Bally Barker Blog

After days of flooding rain, our third car rally – Balgowlah Rotary’s Charity Cars n Clues Rally was held on a grey and windy Sunday June 23 rd . Once again, the organising committee had a very interesting route and questions about the sites and places the rally went. A total of 27 cars were entered and over 60 adults and children joined in the fun and learnt more about places on the Northern Beaches. Thanks to our club photographer, John O’Brien, we have some great pictures of the fun on the day. It started and finished at JJ Melbourne Memorial Park, Terrey Hills: Robert Exner and Michael Brent ensured that people could find us Cars stared arriving at about 10 am and confirmed entry details before starting off. The occasional sunny spell and smiling faces - even Lindy's neighbour (another Lindy) helped. Our four footed competitor     President Diana and Lindy, our event organiser, marked the entries Michael looked after the finances Sahil looked after t

Tonight, the Rotary Club of Balgowlah celebrated our 50-year anniversary and changeover evening to launch our 51 st year . An audience of over 80 people attended and had a great night hearing the history and many achievements of the club and its members. A number of awards were made and President Roger Gray passed over the presidential chain to Dr Diana Hart - our incoming president for 2024-25.   The global President of Rotary,  Gordon R. McInally sent a letter to the club congratulating it on the 50 years of Rotary service. President Roger Gray opened the evening and then warmly welcomed our Charter member and past president John Havilah who recounted the early years and how 24 members were present at the Dual Charter Night at Chatswood Civic Centre on Wednesday June 19, 1974. John Havilah - Charter member "Meetings were held in the Wakehurst Golf Club and the club was busy creating banners, road signs, letterheads and the club Bulletin was produced with

The diversity in careers and skills of or members can be gleaned from short talks covering the years until joining Rotary; together with their motivations for choosing Rotary as a means to support or serve the community,   or to make a difference and help to promote responsible and lasting change in other endeavours and vocations in the key avenues of service. Michael Brent Michael Brent gave a fascinating talk outline his family history and his education then interesting career in PNG and locally then the family passion with travelling and camping. He explained his paternal roots came from Normandy and the name ‘de Brente”. From there his ancestors went to UK, then generations later went to Tasmania as settlers. Michael’s father joined the Navy at age 13 and later met his mother in Sydney and they were married in 1954. A few years later, Michael was born in Perth, where his father was captain of a mine sweeper HMAS Karangi which spent t