Before I start I’d like to acknowledge three past Rotarians who were members of this club. Alan Segal, who was sometimes controversial, but what lawyer isn’t? Andrew Daniels, Mark's dad, who by the time I joined was unable to make regular meetings due to his health, but was a great contributor and generous of his time to Rotary and Ray Atiken, who joined our club with the numerous ex Kings Cross members. All three were great Rotarians and are surely missed.
We all meet here today thanks to Alan, he had left it to me to decide - either continuing the Botany club or closing it? With my background in the not-for profit sector, I thought and felt “it was a moral injustice to close a “charity/club” that has a great ability raise funds for good causes. How many organisations are so lucky? It was wrong to close something that can do a lot of good and help many. So I said let’s keep going and try.
That lead to the merger of two clubs, Rotary Club of Botany and the Rotary Club of Randwick. Each brought a uniqueness. With the great expertise, commitment and the hard work of our treasurer Richard, and our Secretary Greg, who have helped me put in the groundwork, with the strong foundations and they have greatly contributed to the success of our merged club.
We all meet here today thanks to Alan, he had left it to me to decide - either continuing the Botany club or closing it? With my background in the not-for profit sector, I thought and felt “it was a moral injustice to close a “charity/club” that has a great ability raise funds for good causes. How many organisations are so lucky? It was wrong to close something that can do a lot of good and help many. So I said let’s keep going and try.That lead to the merger of two clubs, Rotary Club of Botany and the Rotary Club of Randwick. Each brought a uniqueness. With the great expertise, commitment and the hard work of our treasurer Richard, and our Secretary Greg, who have helped me put in the groundwork, with the strong foundations and they have greatly contributed to the success of our merged club.
I have been president since 2019, as the outgoing president of Botany and the incoming president of Botany Randwick – that’s over 5 years, my achievements have been many. However, I don’t see it as an individual personal success because it has been a team effort that has made our club a great success.
During my leadership we have managed to build:-
- A solid structure, stability and have laid a very strong foundations for our club
- Our membership has increased
- We have received recognition for club on several occasions
- In relation to the airport collection - we had to navigate from being a tri cub to bi club and refurbished the collection bins at airport
- A regular newsletter with a column showcasing our monthly donations
- We have re-established closer relations with the Rotary Clubs of Maroubra and other surrounding clubs
- Through my efforts we have jointly funded projects with Maroubra and Marrickville
- Very excitingly, we have now had our first local community event – Dog Day which I hope our club will continue in the future.
- With our partner club, Marrickville, last year, the Airport charity collection bins raised over $95,000. This is an increase of over 40% from the previous year.
- I also had the pleasure of welcoming many Rotarians who decided to join our club from Kings Cross and Campsie.
In more detail:-
- We are of course forever thankful for the working relationship with Sydney Airport and their commitment in supporting to community and Rotary. Mark has continued to liaise with the airport, which at times has been challenging: with the dreaded COVID interruptions, airport staff changes and procedural enhancers. Thank you Mark.
- In relation to the airport collection, during my leadership we saw Rockdale Rotary hand in their Charter and we went from a Tri-Club to a Bi-Club. This involved the difficult process of opening up new bank accounts, and the re-branding and refurbishment of our airport collection bins with the thanks of the team at AW Signs, specially the owner, Grant Olsen who dedicated their time and effort. Grant the refurbished bins are looking great. Thank you very much.
- More of our newer members became involved with the process of collecting coin and so at this stage I’d like to thank Ken, Warrick, Phillip and Danco – they will tell you that this is not an easy job, and requires physical strength and being able to work together with strong personalities. The counting and banking of the coin is a strenuous task. I would like to extend a further thank you to Ken and Warwick. I am thankful for their professionalism, in relation to the airport, relationship building and dedicating their time with a special committee for assisting with airport collection protocol, and who also helped in the setting the meeting with the outgoing CEO at the airport, presenting him with a Paul Harris Fellow, much with the assistance of Gary Brown.
- One of the major projects that I introduced, and am most proud off, is sorting and counting of the foreign currency notes. With some members’ reluctance at first to see the value of this project, we rounded up our members. This exercise has brought not only our club, but Marrickville, together through a shared activity, and deepened our fellowship connections. Everyone has found it very interesting and educational. Additionally, we have further jointly supported, and agreed on giving the Philippines Pesos to Peter Hamer for a RAWCs project and giving the Vietnamese money to the Blue Dragon Foundation, a local project that supports victims of people trafficking.
- Again, I believe that perhaps my most important achievement for this Club has been the setting of strong foundations, and I again need to especially acknowledge Richard, our Treasurer and Greg, our Secretary. This has allowed the club to move forward, not only in membership growth, but fellowship, income stream, causes and charities we have supported, both locally and internationally. Some members may have felt this has been a slow process but with us all being volunteers, with numerous important commitments outside of Rotary, these achievements take time.
- Our club has continued to support ROMAC, Richard’s baby, Greg, has continued with Rotary Mental Health and has supported, and continues to guide, Paul Woodward who is our Youth Director with his youth portfolio which is getting bigger and better.
- I would like to now thank Paul Woodward, for taking on the role of Youth Director. He is new to Rotary and through Greg ’s assistance he is taking on more ownership of the Role and seeking out students for various Rotary programmes. Paul, I hope that you will continue to enjoy this role and will continue it for many years, because as you have now personally experienced, these programmes do change young lives.
- My other major project introduction was The Dog Day. Ever since Ken brought in a flyer from Kings Cross, maybe two years ago, I knew this would be a great project for our area. I searched for a project leader and finally found Brigit. This project became a joint venture with Maroubra. She lead the project with the help of David, from Maroubra. Brigit did an amazing job making my dream a reality. The project brought the local community together and got the name of Rotary out in the community. Through her hard work this project was a great success. Brigit said she will not lead it next year and I am so hopeful she will change her mind! - Again Brigit - I truly Thank You for her leadership.
Through my leadership our club is seen as a “VIBRANT CLUB”, as I was told by Euan Miller from Rotary Regional Council – I think this is a great achievement for all of us! I look forward to sitting back and not reading the room and ensuring that everyone is happy. Instead, I will be enjoying the meetings, conversing with fellow members and listening intently to guest speakers.
And so Simon, I wish you the very best for your year, I am handing you a vibrant Club. As two of our board members said to me “I was once a peacock but I am now a feather duster!”