Bally Barker Blog

Our club Christmas party was held in the Wine Room at Balgowlah RSL club on Tuesday December 10, 2024. Everyone enjoyed a most relaxed night that provided a great opportunity to enjoy fellowship and Christmas cheer.   President Diana welcomed club members, partners and guests. Guests included Margaret Murdon (Streetwork), Sarah Watts(Lifeline), Kerry and Mark Gwynne (Dalwood Splistead Services), and Honorary member, Peter Stephenson and his wife Barbara; together with member's partners, Enid Hill, Chiaki van Brugge, Joy Apps, Helen Gray, Anne Thompson and Diane Mead.     Enid, Helen and Anne selecting pudding   As in former years,  members brought gifts for Dalwood Spilstead Services (DSS) to distribute to the needy families they give so much valuable support. Kerry Gwynne , Manager Spilstead Services told us how they would help make Christmas for so many of the families that are so dependent on the support from DSS. Kerry also spoke about the extremely d...

Our visit to Dalwood Spilstead services occurred on Tuesday 17 th October and members and guests attending were hosted by Kerry Gwynne, Manager Spilstead Services. Kerry showed us the Dalwood Home property and Spilstead Centre then following dinner we enjoyed a great presentation on the Spilstead Model and Evidence Base. Kerry Gwynne - Manager Spilstead Services (always enthusiastic)   AND SOME OF THE ROTARIANS & FRIENDS:   Initially we toured through the beautiful Dalwood premises where Kerry outlined that Splistead Service was first established in 1978 as an extension of Dalwood Children’s Home which was initially created in the 1920s to support children from disadvantaged families, when the site was donated in perpetuity to children’s charities by the Dalwood family and it is now administered by the Board of the Dalwood Trust. Between 1931 and 1989 over 1,000 children attended the Dalwood Children’s Home for either short term or long-term resp...