The Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville

Weekly Bulletin Monday 22nd July

Issue 5 No.4

Program for Club Meeting

Monday 22nd July 2013

Rob Byrne – Cycling to End Polio

Duty Roster tonight:

Door Alex Traill

Rotary Grace Allan Walker

Toasts:

Loyal Bruce Pike

Rotary International Suresh Prasad

Overseas Club Michael Griscti

Inside this issue

Tonight’s Program and

Overseas Club Toast

President Rob’s Message

Members’ News

Review of last week’s

meeting – Ambre

Hammond – International

Concert Pianist

Dates to remember

Club Calendar

Club Members

Last Meeting: 15th July 2013

Program

Ambre Hammond – International Concert Pianist

Apologies

Keith Stapley; and Jim Sifonios

Next Meeting: 29nd July 2013

Program

Bobby Redman – Adventure with Dementia

Duty Roster

Door Steven F

Rotary Grace Wilf van Emmerik

Rotary Grace

“O Lord our giver of all good

We thank You for our daily food,

May Rotary friends and Rotary ways,

Help us to serve you all our days”.

Welcome to the New

Rotary Year Toast to Overseas Club

Tonight we toast the Rotary Club of Montegranaro, Italy, District 2090.

The Club was chartered on the 31st May 1961

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President’s Message

Monday night was again an excellent meeting, with strong attendance

considering a number of members are away. It was also nice to have Suresh’s

daughter, Swapna, join us for this meeting.

Past District Governor Bruce Allen gave us an update on the Zinkapalem

Project and suggested that there may be a follow-up project to supply safe drinking water to the

village. He will advise us when he has more information.

Sergeant Brian again managed to boost the club coffers with a very spirited fine session. Well

done Brian.

The highlight of the evening was our guest speaker Ambre Hammond. Ambre described her life

story and enthralled everyone in the room. It was a story that showed how talent, drive and

determination can achieve goals. Ambre has kindly offered to perform at our Christmas with

Rotary in December. We are very fortunate to have such an offer from her to perform. Ambre was

ably supported by her ten year old daughter Baillie who delighted the members and guests.

Alan and Carol Jones are leaving for the United Kingdom this Friday for a six weeks holiday. I

wish them a safe and happy holiday.

Regards, President Rob

Would you believe there are no Birthdays or Anniversaries to celebrate this week – not sure why

this is – perhaps because of the cold weather everyone hibernates at this time of year!!!!!!!!

We’re happy to hear that Margaret van Emmerick has been

discharged from the Mater Hospital following her two knee

replacements., and is now completing rehab at Mt Wilga.

We wish Alan and Carol Jones a wonderful

trip back to the homeland. We just know that you will have a wonderful time

catching up with friends and family.

Haven’t heard from Keith and Lyn Stapley

lately but saw this and thought of them……!

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July 15th 2013

Apologies: Keith Stapley; and Jim Sifonios

President Rob welcomed members, PDG Bruce Allen and Swapna Prasad visiting from the Rotary Club of

Crows Nest. He congratulated Bob Low on the birth of his Great Grandson, and welcomed Ian back from his

holidays inviting him to share some news about the holiday with the Members.

Ian talked about his fantastic trip where he and Tricia had headed North in their caravan to follow the sun.

President Rob wished Margaret van Emmerik well following her surgery last week. Wilf said that Margaret

was recovering well and thanked the Club for the flowers and well wishes.

On arrival of the Guest speaker Ambre Hammond and her daughter Baillie – President Rob welcomed them

and introduced them to the Club Members.

Rob summed up a busy Rotary week, saying that he had attended the “Meet the Mayor” event on

Wednesday; and an interesting Presidents’ Meeting on Friday, reminding everyone that the DG’s Zone visit is

to occur on Monday 19th August, at Madison’s (the old Burning Log) at Dural (cost $30) and indicating that he

was hoping for good attendance by Members. He also spoke about Winston Hills Changeover that he and his

wife Robyn and PP Bobby had attended on Saturday, congratulating Winston Hills on a great night, as well as

on them receiving two District Awards.

PP Wilf spoke first as Secretary, indicating that an email had been received and passed on by Keith Stapley

informing members of the sad news that a past youth exchange student, Yadi, from Indonesia had passed

away.

Wilf then continued in his role as Acting Treasurer to remind all members that semi-annual dues are now

due, and that they were being maintained at $150.

PP Ray, Club Service Director, spoke to the upcoming program indicating that most of September had now

been booked. Next week Rob Byrne who has completed a bike marathon to raise funds for Polio Plus will be

speaking at the meeting.

PP Graeme, Community Service Director, indicated that the Bowel Care program for this year was now

complete.

Graeme let members know that PP Penny and PP Bobby had sold out by 12-30pm at Dan Murphy’s last

Saturday (Go the girls!!!!!); and discussed the current roster.

The next project requiring planning would be the Christmas with Rotary event. President Rob noted that

Peter Dawson had spoken to him at the Winston Hill Changeover saying that he had already spoken to the

schools about the entertainment for the night.

There was no report for Membership, Youth Service or PR, but PP Bobby spoke about the Rotaract Charter

Night on the 9th August and the Rouse Hill Trivia Night on the 10th August, indicating that tables were being

put together for both events and asking members to check their diaries in preparation for sheets which will

be sent round next Monday night.

PP Alan, International Service Director, said that planning was underway for the Bollyhills 2013 event and a

date should be confirmed soon.

Alan also raised an issue in regards to a letter he had received from the Tavern suggesting that some

Members had been going behind the bar to help themselves to soft drinks. Alan had let them know that to

his knowledge the only reason that Members went behind the bar was to obtain water for the tables and for

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the urn; but that he would ensure that Members were aware that soft drinks were not included in our

package. The Management of the Tavern said that in future they would ensure that water jugs and glasses

would be put out on the tables and the urn would be filled by staff.

