Cancelled event turns a profit for thankful Rotary club

This year's Opera in the Arboretum event has turned a profit, despite the event being cancelled due to the coronavirus.

The Rotary Club of Woy Woy runs the event annually, usually attracting 800 people, as its major fundraising activity.

"Naturally, we have not been able to make the monies we had hoped to achieve had the event taken place, but we are exceedingly thankful that through the generosity of our subscribers and sponsors we have still been able to support worthy causes," said club president Mr Don Tee.

"These include Rotary National Drought and Bushfire Relief, support for the young musicians of the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music, Umina Beach Men's Shed, Purple House which is an indigenous-run health service in Central Australia, Cerebral Palsy Research, support for women in Uganda taking part in our Pure Joy project and the Rotary Foundation."

Mr Tee said patrons and sponsors had made donations from their ticket purchases and sponsorship commitments.

He said that in July the club would be celebrating its 70th year of service and there are plans to commemorate the milestone with a special picnic table incorporating Rotary's wheel and sign at a park in Woy Woy.

"We've applied to Central Coast Council and already met with two council officers to discuss our proposal," Mr Tee said.

"We've submitted plans, and a model of our proposal for a commemorative picnic table somewhere on the Woy Woy peninsula and Council seems to be quite amenable about the proposal," he said.

The Opera in the Arboretum this year would have been the 15th event.

SOURCE

Interview (Sue Murray), 27 Apr 2020

Don Tee, Rotary Woy Woy