Swan Rotary meets on Mondays at 7th Avenue Bar & Restaurant, 75 Helena Street, Midland.
Please be there by 6:15PM, the meeting starts at 6:45PM.
Club President Allan Ramsay
Club Secretary Maureen Houlihan
General Enquiries info@swanrotary.org.au
Future Club Nights
Monday, 21 April - No Meeting as Easter Monday
Monday, 28 April - Board Meeting & Project Night
Monday, 5 May - Speaker TBA
Swan Rotary Meeting - 14 April 2025,
7th Avenue Bar and Restaurant
Sergeant Graham opened the meeting with an acknowledgment of country and a toast to Australia and her people.
President Allan opened the meeting
A very warm welcome to Swan Rotary members, as well as Partners; Robyn, and Pauline (David Uhe's Wife of 55 years and 3 days).
Guest John and Kathy Brown.
Apologies; Eddie, Manny, Karren, Rachel and Ninder.
Email from Ninder
It is our Sikh New Year today and we have to celebrate as a family. Temple for prayers and dinner.
I hope you will be able to explain to my fellow Rotarians about Vaisakhi.
Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is a harvest festival primarily celebrated in Punjab, India, and by the Sikh community worldwide.
It marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year and the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It's a time for community gatherings, celebrations, and remembering the historical significance of the festival.
If you don’t share this – you will be double fined next week!
Thank you Graham
Happy Vaisakhi to all
Regards - Ninder
Secretary Report - Maureen
Liz and David’s neighbour, Jackie, has been making some things to go in our rotary craft stall, they have passed this along to Maureen.
Treasurer Report - Betty
In the four months that we have been BBQing at Liebherr we have made $8000.
SJOG Octopus for Preemies - Sue
I have recently received a postcard from the SJOG NeoNatal ward.
A very special thanks to Angela, Maureen and Betty for their contributions
Margaret River Conference - David U
Good Conference, great quality of speakers.
Stand outs
Raj - from Nepal, has been doing projects specifically toilets in schools, because there is nowhere for young girls to change their tampons. For more information
VTT - spoke with gov agencies, fed police & women refuges, they attended at spoke at 4 meetings total, have gone back home now.
Fellowship Camping trip - David U
On the last camping trip in Albany, it was decided that Beverly would be the next destination, it is due to happen in Early November. David and Pauline will be doing some recon and reporting back in the coming months.
Money Spinner - David U
We collected the money from the money spinner outside Woolworths Ellenbrook, It contained over $60 in gold coins, and an assortment of silver. So looking at over $100 from just a few weeks from being checked.
Midvale Skate Park BBQ - David U
This took place today, they severely overestimated the amount of people that would be attending, only gave away about 50 Sausage sizzles. They cooked up the rest of the supply and they will distribute throughout the day, any left overs will go off to midland meals. Thanks to Rachel, Mary, Pauline, David u, Fred, and Maureen with the grand kids for attending.
Markets - Bill
Markets are 2 weeks away, due to the Easter Monday Public Holiday, we wont be having a meeting. We will be okay for Marshals, however may need one or two people to help on the BBQ.
We have one more night market and then back to Sunday Morning markets.
SJOG Major Project - Fred
David U and Fred will be meeting with SJOG about major project, and working on a rotary story to be published.
Rotary Foundation Funds - Fred
With the upcoming New Rotary Year, we will be coming up with a plan on how to use Rotary Foundation Funds and grants for efficiently.
Early Sergeants Sessions this week
Chase the Joker
With about 45 cards and a kitty of around $360, Naru selected Angela's ticket unfortunately it was the Ace of Club.
Fines
Pauline and David - welcome back & wedding anniversary
Maureen, and Sue birthdays this week (16 and 17 of April)
Bill - not buying Fred a coffee at the Mirvac, but buying everyone else one
Aubrey - being a bad spotter when GE was backing up with the BBQ Trailer
Graham - bad backing skills with the BBQ Trailer
Fred, Linda for no high vis (in the back of Graham's car)
Betty - near explosion as a possum has been chewing her gas lines
John - Glasgow accident difficult to understand by GE
Ian - bought a new Suburu, cost double the value of the write off
Sue - thanks for the easter bunny
X Fines
Maureen - Collingwood won
David - 2 weeks of School holidays
Cheriley - on GE for Indiana as a visitor at the vet clinic.
Who am I?
Dr Naru Pal
Naru joined Swan Rotary in February 2025, he is a doctor, and was the Director of Public Health in Sydney during the Covid 19 Pandemic.
Naru lived in India until he was 24, and then moved to New Zealand. His parents were of Middle Class, his father was unable to study more than year 6 due to access to schools, even though he received a scholarship. His parents hope was that their children would pursue further education.
India was a highly competitive schooling, Naru moved to NZ for more opportunities.
Photos from his family home in India
Medical College
Naru is in the sweater vest standing in the back.
Naru's Children
Naru's mum receiving an award
Naru's Family taken in 1990
Naru at his sons wedding
After leaving New Zealand, due to job prospects not being good.Naru moved to Australia, and has lived in many places in Australia. First a specialist job in Port headland, in Aboriginal community control health service. Which is an initiative that gives control about decision making back to aboriginals. He then moved to Katherine in the Northern territory, where his Kids attended primary school, and then to Bunbury. Naru has two children are both now studying medicine.
Naru first joined Rotary in 2009, joining the Rotary Club of Bunbury. When he moved to Sydney in 2018, he was unable to stay a member of Rotary, due to his commute being over 2 hours a day.
Naru’s life values are;
Being optimistic, seeing the glass as half full,
Life is what you make it, when you put in the effort you get the results you want.
Being a good human being, he has taught his children to be good humans.
Respect for all cultures.
Closure
Allan thanked all those members who attended tonight, next week there will be no meeting due to Easter Monday Public Holiday. The week after will be a Projects nights, please being along ideas for projects in the 25-26 Rotary year, as well as budgets for the projects.
Linda closed the meeting with the Rotary Charge.
If you want something submitted in the Newsletter, you can Email David at davidcharlescumming@gmail.com
