January 2012 

 26th January 2012 - Janice joins

Today's meeting included induction of new Club member, Janice Watson. Janice has actually been coming along to meetings for quite a few months now, so this was just catching up with formalities.

5th January 2012 

The new year brought the gift of a new Ceremonial Gavel for StMachar Rotary Club, from the Rotary Club of Aberdeen and presented by Aberdeen President Stewart Forbes.

Today also invluded a visit and update from Susy Hunter on the local community radio unit, SHMU FM. Based in Woodside, SHMU provides community information and support through it's 24 hour radio service and also in it's local newsletters, video & film support and IT services. For more info on the innovative local service, have a look at their website by clicking on the link below or tune into 99.8fm on your radio

December 2011  

15th December 2011

Elgin Rotary Club has active work on water and sanitation projects in Nepal in conjunction with other Rotary Clubs. This is of particular relevance to St Machar with the club interest in it's own Nepalese plans. David Brown came to the Northern today and gave an overview of the problems facing the Nepalis due to the poverty many areas have to cope with. Simple, locally based solutions combined with education are planned and set up to provide some basic sanitation and clean water supplies. Even these basic projects take time and hard work to set up, but the results are what counts. There's a long way to go, however, to make an impact on the major problems which exist in this very poor country.  

3rd December 2011

Another very well supported and successful coffee morning in the Rubislaw Centre has raised over £1000 to put into club fundes for charitable causes. Thanks to all who helped on the day.  

November 2011  

UPDATE FROM NEPAL

20th November 2011 

Bruce and Stella Anderson have just returned from a long and lively trip to Nepal. Click the link opposite for Bruce's latest news,

11th & 18th  November 2011

A large gathering of club memebers, spouses and partners and guests from the Aberdeen and Dyce clubs received a warm welcome at the Town House for a Civic Reception to mark the clubs 50th Charter anniversary which falls next week. Lord Provost Peter Stephen had many kind words for the clubs fundraising and other good works over the years which were greatly appreciated by all. The celebrations continued with the celebration Dinner on 18th November attended by 130 ClubMembers, Rotarian guests and other guests.

3rd November 2011

It was welcome time again to the Club representatives from St Machar Academy who did their stint at the RYLA camp at Abernethy. Sophie Ewen and Sam Nicolson were accompanied by school deputy head, Ally McGregor. Sam and Sophie gave a full account of the great experience they had at the camp. Another visitor with them was Dean Douglas, a former colleague at St Machar and at RGU and doing his bit in Rotaract.

October 2011

27th October 2011

We've probably all had a low flying RAF jet buzz past at some time or other and wondered what they were up to. Well, John Gilbert, the RAF Community Realtions Officer for Scotland explained it all. In a fascinating talk, John revealed the whys and hows and set out the reality of what the RAF pilots do when they are in action in places such as Afghanistan. John himself has had a fascinating career in the RAF in many parts of the world from pilot to his preset role. He retires early next year and we wish him well in what is sure to still be a busy time.     

13th October 2011 - Gaun' The Messages 

It's inevitable that change takes place in all aspects of life, but sometimes we're not sure it's for the better. Our shops these days are stacked with bargains and choice and the way we shop now is certainly different. Aberdeen Library Local Studies Department have a wealth of records of how the centre of the city looked in years gone by and Catherine Taylor from their staff gave a fascinating tour through the years on how we shopped in the past. Many years ago, the Castlegait was the main trading area and Timmermarket got it's name for being where timber goods were sold.The last open market was held in Castlegait in the 1930's as shown in the photo alongside. Even the Mercat Cross has been a shop and a post office a long time ago. Former shops include The Kircaldy Lineoleum House, Wilburn's Grocers, Morrisons Economic Stores and John E Esslemonts.

September 2011 

25th September 2011

Sadly, Alan Johnston our last surving founder member has passed away. Alan, as noted in an eariler news article, reached his 100th birthday in March of this year.The funeral will be held on 30th September at 11:45am in the West Chapel of The Crematorium.

15th September 2011  - GSE Visit

This week, StMachar had the honour to play host to the guys from the 2011 Group Study exchange from District 9700 in Australia. Group leader John McKenzie from the Rotary Club of Orange North in New South Wales along with Alissa Brabin, Neal Molineaux, Stacey Miller and Cindy Nutley are about midway on their visit to District 1010. They spent a few nights staying with St Machar members and came along to lunch this week to tell us a little bit about themselves and what they do. It was great exchanging news and ideas and swapping notes on fundraising ventures.In a very busy schedule, they found time to get a tour of Aberdeens sights and spent Friday on vocational visits with club members before heading off to take in some of the District Convention and maybe get a bit of rest at the weekend. Best wishes for the rest of their tour.

8th September 2011

A welcome visitor this week was Ewen Hatchwell from Aberdeen Deeside Club. Ewen had his District Community & Vocational Services Chairmans hat on and gave the club an overview of the current focus and ideas for ComVoc work. This work is at the heart of Club, District and National activities and it was good to get Ewens highly experienced views and guidance.    

July 2011

14th July 2011

The Reading Bus has been close to the heart of St Machar club for some time now and particularly to club member Heather Wilson. To show what this wonderful project achieves, Heather showed the latest DVD story project produced by local schools with the aid of Reading Bus. This super animated video entitled "The Granite Apprentice" showed just what youngsters can achieve when given a chance. Have a look at the Reading Bus website for more information.