By Penrith Valley Rotary Club President Jean Vranich

THIS has been a tumultuous year, with the passing of one member and the loss of other valued members. I am proud, however, of the members that have remained and, who, through wonderful cooperation and caring and supporting of each other, have achieved wonderful outcomes for those who are less fortunate than us. We have achieved so much for the community this year. Caring for the hungry, the victims of Domestic Violence, aiding those throughout the world who have suffered disaster or poverty, and caring for the education of the younger members of our society have been foremost on our agenda.

We have gained a wonderful global grant scholar, Maria Escobeda, who has been welcomed by the members with great enthusiasm.

We are certainly dedicated to the purpose of Service Above Self.

But I am here merely as a representative of The Presidential Triumvirate. We have worked really well as a team and I would like to thank Bronwyn Jackson and Chris Dallen, who have shared this role with me. They have both done excellent jobs (since, for quite a portion of this year, I have been zonked out with anaesthetic). The Board members have taken their roles very seriously and worked tirelessly for the benefit of the members and ultimately, the community as a whole.

Hamlet says “To be or not to be that is the question?”

We were born of the Rotary Club of Penrith on May 20th, 1977. Whilst Penrith Valley is merging with Nepean, it is by no means the finality of either Club. It is instead, a renewal of vigour, of life, of enthusiasm, of joy and of hope. We are not here to feel in any way melancholy. The Phoenix rises to carry new hopes and new dreams.

To paraphrase a quote from Kamala Harris after the loss to Donald Trump “….We are not going to worry about the darkness, because in the darkness we are able to see a billion stars.” So let us see those billion stars and let them light our way and guide us in this new beginning.

I look forward to working with the members of the former Rotary Club of Nepean, as Nepean Valley Alliance, and being forever present to the people of our community.

Next year, on the 20th May, we will be 50 years old. Let us celebrate together.