Scribes report on last week's meeting - 15th Sept 2015

 

President Jenny warmly welcomed everyone. She encouraged everyone to register their attendance immediately on receipt of their ClubRunner email. She reported that she, John Norris as well as Ray Sleet and Rtn Robyn Barrett Sleet attended the Lane Cove Youth Orchestra concert on Sunday. The music was both impressive and enjoyable.

 

Rtn Robyn gave preliminary details for the Christmas party which will be held on Saturday 5th December at the Roseville Chase Golf Club. More details to follow. Robyn also asked for a straw poll for a dinner at the Ryde College on Friday 23rd October.  The cost would be $35 pp. The majority seemed in favour and again more details would be provided.

 

Rtn Ron Tweedie spoke of population movements and indicated that more than 3000 people had moved into Lane Cove in 2013. He felt the Lane Cove Fair would provide opportunities to make the new arrivals feel welcome and perhaps the Pottery Green part of the Fair would be of special appeal to these new families. He praised the work of Rtn Alicia and Rtn Brent in developing the Pottery Green area for the Fair and for all to support this wonderful initiative.

 

Rtn Pat Price described the work by Ravenswood students in Sydney together with Heartland School students in Nepal in designing a library together with an architect from Macquarie University. This project has been approved by the Club’s Board for funding.

 

PP Chris Curtis reported on his visit to Wagga Wagga where he presented the details of the NTA program in Indonesia and West Timor for possible small grants funding. Apparently his presentation was well received and hopefully the program will be supported by our club as well.

 

PP John Palmer spoke of 4 local projects being considered for Federal local infrastructure funding. Rotary was involved in the preparation of these projects which will be decided in November. More details would be provided later.

 

Rtn Brent then gave his inaugural performance as Sergeant. Phil Wade was fined for booing, Margaret Silink for having a brother who won a hamper, President Jenny for also winning a hamper. PP Bob, PP Roger and PP Tom were all fined for having been away and Rtn Pat for going away again. PP Frank was fined for damaging a tyre, Rtn James for his effort in organizing tonight's seating and Martin for no reason at all. PP Tom announced that new hip is working satisfactorily and indicated that his wife Gaye has had some surgery for a skin problem. Rtn James and PP Tom were fined for having been born on the 13th Sept but denied responsibility for this. PP Frank was fined for his anniversary and PP Roger boasted that he and Christabel had just celebrated their 40th. PP John Palmer confessed that he had inadvertently sent his travel plans to his secretary’s office calendar.

 

PP Roger then introduced Anna Ainsworth, previously a physiotherapist, but now Community Development Director of Eden Gardens, Director of the Eden Gardens Foundation as well as being a Director of Father Chris Riley's Youth Off the Street Foundation. Roger was pleased to introduce Anna as she was his half-sister. Anna then described how she and her husband started Eden Gardens in 2004 and how they were determined to support charities. They decided to support the Cancer Council NSW and Father Chris Riley's Youth Off the Street program. Over the years they developed a program to involve the youths from the Youth Off the Street program in horticulture with their staff being involved as mentors. These young people usually stayed for 6 months and then were helped in securing paid employment. Anna described one such youth who became an apprentice at Eden Gardens. He excelled in horticulture, received an apprenticeship award and was sponsored to attend the Chelsea Flower Show in London 2013 when Australia won the grand prize. In recognition of their support, Father Chris Riley named one of his new schools the Eden School. Ann also described their daffodil garden which honours donors to the Cancer Council. She also described how Eden Gardens supports Department of Housing community gardens, community greening projects, gardening projects in disadvantaged schools and public housing as well as Easy Care Gardens to allow elderly to stay in their homes.

 

PP Tom asked where youth off the street are accommodated when they are placed at Eden Gardens and the answer was usually in youth refuges. Margaret spoke of inspecting Eden School when she was an inspector for the Board of Studies and how impressed she had been. Margaret spoke of the annual bike ride by these students from Sydney to the Gold Coast and how one student was chuffed to have the police clear the streets for them whereas in the past the police had usually been chasing them.

 

Rtn James gave a formal vote of thanks for Anna’s wonderful presentation and stated that the general public should be made more aware of the marvelous charity work performed by Eden gardens. He presented Anna with a Rotary Calendar. The raffle was won by Rtn Robyn

The Attendance Officer reported that 19 Rotarians plus 2 guests attended. The Sergeant’s fine session yielded $44.20

In closing the meeting President Jenny again called for good quality wines and other donations for the raffle hamper at the Fair.

 

Scribe

Martin Silink