“‘Tis the season to be jolly’ – and every one was at yesterdays markets. From marking out to booking in to setting up and running the van and to selling Duck Race tickets – a huge Market was handled amazingly smoothly. It was a busy day but thank you to everyone who could be involved, for coming on board and helping make the day one of our most successful for the year!
As 2015 comes to a close, I think of the last six months as President and how much has happened in Rotary, family and business – wow a lot !!
It was very sad to have lost both Jack and George and even more challenging to have them pass away within a few days of each other. Their funerals remind us of how privileged we are to have known them both and worked alongside such wonderful men. I miss Jack’s advice and George’s smile and catch ups. Our thoughts are especially with their family at this time.
I think moving the donuts machine into the gazebo has made a difference to the safety within the van and to the smooth operation of the cooking side at the markets.
Our club is small but what we lack in numbers we make up for in enthusiasm, dedication and friendliness, making Narooma Rotary a pleasure to lead.
Radar, our exchange student, joined us in early August and has settled well into Aussie life. Narooma is a long way from Taiwan and as our first exchange student from Asia, we have all been on a learning curve. If you haven’t been able to take Radar somewhere or if you want to invite him for dinner, please do. You will be rewarded for the experience from being around this fine young man.
Our youth programs are going well and our first meeting back at the Whale, on the 28th January, will be our Youth Night. I’m hoping to get an Interact Club running this coming year, it will benefit all the young people who reside in the Narooma area and go to Schools north and south of the town. Lots of positive talks have been happening. If you or your partner are interested in getting involved please call me.
Most importantly I want to thank Merinda for her support. When times get busy, we lean heavily on each other for support and I am always grateful for her support.
Have the best New Year ever and looking forward to 2016
Christmas time is often very stressful some but very lonely for others. As we power toward the 25th please take a few minutes to thank all who love you for being an important part of your life. Steal a quiet moment to realise just how lucky we are to be living here and offer friendship to someone in need.
Last Thursday we finalised the meetings for the year with a Christmas Party at Casey’s Cafe. To the staff and chefs who looked after us, to all who came, to our wonderful partners and to every member of Narooma Rotary and Rotary internationally – a big thank you. Looking after each other and offering a helping hand is a fantastic thing to do, and Rotarian’s do it well.
This Sunday the 27th is our last Market for the year. Please join in and help as this will be huge. Every one is welcome, bring your visitors.
Today Laurelle, Angie and myself joined with Moruya and Batemans Bay members at the Rotary Moruya Races. We sold raffle tickets ’till we dropped. Thank you to all who sold tickets over the last few weeks, lots of money hjas been raised for the Oncology Dept at Moruya. Next year we need another deserving project within the Shire….. thinking caps on.
Duck race tickets will be available from this Sunday’s Markets….. need sellers and the roster for ticket sales will be sent this week. We should be able to buy two Shelter Boxes.
Charmaine is embarking on another wonderful humanitarian trip to Cambodia. Funds are needed for basic supplies and at the Christmas party we raised some $300 toward this goal. Thank you to Michael O’Connor for his hard work and initiative. More to come.
To the wonderful team who interviewed all the applications for the Uni Scholarship, well done and much appreciated.
These guys look happy – could it be they are optimistic for a good outcome at the Paris Climate Change Conference?
With the current focus on Paris and the potential of global cooperation to reduce emissions, it seems timely to share some information on local and community options for renewable energy. The following organisations provide much needed opportunities, especially for people who are renting or otherwise not able to use their own rooftop.
CLEARSKY is a not-for-profit company – an offshoot of Clean Energy For Eternity (CEFE) in Bega. Investors put their money into a trust, which funds the installation of solar panels for a fixed period of typically 7 years. Suitable candidates for an installation are sites where power is used during the day, for example the IRT or Estia Health at Dalmeny. After 7 years the end user owns the installation, and the investors receive their money back plus interest, a win-win for everyone. www.clearskysolar.com.au
SOLAR SHARE is a community solar farm in the ACT, anyone can join, with a minimum investment of $500. The investment is as safe as they come – with a 20 year ACT Government backed contract. solarshare.com.au
CORENA is an organisation that accepts donations which are then used to provide interest-free loans to community organisations to pay for solar installations and energy efficiency measures. The loans are repaid over time, and their repayments help fund subsequent projects. Your money provides tangible reductions in carbon emissions almost immediately, and keeps on working far into the future! Suitable to those with a philanthropic urge. In our area they have provided rooftop system to Tulgeen Disability Services in Bega. corenafund.org.au
Uber
At our last meeting, Peter Bull gave a very interesting short talk, comparing taxis and the service provided by UberX. There was some spirited discussion following Peter’s talk. Coincidentally, there was an article in the current edition of “Choice”, so if you want to know more, try to grab a copy of the November edition from the library or your nearest newsagency.
Raffle Tickets
Raffle ticket sales for the Moruya Rotary Christmas Race Meeting on 20th Dec will be outside the Narooma Newsagency and IGA on the Flat over the next two weeks. If you can help, let Lynda know. She has the cash tin and some posters if you need them.
