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Club Information
Welcome to The Rotary Club of Northbridge
Northbridge
Service Above Self
We meet Tuesdays at 6:00 PM
Northbridge Golf Club
Sailors Bay Road,
Northbridge, NSW  2063
Australia
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map
Upcoming Events
Community Fireworks Night
May 12, 2018
 
Comedy for a Cause
May 31, 2018
 
Change Over Dinner
Jun 26, 2018
 
Please send apologies to David Robertson before 10:30am each Monday at: tevita261@bigpond.com
Next Meeting – 17th April 2018
Attendance desk:
John Turner  &  Brian Robson    Reserves: (John Garrett)
 
Set up & pack up:
Peter Antaw  &  Ian Burnett   Reserves: (John Weingarth & Barry Anderson)
Speakers & topic:
Michelle Dawson    TOPIC   –   The Kolling Foundation
Rotary Club Meeting 10th April 2018
 

Welcome

President Derek welcomed members to the meeting, and guest speaker Tony Edwards and his colleague Rebecca.
 
Toast
President Derek toasted the Rotary Club of Battambang in Cambodia.  Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Rosebud Rye, it was chartered 2 years ago. It has been assisted by Siem Riep Rotary Club by way of passing over some of their projects for them to undertake.
 
Announcements
President Derek asked for any nominations for the Paul Harris Award to be submitted by Friday. So please consider someone you think worthy of this award.
The District Assembly is to be held on 29 April at Kings School. Several members will be attending, and Derek asked everyone to give some thought to attending.
A reminder that the Changeover dinner is on 26 June at Orso. Please diarise.
 
Kevin Tattrie updated us on RYPEN. He has heard from the two WGHS girls who attended and who gave glowing reports of their time there.  All places at upcoming camps have already been filled by interested WGHS students.
 
Ranald Stewart, in the absence of Valda Andrews, reported on Sunday’s BBQ at Bunnings. He thanked all those who volunteered and reported a profit of $1,045.
Ranald also reminded us that several members leave next Tuesday for the Rotary trip to Japan. He and Masanori spoke about the main reason for the trip, that is, to take part in the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Rotary Club of Tokyo Suganami and showed us the gift from Northbridge Rotary which will be given to them, a book on Australian artists.
 
John Turner asked all members to ask friends and family to volunteer to help at the Rotary Fireworks as more hands are needed to assist.
 
Peter Grinter thanked all volunteers who assisted at the Rostrum Voice of Youth at Ascham School.  He talked about the quality of the speakers and how inspirational they were.
 
Paul Sullivan reminded everyone that CTP Green Slip refunds are available from the Roads & Maritime Services for those people who paid their CTP before 1 December 2017.  Go to https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/claim-ctp-green-slip-refund, hit claim online and login with your details to apply for your refund.  It’s a very simple process, though it can only be done between 7pm & 7am.

Guest Speaker - Tony Edwards - MindDog Australia

Malcolm Lye introduced our speaker for the evening, Tony Edwards from MindDog Australia.  Tony first spoke about his own journey with mental illness, having been diagnosed with depression at the age of 9 and being plagued with that and other severe mental health conditions all his life. 
Tony then spoke about MindDogs, a non-profit organisation founded in 2011 by Cath Phillips which provides guidance for selecting and training psychiatric assistance dogs. Tony introduced us to Buddy, his service dog, who he says helps keep him calm and gives him a sense of responsibility that can regulate his desire to harm himself.  Buddy is a Cavoodle that he found at the pound.  Dogs are generally the client’s own dog.
Tony also gave us some tips on interacting with a service dog. It's important not to touch the dog without permission as the dog is working. Equally, it's important to talk with the dog's owner and not just focus on the dog. Finally, as service dogs may be supporting their owner to manage various conditions, it's important not to ask questions about the nature of the medical concern as the person may wish to keep that information private.
MindDog clients conduct most of the training themselves (sometimes with the help of a professional trainer), but MindDog volunteers are required to certify that the dog has passed the Public Access Test. The organisation’s primary cost is the travel expense of getting the volunteer certifiers to all parts of Australia where MindDog clients live, and as they receive no government assistance, all their funding is by way of donations. In time they hope to train MindDog certifiers within every state and territory. Since 2011, 800 dogs have been certified in all states and territories. If a homeless person with mental illness has a dog that passes the test, MindDog will provide all of that dog’s needs.
With the help of Buddy and his psychiatrist and GP, Tony is stabilising his health and working towards returning to the workforce. Like many people with a mental health condition, Tony is university educated, articulate and has a self-deprecating sense of humour. He shares a lovely bond with his dog. Sharing his story helps educate people about the availability and the role of service dogs and breaks down stigma by openly discussing and normalising the challenges that a mental health condition may bring.
To help certify more MindDogs by making a donation or to find out more about the association, go to www.minddog.org.au .
Stories
Comedy for a Cause, Thursday 31st May 2018

Thursday 31st May 2018. 7:00pm - 10:15pm

Event by: Northbridge Rotary Club

Venue: Northbridge Golf Club

Comedy For A Cause presents a showcase of some of the best comedians from the Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festival in aid of Northbridge Rotary Club and their supported Charities.

