Our next meeting will be 6:00pm for 6:30pm Wednesday 26 February, 2025
at the Graphic Arts Club, 182 Coward Street Mascot
Visitors are very welcome
Members are reminded that Membership Fees for the Jan/Jun period are now due
President's Message
Welcome to this Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Botany Randwick Inc. Our club has been serving the local and international community since 1948.
Rotary promotes the ideal of service through fellowship. Attending our meetings allows members to enjoy the fellowship of other club members, enrich their professional and personal knowledge, and meet other business leaders in their community.
As a Club we support a wide range of projects. As well as having a broad range of local and international community projects, we are particularly focused on the Rotary projects, Australian Rotary Health, Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) together with The Rotary Foundation.
We welcome everyone to come along to any of our meetings to join in the fellowship and to learn more about what we do.
Our speaker at this meeting is Peter Thorpe and he will educate us on AI - Artificial Intelligence.
Peter started his career in sales at the age of eighteen. By the time he was thirty, he had become the General Manager of Sharp Corporation of Australia. He left Sharp to start his own business and since then, he has been a retailer, an importer and has operated his own advertising business.
Peter is the author of the best-selling book: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR SENIORS. Peter says a lot of mature aged people, who didn't grow up with computers and the internet, feel anxious about using technology and many believe it's too late to learn about it.
Peter understands that AI might seem complex and intimidating at first glance. However, here's the good news: Accessing and using AI is not difficult at all, once you know how. And the benefits it can bring can be truly life changing.
Peter’s talk unravels the mysteries of AI and tells how AI can enhance your daily life, keep your mind active, and provide life-changing advantages, regardless of your age.
Please note: The following meeting will be on 5 March, and will feature Gemma Sisia talking about her School of St Jude in Tanzania - see news item below!
Our last meeting
What a great turnout! Standing room only.
At our last meeting we heard from Blake Loaney, A21's Reach (Prevention) Manager. A21's mission is to end modern day slavery - see A21 | A21
Blake has been with A21 for over 8 years, starting out as a volunteer. She explained that Human Trafficking:
a) It’s the illegal trade of human beings. b) It’s the recruitment, control, and use of people for their bodies and for their labor.
Through force, fraud, and coercion, people everywhere are being bought and sold against their will – right now in the 21st century! Australia is not immune, and Blake advised that 41,000 people in Australia are living in modern slavery, many as domestic servants
Blake spoke how A21 has partnered with Sydney Airport and Melbourne Airport - to bring the Can You See Me? public awareness campaign to Australia’s two largest international airports. Together with the Rotary Club of Marrickville, we donated $7,600 from the November Airport coin collection to this public awareness campaign.
Proudly Partnered with Sydney Airports Corporation
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at the Graphic Arts Club,
182 Coward Street,
Mascot.
6pm for pre-meeting drinks and chat. The meeting, with dinner, starts at 6:30pm and normally concludes by 8:30pm.
The Rotary Club of Botany Randwick has recently renewed its sponsorship of a family accommodation room at Ronald McDonald House, Randwick.
Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families of children from rural and regional NSW who are undergoing treatment at the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick.
In 2024, our room provided accommodation for 70 different families, with the longest stay being 36 days. Those families came from places like Goulburn, Wagga Wagga and Dubbo.
Our relationship with Ronald McDonald House goes back at least 20 years. The arrangement is reciprocated with the House providing accommodation for children and their guardians who are being treated under the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) program. 11 year old Nayline and her dad, Henry, from Vanuatu, are currently staying there whilst Nayline undergoes treatment for scoliosis.
As well as sponsoring Room 20, the Club also provides a family meal. Last year this took the form of a BBQ, where we catered for 80 people staying at the House. This was greatly appreciated by the many families staying there, especially after returning from a long day attending to their children up at the hospital. Not having to worry about then preparing a meal was a blessing for them. And there were enough left overs for a cook-up the following day!
Complimentary 1-hour of non-motorized watersports daily
Introductory Pool Splash Dive Lesson at Reef Safari
Free WiFi
Plus dinner for two and bubbles at Sails Denarau at Port Denarau.
The prize is valid for 18 months. The prize is transferable to friends (but the transfer must be registered within one week of receiving the prize) - your receipt will have a gift certificate to share.
The community service of two members of Botany Randwick Rotary Club was recognised on Australia Day.
Richard Woodburn was named in the Australia Day Honours List with the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to the community through a range of organisations".
Richard's service includes:
a Rotarian since 1978, holding numerous executive positions
20 years as a Board Member of Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children
Past President of the Parkes and Randwick Rotary Clubs
Assistant District Governor in both Districts 9700 and 9765
Board Member of Ronald McDonald House Randwick
32 years in the Army Reserve in Senior Officer positions
Treasurer and Trustee, Kensington RSL Sub branch
Richard is seen here with recent ROMAC patient, Melenaite, together with her mother, Michelle. Melenaite, from Tonga, came to Australia as a newborn, for removal of a 2.5 tumour on her lower back/bottom. She has returned for several follow up treatments at the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick.
Christine Baramilis was recognised by the Mayor of Randwick City Council. This award recognises Christine's service as President of the former Rotary Club of Botany Bay, followed by four terms as President of Botany Randwick.
During this period, Christine successfully steered the merger of the two Clubs. This task was made all the more challenging by having to deal with the COVID pandemic, which impacted our ability to meet face to face on a regular basis, and difficulties undertaking many worthwhile community projects. Despite these challenges, Christine ensured the vibrant and successful Club that we have today with:
Increased membership
a great relationship with Sydney Airport, with the collection bins located in each of the three terminals providing our major source of income
Fostering relationships with our neighbouring Rotary Clubs, including the conducting of joint projects
Initiating and steering the inaugural Dog Fun Day in conjunction with Maroubra Rotary Club
Ensured high level support for the three Rotary Australia projects - Australian Rotary Health, ROMAC and Rotary Australia World Community Service.
The Rotary Club of Botany Randwick has recently renewed its sponsorship of a family accommodation room at Ronald McDonald House, Randwick.
Richard Woodburn was named in the Australia Day Honours List with the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to the community through a range of organisations". 
