POW takes Centre Stage!

POW! What a night – we’ll let these fabulous pictures do the talking expertly captured by Kate Lovett of Serene Studios Photography. Images above include Pride of Workmanship 2023 awardees: Teagan Foy employee of Merlo Coffee Cafe – Bowen Hills, small business awardee Mikey Melton of Cafe On, Thanh Tran and Vicky Lin – chefs and employees of Mrs Brown’s Bar and Kitchen, Tarryn Mc Mullen co-owner of Mrs Brown’s Bar and Kitchen and Stratton Bar and Kitchen, the delicious menu offered on the night by Stratton Bar and Kitchen, Cr Vicki Howard, our esteemed guests, MC Andrew and Dinner organiser RNF member Monte with President Monica, Dean Merlo with New Farm Rotarians and images of raffle prizes some including MP Grace Grace’s donation, artist Naomi’s kinetic racing cyclist painting and the ambient architecture and fit-out of Stratton Bar and Kitchen.

Our October highlight certainly lived up to expectations! The Pride of Workmanship awards were a heart-warming success held on 4th October. We enjoyed a great menu, drinks at our own cost and a cash bar at the Stratton Bar and Kitchen, Newstead. And, most importantly we spent the evening recognising vocational dedication in the local area and close surroundings; presenting recipients with a certificate of recognition and a trophy. It was also a night of much laughter, great conversation and sartorial style! We love this photo including Cr Vicki Howard (below) generously donating her time to Rotary New Farm and chatting with award recipient Mikey (in the gold brocade jacket) and friends. We extend our thanks to all who generously attended!

Image above: Cr Vicki Howard chats with one of the five award recipients and friends including Mikey Melton from Café On, Brunswick Street. Other recipients included Edwina Corlette from Edwina Corlette Gallery, Thanh Tran and Vicky Lin for Mrs Brown’s Kitchen and Teagan Foy from Dean Merlo’s café in Bowen Hills. We extend our sincere ‘thank you’ for generous raffle prizes and auction items from MP for Connell Grace Grace, President Monica and artist daughter Naomi, members Lucia and Penny, and local boutique SFH Designs owned by Sarah Hutson. Funds raised from the raffle and auction items went to our commitment to the Rotary Foundation and the Morocco Earthquake appeal. We also thank the ‘Village Voice’ for the meaningful copy they provide us regarding how important vocational recognition is as a long-standing tradition for Rotary International.

Image below is the column in the most recent ‘Village Voice’, in weekly column Village News. You can browse the Village Voice here.

President Monica summed up the night as:

“I thoroughly enjoyed the night. Great venue, food and all the worthy awareness: including Mike Melton from Cafe On, Tegan Foy from Dean Merlo Bowen Hills, Vicki Lan and Thanh Tran from Mrs Brown’s Kitchen and Bar. Unfortunately Edwina Corlette of Edwina Corlette Gallery was overseas. The awarded and friends, as well District Governor Elect Sue Mulraney and Rotarians made the night the success it was. Over $900 was raised and after costs $600 was donated to RI Morocco Disaster fund”.

Monica Fraser President 2023/24

Not one to rest on our laurels we have quickly regrouped to move on to RNF’s December highlight the festive ‘Light up Carols’, but not before some self-care at our fortnightly members’ meeting.

Did you know it’s Queensland Mental Health Week? A time to check-in and regroup, perhaps?

Image above: recently back from a vacation, Rotary New Farm member Melinda captured the iconic rue St Dominique in the 7th Arrondissement, Paris, ‘undergoing ‘home’ improvements’ for the upcoming 2024 Olympics and the need for added infrastructure and maintenance.

Are you under-construction? Renovating? Making ‘home’ or self-improvements? How much time do you spend looking after ‘you’? Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW); an annual awareness week that aims to shine a spotlight on mental health and wellbeing. We took the opportunity to recognise this at this week’s breakfast meeting connecting with the importance of breathwork and the critical need of ‘moving’ our bodies. We were joined by guest speaker, yogini Dara Tayrien.

