THIS WEEK

THIS THURSDAY 18TH

This will be a double Rotary day for some of us…

Our Business Networking Breakfast 7am

Our guest speaker Narooma Rocks General Manager Carrie Taylor will talk about the rapidly approaching Narooma Oyster Festival on 3-4 May, its many attractions, and the challenges of staging the Festival. We have 27 people booked which is fabulous, including quite a few new faces. Bookings have now closed.It is 7am sharp at Narooma Surf Club. Breakfast costs $10.

Annual Pride of Workmanship Awards (also on 18^th)

This is 6 for 6.30pm at Club Dalmeny. We have eight nominations this year which is a wonderful response. That means these employers have nominated an employee who goes ‘above and beyond’. This is a prestigious event for the Club, second only to the Changeover; it should be another great ‘feel good’ night with a scrumptious sounding two-course dinner. There will be eight tables of six people; seats have been allocated (no changes please). David McInnes will MC.

THIS SATURDAY 20^TH

10am Working Bee at the vans in Easts Van Village – to sort, ‘chuck’ some  and transfer ‘stuff’ into the new van and get the old van ready for transfer to the new owner!! .

The Week that Was

Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA)

What a top programme for Yr 11 students, about half of whom were on their learner permits, embarking on a lifetime of driving. This year the 2-day programme at Moruya Racecourse was offered to about 300 Year 11 students attending the five private and state schools across Eurobodalla Shire. Julie Hartley and Ange Ulrichsen represented our Club and guided students to various sessions.

Narooma High took 45 students with three teachers – Pam Walpole, Carly McMahon and Jo Van. St Peters and Carroll College also attended on that day. Our Club sponsors Narooma High to RYDA by paying for the Symons bus. 

Six practical sessions featured powerful real-life narratives, speed and braking distances, mind matters, fatigue tips and road choices for safe driving skills. ‘My Life My Choices’ is a powerful theme throughout aimed at increasing students’ awareness and responsibility on the road.

RYDA has operated in the Eurobodalla for 15 years. In that time, about 3,000 local 11 students have attended. A team of dedicated volunteers from the Rotary Clubs of Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma organise it; including Moruya Rotarians who cook burgers and chips for everyone including presenters and Rotary volunteers.

RYDA coordinator Neil Simpson has organised the event for many years but is stepping down: we thank him for his time and effort, as do the many young people whose lives may have been saved by attending this valuable course.

Out and About

Narooma to host Finnish Exchange Student

Great news that our Club will host a Finnish exchange student in 2025 which should be a great experience for us all. Our Youth Exchange coordinator Susanna is looking for a couple more host families; for anyone interested please contact her with any questions.

NEXT WEEK

Tuesday 23 April: Narooma Rotarians have been invited to join the RC Moruya at their meeting at Moruya Golf Club 6 for 6.30pm. Guest speaker is Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland. Please book with Moruya Rotary.

Thursday 25 April: No Meeting because of Anzac Day holiday.

THIS THURSDAY 11 APRIL

6 for 6.30pm: Club Assembly at Narooma Golf Club. We can look forward to hearing about last week’s Board meeting, and Ange Ulrichsen and Julie Hartley will report back from Narooma High Year 11 students attendance at RYDA at Moruya (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) with other Year 11 students from across the Shire.

Coming up

Our Business Networking Breakfast (18^th)

Our guest speaker is Narooma Rocks General Manager Carrie Taylor who will talk about the rapidly approaching Narooma Oyster Festival on 3-4 May, its many attractions, and the challenges of staging the Festival (including the vagaries of the weather!). Please let Laurelle know if you are coming by Monday 15^th. Breakfast costs $10 (please let her know if you do not require breakfast). 

Pride of Workmanship Awards (also on 18^th)

We have seven confirmed nominations for this year’s Pride pf Workmanship Awards presentation next Thursday (18^th) at Club Dalmeny, with a possible eighth. That means these employers have nominated an employee who goes ‘above and beyond’. This is a prestigious event for the Club, second only to the Changeover; it should be another great night. David McInnes will be MC.

Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

We have started our publicity for the first ever Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) in Narooma on Sunday 19 May, organised by our Club. We will need assistance from all members if they are available.  

Club organiser Françoise Cleret says the DGR is an annual international charity event that unites riders of classic and vintage styled motorcycles to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health.

