One of the things we do at our Club is have a quick “thought for the day” from members. We don’t usually share these, but the recent one from Rotarian Roger Hickman seemed worth a share!
Roger was the person who conceived the VIP Punt Procession with the Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress and Sheriff of Canterbury – which not only added fun and colour to the event, but brought in extra funds for our fundraising too. Here are his words, which he titled “Duck Race Wisdom”. (They were read out by our Past President Maxine Blades as Roger was unable to attend in person.)
“Well, the ducks have been collected, the river’s calmed down, and most of us have finally dried out from the rain! But the Duck Race always leaves me with a few lessons.
First – not every duck is destined for glory. Some shot off like Olympic athletes, some drifted sideways, and a few seemed determined to explore every reed bed on the river.
Second – the ducks remind us that you don’t have to be the fastest to make a difference. Even the one that got stuck under the bridge still helped raise money for charity. And I did notice one duck trying to overtake the Lord Mayor’s punt – a reminder that ambition is a fine thing, but timing is everything!
And third – no matter who won the race, the real success was the fun, the laughter, and the fact that together we raised thousands for good causes. That’s the real finish line.
So perhaps the Duck Race teaches us this: life’s current can be unpredictable, but as long as you’re in the water, you’re part of something bigger. And in Rotary, when we all get our ducks in a row, we don’t just float… we make waves.
And finally – if anyone finds a yellow duck paddling about in their fishpond this week, please let us know. We’re still missing a few stragglers!
Thank you all for your hard work and support
Roger”
Picture: Thought for Day. Picture credit: Rotary Club of Canterbury.