PDG Bruce Allen, who had come along hoping to be able to provide a further update on the Zinkapalem

project, said that although there were indications that the project had been successfully completed, with

250 acres of rice paddies now regenerated, he was still awaiting the final report.

Alan Jones asked about the capacity to either put the remaining $10,000 that we are holding for water

projects in India (Raised at Bollyhills 2012) into an add on program to the Zinkapalem project or into a

different water project and PDG Bruce indicated that he would follow this up and get back to us with

information.

PP Ian, Vocational Services Director, asked members to start thinking about our 2013-2014Awards night, at

which we are hoping to add an Apprentice award to our existing Pride of Workmanship and Community

Service Awards. Ian said that if any member has any ideas, to pass them along to him to follow up.

The wine raffle was again won by Suresh Prasad, with the ticket being drawn by his daughter Swapna. The

jackpot did not come up for him and was again carried over.

Sergeant Brian King then did his job in ensuring that Members went home with their pockets a little lighter

than when they arrived.

Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker, the International concert pianist,

Ambre Hammond, entertained us with the story

about her truly extraordinary life. Ambre was raised

by her courageous mother, after her father passed

away, prior to her birth. Ambre spoke about how her

determined mother introduced her to the piano to

try to keep the hyperactive Ambre in one spot.

Ambre gave her first public piano performance at the

age of 5 at the Macquarie Uniting Church and

discovered immediately that she loved to perform,

and so her career was born.

Ambre’s education was unorthodox – she was home schooled with the main focus on her reading a vast

variety of books and practicing the piano to the extreme. This enabled Ambre to pass her 8th grade piano

examination (with an A+) at the age of 10 and to be already preparing to complete two diplomas in the

biggest year of her life, at the age of 11. At that stage she had a full on schedule which involved getting up at

5am for a 8km run, followed by breakfast then a 3 x 3 x 3 day – this meant 3 hours of piano practice followed

by a break, followed by another 3 hours of practice, followed by a second break before commencing her 3rd 3

hour practice stretch. In that year Ambre participated in 120 eisteddfods. She also completed four exams in

a row, passing them all with flying colours.

This was the point that Ambre decided to turn professional and has never looked back – performing at

numerous International events with a whole range of International Artists. She even raised the money to

have a special symphony written by Lalo Schifrin, for her to perform. Ambre’s mother continues to support

and manage her (under the pseudonym of Robert Crawford) and Ambre acknowledges that without her

mother’s drive – that clearly has been passed along to Ambre – it is unlikely that she would have reached

these giddy heights.

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Ambre loves what she does and strives to give back to society in lots of different ways: She currently travels

the world taking classical music to the people who might otherwise never experience the joy of it, through

her Girl Piano Truck project; and also volunteers to play at Nursing Homes, touching the lives of so many

people.

It was wonderful to listen to Ambre speak with such enthusiasm about her truly extraordinary life and hear

about her life work. During question time it was mentioned that we hold a special Christmas with Rotary

event for the elderly each Christmas and Ambre indicated that if she was free she would come along to play

at the concert.

We are absolutely thrilled that in the days following her presentation, Ambre was able to confirm her

availability and will be performing at this years Christmas with Rotary Event. Our guests don’t yet know what

a wonderful delight is awaiting them.

DG Graeme Davies and Lyn

Official Hills Zone Meeting

Monday 19 August 2013

6.30pm for 7.00pm

The Madison Function Centre

(Previously Burning Log Restaurant)

632 Old Northern Road DURAL

$30.00 per person

Drinks available at Bar Prices

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Club Members

Name

Classification

Ray Campbell PP, PHF Education - Secondary

Thomas Cann PHF Landscape Supplies

Col Davis Accounting Taxation

Steven Fry

Education, Technical

Michael Griscti PHF Lighting Technician

Penny Hill PP, PHF Customer Service Manager

Alan Jones PP, PHF Marketing Consultancy

Brian King

Insurance

Bob Low PHF Electrical Distribution

Robert Mackey PP, PHF Construction Services

Michael O’Connell PP Dental Supplies

Ian Pearce PP, PHF Industrial Consultancy

Bruce Pike Nursery Retail

Suresh Prasad PP Sugar Research

Haran Ramachandran PP, PHF Computer Support

Bobby Redman PP, PHF Psychology

Michael Richardson Honorary Member

Graeme Rohan PP, PHF Petroleum Distribution

Gordon Scoble PP, PHF Education Primary

Jim Sifonios PP, PHF Product Development

Keith Stapley PP, PHF Photogrammetry

Rod Tilden PP, PHF Window Furnishing Sales

Alex Traill PP, PHF Building & Maintenance

Wilf Van Emmerik PP, PHF Specialised Transport

Allan Walker PP Funeral Director

P – President PP - Past President PHF - Paul Harris Fellow

Club Calendar

July

Wed 24 Board Meeting

Mon 29

Bobby Redman –

Latest News on

Alzheimer’s

Mon

Aug

5

David Rosenberg –

Con men

Sat 10

Hills Rotaract

Charter Night

Mon 12 Writing Competition

Mon 19

DG Visit – Club

Meeting transferred

to Burning Log, Dural

Mon 26

PDG John Wakefield

– Harassment

Hypothetical

Dan Murphy Roster

27thJuly 2013

Jim Sifonios

and

Mike O’Connell

Note: Apologies must be in to

PP Alan Jones by 12pm on

Mondays so numbers can be

confirmed for dinner.

Final Comment

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.