Rotarians and friends of Rotary,

It certainly feels like we're heading into Spring. The skies are blue, my golf is as bad as ever and there is the faint whiff of back-burning in the breeze. Or is that the smell of a barbecue beckoning community spirited folk to a Rotary snag sizzle?

Rotarian Bradley Ayres and Rotary friend  Angeli Jain on BBQ duties

At our Club Meeting

It's been a busy week. On Wednesday we were treated to one of IPP Andrew's incisive interviews, this time with Rtn Mathew Elias. Mathew has been in the Club for a number of years and members will mainly be familiar with his quiet, modest demeanour and the convenient location of his dentist's surgery next to the Croquet Club. However, we now know about his upbringing in Bangalore, India and the impressive professional and academic status of his parents (his father an engineer, his mother a Professor of Sociology). We heard about his wife, Navya, a successful banking executive, his wedding attended by 1000 guests (imagine the seating plan) and his two wonderful girls. Now we also know that Mathew has an artistic skill - he is a keen caricaturist of Indian politicians. Oh what hidden talents we have in the Club! As if I hadn't had enough of dentistry for one day, having had my own teeth and gums probed and polished that morning, Mathew gave us his insights into recent technological advances in dentistry and the current challenges of the profession (beyond chronic halitosis and the routine disinclination of anyone to follow instructions on regular flossing). To add to the jollity, the stand-in Sergeant Chris Virgona, enlightened us on interesting, and sometimes slightly unsavoury world records, the high (or rather low) point being the World's loudest burp, and the giggles and smirks from some of our more juvenile members at a few unintentional double entendres.

Out and About

On Sunday Strathfield Council held a well-attended National Tree Day event, planting new vegetation in the Ismay Reserve along Powell's Creek in Homebush. The Club provided the barbecue and we burnished our environmental credentials by planting a few trees. The good thing about these events is that it gives us a chance to be seen out and about in the community. It is a chance to have a chat with members of the public, hand out a few leaflets and generally raise awareness of Rotary. We also get the chance to get to know the Council team a bit better and meet a few interesting people. The fellowship was as usual good and we also had some help on the barbecue from a couple of non-members, one of whom is interested in being further involved in the Club.

(L to R) Sally Sitou MP, Rtn Aruna Chandrala, President Nick Hamilton-Kane and Strathfield Councillor Raj Datta

Club Guest Speaker Program

Our schedule of speakers (click) is well under control - our ever-organised Programmes Chair Bradley tells me we're almost booked up to Christmas. We have some interesting talks to look forward to.