The Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville

Weekly Bulletin Monday 14th April 2014

Issue 5 No.37

Rotary Four-Way Test

Of the things we think say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER

FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all

concerned?

Rotary Grace

Our Lord our giver of all good

We thank thee for our daily food

May Rotary friends and Rotary Ways

Help us to serve thee all our days

Happy Birthday to Ian Pearce on the 19th ; Shirley Griscti on the 24th and

Bev Low on the 27th. Celebrate in style, folks

No Anniversaries at all in April

Toast to Overseas Club

Program for Club Meeting

Monday 14th April 2014

Jim Sifonios - Cambodia

Duty Roster tonight:

Door Ray Campbell

Rotary Grace Alex Traill

Toasts:

Loyal Bob Low

Overseas Club Michael Griscti

Next Meeting:

28th April, 2014 (No meeting 21st April – East Monday)

Program

Tai Chi Association

Duty Roster

Door Jim Sifonios

Rotary Grace Gordon Scoble

Loyal Toast Ian Pearce

Tonight we toast the

Rotary Club of Cambridge,

England - District 1080, to

celebrate the visit from

Prince William and Kate,

Duke and Duchess of

Cambridge.

.

Club Calendar

April 2014

Wed 16 Board Meeting

Mon 20 Easter Sunday – Jazz

at the Pines

Mon 21 Easter Monday – No

Meeting

Fri 25 ANZAC Day - BBQ

Mon 28 Tai Chi Association

May 2014

Sat 3 ROMAC Fundraiser

Mon 5 POW & Com Awards

Mon 12

Science Forum –

Shivani Shah

Sun 18 Jazz at the Pines

Dan Murphy Roster

(No Dan Murphy’s on 19th)

26th April, 2014

Michael Griscti

and

Alan Jones

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President’s Message Hello fellow Rotarians,

Last week Steve Bourke from the Hills Basketball Association gave us a very

interesting insight into the popularity of the sport in the Hills area.

Steve, the fulltime General Manager of the Hills Basketball Association Inc., described in detail

their facilities in the Shire and the thousands of thousands and adults that benefit from the sport.

He is passionate about the association and plans to extend the existing facilities subject to finance

availability as the sport is growing at a tremendous pace. The existing facilities have reached

maximum capacities and whenever possible outside organizations also use them for exhibitions and

training.

Don’t forget Easter is coming fast and with our first Jazz at the Pines on Easter Sunday 20th

April we need everyone’s support to make this a great event.

At tonight’s meeting, Jim Sifonios will be talking about his recent trip with Vivien to Cambodia.

This is a partners’ welcome meeting.

For your diary there is a board meeting this coming Wednesday 16th, 7pm for 7.30pm at Jim and

Vivien’s home.

President Rob

Summary of Last Meeting – Monday 7th April 2014 Apologies

Alan Jones; Rod Tilden; Ray Campbell and ilf van Emmerik

.

President Robert Mackay greeted members, and

welcomed guest speaker Steve Burke from the

Hills Basketball Association.

President Rob spoke about Jazz at the Pines,

reminding Members that we will need all hands

on deck on Easter Sunday. He indicated that a

very supportive email from DG Graeme Davies

had been received.

Treasurer Keith Stapley, spoke in relation to the

Bourke Breakfast Program saying that a report on

the ABC News had been released stating that the

State government was now committed to

supporting breakfast programs in 12 high needs

primary schools. Many of these were in Kylie

Pennell’s area, including Bourke Primary. It

appears however that the commitment is for just

$3000 per annum for each school, which would

not fund the project. Treasurer Keith will be

contacting MP Dominic Perrottet to discuss.

The agreement with Council for our Club to run

the Jazz at the Pines program was signed on

Friday and Members should look out for coverage

in the local papers. Keith said that there are

currently 76 bookings, for the Easter Sunday

event, so it is looking very promising for a great

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turn-out, as long as the weather is kind to us.

Please make a diary note that the next one after

Easter Sunday is Sunday May 18th.

Keith also spoke about the Gardens Competition

saying that we are looking at re-starting this

competition to run through the Orange Blossom

Festival. We have applied for a grant under

Community Event Funding to cover our costs.

Graeme Rohan, Community Service Director, said

that Saturday had been a good day at Dan

Murphy’s. He raised the subject of whether we

would be in a position to help out at the Sydney

Convention and the matter was to be discussed at

this month’s Board Meeting.

