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District Governor's eNews
December 6 2018

ROTARY: BE THE INSPIRATION
“There is hope in dreams, imagination and in the courage of those who wish to make those dreams a reality” Jonas Salk
 
My Friends in Rotary,
 
It is hard to believe that it is December and we have almost completed 6 months of the Rotary year, a year that we have been tasked by President Barry “To Be the Inspiration” in our communities. As I have been travelling around the District since July, I have been amazed at how Inspirational every club is and what wonderful work to improve people’s lives is done by each and every Rotary club in District 9685.

November was a very busy month, I was privileged to attend the 50th Birthday Celebrations of 2 Rotary Clubs, my own club The Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains and then The Rotary Club of Turramurra followed closely by the 45th Birthday of The Rotary Club of Kurrajong North Richmond. Each event was a great celebration of all the great work that has been done by dedicated Rotarians over the years. Old friends caught up with each other and many good stories were exchanged. Next week we will celebrate the 75th Birthday of The Rotary Club of Blackheath.

It has been pleasing to hear about the new members that are being inducted into clubs. New members are very important to our clubs because they bring with them new ideas and enthusiasm that some of us might have lost. Embrace the differences that they bring into Rotary.

December is designated as the Disease Prevention and Treatment Month. How do we celebrate that you might ask? What better way than to make a special donation to the End Polio Now program to provide vital funds to help rid the world of the disease of Polio. A donation to Australian Rotary Health to help fund research into a variety of illness’s that concern Australians not the least being the Mental Health and Well Being of our Emergency Service and Military personnel.

Why not make a donation to either The Rotary Foundation or Australian Rotary Health this year Instead of sending Christmas Cards? John and I have sent thousands of cards over the years. While I love to receive them and read my family and friends yearly news, the card goes in the recycle bin at the end of December. A donation how ever will work for much long and eventually might benefit us as well.

As our clubs wind down over the next 2 weeks for our annual break, I would like to thank you all for the inspirational work you have done so far this year.

John and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We wish you a safe and enjoyable break and look forward to sharing with you in 2019.

Susan Wakefield OAM
Governor, RI District 9685, 2018-19
 
RYLA Facilitator Meeting
District Office
Dec 06, 2018
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
 
RYLA Committee Meeting
District Office
Dec 10, 2018
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
Presidents' AGM and Christmas Meeting
Hornsby RSL
Dec 15, 2018
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
 
Rotary Foundation Committee Meeting
District Office
Jan 24, 2019
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
COTA Meeting
District Office
Jan 25, 2019
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
 
G Train Meeting
District Office
Feb 14, 2019
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
 
2018/19 District Team Meeting
District Office
Feb 16, 2019
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
 
Presidents' Group Meetings
Various
Feb 22, 2019
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
RLI 50.1
District Office
Mar 02, 2019
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
 
RLI 50.2
District Office
Mar 03, 2019
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
 
Rotary Foundation Committee Meeting
District Office
Mar 07, 2019
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
COTA Meeting
District Office
Mar 15, 2019
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
 
2019/20 President Elect (PETS) Training
MGSM
Mar 16, 2019
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
 
District 9685 Conference
NEX
Mar 29, 2019 7:00 PM –
Mar 31, 2019 1:00 PM
 
GRACE'S PLACE UPDATE
Greetings everyone,  I wish to bring you up to date with some developments with my DG Partners Project, which is Grace’s Place.   For those of you whom District Governor Susan and I have yet to visit, Grace’s Place is a purpose-built project to assist the children who have been the silent victims of a domestic homicide.   This is a project of Martha Jabour, the CEO of the Homicide Victim’s Support Group in New South Wales, who is one of our keynote speakers at the District Conference next March.
 
It had been planned for a ‘SOD Turning” to get the project underway at the land in Doonside that had been donated to the group by the NSW State Government and the Blacktown City Council.   Unfortunately, when the initial inspection was made of the land, it was found that it contained a large amount of Asbestos which had been dumped there over years gone past.   Blacktown City Council has now undertaken a clean-up operation in readiness for an inspection and a building application to be approved.   It is now thought that the turning of the ‘SOD’ will be either just before or just after the District Conference next march.
 
For those of you who like to have a shot at the ‘SOD’, or DG Susan’s Official Driver, the turning of the SOD is purely a building term and not associated with me, but I intend to attend that event.
 
