Outgoing President of the Rotary Club of Woy Woy, Joan Redmond, has reflected on her time at the helm of the popular community club.
Redmond said it has been a ‘huge honour’ to serve the Club in its 70th year of service and in Rotary’s 100 years in Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s been a challenging year but a wild ride I wouldn’t have missed for the world,” Redmond said.
“We achieved more than I thought possible.
“Overcoming constant changes, the members worked together to achieve some excellent outcomes.
“And while raising funds was not our only focus, I’m pleased we were able to donate over $37,500 to help change lives in communities near and far.
“The Rotary year began and ended with Zoom meetings, but in between we were fortunate to have no lockdown and had the opportunity to enjoy in-person meetings and to come together to celebrate our special birthday and to hold several community events.
“With many planned fundraising activities cancelled due to COVID-19 including, for the second time, our annual Opera in the Arboretum, we considered what we could achieve given the uncertainty.
“I was inspired by the words of our Rotary International President that, ‘our acts of service, big and small, create opportunities for people who need our help’.
“This helped concentrate our efforts on serving the community, increasing the opportunity for members to engage in service and developing partnerships with community organisations to help our efforts.”
Redmond said she was particularly proud of the Club’s ‘Music Therapy for Dementia’ project which gave local aged care facilities headsets for residents to help reminisce and reconnect with memories.
“It helped bring joy to a hundred patients across two aged care facilities and assisting five local not-for-profit service providers with financial assistance through our Community Grants program,” Redmond said.
“The ‘From Me to You’ letterbox project supported people in crisis accommodation, and the ‘Good Start’ project assisted disadvantaged students.
“Helping us were Everglades Country Club, Rotary Umina Beach and Older Women’s Network who stepped in to offer support for our projects.
“We also supported the ladies at our Pure Joy project in Uganda who have endured exceedingly difficult circumstance during multiple lockdowns.”
Redmond handed over the ‘collar’ to Julie Jones at the Club’s annual Changeover last month.
“I wish Julie and the Board every success for 2021-22 as they ‘Serve to Change Lives’,” Redmond added.
The new board was also in attendance on the night.
Source:
Interview, July 13
Joan Redmond, Rotary Club of Woy Woy