We are inviting riders of classic and vintage styled motorcycles along the far south coast to join the event.

The stats are sobering… One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their life; in Eurobodalla Shire it is two in three.  Globally, one man is lost every minute to suicide, that’s half a million every year. Françoise says, while the cause couldn’t be more serious, the way the DGR raises funds and creates awareness is by having fun in style and dressing ‘dapper’.

All riders must register online for Narooma’ ride at www.gentlemansride.com before the day. Riders must ride a classic & vintage style motorcycle (see DGR style guide on webpage), while dressed suitably dapper. Donations are welcome. Please go online www.gentlemansride.com, find the Narooma ride and support one or more registered riders. Funds raised will be invested by the DGR’s official charity partner Movember in local and global prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programmes. For Narooma DGR inquiries, please phone Françoise.

The DGR will start and finish at NATA Oval. Assembly no later than 10am. The 21km ride leaves at 11am.  A market for community and sporting groups to promote themselves will be held on NATA Oval in conjunction with the DGR. David McInnes is organising the market. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Out and About

News from Lachie in Japan

Lachie continues to have a great time. He went on a trip to Tokyo for his 16^th birthday with his host mother.  He has been twice to the snow, once on a mini Rotary excursion, and once on a school trip. Here are some excerpts from his recent email to Susanna about the Tokyo trip…

“I did many things in Tokyo. We started by taking the Shinkansen from Nagoya to Tokyo. It only took around two hours but it felt like less. Along the way we also saw Mount Fuji, which was incredible looking.  In Tokyo, we met up with my host sister who lives in the city. I knew her pretty well already because she was staying at our home in Ogaki for many weeks prior before returning home in Tokyo.

We checked in at a hotel in Gotanda and then made our way to Shibuya, where the famous crossing is. It was one of my top places I wanted to go to in Japan so I was very excited to go there and see it in person. ..We all went to Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine surrounded by a surprisingly large amount of trees and parks. Later we went to Shinjuku, which has a lot of the lights and screens you see in videos of Tokyo including the 3D cat.

Later when we went to the Minato region of Tokyo and ate at a Michelin Star restaurant where I was served pizza and a birthday dessert. Then we went to Tokyo tower and saw the city skyline from a night view. The next day, we… went to Toyosu. My host mother and sister went shopping while I went to Team Labs, which has a lot of immersive experiences. It was definitely a major highlight of the trip…We also went to Senso-ji, a Buddhist temple where I bought most of my souvenirs from the Tokyo trip.

Another major event that happened recently was going with my host mother to Takayama, a town in central Gifu prefecture surrounded by mountains. It was my host mother’s home town, so we saw her family along with more tourist-like activities. .. By the time we got to our next destination which was an outdoor museum, it had begun snowing quite heavily which made the experience even more enjoyable.

Not long after we went to one of my host mother’s sister’s hotel. Her sister told me I should try the small bathhouse/onsen since there was nobody else using it at that time, so I did. After we returned home.

NEXT THURSDAY 18th APRIL

This will be a double Rotary day for some of us

7am – Narooma Rotary Business Networking Breakfast at the Surf Club. Please book with Laurelle by Monday 15th.

6 for 6.30pm – Our annual Pride of Workmanship Awards Club Dalmeny

Lynn’s Lines

It’s been a while since the last Beacon, so this is a bit of a catch-up.

What a great night last Thursday night with our RYPEN students! See report below. Susanna Chung also gave us an update on Lachie Penglase in Japan, as did his parents. More next week.

Early March, our Club catered for a barbecue dinner for 20 people at the Discovery Park south of Narooma for visiting NRMA staff community volunteers, organised through the Uniting Church.   Our small team consisted of David and Rachel McInnes, Gero Mitchell (made the potato salad) and me.  It was a good night. After costs we made $340 which the Board subsequently decided should go into the Administration account. Left over salads and fruit were taken to Monty’s.

We again took part in Clean Up Australia on Sunday 3 March and it was a lovely morning. Ange and I started early and did not find much in our usual area. Upon our completion we found a lady waiting for us at our start point to join us (a visitor who signed up online) We gave her another bag and she headed in the other direction from the boardwalk to the bridge. 

Our Club Assembly on 14 March featured D9705 Governor Nominee Robert Shore as guest speaker. He is the District’s Membership Director, currently a member of Batemans Bay Rotary Club, and previously a member of Dubbo Club. It was very appropriate that our newest member of the Club Pina Prosperi was inducted and welcomed into the Club that night.

