national Science Week 10-18 August 2019

Rotary values education so in National Science Week, Rotary Club of North Hobart took the opportunity to make the purpose of our meeting this week to celebrate Science.  We were delighted that in such a busy week, two highly distinguished educators were willing to make time to come to our meeting.

We warmly welcomed Diana Nahodil, Head of Science at our aligned school Sacred Heart College and Dr Deborah Beswick, Head of Science at Elizabeth College and member of the Royal Society of Tasmania, our guest speaker for the evening. They are pictured with Youth Director David Clinch and Chairman Ian Geard. Thank you all for your input into a very satisfying meeting.

Deborah has for many years used Science Week to celebrate science as a whole school effort and recounted how in her Cosgrove High days her top students included members of the Claridge family.  At Elizabeth College, Science Week now has fifty different workshops in the program so many that the "week" has had to be extended.  In his introduction and vote of thanks, Chairman Ian Geard affirmed what an honour it was to have Deb come and visit us to share her passion and enthusiasm for science.  

Diana came to teaching from a background of science advocacy and management, where she had had previous exposure to Rotary's programs that extend and motivate science students. 

Thank you to both of these inspiring guests for identifying worthy and promising students for Rotary to support through the Science Experience, The Science and Engineering Challenge and the National Youth Science Forum.  We believe that the meeting this week has strengthened the bonds of professional support and mutual respect between our club and "our" schools.

... but for Rotary Club of North Hobart, there was more ... 

Wednesday saw us back to the Black Buffalo for a family friendly bonus Rotary event, a Brain Break Morning Tea, ninety minutes of Science demonstrations and "blowing the cobwebs" off our conceptual grasp of a few interesting Science topics.  This was a success thanks to demonstrator Ralph Teirney's preparation and the support of some club members, notably the two Ians, and a dozen guests.  

Rotary International President Mark Maloney has called for Rotary events to be family friendly so for the Brain Break we included some activities simple enough to engage a toddler.  Thank you to attendees for allowing family members to join in.  

One-off events like the Brain Break give an opportunity for us to invite people who may later join Rotary or tell people about our programs.  Two of our non-Rotary guests on Wednesday had reasons to feel connected to the Rotary Club of North Hobart.  We had sponsored a family member of Lynne to NYSF and Chris was the sister of Past President Ruth.  

The Brain Break quizzes and answers are available if you would like to have a copy.  Youth brochures can also be downloaded from the Rotary Tasmania website.  

Thanks to all attendees, Black Buffalo staff, our sponsor George Kalis of Island Chai and especially to Ralph for a most enjoyable change of routine on Wednesday.

​The raffle yielded $24 for Youth Projects.