2025 has started with a club meeting on 15 January, and our traditional Australia Day Breakfast.

 

Ken Mullin, our webmaster gave us a good rundown about our Website, which operates through Clubrunner.  He noted that maintaining the website costs $615 per year, we do need to make better use of it in transferring information internally and externally, especially in letting the wider community know about our activities.  He provided a lot of useful information about how it works and what we can do to make it more effective.  If you need a copy of Ken’s excellent presentation please make contact.

 

Immediately after New Year, Francesco travelled to Broome to spend two weeks with Scott and Laura Kneebone and their family.  Grady Kneebone is our outbound exchange student for 2025 and Francesco was able to tell him about the exchange experience.  Francesco  says he had a great time, although the heat and humidity was somewhat wearing!  Some photos of his activities are attached.

 

 

Soon after Francesco returned from Broome, Grady left for Finland to commence his 12 months exchange.  So from +30c and high humidy to below zero with snow and ice in Finland will be a big change, but that was what Grady was looking for.  We are sure he will have a great time.  Well done to Jacqueline who has helped get all the arrangements in place, and thanks to Bronwyn for hosting a meet and greet with Grady’s parents when they were in Perth before Christmas.

 

Francesco turned 16 on the 19^th of January, and he enjoyed a dinner on that day with Jacqueline and others.  The main event was a lunch on 24^th January hosted by Rick and Debbie Fletcher, attended by some of the inbound exchange students,  friends from Mount Lawley SHS and members of Francesco’s basketball team.  It was a great event, with the highlight being the birthday cake.  Apparently it is a tradition in Argentina for the birthday person to bite, rather than cut the cake, and Francisco did this helped by fellow Argentinian student Mine, who pushed his face into the cake – as shown in the accompanying photos. 

 

Despite battles over publicity with the City of Perth, and additional costs imposed by them for the event, our annual Australia Day Breakfast was worthwhile and good fun being again combined with an excellent Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Barry Winmar and dancers.  This was organised by Denyse McClements from Auspire – Australia Day Council (WA).  Robin Arndt his usual polished and dignified speech, and then after the usual muddle setting everything up (barbecues, gazebos, tables etc) we were underway – as shown in photos by Sheridan.  Unfortunately, we did not sell as many breakfasts as usual, probably because Australia Day coincided with a long weekend and many people may have been away. However, we were able to take the surplus food to St Barts who were very pleased to receive buns, sausages and a watermelon!.  Thanks again to John Patton at IGA Royal Street for his generous donation of $750 for the foodstuffs, and to members of the East Perth Community Group who helped out.   We will making representation to the City of Perth about the matters noted above in the hope that planning goes more smoothly next year. 

 

It was wonderful to see Bro. Olly receiving this Award for his work in initiating Wheelchairs for Kids and leading the program for so many years.  His dedication to Wheelchairs For Kids has made an immence impact, proving that age is no limit to making a difference.   As you know we have made donations to Wheelchairs for Kids in the past and it is a wonderful program.  So – congratulations Olly from all at Heirisson!,