The comprehensive presentation provided by Greg Rappo,
last week,
on
the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program (RYDA),
illustrates the great work that Rotary can achieve. The
program was established in 2001, when a group of
Rotarians from the Hills District, shocked by the
senseless loss of young lives in a horrendous car crash
on Old Northern Road, set out to help avoid a repetition
of this appalling accident in a practical way and
establish a program that has now had over 100,000
students participating, in venues throughout Australia.
On Thursday evening I represented our club at an
Australian Citizenship Ceremony, organized by
Strathfield Council, where 120 new Australian Citizens,
swore an oath of allegiance to our nation and were
presented with Citizen Certificates by Mayor Keith Kwon.
It was wonderful to witness the pride that our new
citizens expressed in becoming Australians.
Saturday saw a great turn out by a group of Young
Liberals, to assist Niall King and myself with gardening
duties at the Studdy MS Centre in Lidcombe. Their
enthusiasm and effort for labouring duties was
commendable and very much appreciated by the residents
and staff.
Then
on a glorious Sunday afternoon, Steve & Denise Taylor,
their son Adrian, Steve’s sister Senya, Kevin Beltrame,
Keith Stockall and I, joined with thousands of others in
The Unity Walk for Parkinson’s around Sydney Olympic
Park, which raised over $100,000 for research. Many of
the walkers then enjoyed a great afternoon of Rugby
League in the ANZ Stadium. Which reminded me of a
conversation I overheard between a Father and Son the
previous weekend during the match between the Wallabies
and the All Blacks when the young boy said “Dad I now
understand why they say this is the game they play in
heaven”? “Really son?” enquired the father. “Yes, the
game is dead and should be buried!”
Cheers,
President Kevin.