 
100% of profits raised go toward aiding disadvantaged youth and health and education issues experienced by families in our community.
 
The evening will also include a Rotary raffle – with prizes kindly supplied by local businesses. Prizes include –
Be sure to get in early – come along – and support your local Rotarians to help those in most need!
 
Tickets: $35
 
Doors: 7pm
Showtime: 8pm
Conclusion: 10:15pm (approx)
 
Tickets are not allocated – so first in best dressed.
 
 
For more information, please contact: Bob on 0408 969 619
In between time, please patronise and support our premium event sponsors
 
  • The Public Dining Room - Balmoral
  • Via Alta - Willoughby
Don't Miss Northbridge Community Fireworks 12th May 2018
Community - Northbridge Rotary Fireworks Record
 
 
A record crowd estimated at more than 4,000 attended Northbridge Rotary's Community Fireworks 30th Anniversary Spectacular on Northbridge Oval on May 13.
The event was a great success, according to the organizer, Rotarian Rob Coote. “We were lucky with near perfect weather and it was a great night for families who attended the evening,” Rob said. “The fireworks were spectacular, there was varied musical entertainment from local school bands plus exciting rides for the many happy children in attendance.
“We had about 120 Rotary Club members, spouses and Friends of Rotary helping on the night,” Rob said.
 
The spectators included North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman, Premier  Gladys Berejiklian and Willoughby Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney. The Mayor welcomed the huge crowd and thanked Rotarians, volunteers and sponsors for making the huge community event so successful.
The event raised a surplus of more than $40,000 (net of expenses), which will be used to support local and overseas charities.
 
In this regard the Board of the Club at its May meeting resolved to award 100% of the surplus to organizations in greatest need. These included StreetWork (a local youth charity ) to assist in purchasing a new community vehicle ,the Rural Fire Service, children and women’s emergency accommodation, Rotary’s Polio Eradication programme, The Rotary Foundation, medical research into the causes and treatment  of dementia and high need overseas charities in East Timor and Nepal (water delivery infrastructure and schools..)
 
Rotary President Paul Sullivan expressed the Club’s appreciation to Northbridge Plaza (managed by AMP Capital) as the primary sponsor of the event and the new co-sponsor Commonwealth Bank.
 
The invaluable assistance and support of all our other sponsors and supporters were also much appreciated.  These included – Willoughby Council, Westpac Banking Corporation, Anytime Fitness, Ray White Real Estate, Coates Hire, Northbridge Hotel, Borusso’s Pizza and Pasta, Willoughby Leisure Centre, Backvintage Wines, Just Cuts Northbridge, Northbridge Physiotherapy, and Castlecrag Montessori School. 
 
Also, the event would not have been the success that it was without the support of all those other entities who provided prizes for our Raffle, that helped us raise much-needed funds for our charities.  These included – Bridge Climb, Simon & Johnson, Taronga Zoo, National Maritime Museum, Luna Park Sydney, HarbourView Restaurant and the Northbridge Golf Club.
 
The Rotary Club of Northbridge thanks, all sponsors and supporters for their tremendous support.
Northbridge Rotary builds new school in Nepal
 
Northbridge Rotary Club has helped to build a new school in a remote area of Nepal which was devastated by a massive earthquake in 2015. Part of the funding for the project was raised by the club through the generosity of Northbridge residents.
 
 
 
The new school building at Bhakanje village, high in the Himalayas at 2,386 metres, was opened for use in February 2018. At the opening, the villagers of Bhakanje, the school’s teachers and students, and the two managers of Himalayan Project in Nepal expressed their gratitude to the community of Northbridge for their humanitarian support to this devastated community. A brass wall plaque was fixed to the building reading:
 
The reconstruction of this building in 2016‐17 is funded by Rotary Club of Northbridge,  Sydney, Australia and the people of Northbridge in cooperation with Rotary Club of Kathmandu and Himalayan Project Nepal 2017.
 
The new school building has a total of four classrooms, one being a nursery for small children. The stronger, longer-lasting building replaces the original school building which was mainly destroyed by the 7.7 force earthquake. The new building’s brick walls and truss roof are of earthquake-resistant design. The walls are lined with wooden panels to help insulate school students from the cold.
 
The new Bhakanje school is said to be one of the most beautiful and functional schools in that region of Nepal.
 
Rotary Club of Northbridge managed the reconstruction from October 2016 until February 2018 in cooperation with Rotary Club of Kathmandu, Himalayan Project Denmark and Himalayan Project Nepal.
The Rotary Foundation: The best charity in the world!
 

The Rotary Foundation has won the prestigious award for Outstanding Foundation at the 2017 conference of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in San Francisco. The conference drew more than 3,400 senior fundraising professionals from 33 countries.
 
