Good Evening All Rotarians and Friends,
This is Vice Prez Paul writing in Peter's abscence. Last Monday Australia Day was certainly full on, but a great extended thanks to all who participated in the Rotary Australia Day breakfast and the the Family Fun Day. The morning started early for some, but in fact was made easier due to the meticulous planning of the breakfast by Brian and his helpers in the kitchen Sue, Maree Budweg and Jeanette, and cooking a scrumptious barbecue by Gavan, Les and Bailey. Many thanks.
The guest speaker Megan Harrington from the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation gave a great presentation on various aspects of the hospital's fundraising activities and how they all fit together including Government funding and the many different auxillaries. We support the Templestowe & Yarra Valley Auxillary with our donations and the morning breakfast raised a little over $2000 which will be duly passed on. Megan also spoke about the Special Project "Fly For Kids", led by Associate Professor Andrew Kornberg, Senior Neurologist at the RCH, who recently completed a solo flight around Australia as part of a specific $4.5 million fundraising project.
Professor Kornberg aims to improve outcomes for children with rare and complex disorders at the RCH and nationwide through advanced therapies. These innovative treatments, like gene therapy, are transforming care for previously untreatable conditions—helping children reach new milestones, reducing hospital stays, and in some cases even providing cures. How Medical Research changes Lives !
Also we had two presentations by winners of the Junior Speech competition from Woori Yallock Primary school being Dixi Schaak - Taylor and Molly Benson. Molly spoke first , Australia is the Greatest Country on Earth using the verses of the National Anthem line by line to add character and flavour to Australia Day. Dixi's speech If I Could Change the World was a fabulous political narrative on why Gambling Advertising should be banned. Dixi , I think the whole room agreed with you.
We then had Community Service Awards presented to three most worthy recipents, Andrew Webber ( who in Andrew's absence was accepted by his wife Judy Murphy). The other two reipients were Es Bartosch and Andrew Corbett, and then that brought the breakfast to a conclusion. Many thanks to Ben Vallence who was our MC.
And then it was over to the Family Fun Day. Whilst numbers were a little down on previous years, it was undoubtedly due to the heat. In the blazing sun that prevailed there seemed to be more people in the satand and shade then down on the oval. But more than 1400 sausages were given out, and there were many children lining up numerous times for the ice creams. The longest queue was saved for the facepainting which was a giant hit as usual. As everything, I mean everything, was free parents had no necessity to put their hand in their pockets. To this end numerous donations were made by the happy attendees for the Bushfire appeal. The whole event was underwritten and made possible by the Wandin & Seville Bendigo Community Bank. Many thanks go to the Bank Chairman Ray Barrett for putting this event on, and am sure the donations of $10,000 to each of the Coldstream, Wandin, Gruyere and Seville CFA's will be put to great use.
It is on a sad note that I record the passing of Past Rotarian John Moody who died in the early hours of Australia Day. John was a Charter member of the Rotary Club of Wandin in 1984, was President in 1986-87 and an active member until 2006 a period of 21 years. John was made a PHF of Rotary in 2006 for his outstanding contribution and Service Above Self. The funeral to celebrate the life of John Moody will be held at 11.00am on next Friday 6th February at Heritage Funerals, Woori Yallock. Condolences to Wendy & Family. R.I.P.
Yours in Rotary,
Vice President PAUL
