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President's Report
Hello members and friends, I do hope you have had a great long weekend.
Another entertaining meeting was held last Monday with the Blue Mountains Bee Keepers Club providing a very interesting presentation on bee keeping in the mountains with a lot of questions by members and guests on a number of aspects of bee management, the harvesting of honey and a few of the current issues bee keepers now face with the Varroa mite and the small hive beetle. The Club has a number of hives and hold regular training sessions at the Kihilla Christian Centre, which is just a stones throw from my home.
I often saw them tending the bees when I was working in the community garden on the same site; and I have to say the fruit, vegies and other plants certainly enjoyed having the bees visiting and pollenating – win/win for the bees and the plants.
There will not be a general meeting this Monday 5th October as it is a public holiday. Your board will meet on the Wednesday and we have several essential matters on the agenda to discuss including the upcoming election of the 2027-2028 board; please think about the role you might play in the next Rotary year.
Currently a great deal of my time and energy is being directed to the upcoming Monster Garage Sale on Saturday 24 October 9am-1pm at the Buckland site. It is a big event for our Club and was in 2025 a major fund raiser. This year is building towards another good event, but your assistance will certainly be needed on the day, plus the Thursday and Friday prior in undertaking the massive set up. We do need a number of physically fit and able bodied people to move lots of items out onto the roof top garden area off the Buckland House building. We will also host a BBQ and a few people will be needed to work there. Please email me if you can assist liz.roberts2783@outlook.com
had one fund raiser this week with the Club providing a sausage sizzle for the Saints and Sinners Running Wild event at St. Columba on Sunday. Being the start of daylight saving, we were all up an hour earlier and had the sausages cooked and ready to go for the first runners at 9.30am. My thanks to Susette, Frank, Warwrick, Geoff, Marilyn, Margaret Bowen and Bronwyn for forming a very efficient team, that had the runners with a sausage sandwich in their hand in double quick time. It is always a pleasure to work with the Running Wild team, as they are both friendly and efficient which makes for a great day for all.
Looking forward to seeing you all again at our next general meeting on Monday, 12th October.
Cheers…Liz
Liz Roberts
President 2025-2026
The Rotary Club of Springwood
LATEST NEWS …
1. MORE DATES TO LOOK FORWARD TO ...
Rotary Garden Care for October - Bronwyn
Wednesday, 7th October, Board Meeting
Monday, 12th October - next General Club Meeting
Saturday, 17th October - Bunnings BBQ
Friday, 23rd October, 2026 - Train Ride to End Polio
Saturday, 24th October - Buckland Monster Garage Sale
Saturday, 31st October, Halloween at Deana's
2. LAST TWO CLUB MEETINGS
On Monday 21st September, our guest speaker was Barbare Mitchell, form the Days For Girls Chapter at Emu Plains. Barbara gave us an excellent presentation about the Days For Girls program to aid many girls affected by the social discrimination in their countries as a result of their menstrual cycle. A no holds barred discussion about what is prepared for girls in many places around the world, and frequently their mothers and grandmothers. Boys are oftern inclyuded and many talks are given to the boys to discuss the changes to their bodies and issues they may face. A gripping discussion about "the facts of life" in often very disadvantaged countries.
Barbara was introduced and welcomed by Bronwyn Berriman, and thanked by Susette Fleming.
On Monday 28th September, we had another fascinating presentation about the Art of Bee Keeping. We all learnt that most of us didn't know much about bee behaviour, but we learnt heaps from that night. An amazing presentation from the former President of the Blue Mountains Bee Keepers Club, Sue Carney, with contributions from the current President of the Club, Michaela McClement. Thank you both so much for coming to our Club and giving us this interesting and informative talk about Bee Keeping.
Top left: Sue Carney: Top right: Michaela McClement. Our speakers were thanked by Belinda Erich.
3. HIGH TEA WITH SUZANNE ERICKSON
On Thursday, 24th September, a number of our members went to Bygone Beautys at Leura for a High Tea with the Eriscksons after their return from travels and the prior health issue that befell Sue. Thankfully, Sue recovered, and the hoilday went smoothly despite some flooding and washed out roads. The High Tea was, once again, outstanding and enjoyed by all who attended. The Tea rooms are an amazing museum of teapots, cups and saucers, plates and all sorts of tea/coffee memorabilia, etc. Here are some of the photos from the day.
4. THE NATIONAL TRUST WOMEN'S COMMITTEE TOUR OF THE LOWER BLUE MOUNTAINS ON SUNDAY 27th SEPTEMBER.
Following on from the report in the last newsletter, the Group sent a couple of very complimentary emails, one of which has been reproduced here:
On behalf of the Women’s Committee of the National Trust, I would like to thank you and your team very much for the fabulous lunch you produced for our Country Weekend in the Blue Mountains. It was lovely to be able to go to the Church Hall and enjoy a wonderful lunch after a busy weekend, before we headed back home.
The sandwiches and sweet treats were all delicious and with the fruit and drinks plus tea and coffee it was a very generous lunch.
My husband and I also enjoyed having a quick look inside the beautiful sandstone church and the information booklet that you produced about Christ Church Springwood was very interesting to read as well. I hope that you were happy with the event too. Thank you again very much.
