Rotary helping hands extend from city to flood-affected towns
Last week the Rotary Club of Molong and the Stuart Town Public School were visited by members of the Rotary Club of North Sydney who are frequent and welcomed guests of both towns. When residents of the two towns were affected by the serious and long drought that hit this area a few years back - the wonderful members of this city based club came, donated, and helped to place warm smiles to cheer up drought weary faces. They kept in touch after through the friendships formed between rural and city communities. When the November 2022 flood hit Molong - the North Sydney Rotary Club members donated to help ease the pain of locals affected ... extending their kind hands and thoughts from city to the bush. Last week Molong Rotary were happy to receive the news that their friends from North Sydney Rotary Club were returning to both Stuart Town and Molong. It was a freezing cold, rainy, snowy kind of day and night that met the Rotary Club members when they returned to the Stuart Town Public School and the Rotary Club of Molong members last week. Finding accommodation at the Molong Motel and the
newly refurbished rooms at the Telegraph Hotel - the members were warmly greeted at the Molong RSL Club. Both club members spoke of their current projects, membership and much welcomed sharing of ideas and experiences. In 2010 the Rotary Club of North Sydney members adopted the children and families of the Stuart Town Public School with a special program called 'Books In Homes'- a program started in NZ which then became available in Australia. As of 2023, and through the generous support of sponsors, donors and funding bodies (like NS Rotary Club) the program has grown to over 2.9 million books distributed across Australia. The families of the small school - Stuart Town Primary School - through North Sydney Rotary Club now receive samples of available children's book and lists three times a year - where they can choose 3 books each to take home to read with their families and friends. "It's an educational program," said NS Rotary Club President, Alan Colbert. "And one that kids living in isolated places love to be part of." The Stuart Town community
News in the Molong Express Saturday 3 March 1928
has indigenous linkages and the school has a Wiradjuri language program. "The children love to learn Wiradjuri language from the colourful books in the program". "One mother said that her child's NAPLAN results showed improvements which she attributes to the books and family reading time together," Mr Colbert said. Another program the NSR members are involved in is the World Festival of Magic. (Above) Welcome to the North Sydney Rotary Club members from the Rotary Club of Molong members. Rozzi and Paul of the Molong Express will be guests of the NSR Club in early August where Paul will speak of his fascinating career - the Molong Express, and Molong and Cabonne - and seek ways our community maybe able to work closer with the Sydney "What a great paper" The Rotary Club of North Sydney members enjoyed reading the based Molong Express, staying overnight in Molong, spending money at local shops, AND community a delicious meal of Lamb Cutlets prepared and cooked by Ben and his team at the and Molong RSL Club. "These are the best" said the city visitors. Breakfast and fresh coffee programs. was enjoyed the following morning at Lime & Stone in Bank Street.
Book Review
Buried secrets of war unearthed
A new release by acknowledged. His fight journalist Nick McKenzie to reveal the real face of that has raised controversy Australia's most famous about Corporal Ben and revered SAS soldier Roberts Smith who is and examine evidence of Australia's most highly bullying, intimidation, war decorated living war crimes and murder would veteran. take him across Australia The Australian and to Afghanistan. Government awarded him As he unearthed the the VC for his overseas secrets Ben Roberts-Smith service in Afghanistan. had thought he'd long ago There is no doubt the buried, McKenzie had to truth would have been deal with death threats, concealed and our powerful forces intent concerns buried without on destroying his career Nick McKenzie's relentless and attempts to silence brave SAS soldiers, pursuit of justice. War is brutal. But there who had witnessed their are lines that should never famous comrade commit be crossed. In mid-2017, unspeakable acts. McKenzie would break whispers of executions, and cover-ups within the stories that proved the Australia's most secretive man idolised by the public, and elite military unit, the politicians, the media and SAS, reached Walkley leading business leaders Award-winning journalist was a myth. His efforts would help deliver justice Nick McKenzie. He and Chris Masters to Roberts-Smith's victims began an investigation and their families. Explosive and that would not only reveal shocking truths about Ben meticulously researched, Roberts-Smith VC but Crossing the Line shares plunge the reporters into the powerful untold story of the defamation trial of the how a small group of brave Nick McKensie's new book 'Crossing the Line' shares soldiers and two determined century. the powerful untold story of how a small group reporters overcame a plot For five years, McKenzie of soilders and two reporters overcame a plot to to suppress one of the led the investigation, supress one of Australia's greatest military scandals waging an epic battle greatest military scandals in our history. for the truth to be in Australian history. MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 6 July 2023 13
