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As my year as President draws towards its conclusion, Thursday evening provided an opportunity to reflect on what has been a busy and productive month for the club.
Speaking to 30 Rotarians and guests, I recapped the activities of May and was reminded just how much can be achieved by a relatively small group of committed volunteers.
The month began with our Mother’s Day Morning Tea at Yukana, followed shortly afterwards by the wonderful celebration of our club’s 50th anniversary. We then hosted a successful Charity Golf Day which raised $10,000 for Hope Horizons Cancer Wellness Centre.
During the month we also released the results of our Club Engagement Survey. The process generated thoughtful discussion and valuable insights that will help guide future planning for the club.
Our members once again supported the Science and Engineering Challenge, helping inspire the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators. The Board approved a further $3,500 to continue supporting four students at Annapurna School in Nepal, extending our long-standing partnership with the Rotary Club of Thamel Kathmandu. We welcomed PDG Paul Roger for a fascinating presentation on ShelterBox and were pleased to contribute $4,000 to support their important work assisting families displaced by disaster and conflict.
May also included our final Bunnings sausage sizzle for the Rotary year, while a number of members found time to assist our friends from Rotary Club of Toowoomba with their David Hack fundraising event.
Looking back over that list, I am reminded that Rotary rarely involves one big thing. Rather, it is the cumulative effect of many projects, activities, partnerships, and acts of service that together can make a difference.
Thursday’s meeting itself was a cracker.
Club member Peter Burrows delivered a fascinating presentation on the sophisticated Internet of Things (IoT) technology he is using to manage cattle movements across his farm. What might sound like a niche agricultural topic quickly captured the room's attention. The extended question-and-answer session that followed was testament to both Peter’s knowledge and the genuine interest he generated among members and guests alike.
These two elements – guests and a speaker – will be a regular feature of our Thursday evening meeting.
I have just returned from a very enjoyable Observation Drive, but that story can wait until next week’s penultimate Gab.
See you Thursday.
