Dear members and friends of the Rotary Club of Sydney Darling Harbour,

I’ve been involved with Rotary since I first joined the University of Wollongong Rotaract Club in 2009. From then, I’ve participated in a number of youth programs, served on boards and have enjoyed scores of events. Most importantly, Rotary is responsible for the clear majority of the friends in my life. Imagine my delight when I received an email from a woman I attended RYLA with back in 2010. Sally Hetherington, a former Rotarian herself, has established the Human and Hope Association which empowers local communities in Cambodia and provides vocational training and community development programs aimed at alleviating poverty.

Sally has been doing this work for over ten years, and has asked that we participate in their upcoming Walk to Cambodia, wherein participants are striving to collectively walk 50 million steps – five times the distance between Sydney and Siem Reap in Cambodia. If you’re interested in joining, please consider signing up. We’ll be hosting our own walk later in April to raise funds for this cause, I hope to see you there.

Upcoming Events

Evening Meeting – 7/4/2022
April 7, 2022 at 6:30 pm
The Sporting Globe x 4 Pines

Our evening meetings are used to discuss both our upcoming events and broader world issues. They have a focus on work-shops and project discussion, and are geared to be enjoyed after a hard day of work. This month, we’re back after a long COVID winter! After two years of lock-down, we’re keen to establish new projects for the Club to work on. If you’ve got a good idea and are looking for a team to help you implement it, or if you have a lot of energy and are looking for a positive outlet for it, or if you are just keen to make some new friends, then this is the meeting for you. Rotarians, Rotaractors, and newcomers of all ages are more than welcome to attend. Meetings typically run for an hour, and attendees are welcome to join us for dinner and drinks after the meeting.

For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/evening-meeting-7-4-2022/

Club Meeting – 13/4/2022: Shirley LaPlanche
April 13, 2022 at 7:30 am
The Grace Hotel

Our regular club meetings are used to discuss our upcoming events, ongoing projects and recent news. This week, we’ll be joined by Shirley LaPlanche, who will talk about her experience of self-publishing a novel. She’ll explain what it involves, why it has become so popular, how to go about and if it is worth your while. Shirley is no stranger to this field, having self-published her most recent book, “The Fatal Path”, a psychological thriller which quickly becomes impossible to put down.

For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/club-meeting-13-4-2022/

Board Meeting – 20/04/2022
April 20, 2022 at 6:30 pm

The Rotary Club of Sydney Darling Harbour is engaged in several different projects. Whether it’s working within our local community, advancing international understanding and providing humanitarian aid, providing for the development and advancement of our members or fostering new friendships, our Club strives to always put its hands to something useful.

For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/board-meeting-20-04-2022/

ANZAC Day Parade Volunteering
April 25, 2022 at 5:00 am
Hyde Park

ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance. It is an opportunity for veterans, current service men and women and the general public to pay their respects to those who have served our country. The Darlings are joining the Rotary Club of Sydney stall on ANZAC Day to sell ANZAC biscuits to participants and spectators of the annual ANZAC Day Parade. Please join us in raising money for Rotary projects which include supporting women and children at risk, homelessness in Sydney and a number of other important causes. If you can spare anytime during the day, your efforts would make an important difference in the day.

For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/anzac-day-parade-volunteering-2022/

Digital Club Meeting – 27/4/2022
April 27, 2022 at 7:30 am
Online Event

Our digital club meetings are a great opportunity to discuss our upcoming events, ongoing projects and recent news from the comfort of your home office. If you are looking to give something back to the community, to develop professionally, to help steer exciting projects, or are just interested in making new friends, you are very welcome to attend our meeting.

For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/digital-club-meeting-27-4-2022/

Human & Hope: Walk to Cambodia
April 30, 2022 at 10:00 am
Sea Life Sydney Sydney Aquarium

Human and Hope is an Australian charity which seeks to empowers communities to address inequality. Being a charity, they are reliant upon donations to continue their important work. Throughout the month of April, they’re running a Walk to Cambodia, urging participants to collectively walk 50 million steps, representing five times the distance from Sydney to Cambodia. To support their work, we’re hosting a walk ourselves, starting from the Sea Life Sydney aquarium, and continuing to the Circular Wharf for coffee. More intrepid participants will be invited to continue on to Bondi, while those seeking a more relaxed morning can take in the view of the iconic Sydney Harbour. No matter how you participate, please considering donating generously to support Human and Hope’s valuable work at https://walktocambodia.org/donate

For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/human-hope-walk-to-cambodia/

International Toast

This week, we’re toasting the Rotary Club of Singapore, Singapore. Founded in 1930, the Rotary Club of Singapore meets each Wednesday at 7:00PM. The Club is involved in a wide-array of projects, with their focus this year being “Share-a-Pot”, which aims to being isolated and frail seniors out of their home to share in food and physical exercises. This simple gesture of good-will breaks social isolation, builds community and and fosters physical health. You can find out more by visiting their website at https://www.rotary.org.sg/.

Cheers to you, Rotary Club of Singapore!

Today in History

On March 28, 1963 Alfred Hitchcock’s movie The Birds was released. The film about a swarm of birds wreaking havoc in Bodega Bay, California has become a classic of the horror movie genre.

Final Thoughts

A border collie named Rico was the subject of the first published study on gifted dogs. The research showed that Rico understood 200 words. He also responded correctly to the word for a new object after hearing it just once.

Well, that’s it from me. Don’t forget that our next meeting will be held in person on the 7th of April. For more information, please visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/evening-meeting-7-4-2022/.

Until next week,
Drew Sturgiss
President
Rotary Club of Sydney Darling Harbour