Cluster Dinner 2023

A well-attended cluster dinner (over 70 people) was held at Manly leagues club on Tuesday July 4, 2023.

Members and guests from the 6 Beaches Clubs; Balgowlah, Belrose, Brookvale, Dee Why Warringah, Manly, Upper Northern Beaches together with Roteract Northern Beaches were given an inspiring address from Nick Farr-Jones AM, the former Australian rugby union footballer and Wallaby captain.

The inaugural Northern Beaches Rotary cluster dinner was arranged as an opportunity for Rotarians to engage with each other and to promote the ideal of working together. Instead of club members sitting together, the tables were divvied up with Presidents on one, secretaries on another, treasurers on a third and so on for international chairs, youth, community and others.

ADG John Campbell introducing the cluster presidents

MC for the night was our Assistant District Governor, John Campbell (who incidentally is our District Governor Nominee). John said that this cluster dinner had been over 18 months in planning and finally came together with good support from the 6 clubs.

ADG John Campbell

One award was given: a Paul Harris Fellowship to Ken Farrow, President of Manly Rotary. This well-deserved was made by votes from each the presidents of the 6 club in the cluster.

 ADG John Campbell presenting the PHF to PP Ken Farrow

Guest speaker: Nick Farr-Jones

Nick played 63 Tests for Australia in a highly decorated 10-year international career. He recounted the winning of the 1991 World Cup with his team against England and the 1992 Bledisloe Cup and convincingly defeated the Springboks in August 1992. 

Nick Farr-Jones AM

 

His first two years as Wallaby captain were extremely frustrating but he learnt from the series loss. On a game on Anzac Day in Lille, France, the team had visited Villers Bretonneux in the morning then went on to win the game and then finally the Bledisloe Cup.

Besides being a true ambassador for Rugby Union his leadership and influence in other areas including his being a Rotarian and “Stand Tall”, an event founded in 2021 by Jeanine Treharne, Angela Farr-Jones ad Roslyn Hills in response to the tragic level of drug use, depression, bullying, hopelessness, and self-harm among high school students. Stand Tall has now become the largest youth event of its kind in Australia, experiencing exponential growth over the last eight years.  

A rethinking of how the team focused on the process of the game instead of watching the scoreboard helped them to a period where they won 22 out of 26 games. In a successful law career in Australia and France, Nick realised there are “finders, minders, blinders and grinders” and it is useful to identify where people lie and use their best skills.

Nick spoke of importance of teamwork and understanding the capabilities together with the what other team members were good at, and keeping your focus playing not only winning.

This applies to Rotary as much to sporting teams – we must use our talents, persevere and take on big ideas which will have impact.

The audience really appreciated Nick’s talk and his stories, and viewpoint on the current Ashes series in UK.

That famous photo: Nick with auction winner Sally Allen (Dee Why Warringah) and Pres Brian Fairweather (Belrose)

 Thanks to Liz McDougall, District Secretary for much of this report!

District Changeover 2023

A big thanks to PP Diana HART OAM (our President for Jan- June 2024) for representing our club at the District Changeover held on July 1 at Rydges Norwest. It was large affair and our new District Governor, Christine Owen (Rotary Club of Kincumber) taking over the reins from Mina Howard (Rotary Club of Blackheath).

HIGH 5 -  PG Christine Owen (left) and PDG Mina Howard

 

Photos: District Website

AND Don’t forget to book for the Quiz Night:

 

Forward Planning:

 Finally: