Last Meeting: Last meeting before Easter. Welcome guests – NYSF District Chair Barry Britten and Eileen from RC of Holroyd and our guest speaker Melissa Radjenovic. Melissa was club's sponsored NYSF participant. While technology almost beat us compatibility of Mac's –v- PC, Ashley came to the rescue to facilitate a great report on NYSF.

Brian & June reported on their recent visit to the NT and the Ghan trip. Interesting information from RC of Darwin Sunrise and the guided tour of some NT experiences (small plane flight, helicopter flight and railway landing, keen eyed guide and the frilled neck lizard and the "croc" adventures). Welcome back and thanks for the suggestions to the Sergeant.

Well run and profitable Sergeants session. Joker again jackpotted when Keiran could only dray a lowly 9 clubs. Jackpot now stands at $53.00.

Apologies received from Bill, Peter, Chris, Vicki, Helen, Tina, Darren and Drew.

Please make contact with President Jim, Secretary Bill or PP Keiran if you cannot make it to a meeting. If you are having difficulty making it to regular meetings, please contact us. It might be time to write or talk to President Jim about seeking or extending ''special leave".

Make-ups for Brian & June at Darwin Sunrise and the Birthday of Darwin Inner Wheel.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 10 April 2007 normal breakfast.

Summary for next months meeting.

Youth Report

RYPEN: materials and nomination forms distributed to schools. Awaiting responses from the schools.

NYSF: Our NYSF student Melissa will report on her experience. She has been invited to participate as a staff member on the next program. Also she has been selected to attend a 2 week seminar in Canada, commencing on 6 May 2007, and participate in a visit to the Kimberley's during the year. She will need to raise some $8000 for the trips and is seeking Club support. She needs to raise as much as possible before the Canada trip, with the remainder of the funds to be raised by January 2008. It was suggested that we look into using the "Rotary Raffle" which has already been established and there is the opportunity to raise $1.60 for each $2.00 ticket sold.

Need to establish mechanics for use of the "Rotary Raffle" and Jes proposed that the Club agree to provide Melissa with some support.

RYPEN – nominations to be sent to Brian Bragg and funding support for Melissa should be raised with the Board.

Report on NYSF – Melissa Radjenovic

Thanks to the technical support of Ashley, Melissa gave a professional report on her NYSF experiences.

A rigorous selection process ensures that the 288 participants are the best in the country. Our district, 9690, supported 9 participants.

The program is a 2 week live in program at ANU, Canberra and is run by "student" staff supported by science professionals and guest speakers. The students were broken into small interest groups. Melissa was in the Biology interest group, which was known as the Florey group. This was the small group which visited a range of laboratories – including CSIRO Green Machine, Canberra Zoo, ANU John Curtin School of Medial Research, and the Canberra Hospital. Her favorite lab visit was to the Canberra Hospital.

As part of the program the visited other areas of science in addition to their nominated areas of interest, that gaining a broad view of the science based careers that may be available to them. In her case she visited some Aerospace and Astronomic establishments.

The content of the program involved the students undertaking – practicals (where they dressed up in lab coats and made things (eg glow in the dark bacteria) and examined the research on drought proofing of plants. There were a range of Personal Development workshops and Open Forums where hot topics were debated – cloning, bioethics, environmental issues such as energy and water.

There were social events built into the program: Rotary Formal Dinner, Science Formal Dinner, Dress Up Disco, Questacon Visit (where the center was exclusively available to NYSF), Science Relay Quiz, Ice Skating and the Final Concert.

So what did I gain from the program:

1. Sight seeing of Canberra;

2. Friendships based on mutual interest in Science;

3. Gained a greater knowledge of science in Australia and how it fits in world wide;

4. Built a network of like minded people and with academia;

5. Became a more focused and motivated person as a result of the Personal Development workshops;

6. Was tasked to speak to a number of schools about NYSF and reporting to several Rotary Clubs;

7. Selected to go on the next round in Canada. Only 25 of the 288 NYSF students were selected to participate in the Canada wide Science Fair.

8. Great opportunity to be involved with the "Rotary Mum & Dad" and the experience of preparing a CV and being interviewed by professionals.

9. Learning the University entrance requirements and scholarship information, which gives NYSF graduates an edge when compared with other students completing school.

Expressed sincere thanks for being given the opportunity to participate in NYSF.

President Jim thanked Melissa for her presentation and invited her to return to the Club, in say 5 years, to let us know where she is at and how this experience has impacted her life choices.

Brian made the formal vote of thanks from the Club and suggested that Melissa keep her involvement with Rotary with the view to becoming a Rotarian later in life.

RESRA

No additional information at this time. All still on track.

The RESRA Dinner will be held on Monday, 21 May 2007 at Smithfield RSL Club. Contact Jes and volunteer your help for the various activities on the night.

Our annual Charity Cup Golf Day

Annual Charity Cup Golf Day (combined with a round of the Holden Scramble) is on Friday 4 May.

The major sponsor is Lansvale Holden. As usual, we are seeking PLAYERS and SPONSORS!

All members are asked to help by

a) making themselves available for the day and/ or

b) bringing some friends and playing, and/ or

c) becoming a sponsor

Golf Chairman Ashley will welcome your suggestions for the Golf Day!

This year's beneficiary is the Western Sydney School for Children with Autism.

2007 Golf Day Sponsors confirmed so far:

ø Lansvale Holden

ø Weigh-Tech Scales

ø Select Awards

ø Fairfield Advance

ø ISRI Seats

ø Mick Sims – Daylight Sportsware

Some 400 flyers have been posted to correspondents on our database. We have received a couple of interest calls and have had some hits on the website link. Fairfield Golf Links management very supportive and has suggested that more signage be provided to advertise the event on site.

Golf Day shirt very well received.

For more details on Charity Cup Golf Day event contact, Ashley Thomas.

Trivia Night

Wallacia / Mulgoa Valley Rotary – Saturday 19 May.

A reminder to all that we have been invited to participate in the Rotary Club of Wallacia/Mulgoa Valley trivia night. Tickets are $18.00 per person and a light supper is included. A 7pm for 7.30pm start with all profits going to the local Bus Fire Brigade.

Please let June Bragg know ASAP if you would like to attend.

Toastmasters

Catherine suggested that we invite the local Toastmasters chairperson to attend a Rotary meeting and talk to us about the organization and its benefits. She will make the arrangements for a date to be nominated.

Technology

Brian congratulated Ashley and his team for the magnificent leap forward with technology. The website is up and running and Interlink is now delivered by email notice and web-link. Great job.

On A Lighter Note

To commemorate her 69th birthday on October 1, actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit
of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was:

"My Favorite Things" from the legendary movie, "Sound Of Music".

Here are the lyrics she used:

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Cadillacs, cataracts, hearing aids, glasses,
Polident, Fixodent, false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the pipes leak,
When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads, hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinning',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.
When the joints ache,
When the hips break,
When the eye lids sag
Then I remember how great life has been,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores. Oh well, there's lots of life left in us all. Lots to look forward to.

Just a quick not from the editor

The Interlink newsletter will be written by the following people in the coming months.

Don't forget to support them by submitting interesting info for inclusion in one of the forthcoming editions.

Suggestions for submissions to Interlink newsletter can be an article, a joke or amusing story, a photo, directors or committee report, a reminder, an idea, anything of interest to the member's family and friends. Remember this is our Interlink, be a part of it.

To stay up to date with current and future events why not breakfast have with us on Tuesday and make sure you visit us at www.wprotary.com.au