Funded by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Mental Health Commission, Queensland Mental Health Week is linked to World Mental Health Day, which is held on 10 October every year. Queensland Mental Health Week encourages all of us to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have a lived experience of mental illness, and encourages help seeking behaviours and access to agencies. Resources provided by QMHW are at the bottom of this WordPress.

Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Each year, people across Queensland come together during QMHW through local events, conversations and activities to raise awareness of the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing. You read more about the QMHW here.

Image above: Dara from Chair Yoga. Image sourced from Dara’s website (2023) linked below.

In the spirit of Queensland Mental Health Week, we were introduced to guest speaker Dara Tayrien from ‘Chair Yogis’. You can find more about Dara here. Chair yoga is a surprisingly effective way to improve balance, strength and flexibility while also calming the mind. Classes include movement on and around a chair, breath work and guided meditation and are designed for people of all ages and abilities who want to keep fit and improve flexibility but have injuries or health conditions that make it difficult to get down on the floor. You can catch a class with Dara at the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre. No experience is necessary and bookings are preferred as space is limited. Classes Where: New Farm Neighbourhood Centre
Time: Monday 4:45 – 5:45pm, Wednesday 9:15 – 10:15am,  Thursday 11:30am – 12:30pm.

Images above: include President Monica and Dara (image L) and President Monica and RNF Mentor and Light Up Carols leader Denise embarking on the first planning meeting for ‘Light Up Carols’, discussing getting Santa’s suit ready and sharing ideas to give our audience the best carols evening ever!

The ‘Light Up Carols’ event, another one of Rotary New Farm’s community projects is scheduled for December 3rd, New Farm Park. Rotary New Farm organise an annual ‘Light Up Carols’ for the New Farm Community on the first Sunday of December in the beautiful grounds of New Farm Park (see images below of the flower gardens and blooming jacaranda trees in New Farm Park right now).

Channel 7 personality Victoria Carthew comperes the event and has assisted us raising money for local projects. In the past we supported the Bushfire Appeal with the help of the Local firemen crews from Kemp Place, Fortitude Valley. The Queensland Show Choir performs joyous Christmas carols for all to enjoy. The event is proudly sponsored by Councillor Vicki Howard and Merthyr Village with the advertising support from Michael Hawke, Village Views. Rotary New Farm will also run a BBQ for all to enjoy. More about ‘Light Up Carols’ in a later post!

What’s ahead? Save the date!

October 24 Polio Day
December 3 ‘Light Up Carols’ in New Farm Park
October 28 Rotary New Farm Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser at Bunnings Newstead – let us know if you’d like to volunteer! Contact our President Monica – president.newfarm@rotary9620.org Alternately, we are always looking for people to kindly sponsor the event’s grocery items, for example a monetary donation for tomato sauce or serviettes.

You can join us in a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle group photo!

Mental Health Week resources are listed below. If you or someone you know needs support, contact can be made with one of the below services. The ‘Find help’ page on the website also links to helpful websites, covering 24/7 help lines, gambling assistance, relationships, eating disorders, parenting and more.

One in five people experience mental health issues each year. It’s important to remember that help is available.

• Lifeline – 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au
• Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 | suicidecallbackservice.org.au
• Kids Help Line – 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au
• ADIS (alcohol and drug support) – 1800 177 833
• Beyond Blue Support Service and Forums – 1300 22 4636 | beyondblue.org.au | forums.beyondblue.org.au
• SANE Forums – qldmentalhealthweek.saneforums.org

In an emergency, call 000.

Would you like to join our RNF life? We’d love to have you! We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday mornings at 6.45am for 7:00am at the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre. At our morning meetings we alternatively discuss our projects, discuss our RNF club business or host an interesting and topical presenter.

New Farm Neighbourhood Centre

967 Brunswick St, New Farm QLD 4005

Across the road from New Farm Park

Leave us a comment if you’d like information about memberships! And, if you can – please Share this post! Thank you for reading this far!

Get in touch – email President Monica: president.newfarm@rotary9620.org

Join us on social media:

Facebook page Rotary Club New Farm

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rotary_new_farm/

#rotarynewfarm #rotary9260 #PeopleOfAction #JoinRotary

About Melinda Wallace

Melinda Wallace Youth/Public Image Director (Co)

View all posts by Melinda Wallace →