I wish to thank the following clubs and Rotarians who have donated funds to Grace’s Place so that we can fit out one or more of the therapy rooms in the complex in the name of Rotary District 9685.  Those clubs are Brookvale, Glenhaven, Castle Hill, Kenthurst and the Rotary E Club of Sydney.  I would also like to thank Karo Haltmeier for her personal donation.
 
If you wish, you may meet with Martha Jabour at our District Conference in Newcastle where she will be selling ‘building blocks’ at a stall or you can EFT funds to the District 9685 Admin Account and use the Reference 9875 which will alert the District Treasurer that the funds transferred are for Grace’s Place.   If you could also send me an email so that I can have an audit trail for funds raised.  If you would prefer to use a cheque, please make the cheque out to the District 9685 Admin Account.  If you make it out to Grace’s Place, please endorse the back of the cheque to pay the Rotary District Admin Account.
 
Once again, thank you for your interest and support of Grace’s Place which is named after Grace Lynch, the mother of murder victim Anita Cobby.  Grace was one of the four people who started the Homicide Victims Support Group after the death of her daughter.
 
John Wakefield OAM
PDG 2002-3 D9690
2019 District Conference Chairman.
DISTRICT INSURANCE OFFICER - NEW EMAIL
 
The District Insurance Officer, Bob Chary has a new email address:
 
 
 
ROTARY ON THE MOVE - DECEMBER 2018
Please click HERE to view - download the ‘Rotary On The Move’ Newsletter for December 2018.   Please feel free to share and send us your great membership stories.
 
 
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST REQUIRED

Expressions of Interest are being called for to create an Emergency Response Team for District 9685.

If you have expertise or in the area of Emergency Management (Recovery) we invite you to contact

D.G. Susan Wakefield by 30.12.18.

It is envisaged that this team would direct response to natural or man-made disasters within our district boundaries

 

 

 

THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN - MOVIE NIGHT
COUNCIL ON RESOLUTION RESULTS
The Council on Resolutions for 2018 has been finalised and the attached document provides the outcome of those resolutions which have been adopted and will go to the RI board
 
The resolution 18R- 08 which was filed by Central Blue Mountains, on behalf of the D9685 was successful.  If passed by the RI board, then clubs will be able to record all volunteer hours including administration and fund raising.
 
 
PAUL HENNINGHAM OAM - A REAL LIFE LEGEND
We’re all mourning the loss of a wonderful man – a great friend and one of very few people who achieve the status of ‘a real life legend’ in their own life time …
  • He sustained a mild heart attack last Saturday week – few days in hospital – home last Thursday.  I enjoyed three hour long discussions and he was VERY relaxed … full on as we covered Rotary in general, our mutual challenge with the Century of Rotary in Oceania, political correctness and – reluctantly – his condition. He was still sharp as a tack – only his mortal body was failing …
     
  • Paul knew his time was up – he chuckled as he told me his ‘parts’ had worn out and doctors said there was nothing more they could. He said he had a great life – blessed with a wonderful family and plenty of opportunities to make a difference …
     
  • He never stopped giving - from service as a 22 years old mortar lieutenant on the Kokoda Track in PNG to ‘looking after’ 80 years old legacy widows as a 90 years old legatee !
     
  • Never talked much about his war service but admitted every year he has enjoyed since was a blessing with clear memories of Japanese bullets whizzing past his head several times. He shared with me he had once lost the skin off the souls of his feet as a result of months of jungle warfare in sodden conditions!!!
     
  • My wife Ann and I talked long and hard before I decided to apply for the position of managing editor at RDU back in 1983 – but sometimes in life, one gets lucky!  I got to share 35 years with the most amazing man I have ever met …
     
  • I knew he was special from my first day at the old building in Harris Park.  Every staff member loved him! It was very easy for me to continue to drive the organisation from that lofty position …
     
  • From the outset, his caring nature shone through … he stayed with me for six months to ensure I was settled in the job – and then jetted off with Peggy for another Rotary Convention!
     
  • Paul was a brilliant journalist.  In fact, more than a journalist, he was an old style English essayist! His grasp of the English language was perfect. He was a genuine leader of men, but usually from behind sowing the seed and allowing others to think they had a brilliant idea!!!
 
