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A note from the Co-Presidents
What a thrill on Monday it was to have our meeting room packed with people doing good in the world! The occasion was a reunion of the members of Canterbury Rotary’s 26th medical mission to the Philippines and the speakers were the four Orthoptics students; Bianca, Kathy, Stephanie, and Yanathan, who were sponsored by the club to participate. The youngest member of the team was Hunter Brundin (8 months) who charmed everyone he met. Most of the more than 50 people present had attended at least one PMM, many have been more than ten times!
It was clear that those who give also receive priceless gifts of learning, experiences, friendships, confidence, overcoming challenges, fulfillment and patience.
There was a huge number of items brought on the night to be donated to the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre (SHNC) Pantry, a project initiated by Steve Clarke and Jules McLean. Thank you everyone for your support, and many thanks to Wayne for delivering the items to SHNC. You are getting to be a welcome, familiar face to people there.
A short, but very important, part of the evening was the Annual General Meeting of the Club. It was great to have members vote in the next Canterbury Rotary President, President Elect and Board members. We wish Jillian Woinarski and the 2026-2027 Board best wishes and ongoing support from members. Congratulations and thank you to David Chivers for being elected as the President for 2027-28.
Thank you to the members who keep our other projects humming along - those who cover the three, six hour slots on the Sunday Market each week (and the roster co-ordinator John Pocock); Tte FORaMEAL team lead by Nora, Doug and Val (Last Thursday’s event packed 20000 meals); those who volunteer at RIMERN; the environment team lead by John McCaskill; the Wednesday lunch group organised by Alan Stevens while David Zrna is on holidays; as well as the members who are driving new and existing projects in the Philippines and locally.
Thank you to those who work to enable every meeting, led by Rob Simpson, to- set up and pack up our meeting room each week, money collection, name badges, raffle, attendance, meeting chairs, certificates, table cards & run sheets, IT, speaker co-ordination.
Thank you, John Braine and Joe Flinn for your ongoing behind the scenes work as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Also, thank you John Braine for taking on the extra role of Editor of the Canterbury Buzz to fill the position once Tony Laycock transferred to RC Drouin, you have been so patient with this President.
Lastly, thank you my trusty side-kick, Co-President Jillian Woinarski, for your fabulous job as speaker co-ordinator (and ensuring a smooth transition for Michelle when she took over the role in July), being a sounding board, asking many questions, and having lots of ideas. You will be fabulous as President!
Michael Stillwell, our Local Community Group Leader and partner of Co-President Jillian Woinouski, who attended to support our club was most impressed with the night.
Below are the participants in this year's Philippines Eye and Ear mission. Well done to all of you.