Best Wishes,
Stephanie Anderson
Chair, Women’s Committee
To add to the thanks for the support given by members pf our Club for making cakes for the lunch we provided, we also extend our thanks to Suzanne Erickson and Robin Ingram for contributing delicious cakes for the lunch. The comments about the quality of the sandwiches and cakes, as well as all of the other things provided, left really positive feelings about our Club from the National Trust Women's Group for the efforts we had all put in. Thank you to all of our cake makers, because we ended up with a wonderful range of tasty treats for all. Just to top it all off, Valda supplied Kit Kats for everyone on their tables. That meant that all who attended left us 3 kgs heavier than when they arrived.
5. MALCOLM KERRY - CHARTER MEMBER OF OUR CLUB
Malcolm Kerry who prior to retiring, was a local business man who has had a number of recent misfortunes.
Malcolm lost his wife last week. She passed away with dementia. He had also been looking after his sister who also has the same medical issue. However, he has been admitted to Uniting Health Care in Springwood because he had a fall and broke his hip. We extend our sympathy and support to Malcolm at these times. The fact that he was a charter member of our Club is a thing to be acknowledged. He was a member of the first Rotary Club in Springwood which was chartered on 4th December 1984
6. WENTWORTH FALLS TAFE LUNCH
At 12.00pm on Tuesday, 10th November, we are having another of our enjoyable lunches at Wentworth Falls TAFE. If you would like to join the fun and the fantastic chatter of the day, please let Valda Bray know that you would like to attend at:
valdabray@hotmail.com / 0414 974 686
STORIES FROM ROTARY...
1. CLUBS PLAN COLLECTIVE WALKS ON WORLD POLIO DAY
More than 450 clubs in multiple U.S. states are planning to hold polio walks at roughly the same time on World Polio Day, 24 October. Rick Reigner, governor of Rotary District 6440, which includes Rotary International World Headquarters, got the idea after hearing Peter Salk speak at a zone conference. Read more about the World Polio Day walk and get ideas to plan your own World Polio Day event.
2. BUILD MORE SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS WITH NEW IMPACT RESOURCES
Watch the Create Lasting Change video to see how Rotary members partner with communities, strengthen local capacity, and measure progress. Then apply the principles to your next service project.
3. NOT TO SIMPLY COPE WITH ADHD AT SCHOOL, BUT TO BELONG THERE
Flynn Vamos, Macquarie University - Article from Australian Rotary Health
Flynn Vamos has three children with ADHD.
She also has ADHD herself, although she did not find that out until she was an adult. So she knows this from both sides of the kitchen table. She knows what a school day feels like when your brain works differently to everyone else's in the room, and she knows what it looks like when it is your own child walking back through the door at the end of one.
There is a great deal written about children with ADHD. Almost none of it is written for them.
Nothing that tells a nine year old, in their own language, how to get through a school day and still feel like they belong in the room.
In January, we said yes.
Flynn holds a General Health PhD Scholarship at Macquarie University, co-funded by The Hancock Family and supervised by Associate Professor Melanie Porter. Her PhD will produce what we believe is Australia's first co-created wellbeing guide for primary school children with ADHD.
Co-created, meaning those children are not the subject of the research. They are at the heart of it. Their lived experience is embedded in the core of the guide, and it will be written in their own words, because they are the ones who know what actually helps.
“The project will meaningfully improve the lives of children with ADHD by providing the first student-centred, evidence-based resource designed specifically for their needs.”
We are grateful to be supported by a community that decides questions like Flynn's are worth the chance. That is where possibility begins, and it is where we begin too.
4. GREAT ROTARY WHITEWATER DUCK RACE -18th October
Please mark in your calendar Sunday 18th October the annual Great Rotary Whitewater Duck Race. Tickets are now on sale to purchase an excitable duck to take on the challenging course at the Olympic Venue Penrith Whitewater Rafting. Please contact email Liz Roberts (liz.roberts2783@outlook.com) for the purchase of your tickets.
5. HEARTBEAT IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
Rotarians and friends from across the State are invited to visit Katoomba and encouraged to stay for a long weekend and enjoy all that the Blue Mountains has to offer. The Carrington is offering a discount off their rooms for anyone attending these events, as long as they book by the end of September.
There are two events and people can register for one or both:
Cocktail style fundraiser function at The Carrington on Thursday 19th November with silent auction and lucky dip activities.
‘Rotarians in the Sky’ event at Scenic World on Friday 20th November, where we will present a ‘cheque’ to NSW Ambulance.
People can also make a donation to the cause. The overall objectives of the initiative are to:
Have fun and promote fellowship among Rotarians and supporters from across NSW.
Promote Rotary and draw attention to the good we do in the community.
Provide an opportunity to involve and promote local businesses, who will be invited to donate prizes for our fundraising activities.
Raise funds for the HeartReady program and raise awareness of the initiative.
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!
Yours in Rotary,
Michele Ellery
District Governor
Rotary District 9685
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK...
"Our success or failure will not depend upon the machinery of Rotary or its physical growth, but upon the extent to which Rotary's ideals or objectives are translated into positive, tangible results in personal, business, community, and international life. We shall be known by our works." Almon E. Roth.-1930.
... and now for something different ...
WHO IS THIS MAN?
October 2nd, 1959: 'The place is here, the time is now, and the journey into the shadows that we're about to watch could be our journey'. So intones Rod Serling as his new anthology series, 'The Twilight Zone', premieres. The science-fiction-fantasy show will develop a cult following with this and its 155 additional episodes.
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.
