Here we are in 2021 and looking forward to better times, but before I go on with that I'd like to touch on the last few meetings of 2020 and in particular the election of Office Bearers for 2021-2022 and the Willetton Senior High School Awards (WSHS).
Key to the elections was identifying our President Elect and I was delighted to learn that our current Club Director of International Service, Steve Genoni, would be stepping up to the plate. Congratulations Steve. I'm sure you will find your time in the chair very rewarding. Supporting Steve will be:
Kevin Baruffi Club Service ; John Erkins Secretary; Richard Ibbitson Treasurer; Stuart Diggins Foundation; Gordon Booth Membership; David Honeychurch Public Relations; Frank Murgia Vocational Service ; Ian Ross Community Service; Kieran English International Service and Noel Galopin Youth Service. Well done everyone!
The Willetton Senior High School Awards (WSHS) were held on Monday 30 November 2020 at the delightful Metamorphosis Gallery ably organised by our Club Director of Youth Services, Noel Galopin, and just as ably aided and abetted by Kevin Baruffi and Jana Baruffi-Vodesil whose support to me and the Club throughout this Rotary year has been nothing short of amazing. Noel introduced the evening by reminding us of the close relationship the Club and WSHS have and that the school has been the principal source of the students we have sponsored to participate in a wide range of Rotary programmes. For the full text of Noel's introduction Click here. In brief, the programmes include the:
- Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) for 14-17 year olds;
- Rotary Youth Leadership Awards-(RYLA) for 18 to 28 year olds
- Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) for 15 to 18 year olds
- National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) for students going into Year 12 and ConocoPhillips Science Experience for students in Years 9 and 10
- Rotary WA Driver Education Program (RWADE) primarily for Year 10 students
- WSHS Interact Club for 12 to 18 year old secondary students. And of course the WSHS Awards which are given by the Club to four students in each of years 10 and 11 for excelling in Community Service, the Arts and Academic and Sporting achievements plus an Award For Teacher Of The Year.
The Year 10 Awardees

From L to R: Year 10 Coordinator Micheal Iallacci, Angela Thompkinson (Community Service); Olivia Anderson (Academic Achievement); Luke Smith (Arts); and Caitlan Hodgkinson (Sport); Club Director of Youth Services, Noel; and me
The Year 11 Awardees

From LtoR: Ethan Moir (Sport); Ben Crommie (Arts); Year 11 Coordinator Ms Rachel Harrington; and Oliver Rapanaro (Academic) (The Community Service Award went to Emily Ong who was unable to attend); Director Noel and me
And The Teacher Of The Year-Ms Rianda Clemons

From LtoR: Rianda, me and Director Noel
It was a successful event attended by WSHS Interact Coordinator Ms Philipa (Pip) Peake and many proud parents, family and friends. We expect to publish more detail about the students in future Bulletins.
Our final social event for the year was at the Boatshed Restaurant in South Perth where about twenty Rotarians and partners (some of whom are pictured at right) enjoyed a hearty breakfast; and then we got the year off to a flying start on 4 January 2021 when we were treated to a "Presidents BBQ" Italian style with a (very) long table (See also at right) in the beautiful setting of Kevin and Jana's stunning home and gardens. Kevin, Jana and Kevin's sister, Jean, were our gracious hosts and also chief cooks and bottle washers. They did us proud.
To view the CLUB MEETING DUTY ROSTER for next week and beyond Click here. Remember, if you are the Sergeant's Assistant IT for the meeting after next, it will be your responsibility take the PA system home, return it and set it up at the following meeting.
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