Peter Fehon & Helen Gulson(Reserves: Peter McNair & George Raffan)
Set up & pack up:
Jon Gidney & Angie Fernandez(Reserve: Denise Woodward)
Speakers & topic:
Club Committees
Rotary Club Meeting 30 October 2018
Welcome
PP Ranald Stewart welcomed all members, guest speaker David Coker and his colleague Alex Brown and other guests Fiona Edwards, Andy Garvey, Mack Robertson, Susan Law and Amy Brittain.
Toast
Denise Woodward gave a toast to the Rotary Club of Cronulla. One of their main projects is the “U Turn the Wheel” program which is a one day in-school driving program for Year 11 students in every High School in the Sutherland Shire. Between 2009 and 2012 the casualty rate of 17-20 year old drivers fell 49% in the Shire LGA. They also hold an annual pre-WW2 Vintage Car & Bike Show which raises funds for the Sylvanvale Kids Club for children with disabilities.
Announcements
President Ranald reminded all members that there will be NO CLUB MEETING next week due to the Golf Club’s Melbourne Cup function.
Angie Fernandez updated us on the plans for the formation of a new Rotaract Club. Ten Rotary Clubs in the district are working together on this project and a planning meeting was held recently which she, Derek and Kevin attended.
Eleanor Chevor reported she has organised a table of 9 to attend Streetwork’s “Glam & Grunge” night on Friday.
“Clink for a Cause” is on at Andrew Rennie’s Gallery 307 Art School on 24 November. Tickets are only $45 so please help by advertising the event amongst your family and friends and book your own tickets. This can be done at www.trybooking.com/YPCJ .
The Early Ed BBQ is being held on Saturday, 10 November at North Sydney. Please come along and support it.
Masanori Ohtani spoke about the 12th Inoue Yasushi Award for Outstanding Research in Japanese Literature, Culture and Art in Australia and NZ to be held at Sydney University on Friday, 9 November and asked all members who are interested in attending to let him know.
Guest Speaker
Malcolm Lye introduced guest speaker Dr David Coker from Sydney Metro. Dr Coker is a Civil Engineer who has worked in Sydney, Singapore and the UK and is currently the Delivery Director for the Pitt Street Integrated System of Sydney Metro.
Dr Coker spoke about the various Sydney Metro projects including the NorWest project from Tallawong to Chatswood which will open late 2019 and the next stage of Chatswood ˃ City ˃ Bankstown line linking to the SW ˃ city ˃ NW extension opening in 2024. Also in the pipeline is a CBD ˃ Parramatta project which is totally underground.
The concept of the metro is to have a frequent rail service with no timetable, stopping at all stations and with major interchanges. The single deck trains will ensure quick loading and unloading and will be fully automated, without drivers, and able to cope with all mobility needs. The aim is to have these trains running every 10 mins all day and every 4 mins during peak hours. All stations will have the safety feature of screen doors along the platforms. Some stations have already been completed, as have tracks and overhead wiring. New signalling and control systems have been installed. Trains are currently undergoing testing on the new lines. Central station is undergoing a major renewal as it is a major interchange, at the same time as maintaining its heritage status.
Chatswood metro station is being built on the corner of Mowbray Rd & Pacific Highway. Crows Nest station is also in the process of being built and there is a development proposal under discussion for the space above the station. The metro station at North Sydney is being built on the corner of Berry & Miller Streets, with a 2nd entrance from McLaren Street. This station will not be connected to the current North Sydney Station. The tunnel boring machines are at work for the tunnels, and the spoil from the boring machines for the tunneling under the harbour will be removed by barge.
A proposed metro line from the new airport in Western Sydney is planned to be opened concurrently with the airport in 2026.The plan is to build an “Aerotropolis”, a town centre adjacent to the new airport which will attract new business and residents.
Peter Grinter thanked David for his presentation. It is a bold program and will be interesting to see it come to fruition within the next 10 years.
Northbridge Rotary Club has partnered with the Rotary Clubs of Sarina and Townsville to assist 30 children who, due to a massive landslide on the Sarina Range in the Queensland hinterland and consequent road closures, can no longer safely get to school. The main campus of the Swayneville State School is now a 70 minute drive over a dangerous dirt road.
The Education Department has set up a secondary campus of temporary classrooms on CWA land on the Sarina Range (pictured below). While the children’s education is now being catered for, the families are cut off from their normal services and the children from their friends and activities
such as dental checks, sports, and swimming lessons.
The road will be reopened at the end of this year. Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Northbridge has funded a periodic bus service which enables
both the parents and students to get to town, access services and participate in school activities. This service was funded by generous donations
Outgoing Northbridge Rotary President Derek Matz said it was really humbling to have been President of the Northbridge Rotary Club, a position held in high esteem in every community and club around the world.
The past 12 months have been “A Good On Ya” year and Rotary has continued to play a part in many community and international projects.
One of the highlights of the year was the Visioning exercise with all members contributing to the development a clear Vision (strategic plan) for the Club for 2023.
President Derek also praised the Club’s members for their continuing loyalty, service and willingness to volunteer in their busy lives. He congratulated his Board for their hard work and presented Geoff Duggin, a long-term member, with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award.
His final task was to initiate the Incoming President, Ranald Stewart.
Ranald has been a member of Northbridge Rotary since 2008 and has played a pivotal role in the running of the club. He has held the position of Director of most if not all the committees of the club, the last being Foundation. He is also a Paul Harris Fellow.
Ranald is a long-term Northbridge resident. He is a former small business owner and has been an active swimmer and cyclist. With his wife Marillyn he has been extremely supportive within the Northbridge Community of local sporting clubs and organizations with the objective of preserving the suburb has a most desirable location to live.
In his Incoming address Ranald referred to Barry Rassin (President of Rotary International 2018-19) when presenting his incoming theme “Be the Inspiration” He stated that globally Rotary is more relevant than ever before and its potential for good is vast.
He notes that unfortunately not enough people fully understand what Rotary is and does. Rotary service transforms lives and communities. To achieve even more of that truly transformational service it needs to think differently about Rotary’s role in the world. It needs to put more emphasis on it’s public image, using social media to build our membership and attract partners (and new younger members) that can help us scale up our service.
It hasn’t rained in many months ... worst drought since 1902! the crops are gone … the ground is parched, The sheep are gaunt - too weak to walk … a bale of hay … might do!
Farmers in many parts of New South Wales have reached desperation point!
They need YOUR help!
The Rotary Club of Northbridge
is raising much needed funds to assist our farmers stay on the land!
.PNG)