Annual General Meeting
The AGM on the 10th Dec needs people to nominate for positions. Don’t wait to be asked, please let Michael know if you are willing to take a position.
The biggest pain in being president is finding people to fill essential roles within the club. Most roles can be filled by two people sharing the load.
Abundant Water
from Joshua Parsons
Dear fellow Rotary family members. I would like to tell you all about a guy I met some time ago now by the name of Sunny Forsyth’s work with Abundant Water. We met at RYLA in 2013 where Sunny talked about the work that he and the Abundent Water team have been working on in Laos, training people to make a clay pottery water filter which was designed at the ANU. They train women to make filters which enable them to earn an income operating a small business selling water filters to their communities to allow for clean water.
But firstly a little about me, I am a member of the Rotaract Club of University of Canberra,
2009 RYE Student to Lund Sweden from Canberra Australia,
2013 RYLA D9710 participant,
2014 IRYLA Participant,
RYE Committee Member D9710 as of 2014
I personally think this is a great project and I would really like to hear feed back as well as the knowledge that you have taken this to your clubs and shared this amazing project.
A little bit about Abundant Water’s new project in Nepal.
Many women with histories of exploitation and abuse have been left particularly vulnerable in the wake of the 2015 Nepalese earthquakes.
Remarkably, however, ten of these women have called on us to help them to make and sell claypot water filters.
Training will bring clean drinking water, an opportunity for these women to establish their own water filter businesses, an opportunity for these women to become community leaders, and hence an opportunity for this project to be sustainable in the long term.
You can be a main character in this inspiring story of change.
The Women’s Rehabilitation Centre Nepal (WOREC) and Abundant Water co-production is called our ‘Tell a Story of Abundance’ campaign. For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/624250447716166/
We need to raise $20 000. So all help is welcome. The campaign is up and running as of Tuesday, 24 November 2015.
We are offering rewards to connect, inspire, and inform our donors to tell their own Story of Abundance: from a big social media shout out, to an exclusive end of workshop group call with Noukham and one of her Nepali trainees, or an online master class where Abundant Water leaders share the secrets of our success. Our rewards will connect, inspire, and inform you to tell your own Story of Abundance.
Please help raise awareness by sharing the Facebook group with your friends. Regards
Kind Regards,
Joshua Parsons & The Abundant Water team
More pictures from “Boats Afloat”
Dragon boat
Wagonga Princess
Ha Ha
The roundest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
What a week of fun, sadness, discussion and good old-fashioned community service.
Tuesday afternoon we celebrated Radar’s 17th birthday at Rotary Park with a BBQ. Thanks to all who contributed and attended, to Lynn for her assistance, to Charmaine for her excellent BBQ skills and to Michael for the fantastic birthday cakes.
Sadly Peter Hartley’s mother passed away on Tuesday after a short illness. Our thoughts and sympathy go out to Peter and Julie and their family.
On Thursday night we had a board meeting – sorry for the lack of notice due to a technical problem – but everyone rallied and we got through it. We decided to increase the donation for the Narooma Primary School Dux boy and girl to $75 each. We also cleared the funding for Jacob Reed to go to RYLA.
On Friday morning, the White Ribbon Day March from the Golf Club to NATA Oval, which was organised by the NSW Police, was a great success. Our role was to supply the BBQ and cook for all the people who participated. Starting at 7.30 am we set up and then cooked like crazy from 10.30, packed up and finished by 1pm. My thanks to all who joined in, helped, marched and offered help. Special thanks to John and Sandra, Ash and Lynda, Lynn, Angie, Rod and Mike. Hopefully I haven’t missed anyone. Following less than a week after the markets it was a great effort…. we did well.
Ticket selling for the Moruya Races – our combined Eurobodalla Club fund raiser – is well under way. Find some time, if you can … if you want to buy some tickets bring your money to the meeting.
This week, Narooma Rotary’s award for Vocational Excellence will be presented to a man who has helped shape Narooma. Bring your partners, friends etc…. let Anthony know ASAP for numbers.
Hi everyone, I’m a bit late this week but rain makes grass grow and that increases my workload.
Last Thursday evening Charmaine took us on a detailed and very interesting journey through her Timor Leste trip. For the members and guests (of which there were many) it was not only an insight to the work of Rotary but acknowledgement of how lucky we are to have Charmaine in our club. Well done and thank you.
With great defiance to the weather Gods the Markets went ahead on Sunday and we actually made money but more importantly so did the stall holders. It was fantastic to see the amount of members and partners and visiting Rotarian’s who turned up to help, staying right through to pack-up. Thanks to all.
Tickets are now available for the raffle for the Christmas Race Day combined with Moruya and the Bay. The books are big so we need numbers to hit the streets and sell, sell, sell. Thank you to Lynda for starting the ball rolling at the Markets and Rolfe has a book at his shop. If you want a book yell out but please we must find a little time each to sell. This is better than giving each member a book of 100 to sell!!!
