It does feel nice to have that extra bit of freedom from our lockdown and in due course we will also be able to venture further to enjoy an escape from our current environ and possibly go regional for that long-awaited holiday. I hope you are all well and looking after yourself and your loved ones?
Please remember our social get together arranged for 30th October 2021 at Blenheim Park from 10:00am. It has been suggested we support the new Café, Giovette’s, in Blenheim Road shops, and bring coffee and something to eat along. Bernie and I did visit Giovetti’s this last week and introduced ourselves to the owner, Sam, plus made mention of North Ryde Rotary Club and the possibility of a breakfast meeting! Sam was very enthusiastic. They open for breakfast from 6:30am.
Let us hope this ‘opening up’ post COVID will keep progressing so we can enjoy a Christmas with our family and friends.
During our Club Assembly meeting last week, several fun and exciting points were brought up. It was pointed out that over
$6,000 worth of Christmas puddings have been ordered. Please remind your family, friends and colleagues that orders for the Christmas puddings can now be placed until
24 October for delivery in late November see here. The more that are ordered the more of a return our Club receives to go towards the
Books in Homes Project. We will arrange for these to be collected and then distributed, come late November.
Pam advised of an email the Club has received from a previous Rotary exchange student from Japan, Shin Horie - who stayed with Rob, Victoria and Brian over that time – and is now planning a return holiday with his family to Australia, when allowed post lockdown! It is nice to see they have kept in touch.
Garry has been in contact with the
Gladesville Bunnings store as a lead up to the BBQ day on
13 November 2021. We are required to be double vaccinated and to wear face masks to meet the store's health and safety requirements. Please advise Garry of your vaccination status and availability for work on the day by email:
Garry.maloney@hotmail.com.
Remember that our Annual Celebration dinner is arranged for 3 December 2021 at Basil’s Seafood Restaurant. This will be a fun night to meet up with our friends and others in our local area in a relaxed and casual place. Garry has been in contact with the new owners, making the relevant arrangements for this. Garry has also organised the Christmas lunch for the Presbyterian Aged Care- North Ryde Community Aid community members for Thursday 9 December at Basil's.
Pam advised the Christmas Tree of Joy, at North Ryde Cox’s Road Mall, will go ahead in November and December. There are several of our local charities we support, that are keen to accept the donated gifts. Pam has asked for help in collecting the gifts at the tree, storing, sorting and delivering to the charities. Let us all get in and help this great cause!
There was a Christmas Carol planning meeting on site at T.G. Milner football fields on Vimeria Road recently. There were representatives from the two Rotary Clubs, Ryde Council, the football club manager plus the stage, sound and lighting company and the fun rides company. It was a very positive meeting and discussions demonstrated the event is a distinct possibility. Ryde Council is very keen for the Christmas Carol event to proceed to help the local community to return to a sense of a normal life. There was also a post site meeting (by zoom) on Tuesday 19 October 2021 for further discussions. We will keep you informed of discussions and progress.
Remember there are no club meetings for the next two weeks (22 October and 30 October).
I am very grateful for all the hard work and commitment by everyone in our Club during these difficult times, thank you.