Bally Barker Blog

After a washed-out first attempt, Sue Terry arranged a great spring afternoon at Clontarf Oval.   All present wished Lindy a very happy significant year birthday and many more. It wasn't a time for many speeches however just the right words were said for the occasion. With Covid has been limiting social contact during the earlier part of the year, almost everyone used the opportunity to catch up socially. Just so nice to catch up socially, whilst ZOOM has kept the club going business wise, social interaction and getting together was and added bonus.  Thanks again to John O"Brien for providing candid shots of the many Rotarians and partners present. Nigi, Sue and Roger Michael, Helen and Sue Roger Alois and Paul Lindy, Nigi, Diane, Sue and Sue Bev enjoying the day Ken and Rick discussing their Golf shots Ladies enjoying the afternoon Ladies still relaxing - and why not! Michael and Bev

Our first Car and Clues Rally A dedicated team of volunteers braved the rain and wind at Seaforth Oval.  Forty five (45) cars with willing drivers and passengers participated in what turned out to be a fun day despite the adverse weather. All eagerly selected their clues and set off on a driving adventure around roads and points of interest on the Northern Peninsular. Nothing says more than an endorsement - here is a a selection of comments from happy participants   Lindy, well done to you and your committee, everything seemed to run so well during today’s adverse conditions and It was great to see so many members and friends enjoying themselves ... John OB   Fun, excellent. Please do again. Pan’s Major Fun Activity on a rainy afternoon . Murray Simpson Fabulous time!! Showed us part of Sydney we’ve never been to before! Looking forward to the next one! Susan Harriman It was great fun! Great planning! Maybe taking a photo & posting it to your Facebook si

A farewell dinner to Ian & Di McCarry was held at Totem Club. In early November, Ian and Di will be moving to Warners Bay to be close to their daughter's family and grandchildren. A group of Rotarian friends wished them Good Luck and they promised to come back and visit in the future. Ian has been a Rotarian for 25 years having started at Manly club and then the last 12 at Balgowlah. His drive and enthusiasm with many areas of service and Presidency in most of 2012-13 and all 2013-14  has been the the way Ian has approached any project or undertaking. He also tirelessly produced Bally Barker each month and many procedure manuals for service committees including Youth, Awards and our major fundraiser - the Annual Golf Day. His efforts with  many committees, projects and events and obtaining many sponsors will be greatly missed. Farewell Ian & Di  

A very successful and interesting meeting was held with 3 clubs tonight; Balgowlah Rotary, Dee Why Warringah and Rotary Club of Condobolin. Condobolin streamed their meeting from in a local hall, 8 Balgowlah members were at Balgowlah RSL and the remaining member/participants joined together via ZOOM. It was interesting to hear that despite Covid restrictions each club has been able to conduct or plan some worthwhile activities in coming months. The commitment and enthusiasm of all people participating was very evident and most rewarding. It was also World Polio Day and Balgowlah club member, PP Diana Hart AM, gave a thought provoking presentation to the group on Polio, its history, the development of treatments & vaccines, and Rotary's  launch of PolioPlus in 1985. From an estimated 350,000 cases in 125 countries in 1985 to just 10 so far this year (Nigeria, Pakistan & Afghanistan); the progress of the successful eradication programs has been phenomenal. She also discussed

It's all happening! Just what does it take to have a totally new fund-raising project that is Covid19 safe and gets all the family involved, your Fundraising team have devised the Cars'nClues Road Rally  The route was finalised and then appropriate bodies were contacted for permission to stage the event and use posters outdoors.  Our club has some very talented people,. Bev designed an eye catching poster :   Flyers then were prepared by a willing team.....     Great effort - they are now on displayed at Warringah Mall, Dalwood and Balgowlah Boys High School.   A big well done to all the workers! Other advertising and promotion includes: Flyers – done thanks to Bev. We just need to use them to advertise our event wherever possible so please tell all of your friends & family Emails sent to members, honorary members, past event participants, friends of Rotary & sponsors. Rotary Cluster Clubs with details of our Rally and a copy of the f

  President Report (Oct 2020) The first few months of our Rotary year starting July 2020 have been rewarding despite the challenging times with members engaged at meetings attended via Zoom and during the last few weeks face to face. We meet at Balgowlah RSL each 1 st and 3 rd Tuesday of the month but at present can only have up to 10 coming face to face due to the pandemic. Events We have postponed our major fundraiser Golf Day and Dinner due to Corona virus Covid-19, not because of the golf, but the dinner with auctions as we couldn’t mingle and the worry of close contact. We now hope to hold the event in March next year when hopefully restrictions will be less. To help raise some money we are now holding new event,   “Cars’n Clues Road Rally” on Sunday 1 st November. The event should be a lot of fun with participants following the clues to locations around the Northern Beaches and answering questions. It has helped give the members some focus and a

Biala Hostel During the school holidays, a willing team of Rotarians from clubs on the Northern Beaches worked on  minor refurbishment and repairs at Biala Hostel in Allambie Heights.  John and Lindy (left) with other volunteers The Biala Girls Hostel has been described as a "Lifeline" for indigenous girls from rural NSW, who live there while they go to Northern Beaches Secondary College - Mackellar Girls Campus.  Currently there are 9 students and it can accommodate 13 students.     The external recreational areas needed work especially the decking. So the team got cracking and made it happen.. This was more than a working bee, it was a well planned restoration project   Job very well done Thanks to all the volunteers who gave their time and skills ...