On July 10 Boggabri Rotary Club held its annual changeover dinner at the Boggabri Bowling Club, with visitors from Gunnedah, Gunnedah West, Manilla, Narrabri and Coonabarabran clubs.
Outgoing president Phillip Haire reported that during the year the club welcomed three new members.
A new board was elected for 2013/14, with Alex McKenzie president, Ron Gillham vice president, Peter Hall secretary and Phillip Haire secretary.
Directors were also confirmed as; Phillip Haire club service, Michael Nott community service, Robert Breneger vocational service, Bill Jackson international service, Malcolm Donaldson youth service, Bill Jackson foundation, Bob Boyer publicity officer and Robert Breneger sergeant-at-arms.
The club gave support and assistance to the Namoi Karters in the construction of their track and amenities complex that is now up and running.
We again assisted the Boggabri Public School in conducting the 17th Annual Small Schools Public Speaking Competition by providing book prizes for the winners and a free sausage sizzle lunch for all the competitors and attending parents.
This year 180 children took part in this worthwhile event which highlighted Rotary’s commitment to the youth of Boggabri.
In conjunction with the Boggabri Business Promotion Association the club helped conduct a survey and co-hosted the presentation dinner for the winners of the various employee and business awards for retail, non-retail, trade/agriculture and community/organisation categories as well as Rotary’s Unsung Hero Award which went to Craig Devine from the Narrabri Shire Council.
December saw the club members assisting the Boggabri Business Promotions Association with the organisation of the Christmas Street Carnival. It was Rotary’s turn to run the Christmas stocking.
The barbecue skills of the club were in demand at the Lions Annual Drovers Campfire which enabled us to make a donation of $200 to Australian Rotary Health for mental research.
Boggabri had the pleasure of hosting the Rotary Cluster 7 Annual Public Speaking.
The Senior Citizens Luncheon sponsored by the Boggabri Lions Club in March was a great success with Rotarians providing drinks and their time to ensure everyone had an enjoyable time.
The Baan Baa Bash, held at the Baan Baa Railway Hotel, which saw 80 Rotarians from Boggabri, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Gunnedah West, Manilla and special guests from The Netherlands on a group study exchange, in attendance.
This was a great night, resulting in the Baan Baa Hall Committee receiving a donation of $700.
Two of the guest speakers of the year were Lillian Schultz, who spoke of her musical career and then treated the assembly to a violin performance and Merri-Anne Corey who told of her experiences as a post graduate awardee to America.
Progress is at last beginning to take place with the proposed skate park after some disappointing setbacks, however after some generous donations from local businesses and organisations.
Thanks to the Wean Picnic Race Committee who arranged for us to man the barbecue and lolly stalls and with the help from the Narrabri Rotary Club members who supervised the parking. This added a further $4600 to the kitty.
This, with the collection of old batteries, that are still required, the pouring of the first cement slab is within sight.