Last Saturday I attended the District 9685 Conference at Penrith.  The theme was sustainability and building a better world.  I believe there were around 600 people in attendance.  The highlight for me was having our Executive Officer, Polin Phang, from Sustainable Cambodia speak on the amazing work SC is doing in Cambodia with the help of Rotary.  It is Polin’s first time out of Cambodia and he did a remarkable job.  Next weekend, I will have the pleasure of showing Polin around Sydney before he flies back to Cambodia on Sunday night.  There were many other fabulous speakers at the conference, talking on subjects like, regenerative farming, recycling, building toilets in India, and protecting our environment.

 

The conference also introduced a new initiative for the District, called "Pitch for Purpose".  This is a competition, offering an exciting opportunity for school students to develop innovative solutions to address community and global issues relating to environmental protection.  The finalists pitched their ideas to the judging panel of scientists and other prominent members of the community.  Two teams from Marsden High School won the gold and silver medals for "Dual Pipe Filtration" and "Smart Shark Nets".  Other finalists were from Macquarie Park and North Ryde.

 

On Tuesday night I attended the Granville club’s annual International Women’s Day Awards.  Four awards went to some of the most inspiring women I have ever met.  Women who work in children’s medicine, science, assisting refugees and promoting peace.

 

On Wednesday night I was invited to attend Drummoyne Rotary to listen to their special guest speaker, Hannah Mourney.  After graduating with a first-class honours degree in Biomedical Engineering from Sydney University, Hannah joined Giant Leap where she gained experience in venture investing.  Hannah’s ambition is to bridge the healthcare funding gap for critical medical technologies, enabling these life saving innovations to reach those who need them most.  Another amazing inspiring young woman!

 

Please note the change of date!  The Vocational Excellence Awards will be held on Monday 19^th May at the Croydon Park Club.  Think about the people in your workplace or maybe someone you come in contact with regularly to nominate for the Vocational Excellence Awards.  Speak to their supervisor about the VEA and provide them with a nomination form.  These were sent to all members last week. Nominations to be emailed to:  burwoodrotary@gmail.com  attention Anna Marie by Monday 5^th May.

 

Due to the change in the date for the VEA and also a public holiday falling on Monday 9^th June, meeting dates for the remainder of the Rotary year will be as follows:

31^st March General Meeting and Club Assembly.  Reports from Directors and ideas from members on projects and fund raising.

14^th April General Meeting with a guest speaker.

28^th April General and Board Meeting.

12^th May General Meeting with Mark Anderson from the Rotary Foundation.  Mark will discuss ideas for future projects using the 50^th Anniversary Trust, to provide a lasting legacy for the Rotary Club of Burwood.

19^th May Vocational Excellence Awards – at the Croydon Park Club

2^nd June General and Board Meeting.  This will be the last Board Meeting of the year.

23^rd June General Meeting – chaired by PE John Kane as President Dennise will be attending the Rotary International Convention in Calgary Canada.

7^th July General Meeting - chaired by PE John Kane as President Dennise will be attending the Rotary International Convention in Calgary Canada.

21^st July Changeover – at the Croydon Park Club

 

Join the Rotary Club of Five Dock at the Ferragosto Fair on the 20^th August from 10 am to 5 pm in Great North Road to see a display of a ShelterBox – emergency housing and aid for thousands of disaster victims. 

The internationally known relief organisation and one of Rotary’s key partners, originated as a Rotary Club project that aimed to help 8-10 families a year.  It has since served more than 2 million people worldwide.

 

Coolangatta is the venue for the 2025 Rotary Pacific Zone Conference, taking place from 30 October to 2 November 2025.  We are encouraging all Rotarians and Rotaractors to come together.  All are welcome.  You will be inspired and motivated as we connect and share ideas to grow Rotary and activate the strategic priorities of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.  Our 2025 event will be held at the Twin Towns Conference Centre.  There are plenty of things you can do in this famous part of Australia and its hinterland before or after the conference.

 

Please remember to send your apologies to Past President Sergeant Irene if you are unable to attend a club meeting. Email:  cigiardino@gmail.com

 

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If you have any articles you would like to see in Spoke, please send them to me at denniseh100@gmail.com Spoke is produced the week before each meeting, and the deadline for the Monday issue is 5 pm the Thursday before.

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Have a great weekend.  See you Monday night for Club Assembly.