Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

Gifts being delivered to a local school for distribution  The Tree of Joy is a community project of the Rotary Club of  Wallsend-Maryland  (Newcastle NSW) ... one might even call it an institution. For 49 years, at this time of the year, the community come together with the local Rotary club, and  give generously to others who are experiencing a difficult time.  In the early years, the Tree of Joy focussed on providing gifts to children of families who might not be able to provide Christmas presents.  In more recent times, the Tree of Joy has not only continued that role  but has also  extended help and support to anyone of any age, and especially those whose livelihood has been compromised by natural disasters - flood, drought and fire and the Covid pandemic.  Rotary Club of Wallsend-Maryland  Most people like to take a tag from one of the many Christmas trees placed in local businesses and the office of our local member of Parliament...

Australia/NewZealand Rotary Conference 2018. Hobart, Tasmania  Last week  was a very welcome break from routine .... a short conference in Hobart with a little bit of sightseeing.  I attended the 2018 Australia/New Zealand Rotary Conference with my friend, Pam  and we were certainly inspired.  My favourite speaker - Peace Scholar, Stephanie Woollard, CEO of  "Seven Women"  Rotary District 9670 Dinner  Panel Discussion - Be The Inspiration Of course, we packed into our spare time as much sightseeing with our Hobart friends as possible - it was fun from the very first welcome to the airport to platypus spotting on the last day.  Hobart Airport Welcome  Hobart - wet and cold !  Hobart - 30 minutes later  Sculptures in Hobart  Remembering the convict history in Hobart  Penguin art at Mawson's Huts Botanical Gardens  Huon Pine at Botanical Gardens...

I belong to a Rotary club and unlike many of the public misconceptions about Rotary being a bit stuffy, my club, the Rotary Club of Wallsend-Maryland is lots of fun and its members are great - generous community-minded people with hearts of gold and  tremendous senses of humour. Christmas 2015 meeting   However, we do have a serious side, and some of our projects are based in the local community - graffiti removal, supporting the homeless and needy, the local school's gifted and talented students' program and supporting local charities and other volunteer groups with catering for fundraising. Some of the catering team  enjoying a break....  (We also have other projects we support which are district, national and international)  This week we celebrated the 111th birthday of Rotary International but at a local level.  Being a club which enjoys any excuse for a celebration, we are having a whole month of bringing our Rotary club...

Angels of Hope packed ready to be distributed. Doll making is not usually associated with Rotary Clubs. I think my Rotary club ( Rotary Club of Wallsend-Maryland in District 9670) is very special. We have supported local women's refuges and domestic violence resource centres over the years in many different ways. Making and donating little dolls - angels of hope - is just one of the ways. It is also a wonderful project for us, as our members love coming together and creating, even though many of them have little experience with sewing or making dolls. While we may be doing something for our community, we are learning some new skills and having fun at the same time. On Sunday, 29 September, we had the annual Rotary  "doll making" day. And if you are thinking only the women get involved, certainly not the case!  The men provide the numerous cups of tea and coffee which are necessary for this project, and  always serve the most beautiful and delicious mo...

Congratulations to winner, Gill who will soon receive her own traditional bilum and wooden wall hanging from Papua New Guinea.. The selection of a winner was a serious process, with all entries' names placed in the bilum and one chosen. Thanks to the eight followers who entered – perhaps the prize wasn’t to everyone’s liking, but these items were made with love, pride and generosity in far more difficult conditions than we can imagine. Please remember that this week is International Anti-Poverty Week. Congratulations too to all who participated in the Hunter Homeless Connect Day Sleepout and event this week. I survived only because I had a really great swag to sleep in – it was a very cold night. Thanks to fellow Rotarians who joined the District 9670 team in the sleepout and to my wonderful club, Rotary Club of Wallsend-Maryland who fed all the homeless pretenders on the night. Special thanks to all my family, friends and the Lemon Grove Hotel, Wallsend who spon...

Rotarians from Yea, Victoria clebrate the installation of a water tank at Mando village, PNG. It is said that the Mando spirit moves mountains. However, it takes a team of Rotary volunteers to complete a project job list. In the last threee years, we have provided free primary education by building new classrooms, reduced the infant mortality rate by encouraging mothers to have their babies in the hospital or medical centre by providing maother and baby packs, began the process of including students with special needs in the school, supplemented family incomes by teaching living schools and establishing pig and chicekn breeding projects at the school. Here is a video summary of what has been achieved our recent trip - MANDO 2010 VIDEO Thanks to our intrepid leader, Wendy Stein for the production of this clip to highlight the achievements Clean water on tap Village men help unload new tank  Teacher housing upgraded  Replacing the floor of the principal's house Interior d...