Welcome to the Thursday Lunch Club.
The Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin. 

THE CLUB MEETS AT THE ROYAL CANBERRA GOLF CLUB AT 12.30 ON THURSDAYS.

Please contact the Club Treasurer (treasurer@rccbg.org) to confirm your attendance.

 

 

Club activities:

 

COME VOLUNTEER WITH US ON COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Contact Bill Andrews on Telephone 0416 785 133, for further details and dates of activities. 
 
Our next significant project will be on 25th October 2025 manning two Stalls and the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell at the Canberra Nara Candle Festival, Nara Park. We would love to see you there.
 
Current activities include:
  • Barbeques
  • Gardening assistance
  • Peace bell ceremonies and tours
  • Parking area supervision at Canberra show
  • Participation in local primary school civics programs
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR CLUB?
Contact Russell Dew on Telephone number 0400 622 112 or e mail russelldew1@gmail.com
 
Help us make the world better through assisting our community. 
 
 
NOTES ON THE RUN FROM PRESIDENT WARRICK.
 
The elections and AGM are done and dusted and we have a strong Board and President-elect in Neil        to guide the ship into 2026/27. A special heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and especially President Elect Neil, Treasurer Ross, Secretary John, President Nominee '27/'28 Astrida and Rotary Foundation Director Monica who nominated and were elected to the crucial Board positions. 
This week we have our Board meeting to decide on the final distribution of community funds. We have worked hard to raise these funds so I hope we can select worthwhile organizations which can make a difference to our community and the wider world.
Astrida has done a magnificent job as Chair this month and we have enjoyed several spirited presenters. 
Preparations are in hand for our Christmas party at Warrick’s home. It will be a barbeque where we bring most of the food so we will distribute a list of suggested dishes, or you can come up with something completely different. Bring a jacket for unforeseen snow or hail. Eric will send out an invitation so any friends or guests will be taken care of.
This week was also the annual Presentation Ceremony at Hay War Memorial High School. Our scholarships for 4 indigenous students was featured and next year's candidates identified. Let's try and make a trip to Hay in time for next year's ceremony? 
The meat, bread and drinks will be supplied by the club.
 
 
Notice of a special event from Astrida:
 
 Please register for Webinar : Coercive Control Uncovered: Awareness, Action, Advocacy on Saturday:
Saturday 29 November 2025 3.30-4.30pm AEDT
Soroptimist International together with Zonta, CWA ACT, National Council of Women (ACT) and the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin is hosting a national webinar on coercive control as part of the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence. You are invited to attend this free event.
Please register for Coercive Control Uncovered: Awareness, Action, Advocacy on Saturday 29 November 2025, 3:30 PM AEDT at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6850906770621804639  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
 
Next meeting:
Our next meeting will be held at the Royal Canberra Golf Club on Thursday. Astrida will take the Chair and introduce Richard Pembury.
If you are planning on attending but haven’t responded to Eric’s invitation, please do so by 11 am on Tuesday, 25th November.
To see the program of future meetings, visit: Rotary activities Spreadsheet. 
 
Candle Festival success on 25 October!
Jess Howieson and Ross ready to take your money. Thanks to Jess and to Bill’s granddaughter Corella for their help.
Eric looking relaxed as he cooks the sausages.
 
Collette and Bill cooking taiyaki with Warrick cleaning up in the background. Thanks to Collette for her help.
 
 
 
On the big stage a school band performs.
There were candles – here’s many of them, surrounding one of the Peace Poles near the Peace Bell.
 
Rotaractor Owen helping a visitor ring the Peace Bell.
 
 
 
Olek providing guidance to the Chief Minister and the Japanese Ambassador.
Japanese Ambassador ringing the Peace Bell.
 
Rotaractor Miles encouraging donations to support the Peace Bell.
 
 
 
Thanks to Olek for the photos of the Peace Bell activities.
 
The handful of volunteers at the Club’s double stall had a busy time on Saturday, selling drinks, ninja sausage sandwiches, and taiyaki to raise funds for Club projects. There was also the opportunity to ring the Peace Bell – many thanks to Miles and Owen the Rotaract Club of Canberra for helping out at this event. Treasurer Ross will advise the financial results of the event once he’s received all invoices and reconciled the figures.
 
