Presidents Night

The rain finally abated on Friday 22nd June as Rotarians and their partners joined President Dale in Malone Golf Club for his Presidents night, to finish his year in office.

After a pre dinner drinks reception we all enjoyed a superb buffet.

PP Liam then outlined the outstanding contribution to Rotary of PP and District 1160 Treasurer Ivan Conner .

President Dale presented PP Ivan with a Paul Harris award and Ivan thanked the Club and said he was very proud to receive this honour.

PP John McIlroy then humorously presented PP Trevor with the ‘Reg Harris’ award for all his work with Jole Rider.

To finish the evening VP Jim had organised a very entertaining exposure quiz, where we discovered some very interesting unknown facts about our fellow Rotarians

What a pleasure that Past District Governor Ted kept up his attendance  record and was able to make it back from Dublin in time.

District 1160 Rotary Conference

The 2012 Rotary Conference, hosted by the R.otary Club of Salt Hill will take place in Galway on 5th to 7th  October.

Members are encouraged to attend and should book individually by going to the Conference website at:-

www.rotary conference.ie

Those attending are advised to choose the conference hotel, The Ardilaun Hotel

St Andrews Rotary Golf

A smaller group of Golfers than previous years travelled to St Andrews for the Annual Rotary International Golf competition.

However the Rotary Club of Lisburn was  still well represented on the Irish Team by Colin Suckling and Patrick Coyle who both qualified after two rounds of golf

The Irish Team was narrowly beaten into second place by the International Team.

Barbara Black again won the Ladies Competition to retain her trophy from the previous year.

2nd VP Jim Matchett a non golfer but accomplished photographer recorded events of the few days with a large number of photos which he insisted should be published unedited on the gallery.

Trevor Guy Memorial Annual Bursary

Gareth Patterson(2011 Winner), President Dale, Stephen Gilbert, Mark Fair(2012Winner)

Seven applicants for the 2012 Bursary were received by the club and all were interviewed in early May.

All of the interviewees showed tremendous commitment to their various projects, some going on their elective from the medical School at Queens University and others going away on a Gap Year

After considerable deliberation amongst the judging panel the winner this year who received £500 was Mark Fair from Lisburn

Mark is pictured with Gareth Pastterson the 2011 Bursary Winner and President Dale Orr and Stephen Gilbert,  Bursary organiser

Mark is 19 years old and is going to Guyana, South America for 12 months to help teach Maths and Science in a secondary school under the guidance of the educational charity ‘Project Trust’

Claire Stirling who’s home is in Dunadry  is 23 years old is going on a 6 week elective to Ekwendeni hospital in Malawi and she will receive the second award of £400

Mark Wells from Moira who is also 19 years old is going on a gap year to Brazil with a Christian school, Christian Union where he hopes to help change the lives of street children. The judges awarded Mark £100 towards his expenses

“Each year we are heartened by the wonderful positive attitude shown by applicants to the Bursary and we find it encouraging to be associated with such an outgoing group” said the chairman of the Bursary, Stephen Gilbert

Jole Rider ”Joins up” Rotary

Twelve Rotary Clubs have joined forces to colllect 240 bicycles and more than 3000 books to push start the district’s Jole Rider project.

The first 40 foot container left the warehouse in Lisburn on Saturday May 18 bound for the Jole Rider headquarters in Wiltshire on the first leg of the journey to Gambia.

This latest consignment boosts the UK total contribution to something like 10,000 bikes, with all particapating Clubs collecting the £10 per bike and 50p per book required to meet the cost of shipment.

Jole Rider founder David Swetenham is naturally delighted and said ‘I am astounded by the efforts of Rotarians in Ireland’.

The Rotary Clubs of Lisburn and Limavady had hosted a St Patricks Day sponsored cycle run from the Peace Bridge in L’derry to the Roe Park Hotel and the participants, now nicknamed the ‘Paddy Riders’ helped boost proceeds for Jole Rider to an impressive £4500.

Lisburn Past President Trevor Stewart and Limavady Past President Peter Jack spearheaded the project having been inspired by  David Swetenham’s appeal for help at the RIBI conference in dublin in April.

Trevor took this on board and visited various Clubs to give vocational ‘Coffee’ job talks and grabbed the opportunity to make a plea on behalf of Jole Rider for used bikes and support for the project.

Peter was motivated to take part in an ‘Iron Man Competition’, and single handedly raised more than £2000

Johnsons Coffee kindly donated trucks to collect the bikes and books from around the country and it was from their headquarters in Lisburn that he first container was loaded and dispatched.

Trevor and Peter were gobsmacked by the whole hearted support of fellow Rotarians and really appreciated the efforts of the Rotary Clubs of:-

Lagan Valley,  Newry, Banbridge, Armagh, Dungannon, Newtownards,Ballymoney, Ballycastle and Cookstown

Peter and Trevor want to make it bigger and better next year and ask any club interested in joining forces next year with a view to filling two containers with bikes and books to contact Trevor

Mobile                     0715577146

E mail                    “Trevor Stewart” <jtlrestaurants@btinternet.com>

Photos of Jole Rider events are on the Gallery on this site

Presidents Gala Night

Dine,Dinner and   Dance at Presidents Gala Night  on Saturday 2nd June at Europa Hotel

A sparkling night of variety featuring Katie and the Carnival  and Special Guest Star Dukes Special

Cocktails from 6.45pm   Dinner served 7.30pm sharp

Proceeds in aid of Lisburn Rotary and Bruiser Theatre company(www.bruisertheatrecompany.com)

Dedication Of Chair in Memory of Past President Brian Burke

On Tuesday 8th May members of the Rotary Club of Lisburn joined with members of  the Rotary Club of Lagan Valley, to dedicate a chair in the Castle Gardens, Lisburn in memory of Brian Burke, Past President of  the Rotary Club of Lisburn and Paul Harris Fellow who passed away early in 2o11

Brian’s wife Edith and daughter Gaynor joined the Mayor Brian Heading at the dedication.

The Chair was organised by the Lagan Valley Club in appreciation of all the support given to them by PP Brian in the formation and early years of the Club.

Members of both Clubs enjoyed a meal in the Lisburn College of further education where PP Brian had been an leadingf member of the Rotary Club Kitchen Club for many years and where he also was involved in the Hairdressing School.

Visit to Ulster Aviation Society

On Friday 4th May a group of Lisburn  Rotarians were given a tour of the hangar at the Maze.

Finny O’Sullivan arranged and hosted the group

Go Karting and Barbecue

On 21st April,the Lisburn Rotary Karting Grand Prix at Superdrive Portadown was thoroughly enjoyed by20 competitve participants ingood driving condiions.

Gavin Black was the overall winner,Andrew Morrow was runner up with Emma Morrow coming in third.

Everyone then returned to the Hungry House to further test their driving skills.

A superb BBQ, refreshments and sumptuous desserts were then enjoyed by all and great thanks are due to Philip and his team.

Rotary Carol Singing at Bow Street Mall

On Tuesday 20th December Foundation Chair PP John McIlroy, organised a fund raising Carol Singing event at Bow Street Mall Lisburn.

Unfortunately due to a clash with the Cookery Class Xmas dinner the number of Rotarians present was small, however they were ably assisted by an enthusiastic school group