Robert said his best membership results have been from printing programmes of dinner speakers and other things 3-4 months ahead and distributing them to everyone they can. If only one thing interests someone, they hold onto the list. This way his old club at Dubbo attracted 18 new members in one year; so far this idea has attracted only a few at his new club Batemans Bay. Robert also spoke about corporate membership and an annual clubhouse raffle.

The District’s combined President Elect Training and Learning and Development seminar at Batemans Bay was informative, particularly for incoming President Julie (see below). Susanna Chung w also went. I was very interested in the Corporate membership styles other clubs have adopted. We asked several questions about obtaining charity status with the ATO which were not addressed. The District Conference is in Mittagong October 25-27th. 

On Markets… our February market was very different as we had neither food van! A lot more work that way… but it was a good market nevertheless. Our March market had a good turn out with good sales. Gate $1010, Van sales $789.97 (net profit $512.59), Wishing Well $58.75. Thank you everyone for your help to make this all happen. We are hoping to have our new food van ready for the April Market.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday 3 April 6.30pm: Prostate Cancer Support Group meets at Narooma Golf Club

Thursday 4 April 5.15pm: Board Meeting

The Week that Was

Last Thursday we heard from two enthusiastic Narooma High students who we sponsored to the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) Camp at Wagga Wagga  in March – Michael Amey and Macy Dudgeon. They spoke about what they got out of the camp. This attracted a good number of guests including their families and staff of Narooma High. RYPEN is a 3 day camp and programme for Year 9 high school students. The aim is to expose these young people to a series of ideas, problems and social experiences to assist them in forming their own values and moral standards. It is also designed to broaden their horizons culturally, socially and academically.

Farewell to Narooma High Principal

Current Narooma High Principal Fiona  and “a great friend of Rotary” is moving on after five years in the top job. “I’ve loved my time here, but it is time to return to family; my connection here is strong, ” she said.  She is returning home to Tamworth as Executive Principal of Tamworth High which has 870 plus students compared with Narooma’s 470 students.

She told last Thursday’s meeting how very proud she was of Narooma High,  its students and its staff and all they have achieved, including their “amazing cultural programme”. She is over the moon with the “spectacular” results from the last HSC, the success of the RoboRebels, and also their agricultural students’ success at the Royal Agricultural Show steer competition. The meeting also acknowledged her strong leadership during the challenges of the 2019-20220 bushfires and the following Covid era.

Out and About

Rotary Business Networking Breakfast 21 March

Our last Businss Breakfast with guest speaker Kelly Eastwood of Eastwood’s Bermagui showed how the challenges of recent years resulted in her pivoting her business to meet those challenges. Everyone was quite fascinated with what she had to say and there was much discussion as a result.

The next Rotary Business Networking Breakfast on Thursday 18 April will feature Narooma Rocks General Manager Carrie Taylor who will update us on this year’s Narooma Oyster Festival, just two weeks later.

More from PETS

President Elect Julie Hartley said she found networking with the other clubs really helpful at the recent President Elect Training and Learning and Development seminar; she realised we all have the same membership issues. There were discussions  on how we might gain more members. It was also helpful to be reminded that the new Regionalisation team is there to help and for us to use their services.

Pride of Workmanship Awards

Invitations to nominate an employee who goes ‘above and beyond’ have now been sent to 38 local employers for this year’s Pride of Workmanship Awards on Thursday 18 April at Club Dalmeny. This is a prestigious event for the Club, second only to the Changeover, and a really ‘feel good’ event so hopefully we will get a fair number of nominees. Francoise and Laurelle are working on this. Chris assisted with delivering some invitations.

Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride

Planning is now well underway for a new event for the Club, the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride Sunday 19 May. The focus will be on NATA Oval with a display of the motor bikes and assorted classic vehicles, with a ride to Dalmeny and back, and a community market on NATA Oval. It’s a major fundraiser for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. More details to come.

NEXT WEEK

Wednesday 10-Thursday 11 Aprll: RYDA – Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Programme for Year 11 students – Moruya Racecourse. Our Club pays for the bus for Narooma High students. Ange Urichsen and Julie Hartley are going on Thursday 11th, accompanying NHS students.