Some of the surplus bread, custard, sausages and chopped onions was donated to Annie’s Place in Queanbeyan, where they will be used to help those in need. A staff member thanked the Club for the donation, saying “Thank you for dropping the food off, it is greatly appreciated”.
 
 
 
 
 
Paper cranes from Canberra hung in Hiroshima
The Canberra Rotary Peace Bell coordinator was delighted to receive the following email from Hiroshima:
 
Today we offered your paper cranes sent from the Canberra ceremony to remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August. The cranes have been hung from the Children’s Hiroshima Peace Monument.
 
Thank you again for sending us a bunch of beautifully folded cranes.
 
We would like to ask for your understanding and continued support for our city’s initiatives for peace.
 
Wishing for your good health and happiness!
Sincerely,
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Peace Promotion Division
Citizens Affairs Bureau, the City of Hiroshima
 
Congratulations to Majura Primary and Mawson Primary Schools for the cranes and to the Rotaract Club of Canberra who conducted the ceremony. We presented these cranes at the Canberra ceremony then sent them to Hiroshima to proudly hang from the children’s memorial there.
Information and photograph courtesy of the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell Facebook page
 
Oceans to Outback: RFDS fundraising walk
Australia is a big country, and for those living in remote, rural and regional areas, access to immediate care isn’t a guarantee. For some communities, the nearest hospital is eight hours drive away. Every year, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) reaches more than 330,000 Australians with 24-hour emergency retrieval and primary healthcare services. That’s one person every two minutes!
 
This October, I’m walking 87km to raise funds for the RFDS (one km for each RFDS aircraft). As of today, I’ve walked 85 km. There’s still time to make a tax-deductible donation, at:
https://www.oceanstooutback.org.au/fundraisers/stephenmcmillan. Any donation you can make would be much appreciated.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROSTER FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
 
Coming up
To see the program of future meetings, visit: Rotary activities Spreadsheet.
 
Next meeting
Our next meeting will be held at the Royal Canberra Golf Club on Thursday, 30 October. The guest speaker will be Michael Organ and his subject is “History of the National Film and Sound Archive”.
 
If you are planning on attending but haven’t responded to Eric’s invitation, please do so by 11 am on Tuesday, 28 October.
 
To see the program of future meetings, visit: Rotary activities Spreadsheet.
 
Duty Roster
Date:
Chair:
Guest:
Member to propose Toast to Rotary, introduce and thank guest speaker, and write up for Bulletin:
 
26th Wednesday
27 November
Board Meeting
Astrida
 
Richard Pembury – Transmission risks with Blood Transfusions 
 
Juris
4 December
Warrick
Dylan Grubb- Why you need to keep fit!
Eric
11th December
Santa Claus
All members, friends and guest : Christmas Party at Warrick and Vanessa’s home at  19 Cruikshank Street, Wanniassa, ACT ph 0410636258. 
LAST GET-TOGETHER FOR 2026
15, 22, 29  January and 5th February
Social chat at Canberra Yacht Club Fish ‘n Chip café downstairs 
 
 
12th February 2026
Stephen
Ruth Oettle - Stay Safe online
Ross
 
Please send items for inclusion in the next News Notes to Bill Andrews andrews79@iinet.net.au by Sunday, 30 November.
 
 

           
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
Meetings + Speakers
Warrick Howieson
Annual General Meeting
Nov 20, 2025
Con Boekel
My life with photography
Nov 13, 2025
PDG Phil Armstrong
The Rotary Foundation
Nov 06, 2025
Michael Organ
History of the National Film and Sound Archive
Oct 30, 2025
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We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on, the Ngunnawal people.
We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make 
to the life of this city and this region.

There are at least 14 Rotary clubs and some Rotaract clubs just in the ACT.

 
Aurora Gungahlin; Belconnen; Brindabella e-club; Brindabella ROTARACT; Canberra; Canberra Burley Griffin; Canberra East; Canberra Rotaract: Canberra Sundowners; Canberra Sunrise; Canberra Weston Creek;  Ginninderra; Gungahlin; Hall; Jerrabomberra (NSW); Tuggeranong; Murrumbidgee Canberra; the University Of Canberra Rotaract; Woden Daybreak.
 
 
 
 
 
We are part of District 9705, where up to 82 Rotary and Rotaract clubs.
 
 
 
 
ORGANISATION Links
District links 9705
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