RCCBG News Notes (Nov. 14, 2025)

Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin News Notes 17th November 2025

In amongst the chilly winds of a typical Canberra spring day we enjoyed a ray of sunshine with a truly unique presentation on photography, and in particular bird photography, by Con Boekel who was introduced by Astrida. Her report follows below.

As we wind up the year we are focussed on completing the AGM and annual elections next Thursday, and then we will arrange the distribution of important donations before the year end. It has been a successful Rotary year with many worthwhile projects completed and others commenced. We must continue to work on membership growth with innovative programmes that will attract particularly younger potential members. Ed.

Last week’s meeting

At last Thursday’s meeting we were treated to an engaging and visually rich presentation from Con Boekel, a dedicated Canberra-based wildlife photographer. Con began his photographic journey after retiring from the public service, discovering in it not just a hobby but a new way of observing the natural world. What started as simple “birds on a stick” photos quickly evolved as his knowledge, technique and artistic eye deepened.

Con shared how his approach to photographing birds broadened over time—from portraits and flock photos to behavioural moments and the stories that sit behind a single captured frame. He spoke about experimenting with light, especially the magic of dawn, and how technical precision can elevate an image into something both scientifically valuable and artistically expressive. His fascination with feathers, textures and fine detail led him into increasingly creative forms of nature photography.

More recently, Con has turned his lens toward the often-overlooked world of insects, applying the same curiosity that guided his bird photography. Throughout the presentation he emphasised the role photographers can play in encouraging conservation, helping others see the beauty and vulnerability of the species that live alongside us. His talk reminded us that careful observation and thoughtful storytelling—whether through words or images—can inspire stronger care for the environment

Astrida

Superb parrot portrait

Little pied cormorant

Eurasian coot - only mother could love it!

Last Saturday : Tour guide training in Lennox Gardens

Last Saturday, on a beautiful spring morning, six potential volunteers (including Neil from our club) gathered in Lennox Gardens for a tour guide training session. The aim was to encourage more guides to volunteer for the school tours (and occasional adult tour) that our club hosts. Warrick led the morning program, supported by Russell and Astrida, guiding participants through the history of the different parts of the gardens. He also compiled a useful booklet to help future guides structure their presentations, drawing on Laozi’s poem and its themes of peace in the world (in nations, in cities, between neighbours).

It was encouraging to see attendees from other Rotary clubs as well as a representative from the Rotary Nara Peace Park Committee. Together they explored the many features of Lennox Gardens—including the Chinese Garden, Nara Peace Park, the Japanese Garden, the PEN Garden, the Rotary Peace Bell and the peace poles. As is often the case, there are visitors near the peace bell and on Saturday it happened to be Andris Blicavs, a former Olympic basketball player. He was walking with his daughter, Sara Blicavs, a Canberra Capitals player, and was invited to strike the bell. As he is of Latvian heritage, he was also shown the Baltic peace pole as an added attraction.

Astrida

Warrick spruiking peace at the CM Peace Prize wall.

Tout. guides training at the Philosopher's stone.

Andris Blicavs, a visitor to the park was invited to strike the Bell.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be held at the Royal Canberra Golf Club on Thursday. Astrida will take the Chair and ask Warrick and Bill to Chair the AGM.

If you are planning on attending but haven’t responded to Eric’s invitation, please do so by 11 am on Tuesday, 18 November.

To see the program of future meetings, visit: Rotary activities Spreadsheet.

Duty Roster

Date:	Chair:	Guest:	Member to propose Toast to Rotary, introduce and thank guest speaker, and write up for Bulletin:
20 November	Astrida	AGM, and Elections	Bill
27 November	Astrida	Richard Pembury – Transmission risks with Blood Transfusions
4^th December	Warrick	Dylan Grubb	Why you need to keep fit.
11^th December	Warrick and Vanessa	Christmas Party at home.	Eat Drink and Be Merry

And that’s the end of our year.! Casual get togethers at the renowned fish and chip shop at Canberra Yacht club will commence 15^th January if you are around. Otherwise, meetings at the Royal Golf Club will re-commence on 5^th February 2026.

Canberra Rotary Peace Bell - 10th December 2025

7.15am Lennox Gardens, Yarralumla.

Zonta Says NO to Violence, YES to respectful relationships.

Each year the Zonta Club of Canberra Breakfast participates in the UN “16 days of activism” in honour of the lives lost to domestic violence and to highlight our community need for change and respectful relationships

In seeking to uphold the United Nations Goal No5 to `Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’, we will continue our actions by:

highlighting our concerns through social media, and Wrapping trees in civic,

lighting of the Parliamentary triangle buildings in orange for December 10th,

Presenting a free webinar on Coercive Control on Nov 29th at 3.30pm. This is a joint initiative between CWA, Soroptimists and National Council of Women and Fearless Women, and Ringing the Peace Bell to honour those who have lost their lives in this calendar year.

We invite you to share with us and Rotary Burley Griffin in the ringing of the Rotary Nara Peace

Bell. The bell will be struck once for each life lost, once for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, once for the children, once for the New Zealand women, and once for the men who have lost their lives through domestic violence.

While the event is free, we ask you to book through Humanitix as numbers are limited. We encourage you to gather from 6.30am for a 7am start and the event will close by 8.30. Yours sincerely,

Kay Fredericks

Advocacy Chair, Zonta Club of Canberra Breakfast

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