Thursday 11 April: Club Assembly, Narooma Golf Club

Lynn’s Lines

Last week’s business breakfast was very successful with good attendance. The information available to local businesses via Council’s Teresa Lever sounds very helpful for making better informed business planning decisions. (Please see report below.)

On Saturday, six of us explored the Rotary Ringland’s Walk; for some of us it was the first time. The track meandered mostly along the foreshore in the shade with a gentle breeze. It was a magic feeling being in nature and the bush, and yet so close to town. There were a few issues that need some attention, but for the most part the track is in good condition. Issues include the small bridge, a little clearing in one place, and re-stumping a seat.

Creating the track was a Rotary project in 1995/96 and it has been maintained over the years thanks to occasional Rotary working bees, occasional Council work crews, Dalmeny Narooma Bushwalkers and some neighbouring residents.  

I look forward to seeing you this Thursday to hear our guest speaker Anne Comery talk about View Clubs.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 22 February

Dinner meeting 6 for 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club.  Guest Speaker is View Club Zone Councillor Anne Comery who will talk about View Clubs – ‘Voices, Interests, and Education of Women’. Anne has held many positions in Eden View Club over the last 20 years, and been Zone Councillor for four years. Numbers to John please by midday Tuesday.

Sunday 25 February

February Market – All hands on deck please!

The Week that Was

Our Business Breakfast

What a great Business Networking Breakfast last Thursday with Teresa Lever as guest speaker. Teresa is Council’s Manager Economic Development and Place Activation and a staunch supporter of our Business Breakfasts. She can provide businesses with a host of information that can assist with their business planning.

There’s the ID Profile based on census figures, but information from Localis provides real time data with accurate information about the numbers of visitors in the area and where they’re from, where they are spending, and what they are spending money it on.

She stressed that no one set of information is perfect but it is way ahead of what businesses had before which was of dubious value and based on a small sample size. Teresa can prepare a report for a business based on what is required. For example, part of the Narooma Oyster Festival detailed reports is generated from Localis information.

Some interesting points based just on central Narooma (not including Kianga and Dalmeny):

• 48% of Narooma’s population is over 60. She said a number of projects are underway that should attract younger families to the area
• 72% of Narooma’s population is in the lower/lower middle income bracket. This highlights the importance of the visitor economy and “Thank God for the bike tracks”
• 32% of Narooma residential properties are owned by non-residents
• 38.2% of households in Naroomna are ‘lone person’
• Visitors are mostly coming from Canberra, but there’s increasing interest from Nowra and Sydney areas.

Teresa said mountain bike tracks will be huge for the local business economy, attracting visitors throughout the year. It also positions Eurobodalla as a desirable location for a younger generation to live.

If you don’t already receive it, Teresa publishes a very informative online monthly newsletter for businesses called ‘Business Update’.

Robotics teacher awarded scholarship

Narooma High Science teacher Gayle Allison has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship for professional development in STEM subjects (Science, technology, engineering and maths). She is looking primarily to robotics and 3D printing. The Toyota Community Trust STEM Teachers Scholarship, one of only nine awarded across Australia, recognises her outstanding work in education including with Narooma High’s robotics team the RoboRebels and their ongoing development.

Out and About

From Batemans Bay Club

Batemans Bay Rotary recently donated $10,000 to a new school in Timor at Sulilaran.

Interesting figures reported in the Bay’s Rotary Bulletin. Since 2017, when the Men’s Health Educational Rural Van (MHERV) began in regional NSW providing free health checks primarily for men, 12,236 people have been checked. Of those, 5,891 were found to be in need of treatment and 441 were in immediate danger of a stroke or heart attack. These were not necessarily older men; some were in their 30s. The MHERV will be at Narooma Plaza 28-29 February.

Interesting Batemans Bay Rotary has transferred their meeting transferred from Thursday 7^th to attend dinner on the Friday with Rotarians from across the District attending the Combined PETS & Learning & Development weekend at the Soldiers Club.

COMING WEEKS

Thursday 29 February: No Meeting

Wednesday 6 March: Prostate Cancer Support Group

Thursday 7 March: No Meeting

Friday 8-10 March: District 9705 combined President Elect Training and Learning and Development seminar at Batemans Bay Soldiers Club

Thursday 14 March: Club Assembly with Guest Speaker D9705 Governor Nominee on Rotary Membership in D9705. Robert is currently a member of Batemans Bay Rotary Club, and previously a member of Dubbo Club. He brings a wealth of knowledge and is passionate about Membership.