The annual award honours organisations that show philanthropic commitment and leadership through financial support, innovation, encouragement of others, and involvement in public affairs.
AFP’s judges cited Rotary’s comprehensive campaign to eradicate polio as a major driver of the selection.
 
They also mentioned that Rotary applies a methodical, purposeful approach to support a wide variety of international causes, from providing clean water to educating the next generation of peace professionals.
 
Rotary Foundation Chair-elect Paul Netzel accepted the award on Rotary's behalf. “With the generous support of our members and partners, we’ve taken on some of the toughest humanitarian challenges in the world, none more so than the devastating disease of polio,” said Netzel. “We will defeat polio and it will be a landmark achievement for global public health.”
 
“This award helps to spread our belief that service to humankind truly changes our world and, for that reason, it is the greatest work of life,” Netzel said.
 
The Rotary Club of Northbridge and many of its members contribute generously to The Rotary Foundation each year.
Vocational - Northbridge Rotary Helps Local Complete Her Masters at Oxford
 

Funds donated by Rotary Club of Northbridge contributed to local lawyer Alison French completing a Masters of Public Policy degree at Oxford University in November 2017. With the support of Northbridge Rotary, Alison travelled to Oxford in August 2016 on a full Rotary Global Grant Scholarship.
 
Of her year of study, Alison said: “It has been the most fascinating, challenging and inspiring year. I would not be here if it weren’t for the support of Rotary. Thank you once again for all of Rotary’s support and generosity”. 
 
At Oxford, Alison took examinations in several subjects. In the Education course, for her assignment she wrote on improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education.” That is an area of passion for me and I absolutely loved this course!” Alison told Northbridge Rotarians.
 
Alison also made presentations to many Rotary clubs in the Oxford area. “It was a lovely way to connect with the Rotary community at many talks throughout the year,” Alison said. She also spoke at the Rotary District Conference in Bournemouth. Alison said that the beach at Bournemouth does not compare to beautiful Sydney beaches but it was very nice to spend a weekend by the sea and mix with Rotarians young and old.
 
Other highlights of her time in UK were competing in the Oxford College rowing regattas for St Anne’s College and attending the Queen’s Young Leaders Award ceremony at the Australian High Commission (and seeing Prince Harry!).
 
Alison is currently completing her summer project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, working with World Vision on a child rights project.  The aim is to make recommendations to eliminate violence against children in the Asia region. She has seven weeks in Cambodia to complete the project and will then return to the UK to undertake a short internship at the Australian High Commission in London before graduation, after which she will finally return home. 

She says her next step is still to be confirmed but is likely to be Canberra-based with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

International - Day for Girls Education & Training at Sagar Bakanje School, Nepal
 

In October 65 girls among 74 from classes 6 to 10, plus health worker & 8 health volunteers were given a lesson by Marie Egebjerg Jensen (from the Rotary Club of  Skivehus, Denmark) and we distributed DFG (Days for Girls) kits.

At the lesson the DFG kits were introduced to the students and they were shown how to use it along with calendar entry.
 
The health volunteer promised to tell other women in their areas of the DFG kits.
All went very well with additional girls wanting kits and presentation.
 
The DFG training and counselling was a huge success & another visit to Sagar Bakanje School, Nepal is planned in January-February 2018 to do further training, and to check they are using the kits and following the calendar of menstruation cycle.
    
Read more...
ClubRunner
Speakers
Apr 17, 2018
The Kolling Foundation
Apr 24, 2018
Motor Neurone disease
May 01, 2018
"Member Behind the Badge"
May 08, 2018
Fireworks briefing evening
View entire list
Sponsors

Northbridge Shopping Plaza

The Rotary Club of Northbridge gratefully acknowledges the generous sponsorship of Northbridge Plaza for our Annual Community Fireworks Night & Pictures on the Pitch Film Night

Willoughby  City Council

Westpac

Commonwealth Bank

Backvintage

Borruso's

Castlecrag Montessori

Coates Hire

Ray White

All Occasions Pyrotechnics

Anytime Fitness

Northbridge Hotel

Just Cuts

Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
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Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Ranald Stewart
April 8
 
Joanne Coleman
April 17
 
Bob Farrar
April 19
 
Bob Edwards
April 29
 
Mike Cocks
April 29
 
Spouse Birthdays
Jan Duggin
April 3
 
Audrey Hodgson
April 10
 
Anniversaries
Denis Fernandez
Mary-Ellen Feeney
April 2
 
Peter Grinter
Di Grinter
April 25
 
Jon Gidney
Gail Giles-Gidney
April 26
 
Bob Farrar
Christine Altmeier
April 28
 
Join Date
David Clancy
April 19, 1988
30 years
 
Peter Grinter
April 19, 1988
30 years
 
Anthony Clifford
April 24, 2007
11 years
 
Jon Gidney
April 26, 2016
2 years
 

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