Rotary Art Expo, Ethiopia and an Amazing Young Persons Music Competition in the UK.

Last Week
It was a Social Meeting simply because of the opening of the Arts Festival the evening before.
Here is President Jean haranguing the mob and urging them to buy!

Members of our Interact Club at Highlands North were on hand to help and as always they were smart and polite.

It's a great pleasure having them there but we only have a picture of two of them as the others were busy handing out refreshments and helping generally.



At the opening a presentation was made to the winner of the GTC Portrait Award, Rika de Klerk. This has become an annual event.

The Leeuwkop Art Group with their mentor Rotarian Joan Sainsbury.  Portraits by them are on sale at the Rotary Art Expo and the money raised is for the benefit of those at Leeuwkop.

Rotary International Convention

It's underway in Hamburg and Juanette McCrindle is there promoting the Rotary Club of Rosebank and in particular our Cervical Cancer Project.  Here she is at the HEWRAG House of Friendship drumming up support for us.


This Week
Well, the Art Exhibition continues so everyone will be doing shifts at the Rosebank Mall but we do have a speaker.  One of our members, David Bradshaw, who is in the travel industry will be talking to us about his recent trip to Ethiopia.

There are a total of 9 UNESCO World Heritage attractions in Ethiopia, 8 cultural sites and one natural conservation area, the Simien National Park, home to a range of native endangered animals such as the Gelada baboon and the Ethiopian wolf. The most impressive Ethiopian World Heritage sites are scattered along the central length of the country, from the ancient ruins of Axum in the north to the Omo Valley archaeological sites in the south.

 A National Young Musicians Competition is organised each year by Rotary GBI.

The Rotary Young Musician competition provides a platform for young musical talent to shine.

The Mayor Of Chelmsford, Yvonne Spence, who is also a member of Rotary, opened this year’s national final.

She said: “I have been very proud to be a Rotarian as Mayor of Chelmsford.

“My duties have meant I have seen the full range of our youth activities within the community.

“The National Young Musician Final in Chelmsford was a real highlight of my year as I welcomed competitors their families and supporters from every part of Great Britain.

“Their talent and commitment was so impressive.”

In total, fifteen finalists battled it out all in hope for first place.

After introducing themselves, each participant gave a background to the piece they were performing.

James Devour, judge, said: “They were all excellent and it was a very hard decision.

“I was honoured to have judged this year’s competition.”

The Young Musician competition offers young people experience on stage, an opportunity to showcase their talent and the ability to receive feedback from experienced musicians.

Recognise Debbie Hodge?  See below.

Organiser Peter Dowse said: “The submissions once again were excellent and of a continuing higher standard.

“Thanks again to districts for endorsing this competition in your area – it is great to see the impact.

“This is my final year, and I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this coordination. It was a pleasure.”

District Governor Lesley Sulley and Rotary GBI President Debbie Hodge spoke to the friends and family of finalists whilst the contestants awaited the judge’s decisions.

All entrants were presented with a certificate and then Debbie handed out the trophies.