Rotary Club of Sydney Newsletter - 1st November 2024
October has proved to be a month where we began to gain traction in our drive to attract new members and also to engage new and long term members.
I am very pleased to announce that we have gained another notable Honorary Member.
On the 31st October we received confirmation by letter from the 'Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General' that Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, is pleased to accept honorary membership of the Rotary Club of Sydney.
We give special thanks to Garry Browne AM without whose help we could not have secured Her Excellency as an Honorary Member.
Again with Garry Browne's help a special event is now being organised at which we will induct Her Excellency Ms Sam Mostyn AC into the club. Details to be announced soon.
With Honorary Members such as Her Excellency Ms Sam Mostyn AC, The Commissioner of NSW Police Karen Webb APM, The CEO of PCYC NSW Ben Hobby and others we look forward to their presence at club events that will help attract members and club supporters in ever growing numbers.
In this regard I spoke with NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM at the Rotary NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards 2024 and she has agreed to give a talk at our club in the coming months, date to be confirmed with her office.
Check in regularly at
www.sydneyrotary.com to see all the latest news and what special events we have lined up for you in the coming months.
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In October we held three lunch events at The Castlereagh Hotel in October.
1st October - Shaping Tomorrow: Your Voice, Your Rotary
Convened at the UBS Meeting Rooms we invited Stephen Lovison, the Rotary Community Lead of the Rotary Sydney Alliance, made up of Rotary Clubs of Sydney, Bondi Junction, Botany Randwick, Maroubra, Kings Cross, Rose Bay, South Sydney, Sydney Cove, Sydney Darling Harbour and Sydney Inner West, to talk about the
goals and structure of the Alliance. As well as the key opportunities it presents for the future of Rotary in our region. We discussed how this program can streamline efforts, increase the reach of service projects, and deliver greater value to members and communities.
This was a unique opportunity for all of our members to contribute to the conversation and shape the direction of this important pilot. The input of the Club Members who attended and who undoubtably care deeply for the future of Rotary and our Club will help define what success looks like for the Rotary Sydney Alliance and ensure that it meets the needs of our clubs, our members and our communities.
Heartfelt thanks to club members Alex Shaw, Iurie Brinister, Vivian Wang, Terry Carson, Mark Dyer, David Hirsch, Karen Loblay, Victoria Hollick, Fleur Hourihan and Shankar Sankaran for registering, your support was most welcome.
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15th October - Rotarians - People of Reconciliation Action
The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for Rotary District 9675 has been officially endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. To celebrate this significant achievement, the Rotary Club of Sydney hosted a special Zoom event on 15th October, titled "Rotarians - People of Reconciliation Action".
The event featured the co-authors of the RAP, Dr. Sonu Bhaskar and Katrina Filewood, who provided insights into the RAP’s impact on First Nations communities and discussed how Rotary Clubs can actively contribute to achieving the objectives outlined by Reconciliation Australia. Dr. Bhaskar and Ms. Filewood shared practical steps for fostering reconciliation and building stronger connections with Indigenous communities through Rotary's initiatives.
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22nd October, Rights, freedoms and the limits of protest
There is plenty to be concerned about in these times of increasing global conflict. On university campuses and on the streets, we have seen protests that have left some in our community worried for their safety. Most of us believe we have a democratic, constitutionally protected right to protest. But do we? Just how far can we go barracking for our side? How does Australia compare with the United States in this? And what could happen to our freedoms if autocracy trumped democracy?
Simon Rice, pictured above, an Emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Sydney, where he was Kim Santow Professor of Law and Social Justice. helped us by unpacking the complex issues of rights, freedoms and democracy in our increasingly polarised world.
Visiting Rotarians included Liz and Peter Walton RC Sydney Cove and Michael Cates, below, from the Rotary Club of Santa Monica, Ca,
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Other events in October included:
16th October - Sydney Rotary Member and Prospective Member Social Night, hosted by Mark Dyer at the Cub York we met with a number of very interesting and excellent candidates for membership.
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25th October Sydney Rotary supports Vision Beyond AUS Event.
An excellent turn out which saw many members of the Club attend this fund raising event for VBA as we experienced 3 delicious courses of authentic delights of South Indian cuisine, created by Head Chef, Vijayan Ramasamy, whose experience spans over 24 years worldwide.
Holding a light for VBA is Christine Yen one of our newer members at Sydney Rotary!
In the picture below Indy Singh, Executive Chairman of Fiducian and Chairman & Founder of Vision Beyond Aus, is in fine form announcing the winners of the Raffle and Best Dressed competition.
Thank you for all of your support in October.
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1st November Rotary NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards
