Wirrimbirra hits the ground running

The brand new Rotary Club of Revesby Wirrimbirra, NSW, has got the formula right!
“I call us the Rotary rookery,” Charter President Sharon Bond told the splendid charter night function on October 21.

“We are a club with elders – what I call the older chicks and roosters. You need the wisdom and experience to hold the club together – hence, elders will always be welcomed as members of our club.  We are a club of a younger generation – made up of former youth exchange students, Rotaractors, Group Study Exchange members and Rylarians.

“We are a club of middle management who still have the world to conquer. Because of their age, some members will change occupations, change residences, travel, have families but they will always be Rotarians.  Hence the rookery.  We will continue to grow but won’t be afraid to let our chicks find their wings,” she told the happy crowd of 200 Rotarians, family and friends.

The new club has a perfect mix of youth, age and vocational diversity. There is an important influence from the local indigenous community by way of support from an elder of the Wiradjuri tribe, George Fisher (now deceased), who gave permission for the name Wirrimbirra (“sanctuary, safe haven”) to be used.  George’s wife, Helen, designed the club’s impressive banner, which also reflects the indigenous theme.

The club hit the ground running and conducted an outstanding “Give Poverty the Boot” program whilst carrying provisional status.  Members collected 1000 pairs of shoes from schoolchildren and took them to Sydney’s DIK warehouse for shipment as container fillers to the Philippines.

Revesby Wirrimbirra conducted a hugely successful Bridal Expo the week before its charter, the Club Board is now preparing a business plan to establish the first Men’s Shed in the area, and next project on the agenda is the establishment of a community bank!