Australia Day Lamington Drop

 
Australia Day began for a few of us with an early morning meet at the home of our Vocational Service Director, Peter Reynolds.  Peter and his wife, Mariana very graciously accepted delivery of club banners, promotional material, masks and "Ask Me about Rotary" buttons on Friday 22nd January, which were stored in their garage for the weekend. On Monday, 25th January, the Reynolds gave up their loungeroom for the afternoon and evening after taking delivery of 29 boxes of lamingtons, each containing 30 lamingtons which they guarded from the sweltering heat with a portable air-conditioner generously donated by Michael & Lillian Hayes, ensuring the chocolate on 870 lamingtons did not melt.  Bright and early on Australia Day, Peter and Mariana set up a collection point in their driveway from which the clubs in our local area could complete COVID check-ins, sanitise their hands, collect the fantastic Australia Day club banners Rotary District 9675 provided, as well as buttons and masks.  Oscar Jones and Rosario Carbarjal from the newly formed Rotary Club of Iron Cove were the first to arrive at 8:30am, collecting 100 lamingtons & coffee vouchers which they delivered to Burwood Police Area Command. 
 
After seeing the RC Iron Cove volunteers off President Angela and President-Elect Connie headed down to Majors Bay Road to supply participating cafes with posters to display in their windows thanking frontline workers for the great work they do and advising where to present their coffee vouchers.  Thank you tremendously to the following cafes for helping us to meet this part of our brief: Cafe Espresso 96, Toco Espresso, Espresso Cucina and Organica.
 
Just before 10am Angela and Connie returned to the Reynolds Residence where Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs of Concord, Five Dock and Sydney Inner West were beginning to gather and prepare  to deliver the remaining 770 lamingtons and coffee vouchers to Concord Hospital (750) and Concord Fire Station (20).  After checking everyone in President Angela briefed the troops on our plan for the drop.  Banners and boxes of lamingtons were loaded into cars and the clubs members departed for their respective destinations with RC Sydney Inner West heading to Concord Fire Station and RCs Five Dock and Concord to Concord Hospital.
 
At the hospital 25 boxes (2 boot loads) were unloaded and carried through the main reception area to one of the Hospital Conference rooms were staff were waiting to receive and distribute them to the various wards and workers.  Volunteers presented the first lamingtons to nurses who had been hard at work before we began and photos were taken of the Rotary Volunteers and staff.  Our frontline workers were extremely grateful of the recognition and all looked forward to their morning tea!

(Left to right: President Angela Porritt, President-Elect Connie Day, RC Iron Cove Rotarian Rosario Carbarjal, Vocational Service Director Peter Reynolds and President of RC Iron Cove Oscar Jones). 
 
Thank you to everyone at Rotary District 9675 in particular Barry Antees and Cathy Morgan who mobilised so many clubs and bakeries to deliver 21,000 lamingtons across the district.  What a fantastic way to say thank you!  Thanks also to key members of our club who helped with organisation, preparation and printing: Community Service Director Dan Music, Membership and Public Image Director Michael Brown, Treasurer Ken Wright, Vocational Service Director Peter Reynolds and Mariana Reynolds and of course our members and volunteers, Secretary Allan Petersen, Garry & Jennifer Ferguson, David Williamson and President-Elect Connie Day.  Also a big big thank you to Rotarian Meng Ngu who spoke to Concord Hospital on our behalf and provided key contacts within the hospital.
 
Click here to see more photos from the day.

To all of you Rotary also says Thank you!