The theme for May is Rotary’s fifth avenue of service -Youth Service. Youth Service recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young professionals through leadership development programs.
Rotary programs include: (click on each heading below for more information)
Welcome to the first edition of Springword for May. This Monday the 4th of May we have our Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman as our guest speaker. Susan’s connections with Rotary are long and deep rooted and I’m really looking forward to hearing about her trip to Papua-New Guinea and the Rotary projects she saw in action – I know it’s going to both interesting and informative. It is always wonderful to have Susan at our Club.
Due to the public holiday last week, we didn’t have our usual meeting but rather had a social evening of barefoot bowls followed by dinner. (See photos below). It really was a very enjoyable night, where we saw a good number of our members and friends show off their bowling skills. We also had a few enthusiastic barrackers (me included) who marvelled at the skill on display and occasionally had a good laugh at a few misguided bowls. All in all, a great evening was had, where we got to enjoy each other company in a relaxed environment. A big thank you to Valda for organising the event, and I’m looking forward to a few more social evenings as the year goes on.
We have had two fund raising events over this last two weeks, starting with Running Wild’s Mt. Solitary Ultra on Sunday 26th of April at Wentworth Falls. As always doing the BBQ for Running Wild is a fantastic day. The organisers are super easy to work with, and the runners are a really congenial group of people. It’s so nice to see each of the runners pleased with their own achievement, but just as happy in congratulating others as they finish, right down the last finisher. Thank you to Al, Frank, Margaret & Roger Bowen, Bronwyn and Josh, who work with great efficiency in serving the hunger runners and their supporters. We have another event to assist them with on Sunday the 21st of June at Glenbrook. I hoping we have another good response from members and friends to be there on the day.
This last Friday we again offered our BBQing skills to the Variety Club Golf Day at Springwood Golf Club. (See photos below). Variety is a great organisation that does so much for children in need. Golfers turn up on mass with Lindsay Curry the organiser stating it was the largest contingent in 10 years. Again, another group of happy people being there for a game of golf, but more importantly to raise dollars for the Variety Club. My thanks go to Al and Frank who so ably kitted out the BBQ trailer with all the supplies needed and then towed it to the golf club and got it all set up. They were quickly joined by Susette, Margaret Bowen, Marilyn, Annette and Stephen Brown and Warwick. A great team doing a sterling job, more than one golfer stated it was the best breakfast BBQ they had ever had – lots of full tummies off for a day of golf and wallet opening!
Our regular monthly Ori raffle was organised by Bruce and Frank this month and as usual they managed to sell at lot of tickets and raise great dollars for the Club. Thank you to them both for their ongoing commitment to this fundraiser.
Please note Bunnings have needed to cancel our planned BBQ at Valley Heights for this month. They have a ‘national BBQ’ day organised by head office and it needs to be managed by their staff. There are no other available days for us in May, so I have committed the Club to a BBQ at Bunnings for both June and July.
We are planning a monster garage sale (maybe fete) at Buckland in September. At this stage we have collected a good quantity of furniture and household goods, etc and we expect to have another successful fund raiser this year. Please start to think about things that we can sell on the day and for all those with green thumbs, the potting up of cuttings, etc would be great.
Next week Monday the 11th of May is the Board meeting, so a regular meeting will not take place. As always, any member is welcome to attend and see the committee in action!
Now for the big news. On Monday the 18th of May our very own DISTRICT GOVERNOR, MICHELE ELLERY will be attending our Club meeting. It’s a real honour to have the District Governor visit the Club and particularly Michele who is such an entertaining and dynamic speaker. I look forward to hearing about her year at DG and all the news that is occurring in the District.
Finally, if you haven’t already registered for the District Assembly this coming Saturday the 9th of May, you have until Tuesday to do so. It’s a great day where you get to network both with fellow club members and others from right across the District. I’m certainly looking forward to this important District event.
Please see the below events that we need your assistance with this month.
Saturday 16 May – Norman Lindsay Vintage Fair 10 -12 people required
Monday 11th May - Club Board Meeting - no genral Club meeting
Saturday 16th May - Norman Lindsay Vintage Fair, Parking and BBQ
Saturday 27th June - Next Bunnings BBQ
Monday 29th June - Club Changeover at the Sports Club
2. ORI RAFFLE REPORT
On Friday 1st we undertook our monthly raffle at the Oriental Hotel. This event is wholly supported by the Hotel who provide the prize, a meat tray, for free and facilitate our running of the raffle by also providing the float and tickets, and include our raffle draw in their weekly Members' Draw. Our Club keeps all the money raised by the selling of the raffle tickets; but obviously, the profit we make largely depends on the numbers of patrons attending the Hotel. Of late, perhaps due to the financial climate, pub attendances have been low. Last Friday was no different from the previous number of months, but due to the illness of my Bride, my usual ticket seller, I had to call on IPP Frank at the last minute to assist. It was a tough ask to go from a vivacious, confident front Lady subtly charming the pub patrons to put their hands into their pockets for Rotary, to two grizzled old Rotarians trying their best. However, Frank and I resorted to humour and the usual Rotarian friendliness and managed to sell about 250 tickets which realised a profit of $313 - this was a very reasonable outcome for 1 ½ hours of our time. Thank you Frank for your cheerful assistance, and a thank you to the ORI management for supporting this fund raising opportunity for our Club.
