Bally Barker Blog

Hats for the homeless is an organisation run by Uniting volunteers, who have knitted a variety of Beenies, scarves and mittens. The Rotary club of Balgowlah is proud to join forces with One Meal Northern Beaches to distribute these wonderful hats to locals who are sleeping rough or in need.   Kim Williams volunteer One Meal, Paul Apps Balgowlah Rotary and Roger Gray President Balgowlah Rotary. Chris Lake One Meal Northern Beaches, Roger Gray President Balgowlah Rotary and Paul Apps Balgowlah Rotary Kim Williams One Meal Northern Beaches with the variety of hand knitted hats If anyone would like more information about Hats for the Homeless, please contact Susan Russell on 0439 320 347. Thanks to John O'Brien for pictures and story

Balgowlah Rotary Changeover Night. Outgoing President Rick Van Brugge summed up the work done by Balgowlah Rotary Club members in 2022-23 and welcomed in the incoming Presidents Roger Gray and Dr Diana Hart OAM. Roger will be president from July to December, Diana will be be from Jan - June 2024. Roger, Diana and Rick Rick has been Club President for the last two years and all appreciated the fine effort he has done and the great work that the club has continued to do. An info pack has been put together detailing the various activities that have been undertaken by each of the separate committees thru the course of the year under quite difficult circumstances – it talks very much to what we have achieved during the year – and I think all members should rightly feel proud of what we have collectively done   Rick welcomed members, partners and guests including our Assistant District Governor, and from StreetWork, Dalwood Spilstead, Lifeline NB and Community NB.

One June 6, 2023, Thomas Shanahan gave a highly informative talk on scam awareness to club members and guests. Thomas was accompanied by Maggie, his Mum who was a member of the club before moving out of the area.   Thomas Shanahan Thomas worked for the professional association for Australia’s technology sector for more than 5 years, specialising in media and community engagement around technology and teaching people how to boost their online security. He holds Microsoft certifications in Cybersecurity advocacy and has presented to community groups using resources from the eSafety Commissioner, along with speaking at national and international events.   Many scams are getting harder to recognise, the techniques often used are very advanced or sophisticated and people find it hard to understand or pick that they were not genuine. Thomas started with some examples of genuine and scam text messages and how to pick the difference. If no action is required (e

HELP WANTED: Roger Gray and Michael Mead met with Kerry Gywnn, Program Manager of Dalwood Spilstead Services in Seaforth.   The centre and Kerry’s work has received world-wide acclaim for the programs that provide multidisciplinary health, education, and support services for vulnerable families, who are in stress or experiencing difficulties in the care and parenting of their children in the early years.    Two amazing programs for children, Child's Play and Young and Needy are both given support by Rotary Balgowlah (both were initiated by our club years ago).   Kerry needs our help with a range of volunteer roles:   ·       Driving to/from Chatswood area Transporting children & family members in the Spilstead 8-seater bus/van.   ·       Administration Helping in the office with jobs like photocopying, laminating and binding.   ·       Teaching Tutoring after school and helping teachers during the day.   ·       Preschool

Each year the Rotary Club of Balgowlah, awards members of the local community for the work they have done in promoting and exhibiting high levels of commitment in the areas of Community Service and Vocation. This can be in their role in the workplace, as employers/managers, employees, volunteers, or trainees. An audience of 116 people attended the presentation dinner held at the Wakehurst Golf Club on Tuesday May 2, 2023. Pres Rick van Brugge - Official Welcome Following the opening and welcome to guests by club president, Rick van Brugge, the address by Hon. James Griffin, member for Manly focused on the importance of the exceptional work of the organisations and volunteers. Many of these people are being recognised tonight and the work they do is so important - even in the apparently affluent part of Sydney like the Northern Beaches. They are an essential part of our community and give assistance and improve the well-being of less fortunate people includi