Last Thursday night’s Changeover at the Caledonian Hotel was well attended and had a definite musical twist. Instead of a changeover of Presidents, it was a seamless transition for me from the previous two years of Presidency to the third.
I was delighted to report that our Club had made two of our inaugural members Barry Grear and Don Tindale Honorary members for their years of service (including a year for both as President), but unfortunately they were both unable to attend due to health concerns.
We also had to record three members as non-attendees on the night – John Wotherspoon, Bruce McDonald and Pat Welke as they were diagnosed with a particularly bad dose of Covid, and Graham Smith succumbed to a nasty cold. Happily, all are on the mend this week.
Our thanks to District representatives DG Elect Rajeev Kamineni and Group 1 Team Leader Heidi Unferdorben for their attendance, as well as Adelaide City Rotaract Club’s President Steph Hopkins and Will Russell.
Instead of the usual spoken Toast to Australia, Paul Jupp played guitar and sang “We are Australian” with accompaniment from Alison, with the audience joining in the chorus too. Thanks Paul, a very original way to celebrate our nation.
A week before our Changeover, I received a lovely email from a Rotarian who lives in a town near Riga, Latvia – Dins Sumerags – asking if he, his wife Dzenifere and 3yo son Rodrigo could attend our meeting. This led to me finding out he was not only an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist, but also a professional singer (vocal performance at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music) and his wife, Dzenifere, is a classicall- trained pianist (Conservatorium of Music, Rome) who specialises in jazz. After Dins spoke about Rotary in Latvia, Dins and Dzenifere performed three songs (It’s a Wonderful World, a Latvian pop song and an Elvis hit with a jazzy twist. Thanks to Deborah and John Wotherspoon for supplying the electric grand piano, microphone and speaker. Dins and Dzenifere have their own band and perform their absolutely delightful renditions at various venues in Europe.
On the night, we were pleased to award Paul Ensor with a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) award – pinned on by DGE Rajeev - for his dedication and commitment to helping the Club at numerous events throughout the year at the South Terrace Croquet Club (very early mornings opening up the premises) and supplying his own special blend of muesli; as well as being a regular volunteer at our fundraising BBQs. Thanks, Paul E.
DGE Rajeev also pinned a PHF with Sapphire pin on Paul Jupp for his time as our previous International Director working on Timor Leste projects and he was instrumental in starting off the District Grant and Global Grant paperwork for our Timor Leste Water Project in Lookeu Foho and Sulamali.
Certificates of Appreciation were given to Paige Honor for her diligence and enthusiasm as Director and (this year) Co-Director of Community Services with Kirsti Kankunnen. Paige has also been a keen promoter of the Afghan Girls’ Empower Network along with Erfan, Kirsti and Katey Halliday. Recently, Paige also initiated a successful “Let Afghan Girls Learn” My Cause campaign that is boosting much need fund inflow to the cause. Paige received a PHF in 2023 for her efforts, but is now leaving her Board position of several years to concentrate on her work and long-distance running!
Other Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Angas Tuck (always on hand to assist with packing up and storing the BBQ equipment - thanks to his wife Helen as well); Lili Osario for Cuppa Conversations, organising the Morialta walk, and running (with Maria) Mexican and Colombian Cooking Classes (a delightful social interaction and education about countries’ cuisine and cultures); and Erfan Abidi for his passionate drive to help young girls in Afghanistan to source much needed education since the Taliban banned their schooling after Year 6.
We handed out Annual Reports detailing all our projects from this year; and I still have copies available for those who couldn’t attend on the night. We will also put a pdf copy on the website.
My thanks for the honour and privilege that you have given me by once again electing me as President of this Club. It has truly been my pleasure to serve as President for the past two years and I thank all members sincerely for their unending support, encouragement and excellent ideas.
Our Directors for this coming year are:
President – Yvette Reade
Secretary – Di Lane
Treasurer – Bruce McDonald
Community – Kirsti Kankkunen
Vocational Service & Youth – Richard Jarrett and Ian Delaere (Co-Directors)
International – John Wotherspoon
Club Administration – Richard Jarrett
Rotary Foundation – Di Lane
Public Relations – Yvette Reade
Membership – Rob McLennan
Fundraising & Fellowship – Rob McLennan
Plus the roles of:
Master of Ceremonies – Rob McLennan
Speaker Program – Helen Smith
Newsletter Editor – Di Lane
Child Protection Officer – Di Lane
Public Officer – John Wotherspoon
Club Webmaster – Richard Jarrett
Our photos this year are a bit sparse due to absence of Directors who were ill with Covid or overseas/interstate on the night of the Changeover.
See you at Coffee Catch-up this Thursday at 9.30am at the White Picket Café (we’re not having our usual 4th Thursday in a month dinner). If it’s too cold outside, we’ll adjourn inside to the warmer café.
Best wishes and have a great week. Yvette, President.
