St John of God Garden Working Bee 19/07/2025
My first working bee as a New Rotarian for 2025-2026
I was asked to write something about my first experience as a Rotarian on my very first project. This is what I have come up with in my own words.
On a sunny but very cold frosty Sunday morning a team of willing members from Berwick Rotary, made their way towards the St. John of God hospital in Narre Warren Their cars trucks and vans loaded up with Wheelbarrows, forks spades and brooms, equipped to take on a mighty job. Expectancy filled the air as we were inducted. Colours of orange, yellow and pink flashed from the group in their Hi Viz j as they hurried off to work on the job they wanted to do. The list was long, and I did not know how on earth it was going to be done in such a short space of time. There was clearing the garden of shrubs and trees and garden beds from never ending pebbles that seemed incorrectly placed in tired old garden beds. Weeding and taking ivy off a garden trellis, not to forget the Pond! ☹ Oh, the job seemed huge to me but members soon found their pace and so the jobs were being done.
A group of men with specialised skills in watering systems, took particular interest in the watering system. It seemed to be everywhere to me. I found it almost amusing to see how they intricately assessed the footpath, the garden beds and? to find it’s pathway and origin.
Yet another group of men were just as keen to pull water and pebbles out of a large cleopatra eye shaped pond! I think it was being dismantled! Oh, the fun we were having fulfilling our roles. I distinctly remember the buzz of the talking, the laughter in the background as I kept pulling large pebbles out of a Garden bed. It was like a hive of buzzing bees (no wonder we call them working bees, 😊. Gently humming as the day started to warm up and the sun continued to shine.
A team of people enjoying the sun, the comradery and the fun of working together, focussed and purring like a well-oiled engine. This left a significant impression on me as the newest member of this Rotary group. The sound of a babbling brook as it made its way through the morning. The Brook started gaining Energy and more focused and intense. The trees and shrubs were disappearing, the pipes were being found, then a lull in energy ensued. The energy waned as if the team needed an input of Sugar.
Fruit cake appeared and with it came the sugar surge to keep the members moving. Lunch was soon to be had so a push to the end of the job was required. Lunch time! The thought of sitting down having a bite to eat and recharge was delightful. The friendship of the Rotary group as they ate was evident, as the laughter and shanagans flowed. Several members left, whilst others stayed to complete a job of making that Garden Neat.
On they went, digging and pulling and pushing those big 9-year-old plants out of the garden beds. Pressure on until release; the plants were gone, the job completed Just like that! :) What seemed like a job too big just vanished as the work was done! Amazing! We worked together, we focused and joined our energy and our talents little or large in what we had to give. Enjoyment, hard work and fun, friendship and accomplishment were experienced by all.
What a day, you could not buy a day like it. To Volunteer, to give your best, to enjoy such rewards that money and status cannot buy, get involved, find friendship and a place that recognises your potential and worth. Become a Rotarian today.
See what we got up to here: photoalbums/st-john-of-god-19-7-25
Beaconsfield, VIC 3807
Australia