I hope you have all booked in for our Christmas Party and final meeting of 2021 this week at Camden Golf Club. (Sorry, bookings are now closed for this event). I’m sure you are all looking forward to a wonderful night of delicious food, catching up and maybe even winning one of the many great raffle prizes that have been kindly donated by Rotarian Dawn Thomson. Thank you so much Dawn for your generosity once again.
There will also be a couple of surprise, but well-deserved recognitions & awards on the night and I’ve even heard a rumour that a certain jolly man in a red and white suit may make a visit too.
Louise Murphy, founder of the Australian First Responder Foundation & a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience, was our special guest speaker last week. Louise, supported by husband Wade, gave a very interesting presentation on this charity that is committed to doing great things to help reduce mental ill-health & suicide in volunteer emergency first responders. Louise is also RIWA’s ‘Health Care Worker of the Year’ for 2021, a very deserving recipient.
Please check out our Club calendar in this bulletin for upcoming dates/events for your diary in the new year The next six months will be a very busy time for Camden Rotary with many events, among them our 75th Birthday Celebration next June. Our Birthday Committee, headed by Rob Mulley, is an enthusiastic group who are working hard to make sure June 18th will be a night to remember for our Club. Please save the Date now to your 2022 diary!
Rob and the Social Committee (Jacquie, Mike & John) are planning a wonderful start to the year for our first meeting back at the beautiful home of Matt & Sandy Playford. (See details elsewhere in the bulletin).
Even though this is our last meeting for the year, our Editor Stephen has agreed to produce a special Christmas bulletin edition next week with lots of photos from our Christmas Party and also any updates/news for our members & friends.
As previously advised, you must register your attendance at the front door of the Golf Club to comply with Registered Club and COVID-19 requirements.
Patrons are still required to scan the QR code and provide proof of double vaccination upon entering the Clubhouse. The wearing of masks will no longer be mandatory for patrons.
If you are not attending the meeting in person at the Golf Club, or to register your guests, you must notify the Attendance Committee by email (no later than middayWednesday)
Our guest speaker last week was Louise Murphy, founder of the Australian First Responder Foundation, a charity committed to reducing mental ill-health and suicide in volunteer emergency first responders. Louise is currently a Nurse Practitioner in drug and alcohol medicine with South West Sydney Local Health District.
Louise has been responsible for the development and implementation of the State Peer Support Program for St John Ambulance (NSW) and a National Education Program for the Australian Department of Defence. She volunteers as a St John Ambulance Officer first responder and trainer.
In 2018, Louise was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate peer support programs in volunteer first responders to reduce mental health issues and suicide.
Louise spoke passionately about the unmet mental health needs of first responders and how the Australian First Responder Foundation was making a difference in their lives.
For the first meeting back next year we are going up to Razorback to take in the view from the home of Matt and Sandy Playford. For those who haven’t been there Sandy and Matt live at 165 Rotherwood Road Razorback and their property has 270-degree views from Southern Sydney right around to the Southern Blue Mountains. On a balmy summer night, it is a beautiful place to be so you don’t want to miss this one.
The usual fare of seafood starters, a barbecue and salads, and a palate cleanser at the end will fill you up, whilst a hot or cold beverage as you mingle amongst friends and chat about the year ahead will be a great start to our Rotary year.
Members and their partners are invited and we ask attendees to bring their own drinks so that the normal cost for the night of $30 per head will apply. Details for payment will be provided closer to the night and more information at our next meeting.
‘Merry Christmas’ to all from your Social Committee; Rob, Mike, John and Jacqueline
Thank you to all members & friends who have volunteered already However, we still have a few vacant shifts to fill in the next week or so until the 23rd December - please click now to volunteer.
Please share this link on your social media so that we might encourage more ticket sales. Go to the Camden Rotary Facebook page and ‘’like’’ and ‘’share’’ the link.
During the month of December, we recognise all that Rotary International and Rotarians are doing to combat diseases through effective treatment and prevention. It was certainly no small task that RI decided to take on in 1985 when we pledged to eradicate polio. Smallpox in 1979 is the only infectious disease that has ever been eradicated due to diligent vaccination and surveillance efforts; the same efforts that have bought mankind closer to the elimination of another devastating disease.
An amazing partnership between RI, the World Health Organization, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and regional governments is working to make this possible. Although infectious diseases continue to be a major cause of illness and death across the globe, they are not the major health concerns for most developed countries. Many people now see their lives shortened by chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Many of these conditions are not caused by infectious agents but are rather due to certain health behaviours and social conditions.
The continued involvement of Rotary in Disease Prevention and Treatment will need to be directed toward finding solutions to these social and behavioural determinants of health while continuing to fight against existing and emerging disease threats. Disease prevention and treatment takes on many forms, from supporting studies to helping immunise people to improving drinking water and the sanitation infrastructure. The world relies on Rotary to tackle these global challenges, and to set an example for others to follow.
The Rotary International organisation sets up health camps and training facilities in undeveloped countries and in communities struggling with HIV/AIDS and malaria. They also design and build the infrastructure for doctors, nurses, governments, and partners to reach the one in six people in the world who can't afford to pay for healthcare.
The Australian Government will provide $1.4 million to support Rotary Give Every Child a Future (RGECAF). RGECAF is celebrating 100 years of Rotary in Australasia by immunising 100,000 children across 9 Pacific Island countries. The government will help with childhood immunisation in Kiribati and Nauru. This is great news for the children of the Pacific.
Book now for the chance to hear some inspiring and well-known speakers. You will also have the chance to meet and mingle with fellow Rotarians from your District and hear the latest about new Club & District projects.
For more details, including the speakers already confirmed, check out the District Website: