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Welcome to the 28th Edition of the Spoke ‘n’ Words.
It’s hard to believe that seven months has already passed since receiving the President’s reins from Past president Mark Caulfield. And in just 20 weeks I will be handing over the reins to President Elect (PE) Lea Paton at the customary Changeover dinner. Where did the time go? I have thoroughly enjoyed my first seven months and the Board and I look forward to continuing the work commenced by our predecessors 57 years ago to build a vibrant and enduring Club that is responsive to the evolving needs of the community within which it evolves.
Our members are central to everything that we do and it is only through them that we can deliver on the Rotary promise of ‘service above self’ and to ‘make a difference’ in our community and the world. There are also many individuals in our community who may not be Rotarians, but who also epitomise the spirit of ‘service above self’ and who have helped ‘make a difference’ in our community and in the lives of others. With that in mind, the Rotary Club of Berwick will over the next few months be recognising worthy individuals with Paul Harris Fellowships (PHF). Past President John Rosenthal (Chairman of the PHF Committee) and his team have received and assessed several nominations over the past couple of months and are keen to receive many more.
After nearly two months of social engagements and various community field activities, it was great to return to Holm Park on Wednesday the 7th of February for our first regular meeting for 2018. No less than 65 members and guests were in attendance to hear Isobel Caulfield’s presentation on the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage (The Way of St James), which she and Past President (PP) Mark undertook late last year.
The meeting was made more special by the presence of members and friends of the Berwick Inner Wheel and other guests of Rotarians. Among the guests, it was great to welcome Rachel Caulfield, President of the Casey-Cardinia Rotaract Club, who along with her sister Anna, were beaming with pride and wonder during Isobel’s presentation. Thank you Isobel and Mark for sharing your amazing and inspiring pilgrimage with us.
Judging by the response from the audience I have no doubt that they all enjoyed the presentation and the good old Rotary fellowship that ensued.
Speaking of fellowship it was great to also welcome in our midst Murray and Dawn Newby, Rob and Pat Wingrave, Rod Bowman and Tilly Hutton, the Inner Wheel ladies - Deb Giesen, Helen Rosenthal, Diana Nutter, Ann Kraan, Rosemary Collyer, Kate Gordyn and Cynthia Merrill, and guests of Rotarians Clare Ganderton, Anna Caulfield and Tazi Ahmed, Judy Button and Lisemay Balancy.
Our Chair for the meeting was Diana Gomez-Fullaway and she did a great job keeping proceedings on track. She was ably assisted by Sergeant David Nutter whose “Heads or Tails” session saw Murray Newby walk away with the prize… Well done Murray!!
On Wednesday the 14th of February, we will again be at Holm Park for a special presentation on the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) program. This is one of the most inspirational programmes undertaken by Rotary and it is giving the gift of life to 50 children each year from developing countries in the form of life-saving and/or dignity restoring surgery.
Should be a great night of Rotary information and fellowship.
I hope you enjoy this week’s edition of the bulletin.
