Page 3 - Rotary Matters - December

Kathryn and I started our Christmas 2022 journey in “Santa’s Workshop” with the Toy Boys and what a
wonderful start to the Christmas festivities it was.

But the members of the Rotary Club of Adelaide started their journey assisting with the marshalling at
the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant. It was also wonderful to see that iconic event back on the
streets of Adelaide. In no small way the contributions of Rotary members enabled the event to happen
and the faces of so many people, both young and old alike, light up. Despite the stormy gloomy weather
– Christmas spirits were not dampened and it proved to me that we are all young at heart when it comes
to Christmas.

Whyalla was the next stop for Santa’s trail as it was for
the Paradise Mazda CX5 vehicle that the District
Governor drives. The Rotary members in Whyalla assist
with that community Christmas Parade and fair.

There is no doubt that families and friends love coming
together at this wonderful time of the year. The
pressures of life, the worries of the world, the
differences of politics or the separations of religion
are all set aside for this brief moment in time – we
come together in so many communities throughout
our District 9510 and Celebrate.

Paul Harris said that “Personality has power to uplift, power to depress, power to curse, and power to
Bless”. As we Imagine Rotary this festive season – we collectively need to ensure that we follow those
guiding words, be uplifting, push back against oppression, be positive and promote peace”
Our Christmas without apology will take on a very traditional Christian Christmas celebration, but we
appreciate that not all will share our deep Christian beliefs. The wonderful part of Rotary is that we can all
come together as one, despite differences of belief, traditions, customs and cultures – knowing we are a
loving part of the Rotary Family.

One of my most memorable Christmas celebrations was in 1977 when a Rotary Exchange Student in Japan.

I hadn’t expected that Christmas celebrations in any
way would take on the celebrations that I had grown
up with. Yet to my absolute surprise and joy, I was
invited to a church service in this tiny Catholic church,
listening to the familiar tunes and verses expressed
in a different language – still appreciating its meaning
of Christmas to me. Following church was the
exchange of small but lovely gifts and a wonderful
“western styled” hot lunch with my host family –
surrounded by snow! It was magical and still releases
an emotional tear thinking of it.

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