Cheers
Bruce
3. THE VARIETY CLUB GOLF DAY AT SPRINGWOOD, FRIDAY 1ST MAY
Congratulations to all the organisers, players and supporters of today’s annual Variety Charity Golf Day! It was our pleasure to BBQ up a storm and fill your bellies before you took on the course. Our “lot” with sausage, egg, bacon & onion was a crowd favourite.
Well done to our cheery and hardworking team - service with a smile!
4. A GRATEFUL GRACE’S PLACE, THURSDAY 30th APRIL
Today Valda and I delivered all the goods that were collected at the Morning Tea that Valda organised on March 16th. We were met by Katie who took us to the storage place where we unloaded the car.
The goods that we gave them included:
13 Colourful Quilts of varying sizes including ones for the toddlers
A Dolls House with all its contents
Bags of books and toys
A heritage Coffee Set for the use of the staff.
They were interested to know how we were progressing on getting the Ride On Mower for them so we were able to let them know we had over half of the required amount. My hope is that by the time Spring comes we will have sufficient funds to be able to make the presentation.
On our way home we decided to go for lunch at The Fire Pit and Roxanne was most interested to learn about Grace’s Place. So, we explained what it is and who it is for and that we planning to give them the Ride on Mower. Valda told them about the morning tea where we raised the initial $2000.00, Pamela Noal (President of Lower Blue Mountains) who was at the morning tea phoned Valda a couple of days later that their Board had voted to give the proceeds donated at the Saturday markets and we received just over $1000.00. After giving our lunch orders we were surprised when Roxanne came to our table with a printed receipt to say she had paid for our lunches as her way of helping the Rotary cause. So I paid $100.00 into the Community Account for Grace’s Place.
Geoffrey Glassock and Valda Bray
5. ANZAC DAY IN SPRINGWOOD
ANZAC Day 2026 in Springwood saw a strong, respectful community turnout to honour veterans, centred on events at Buckland Park and the Springwood RSL Sub-Branch. The day featured a packed Dawn Service at 6:00 AM and a formal March and Main Service at 10:15 AM/11:00 AM on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The representative of our Club who laid the wreath was Air Commodore Bruce Wood. We sincerely thank him for representing our Club in this important and emotional ceremony.
6. MESSAGE FROM PAMELA NOAL, ROTARY CLUB OF LOWER BLUE MOUNTAINS
7. BAREFOOT BOWLS, MONDAY 27th APRIL
Oh, What a night!!
Thank you all for joining in last night's barefoot bowls. A great idea of Sheryn's but I think next time, summer would be better!
Thank you Deana for being the teacher. The Sports club benefited due to your generosity.
It certainly was a fun night and dinner chatter, showed the valuable friendship amongst the group. Congratulations to Logan, Bev and Donna...Olympics watch out.
Whether you were a player or a barracker, your attendance was appreciated.
Valda...xxx
STORIES FROM ROTARY...
1. BRINGING HOPE TO AFRICA THROUGH CLEFT LIP SURGERIES
Tina Fischlin, a past president of the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties, Georgia, USA, witnessed powerful changes during an Alliance for Smiles surgical mission in Lagos, Nigeria. Volunteers performed life-changing cleft lip and palate surgeries for children. The mission didn’t just transform individual lives. It strengthened local healthcare systems and fostered collaboration among international and Nigerian medical professionals for lasting impact. Read Fischlin’s account in Rotary 360.
2. USING AI: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
AI is everywhere. But how safe is it to use in your club? Review these guidelines to learn how to use AI responsibly. By clicking on the link 'Review these guidelines' you will get a downloaded copy of the guidelines.) You’ll find out how to brainstorm ideas, draft communications, and handle club administration tasks while protecting our brand.
3. SOS' CAN YOU HELP?
Western Sydney MUNA need people to help with the running of this excellent Youth Event. Volunteers (runners) are needed to help deliver messages from one team to another.
Dates for MUNA are the 23 and 24 May at Nepean CAPA High School.
If you or any members of your club can assist, please contact ASAP Leigh Johnson Youth Director of Lower Blue Mountains Rotary Club.
4. DISTRICT 9685 CHANGEOVER CELEBRATION AND AWARDS EVENT
5. PROTECTING ENDANGERED PYGMY ELEPHANTS
6. THE ROAD TO MUDGEE 2027 CONFERENCE BEGINS!
David and I are absolutely thrilled to invite you to our Rotary District 9685 Conference 2027, held in the picturesque regional town of Mudgee, NSW. This conference is a highlight for our district, and we can't wait for you to be a part of it!
Our Theme: Connect. Collaborate. Celebrate
This theme is the very heart of Rotary, isn't it? It speaks to the incredible friendships we forge, the innovative ideas we share, and the profound difference we make together through dedicated service. A District Conference is so much more than just a gathering; it's a dynamic opportunity to recharge your Rotary spirit, gain fresh perspectives, and strengthen the bonds that make our district so special.
Connect with Passionate Leaders
Discover new friendships and strengthen existing ones. Mudgee offers a perfect setting to reconnect with Rotarians from across the district and share your passion for service.
Collaborate on Inspiring Ideas
Brainstorm impactful projects and share best practices. This conference is your chance to collaborate with fellow changemakers and ignite new initiatives for our communities.
Yours in Rotary,
Michele Ellery
District Governor
Rotary District 9685
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK...
The Serenity Prayer
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.”
– Reinhold Niebuhr
Acknowledgement of Country
We would like to acknowledge the Gundungurra and Dharug peoples past, present and emerging as the traditional owners of the land where our Club resides and pay our respects to them.
