President Rob had gone fishing so it was my pleasure to cover for him on Monday 27 May 2019. It was a very special, good news night as we celebrated the achievements of our youth, our members and our partners. To say the least, it was inspiring. 

First was the news that the Willetton Senior High School (WSHS) Interact Club had won the Seven West Media Youth Group Achievement Award sponsored by Woolworths. WSHS School Board Executive Officer, Helen Wong, was there to share the moment that she, Pip Peake and Sue Thorp (who prepared the supporting application) helped facilitate. We report more fully below on this wonderful achievement.

Helen had other reasons to be proud: her son, Marcus, had just been named the 2019 WA Youth Volunteer of the Year (for more on Marcus Click here); and her daughter Rachel was chairing the guest speaker segment during which she interviewed Facundo Buly, Angela Thomkinson, Rossni Malvathu and Min-En Seet (seated left to right below) to get their take on the Rotary Program Of Enrichment (RYPEN) camp they recently attended and at which Rachel was a facilitator.

With family and friends watching on, all four spoke confidently about their experience; how it had taught them a great deal about themselves and overcoming their fears; about how to go through a weekend without their mobile phone; about leadership, teamwork, seeing others' points of view, acknowledging their differences and recognising what they and the other thirty-six (36) participants had in common. 

If all that was not inspiring enough Greg Vines (pictured at right) capped it with the news of his bronze medal success in the H to K Division of the mixed four sculls at the Australian Masters Rowing Championships held at the Champion Lakes Regatta Centre from 22 May to 25 May 2019. I was also meant to be competing, but fell victim to the 'flu. (Apologies to Greg-in last weeks report we failed to mention that he was competing ED).