My Special Interests
I am a member of 2 clubs that greatly affect my life and hold special meaning for me as they are both things that I enjoy. These are helping the community, which I do through Rotaract, and astronomy, which I do through the Central West Astronomical Society. More information about these two things are outlined below.
Central West Astronomical Society
The Central West Astronomical Society is a group that meets twice a month. Once a month they have a formal meeting where budget and other coming events are mentioned before a talk from a guest speaker. The guest speaker is normally someone that can explain different areas of astronomy to the general members. The other meeting merely involves going to a dark sky site and simply observing planets and other celestial bodies.
The society has over 50 members which have joined up since the groups inception in 2001. I was one of the first to join because my interest was spurred along by another fellow astronomy club member.
The group has one major event which it holds anually and that is the Astrofest. The Astrofest is a weekend of guest speaker talks and observing and is held this year during the weekend of the 5th-6th July. Another event that occurs during the weekend of the Astrofest is the award of prizes for celestial photographs judged to be excellent, by astronomical photographer David Malin. People from all over the country are encouraged to enter this competition with the winning photos travelling around Australia on exhibition for the general public to see. Last year the exhibition was viewed by approximately 120,000 people.
Parkes Rotaract Club
The Parkes Rotaract Club reformed back in 2006 and currently has around 30 members. The Rotaract Club was formed to provide young people, aged between 18 and 30, with an outlet to help the community. The Club has been very successful to this end as it raised over $50,000 in 2007 and over $100,000 dollars in 2008 for charity through 1 major event known as the "Parkes Rotary/Rotaract Charity Golf Day." This event raised money to aid in the training of an Aboriginal doctor in 2007 and finding a cure for Parkinson's disease in 2008.
The Parkes Rotaract Club meets fortnightly on a Monday. The first Monday is a formal meeting where dinner is eaten followed by a report on club activities, budget and upcoming events. The second Monday is much more fun as it is the social meeting. The social meeting is where members come together and do social activities such as:
- a sleepover
- drinks (wine tasting or just simply going to the pub)
- a movie (at a cinema or somebody's home)
- play games (board games, charades etc) or sports (lawn bowls, ten pin bowling etc)