I could talk about my experiences with Paul for hours but I should let the facts of his amazing life speaker for themselves …
 
  • Born January 26, 1921 - Country boy with a rural background – educated at Leeton High School. Loved cricket – claimed he could not play very well …
     
  • 1937/39 – junior clerk Woolworths in Sydney – copy writer/announcer – freelance journalist.  Accepted by St John’s Theological College, Morpeth, NSW but entry in 1940 was deferred at outbreak of war.
     
  • War service – enlisted June 4, 1940. Officers School – Commissioned Lieutenant, December 1941 – active service in PNG – transferred to Officers Reserve January 1946.
     
  • University of Sydney 1946/48
     
  • 1948/54 – social worker with returned service personnel, leader within several service support organisations, including editor of the Australian Legion newspaper.
     
  • 1954/65 – launched and published his own newspapers – The Guardian and Newtown Daily.
     
  • Joined Rotary Club of Marrickville in 1955; later transferred to Rotary Club of Newtown due to proximity to his office.
     
  • 1965/84 – Founding editor of Rotary Down Under – three year trial!  Led the Rotary magazine world to achieve recognition by RI for all magazines to be an official alternative to The Rotarian.  Finally achieved in 1976 after a three year trial and several surveys … now 31 magazines in 24 languages!
     
  • RDU went from strength to strength and a Merchandise organisation (RDU Supplies) followed  …
     
  • Many other successful campaigns – part of team to established Probus in Australia and Probus Centre South Pacific; Sydney Legacy and Editor of Torchlight Magazine for Legacy movement in NSW.
Some of his favourite causes and projects –
  • RSL sub branch
  • Australian Association of Social Workers/Family Welfare
  • Marriage Guidance Council of NSW
  • Rotary Youth Leadership Awards – District and Regional
  • NSW Association for Mental Health – Hon Secretary
  • District Governor, Rotary International; various committees
  • Duke of Edinburgh Awards State Committee
  • Ranfurly Library Service
  • University of Western Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee
  • Jane Austen Society of Australia
     
Accomplished historical author –
  • Gift of God, Friend of Man – history of timber industry 1986
  • Seventy Five Years of Service – Rotary in Australia 1921/71
  • In Search of Health (2001) for Australian Rotary Health
  • With Health in Mind (2011) updated for ARH
  • History of Probus (2014) for Probus Centre South Pacific
  • Editor of the narrative poem I, Jane Austen by Mary Corringham (2001)
  • Centenary of Rotary in Oceania – current …
 
Awards –
  • Order of Australia Medal (0AM) January 2001
  • Australia Day Council Citizen Award 2001
  • The Australia Rotary Health Research Medal for 2006
  • Rotary Down Under Distinguished Service Award
TERTIARY EDUCATION
  • Diploma of Social Studies, 1948
  • Master of Arts (Coursework), 1992
  • Doctor of Philosophy, 1996
  • Master of Arts (Hons) (Research), 2016
 
Friends,
I don’t know how anyone individual could fit so much into one lifetime? 
 
But I do know how much he loved this Rotary Club and all of the members within.  He had the time of his life at our recent 50th anniversary celebration – loved the walk down memory lane, catching up with so many old friends, Greg North’s poem, and so many entertaining program highlights …
 
He truly was a real life legend – and his spirit will live on within our hearts and minds for many years to come …
 
Thank you – Bob Aitken AM, Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains.
 
 
950 HOURS WORK BY ROTARY VOLUNTEERS ACHIEVE AMAZING CHANGE
 
Ku-ring-gai Rotary Club has transformed a little used storage shed and some heavily overgrown waste ground into a bright new learning centre and vegetable garden, complete with chicken house for Clarke Road School in Hornsby.
 
The work included building garden beds, bringing water to different parts of the garden, including a cistern to ensure continuous water for the chickens.  The group also assembled the chicken coop, cleaned out the shed, installed new doors, added a deck and stairs and installed potting benches, all in an area which can only be reached on foot up long ramps.
 
The new facility including the refurbished shed will enable children with intellectual disabilities to learn skills which until now have not been able to be taught at the school.  It will help the dedicated staff provide more opportunities for senior students.
 
Joy Newling, President of Ku-ring-gai Rotary Club, said that members were inspired by the teachers and parents of “this amazing school”, and were proud to provide not just a facility but opportunities for students.
This wonderful project could not have happened without a District Grant from The Rotary Foundation for which the club is extremely grateful.
 
 
 
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