Ian Pearce, Vocational, said that plans for the

Awards Night, which was now going to be a joint

event with the Rotary Club of Winston Hills were

well underway. Letters have gone out to

recipients.

As President Elect, Ian said that Alan Jones had

agreed to take up the Club Service Director’s role,

and Robert Mackey the International / Rotary

Foundation position. We are still seeking to cover

the positions of Community Service Director; PR

Director and Newsletter Editor.

PE Ian reminded the incoming Board that District

Assembly is on April 12th.

Bobby Redman, PR Director / Conference Chair,

directed Members to information regarding the

International Convention in this week’s Bulletin.

Bobby circulated information regarding Hornsby

Rotary’s Las Vegas Night that had come to her as

Bulletin Editor.

Bobby reminded everyone that the Entertainment

Book for this year would have some available for

sale from 14th April.

Jim Sifonios, Youth, spoke about a request from

District to provide accommodation for Youth

Exchange Students coming from various parts of

Australia to attend the International Convention –

accommodation is required from Saturday 31st

May to Thursday 5th June (refer article in last

week’s Bulletin for more information).

Jim had received an invitation from Hills Shire

Council to attend the launch of a new program –

the Sydney Hills Business Award for Community

Contribution. He was unable to attend and was

seeking a Member to represent the Club.

We have received two nominations for incoming

Youth Exchange Students seeking Club Hosting.

Information would be circulated to the Board for

review. A meeting was to be held with Peter

Fowler at Rouse Hill Anglican College as a possible

school should the Club go ahead.

The raffle draw was won by Bob Low (again!!!!!) – Sadly for Bob, the Joker is still in the pack.

Guest Speaker – Steve Burke

The Hills Basketball Association

The Hills Basketball Association is the 2nd largest in

NSW. It started in the early 80s, working out of several

rental sites and by the mid-90s had grown enough to

consolidate and find a suitable venue at Fred Caterson

Reserve. At that stage there were 700 Members, there

are now 4000 registered members. The game appeals

to all ages from 5 to 65 years old; and you don’t even

have to play the game to enjoy it as many members are

involved as volunteers and officials.

Competitions are run 7 days a week and include those

for local teams just out for a bit of fun to the rep team,

The Hills Hornets, who play against other Sydney and Regional Teams. The game is played at local, State and

National level.

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Basketball is a popular sport and Steve says they don’t really need to advertise to find new players.

Development Officers go out to schools, which is enough to catch the kids’ interest. The Club have had many

Junior members, playing for the State and at National level.

The venue at Fred Caterson Reserve currently has four full size courts and hosts a number of other indoor

sports including wheelchair sports. When there are no sporting events they hire out the premises for expos

and fairs.

Due to the popularity of the Club they are now looking to expand by building two more courts, additional

changing rooms, a new grandstand, a function room and some more offices. This is a big call as although

they received some upfront government funding in the early days, they are pretty much self-funded for the

on-going operation of the Club.

Congratulations are definitely in order for the great job that Steve Burke is doing in Managing this Club.

Sydney Convention News

– excerpt from Corroborree Edition 5

One of the real highlights of the 2014 Sydney Convention will be the outstanding Billabong House of Friendship, located close to the Olympic Park Railway Station and Registration Hall – and just a five minute walk to the main plenary hall, Allphones Arena …

A real life mini zoo, 350 Rotary and commercial booths, a man made ‘Billabong’ water hole, world class entertainment, multiple cuisine choices, tea and coffee stations, large

seating and rest areas, internet café, and even a wine and oyster bar will provide many attractions for local and international Rotarians, partners and friends.

Convention registration will take place from Thursday afternoon from 3 pm and the Billabong House of Friendship will open on Saturday, May 31, at 9:30 am.

News from the Rotary family

You will all remember Imogen Wadlow, who was sponsored by the Club, some years back, to

attend the Science Forum. Imogen is back in the news as one of the 10 finalists from around the

world to present at the World Conference on Youth in the Environmental category. If she is

successful she will be heading off to Colombo, Sri Lanka in May.

To vote for Imogen (the only Australian in the running), head to I-fink.com and follow the link.

Have you ever wondered ……? - Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

- Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not

enough money?

- Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but

check when you say the paint is wet?

- Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a

revolver at him?