This Friday, 27th is the White Ribbon March against domestic violence. We are assisting the Police by running the BBQ at Nata Oval. Thank you to those who are able to help. Information is coming to you and members. If you have a bit of time and want to join the march it leaves the Golf club about 9am. This is not political and you can wear your Rotary shirt and/or badge.
Somebody has a birthday tomorrow – Join us at Rotary Park at 6 to celebrate.
Greetings all. Following on from our Polio Plus night, Merinda and I attended a live performance of Janis Joplin Pearl at the Kinema, brought to Narooma by Twisted Productions aka Tim and Fiona. It is fantastic to have people in our community who are giving us the chance to catch quality shows and concepts and they deserve all our support.
The markets roster is being circulated. It is going to be busy and we need as many hands on deck as possible.
Race day raffle tickets are on the way. We need to get organised quickly to sell these. I’d like everyone to put aside an hour or two selling tickets rather than buying the book yourself. Please by Thursday check your diaries and let’s lock it in. We will also need sales points at these markets.
This week Charmaine is taking us on a journey through the East Timor dental program. Her work with children and locals. Bring your partners for this fascinating insight.
You may remember Tim Dunkleberg our last exchange student.
Tim applied to go to Uni in Latvia, to become a famous doctor. He has been accepted and here is an extract from his letter:
“The university just accepted me as one of their future medical students, starting in January! My Parents and I already had a quick look around over a Weekend. The City is amazing! Stuffed with old but renovated houses and romantic little restaurants. After Christmas I will go once again to show everything to my girlfriend and start looking for a flat, which are soooo cheap compared with German university towns and pretty much free if compared to a flat in Sydney.”
Since finishing High School he has lived in South America and Spain working with the underprivileged.
Thursday evening (12th) was a great night at Narooma Kinema. We hosted the premier of the latest installment of 007’s exciting life, “Spectre”, to raise money and awareness for Polio Plus.
A great audience, including the South Australian Range Rover Club, joined in the fun of dressing up and wine, nibbles and raffles. We were able to show a short clip on how close we are to getting rid of Polio in the world.
The night raised about $600 plus, a great effort.
David, Rachel, Frank and Iris
Things like this don’t happen with out a lot of work from members, their partners and others. I’d like to thank all with special mention to Chris for her organisation of the event including drinks and nibbles, David and Rachel for organising the raffle, Laurelle for the publicity and above all John and Janette of the Narooma Kinema who are wonderful supporters of the community.
This week we are privileged to be hosting the premiere of the latest Bond film, “Spectre”…..have you bought your ticket yet…. ?
Many thanks to Chris O’Brien and the wonderful team who have made this event possible. This is a great fund raiser for Polio Plus … See you there – with 10 friends!
Last week we had a great talk from John and Shirley Hayes-Cornish from the Moruya Club on their Rotary work in Timor Leste. The work being done by Rotary in this impoverished country is outstanding and next week our own Charmaine White will also be inspiring us with her journey into this near neighbour of ours. Please invite partners and friends.
Tickets for the Christmas Races Raffle will be available next week. Please work out times you would be available to sell tickets down the street.
Have a great one and I’ll see you on Thursday night at the Kinema. Have a fabulous week – Shaken not Stirred.
John and Shirley Hayes-Cornish have years of experience travelling all over Australia and the World helping people who are in need.
Members of Moruya Rotary Club, they travelled the short distance to Narooma last Thursday to inspire and inform our members on the most recent journey they have undertaken, in Timor Leste.
Since independence, Timor Leste has been struggling to become a strong nation. Rotary is a big presence and is helping in every way possible to improve the lives of the East Timorese people.
Shirley worked on women’s health projects giving them knowledge in sexually transmitted disease, birth control, hygiene and other women’s issues while John helped out with a water project.
Turning dirty water into clean drinking water is an enormous challenge which Rotary is meeting. Simple, easy to maintain filter systems that are very cost effective can make the difference between life and death, something we take for granted and rarely give a thought to.
With two and a half thousand dollars from their club, John and Shirley made sure that the contribution was well spent, to bring much needed support in the poorest country in the world, our next door neighbour.
Today (Monday 26th) was a celebration of Jack Wightman’s life. The assembled crowd heard from his son a very moving and personal description of his life. It was good to see some old faces, members from Moruya and Batemans Bay clubs and two representatives of North Rocks in Sydney. The Rotary presence was large and thank you to members and their partners for your support. The guard of honour was a fitting tribute.
Much thanks also goes to Frank and John Doyle for collecting the masses of Rotary stuff that Jack was minding. To the florist (opp the Kinema) who made a beautiful arrangement for us.
On Sunday I was absent fro the Markets, due to another commitment, and to all that were able to help out, congratulations for a great job.
The sad news on Friday of the passing of George Barker hit hard. George was a founding member of our club and a wonderful man who gave to the community, his family and to all who knew him. George’s funeral is this Friday at the Anglican Church in Tilba Street, Narooma at 2pm.
