like Italy to repeat in Austria, where Corona cases uncontrollably escalated before strict, early action was taken. As Austria is in the centre of Europe and borders Italy, the country’s borders have been blocked off so that at the moment, no one can enter or leave. Students including myself have been given homework and assigned tasks to complete before school resumes, so we are still learning and activating our brains!

On a more personal level, it has been an interesting and very trying week. I have busied myself with studying, cooking, walking the dog (that is still allowed seeing as I live in the remote countryside), and lots and lots and lots of practise! On the positive side of this (almost) quarantine, I am trying to use this extra time to my advantage by composing pieces and practising flute and piano. I am also starting to learn violin, as my host mum owns one and has kindly lent it to me. Austria has copied the Italians by starting a 6pm tradition where music is played live on the balconies to raise the atmospheric moral. I have played the flute a few times now for my host family and residents staying in our house, which has been uplifting for all of us.

On the negative side, this isolation period has made it harder for me to deal with the ongoing pressures of homesickness. Seeing as to usually combat this, I like to go and visit different places and meet up with friends, although now this is no longer possible. Additionally, my Ski Week and Euro Tour was unfortunately cancelled, however the Euro Tour we are all hoping can be rescheduled or made up for. Despite these struggles, I know that it is necessary for all of us to stay home and collectively do our part to help lessen the exponential rise in Covid-19 cases. For now, I have been given this time to reflect on the year and get to know my host family even more. Perhaps this hardship will also help strengthen our community and invigorate our love for one another and ability to persevere through trials.

I hope these coming weeks will be better for everyone across the world. My situation is quite stable and I know that others have it much worse, so I am grateful for what I have. Janelle told me that your Rotary Club meetings have been cancelled until May. That is unfortunate, but I wish all of you a safe and happy next couple months. I am working on a full detailed report of my time in Austria so far, and would love to send that you soon!
​
Take care, and talk to you later!
 
Kind regards,
Katherine.

International Article - Thanks Peter Staton
The 2/40th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Formed in mid-1940 from personnel recruited from Tasmania, the battalion was assigned to the 23rd Brigade, which formed part of the 8th Division. After completing basic training, the 2/40th was sent to Darwin to form part of the defencive garrison there as tensions with the Japanese grew throughout 1941. Following Japan's entry into the war, the battalion was deployed to Timor as part of Sparrow Force and in early 1942 they took part in the fighting on the island against the Japanese. Outnumbered and lacking supplies, the majority of the 2/40th's personnel were captured and spent the rest of the war as prisoners of war, although some were able to wage a guerrilla campaign across the island before being withdrawn by the end of the year.
Australian War Memorial at Oesau, Kupang Indonesia

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Night Report 

No meeting

Night Photos

No meeting

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This Week's Humour / Interesting Facts

Club Calendar

Editor's Note:  ​If you wish to download and print the Calendar please click here.

Bulletin Editor - Neville

Meetings

​Monday  6:30pm for 7:00pm - Springfield House - 245 New Line Road, Dural 2158

Apologies

If you are unable to attend or are bringing a guest (even if they are your partner) you must notify Julie. 
Email  admin@altitudecapital.com.au before 1pm on the Friday before the meeting.
​Please no communication via phone (either verbal or SMS)

If you are expected and do not show you will be required to pay for the meal.

Centurion Program and Centurion Membership application

How you can become a Rotary Foundation Centurion?
Centurion Membership donation form.

​Assistance for Bushfire Victims and Firefighters

The Rotary Club of West Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook have discussed a number of options to assist our Bushfire victims and Firefighters. The NSW and VIC Governments are indicating they do not want any more physical donations of goods as they are overwhelmed and are recommending donating cash.
If you would like to donate, attached is the link to the RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service) page where you can donate through Rotary and as always, what you give is what will be delivered. No overheads.
https://rawcs.org.au/
If you would like to donate through other organisations, then the Sydney Morning Herald had an article on Sunday 5th Jan, with a number of reputable organisations.
https://www.smh.com.au/…/here-s-how-you-can-help-australia-…
As always, thank you for your support, Happy New Year and give generously.

Events of Interest by other Clubs

OPERA IN THE ARBORETUM - ROTARY CLUB OF WOY WOY - 28 Mar​
Rotary Zone 8 Public Image Newsletter - January 2020
Rotary Club of Brisbane Water - Titanic Dinner - 18 Apr
​The BOBO - Bobin Head Cycle Classic - 29 Mar
Halfway Around the World in 36 days

Coonabarabran is hosting:
"The Dark Sky Awakens Festival - 8-10 May 2020
A Celebration of everything Star Wars"
If interested please contact Max Henderson, looks like we could make this a great weekend away. Once we have numbers we can look at accommodation options etc.​

​Dark Sky Awakens Festival The Science Of Starwars - Coonabarabran - 8 to 10 May
Have a look at the Program for the Weekend​

Significant Club Fundraising Events during the year 

The Book Sale March 2020

As the result of a lot of hard work the MarchBook Sale was a great success, especially from  the organisers Andrew Little, Max Henderson, Neville Hansen and Rosemary Clarke. Funds raised exceeded $15,000.  Well done.

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2019 Trivia Night

​The Club held a very successful trivia night on Saturday 17 August 2019 at the Cherrybrook Community Centre, raising near $6,600 all of which will go to assist drought relief. Click this link to read more. 


                       

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 The Garage Sale 2019

We have just had our best and most successful Garage Sale on the weekend of 12 & 13 October raising a gross - north of $35k.

​Excellent Project Management and a large number of dedicated volunteers, some putting in hours of effort, in the weeks before the weekend contributed to this result.​​

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Barbecues
​
The club runs fund raising barbecues throughout the year, mainly at Bunnings  (both Dural and Thornleigh)  Here are Barry, Tony, Nick and David hard at work. at Thornleigh.. 

What it takes to be a Rotarian

There are members of the community who may have some misunderstandings about what it takes to be a Rotarian.
We are always looking for new members and, in fact, it is new people joining that keeps us alive as a Service club.  From time to time I hear people say things that make me think they don't consider joining or even visiting Rotary for all the wrong reasons.
​This article is about the things you don't need to join Rotary, and the things you do, just in case you are not sure.  The other thing you should know is that we are a very friendly bunch of men and women and we have a lot of fun, as well as achieving some pretty good things in the community.

Don't need:

• ​to be invited
• to be of a certain age
• to be male
• to be a business person
• to be retired
• to attend meetings every week
• to be available on weekends.

Must have:

• ​a sense of humour
• a willingness to give back to your community
• a willingness to pitch in when required
• some time available to help out on the occasional weekend event
• an interest in the life of the West Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook communities
• a desire to contribute in some way to the running of the Club.

​If you would like to come along as a guest to see what it is all about just call either:-
President Keith (0478 599 155) or Tony (Membership) (0412 812 624) 

Club Details:
Rotary Club of West Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook meets every Monday for Dinner at Springfield House
Arrive 6:30pm  Start  7:00pm  End  9:00pm
245 New Line Rd
Dural NSW 2128 Australia

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