FROM THE PRESIDENT
Christmas time come but once a year, so Deck the Hall with boughs of Holly. As an aside if I wear red, please don’t get me confused with and another more jovial stout fellow who also wears red and has a white beard.
Technology has been the flavour of this month – James and Janice, thank you for the great session at the Barton’s office. James has been working with the leadership team and we’re almost wired up so that our record keeping, and information practice can make for more efficient club administration. Thank you too to the members who supported Applecross Rotary at the Jacaranda festival. Please also keep an eye out for the watering roster. After last week’s Hades’ type weather, the banksias at Point Walter will need a big drink. Seriously at 0630 in the morning 2 hours watering in that environment is good for and for our community.
We’ve had two great speakers this month – Professor Shane Burke from Notre Dame was fabulous. World class archaeology just down the road from where we live. Peel Town would have been an eye opener for those hardy souls who came to settle what is WA almost 200 years ago! Graham – thank you, your speakers keep adding to our awareness of the world around us.
You’ll be aware of the Club AGM on 11 Dec 23 – I might even be tempted to shout for the bar afterwards. The notices for the meeting are out so come along and at least get an update of where the club is at. The elections will start to set up Marilyn Barton for her presidency as we move forward in the Regionalisation trial.
As we bid farewell to 2023, some of you will remember it fondly, others will remember it as an annus horribilus. We all have tried, and all have failed at some time during 2023. But you’ve all made a great difference, to each other, to me and to our communities. Every day you each bring hope to someone. Take this time of reduced tempo to reflect in a kind way and make a resolution to keep doing good and bringing hope. My experience as your President has witnessed this from each of you. May this time of kind contemplation bring peace and goodwill to you, your families loved and missed ones.
My fervent hope for you all is that you do well and succeed in 2024 and that we all grow as a result. Thank you for your service and letting me be the President of a great Rotary club.
Now where’s that red suit – it was a bit tight last time, don’t need any spray paint for the beard. Another glass of red and a mince pie please………..
Community & Environment Committee
As I’m sure you are all aware, the Community & Environment Committee Chair, Ian, has left on an extended jaunt around Australia in his and Lorraine’s new caravan, and in a moment of weakness, I agreed to act as committee chair whilst he’s away so if you need to interact with the Community committee, I’m your point of contact.
As far as activity is concerned, the only project currently requiring active input from the Club membership is Bruce Iver’s tree planting project at Point Walter. A large number of native trees (mostly banksias, I believe) have been planted and now need regular watering (Once every two weeks until they are established which, in practical terms means until the onset of next winter). So please come and help. We meet at 6.30 am at the Point Walter carpark, every other Saturday. The next ‘gathering’ is next Saturday, 2nd December, followed by the next one on 16th December and then 30th December, and so on.
So that the process doesn’t take all day, we would like 10 -12 people to turn up, as this means that the entire exercise only takes 1½ - 2 hrs, so you’ll still have all of Saturday to ‘do our own thing’. The actual work isn’t hard, consisting of standing around, holding a hose!
There’s a roster on Club Runner, so please indicate when you’ll be able to help, but if you become unexpectedly free and just turn up, we won’t turn you away!
So hopefully I’ll see you on Saturday and if you can’t make and I don’t see you beforehand, have a great Christmas holiday period.
Charles Waterton
Chair, RCM Community Committee.
