I’m sorry that I had to miss the dinner at Basil’s last Friday evening. I hope that all who went had a great time. I think I was wise to stay home with Julie. She has had a couple of minor heart episodes since then. She finds enforced rest frustrating.
I was casting round for something to write about, and decided on sharing a precious Rotary memory. It was the Friday morning after September 11, 2001 and I was in the chair at our Rotary meeting during my first term as President. Like many groups that week, we observed a minute’s silence. But ours had special poignancy. Among those present were Mohammed Haddadi and Brian Levitan. Mohammed was a Muslim who had come to Australia from Morocco via the United States. A short while earlier he had invited his friend Brian to come to our Club with a view to becoming a member. This didn’t seem remarkable until we discovered that Brian was a Jew, and a member of the Zionist Council of NSW. Their friendship and their presence together on this occasion seemed to me to be very appropriate for a meeting of a Rotary club.
Rotary International seeks to bring together in friendship and service people of diverse backgrounds, and our club is one which has been particularly successful in doing this. This memory encapsulates for me much of what is valuable about Rotary.
17 people have indicated that they would like to take advantage of the Conference Shuttle on Saturday Evening. If you would like to utilise this service, please email conferenceregistrations@rotarydistrict9685.org.au
In March 2018, it will be 30 years since Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) brought our first patient, 11-year-old Annand Chand from Fiji, to the John Hunter Hospital for life-saving surgery. Since then, over 500 children, from our neighbouring island countries have received life-giving or dignity-restoring surgery, thanks to ROMAC. We can all be proud of our efforts.
To celebrate, I invite you and your partner to attend our 30th Anniversary Dinner at Strangers’ Dining Room, NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney on Friday 16 March 2018.
The dinner is $150 per person (inc GST), plus the online booking fee, and includes 3 courses and drinks. All meals are gluten-free. Dairy-free and vegetarian options are available when booking online. More information about the Dinner is available in the 30th Anniversary Dinner Flyer.
You will be in the illustrious company of the current Rotary International President, Ian H.S. Riseley, and his wife Juliet; The Hon. Brad Hazzard, NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research; other key Rotarians, members of the medical profession and government, former patients and of course, our ROMAC friends and volunteers.
I would be delighted if you can participate in this significant event because:
It is a time to look back and to look forward - and to thank and recognise all the members who made ROMAC possible, including your Clubs
We need to thank the medical profession - the specialists, nursing and support staff who treat the children - for all they do
The governments, agencies and friends who provide support should see what Rotary is made of and what it can achieve
You will be supporting ROMAC’s commitment to saving the lives of children
Please register online at https://www.humanitix.com/event/romac/ as soon as you can because places are strictly limited. Also, please invite your ROMAC friends and your clubs to attend. Tables of 10 are available for $1500 (inc GST), plus booking fee.
Rob Wilkinson
Chairman
ROMAC - Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children www.romac.org.au
The Conference Program includes keynote lecturers and presentations from international and national leaders in the industries of ‘Economic and Community Development and Peace’. Delegates will hear about the underlying causes of conflict including poverty, disease, lack of water and food security and the lack of education from our inspirational and stimulating speakers.
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Time is running out to register and attend the 2018 District Conference in Leura.
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