Bill presented members present with his report on the year ended 30 June 2024 as well as accounts for his year for both the club and the  Rotary Club of

Newmarket Charitable Trust that were circulated by Ric Buchannan.

 

In his comments, Bill highlighted the Grants & Donations made totaling $146,106 which are listed under each

committee.

 

Bill also spoke about the Newmarket Rotary Charitable Foundation which currently has investments

managed by Craigs of over $2m and funding from the Foundation supports a number of the clubs

grants and donations.

 

Bill highlighted the club's fundraising activities, including Circus Quircus, the Garden Design Fest, and other events. He also acknowledged the work of the volunteers who made these events a success both in terms of fellowship and fundraising.

 

He pointed to the contributions of various committees, including Community and Environment, New Generations, World Community Service, and Vocational.

 

All in all a year that while having some interesting happenings is one to remember.

 

After Bill had finished his address John Meadowcroft took us through the incoming Board noting that he and Warwick Leyland and himself will be joint Presidents for the 25/26 Rotary year with David Jack and David Bradshaw being joint Presidents Elect for the 26/27 year.  we were then introduced to the 

Brilliant Music at Breakfast!

 

We were treated to a wonderful performance of quality music at our meeting last week. Mrs Diana Rhodes, Vocal Itinerant Teacher, presented One Tree Hill College students in a memorable concert. 

 

The high quality of singing remains as a deep impression.

 

The first Breakfast Performance Item was Eriskay Love Lilt, a folk song from the Northern Hebrides Islands, collected by Marjorie Kennedy Fraser. The seven girls who sang in the ensemble were as follows

Alice Machado Gois

Zara MacMenigall

Ana Maciel

Rosa Shin

Chloe Shin

Tatiana Waqasokolala

Loraine Mira

 

Two beautiful Lieder songs were presented. 

Zara MacMenigall sang Maria Wiegenlied (Mary’s Lullaby) by Max Reger.

In response to a Rotarian's question, Mrs Rhodes enlightened us about lieder - it simply means a song, while it became associated with 18th-19th century European poetry although some beautiful lieder exist with simple yet effective poetry too, as we heard one such song.

Emmanuel Tangimataiti was the young baritone who sang the beautiful Wanderer’s Nachtlied, by Schubert. This was based on a short poem considered by many to be one of Goethe’s finest. His second song was Bella Ciao, an Italian anti-facist song dedicated to the partisans. His percussionist was Tristan Tamati-Wilson.  Students and Music staff members also provided accompaniments - Diana Rhodes and Raewyn Seto on piano and Patrick Gray (Music Curriculum Leader) on guitar.

 

As you will guess, a truly international group of young musicians.

 

Later this year, OTHC will have its annual koha-fund-raising concert with Vocālis. That will provide an opportunity to hear a wide range of our young musicians and will probably be held in Term 3 – date to be confirmed. It will be lovely to have a good auditorium audience for a Thursday evening and our Big Sing repertoire will be on display also.

Mrs Diana Rhodes expressed her thanks for Penrose Rotary's support for Music over the years and for the invitation to perform to Penrose Rotary Club with Newmarket Rotary guests at the Breakfast meeting.  Trevor Bayly gave a heart-felt thanks to the group on behalf of our club.

Ann Dunphy expressed very best wishes to all for The Big Sing - and deepest gratitude for giving us such a special Rotary meeting this week!