I hope you all enjoyed a good Easter. Mine was good but busy, as our church has several special events at Easter. It will be good to get together again this Friday.
It was interesting to read the email messages prompted by Robert Chesney’s death. They accorded with my impression of how people felt about him. He was in the best sense a gentleman of the old school, unfailingly courteous and always ready to serve without looking for praise. I remember with pleasure his receiving his Paul Harris Fellowship award at the Changeover Dinner at which I was inducted as President for the first time. The award to Robert was richly deserved, and he was a man who embodied much of what is best about Rotary.
May we all leave memories as warm as he has done when our time in Rotary is over.
With the sale of historic “Dunrath” at West Pennant Hills now finalised, the former owners are selling off the contents at an on site Auction Sale on 7th and 8th of April and Rotary has been asked to provide refreshments on both days.
Dunrath has been a district landmark since about 1939 when Captain de Groot of Sydney Harbour Bridge fame moved the 1850s stone from Bellevue Hill to its present site.
In later years the property has been owned by famed artist William Dobell and later by radio personality Barry Spicer. Since 1975 the property has been home to the McMillan family.
The Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville will be doing a BBQ with sausage sandwiches and steak sandwiches on sale and the ladies of Baulkham Hills Inner Wheel Club will be offering their famous Devonshire Teas on the rear lawn.
“We will be open for business from 10 am on Saturday and from 9 am on the Sunday morning,” Mr Stapley, spokesman for the club told The Times this week. “Mr McMillan has been a very generous supporter of our Rotary Club over the years and now we have our final chance to use this magnificent property to raise more funds for local and overseas charities “ he continued.
Details of the auction and a catalogue can be found at www.lawsons.com.au.
I have received an update from the ShelterBox Operations Centre. The latest advice is:
Following powerful earthquakes and aftershocks that have shaken the country since 26 February, ShelterBox has sent an assessment team comprising Ops staff, two SRT volunteers from UK and US. We hope they will be joined by colleagues from Australia and New Zealand in due course. An estimated half a million people have been affected. These families are in remote mountain locations, their villages and communities have been devastated, and the emergency shelter need is high. We are working with the Papua New Guinea Disaster Management Team, the Shelter Cluster and partners on the ground to make sure we can give families the right aid to help them rebuild their lives. ShelterBox has vital aid, including tarpaulins, ropes and mosquito nets, stationed in Subang, Malaysia. On arrival in the capital Port Moresby our teams will first assess need, and the challenges of reaching the most vulnerable.
Clubs may wish to provide support in anticipation of our involvement.
ShelterBox Nepal Trek
This venture, advertised on the back cover of the March issue of RDU, provides a novel and adventurous way for Rotarians and Rotaractors to support ShelterBox while trekking through Nepal and experiencing the Annapurna region. Former Australian ShelterBox response Team member Peter Pearce will accompany the trek. Peter’s vast experience in ShelterBox operations will enable trekkers to gain an insight into how ShelterBox delivers its aid. Peter has also walked the length of the UK raising funds for charitable work in Mauritius. His presence will make this adventure even more worthwhile. You are invited to join the trek. Simply use the contact details on the attached promotion.