Thursday 21 March: Business Networking Breakfast with guest speaker Kelly Eastwood of Eastwood’s Bermagui on how she has pivoted her business to meet the challenges of recent years. Kelly has worked as a private chef to Royalty, Russian Oligarchs and other on the Forbes list, and then worked as a Home Economist and TV Food Producer for many shows. It was River Cottage Australia that brought Kelly to our region. When RCA finished she started up her own business in Bermagui.

Thursday 28 March: Dinner Meeting: to hear from our two RYDA students TBC

The next edition of the Beacon will be in early April.

Lynn’s Lines

Wednesday night was our monthly meeting of the Prostate Cancer Support Group which Julie Hartley held at Narooma Golf Club. Great to see Mike Young back home and involved again. Julie and Andrew Lawson are also helping the Bega Valley group.

Thursday was our Club Assembly. A few members were away so we met in the First Hole after ordering from the bistro. We talked about the many decisions made at the recent Board meeting.  These included:

• Should anyone be available to help out at the Men’s Health Van Feb 28-29 which Lions is organising this year (two hour shifts), please contact Tony Fahey 0414 419 986.
• Possibly co-hosting a Narooma Community Forum on the latest on the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital… either 30 April or 1, 2 May TBA.
• For those interested… checking out the Rotary Ringlands Walk this Saturday 17th. Meeting 8:30am on the road into Ringlands. If you would like to go, please ring Laurelle.
• The Club will cater a BBQ dinner for 20 Volunteers from Sydney on 11 March
• The Pride of Workmanship is n Thursday 18 April (same day as our Business Breakfast at Club Dalmeny. Cost $52.
• Changeover is on 27 June
• Gentlemen’s Distinguished Bike Ride Sunday 19 May. More information soon.
• RYDA date for Narooma has changed to 11 April
• New Van is being fitted out and finishing touches added. Old Van to register, clean out, and find a new home!

This Thursday 15 February

Our Business Networking Breakfast’s guest speaker will talk about using readily available data to grow your business. Teresa Lever, Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Manager Economic Development and Place Activation, says a lot of data readily available to local businesses can track the local economy, spend days, and the mobility of customers and so assist with business planning. Should be interesting. 7am sharp Narooma Surf Club. Bookings are essential via Laurelle

The Week that was

Lachie’s Club in Japan

Susanna Chung proposed an international toast to Lachie Penglase’s host club Ogaki Rotary. It meets Wednesdays for lunch at the Ogaki Forum hotel. Other Rotary and Lions clubs also meet here, such as the club of Ogaki west. The club has about 70 members, all of whom are businessmen. Lachie says everyone has the same meal and when you sit down a meal is already set on your table, which is very large and fancy. The club also has a pianist who plays music throughout the entire meeting! Lachie has sent a photo of the Ogaki Rotary’s banner with four colour panels.

More from Lachie

Japan honestly feels like a different planet compared to Australia! Everything here is so unique and different. It’s also really beautiful, especially at sunset. I was also really lucky to witness snow within my first week of being in Japan. The one thing I love most about Japan so far is the food! I haven’t had a single complaint so far, it’s all so perfect.

In school, you almost never move to another classroom for any subject. You just stay in the same classroom all day. You even eat lunch in your classroom (they don’t have recess). The only time I move to another room is when we do calligraphy, which is basically writing Japanese characters onto paper with ink. School finishes at 4:20pm on some days, which isn’t counting any clubs in which I’ve noticed a majority seem to participate.

Stop Press on RYPEN

Narooma High has nominated two Year 9 students to go the RYPEN Camp at Wagga Wagga  in March – Michael Amey and Macy Dudgeon, thanks to our Youth Director Ange Ulrichsen’s encouragement. Our Club will sponsor the two students. RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment) is a 3 day camp and programme for Year 9 high school students. The aim is to communicate to these young people a series of ideas, problems and social experiences which will assist them in forming their own values and moral standards, and also broaden their horizons culturally, socially and academically.

Out and About

Distinguished Gentleman’s Bike Ride Sunday 19 May

Narooma Rotary Club is calling all folk interested in dressing dapper and taking the time to join us on the Distinguished Gentleman’s ride on Sunday 19 May AM. Should be great fun and hopefully attract riders from across the south coast.

Traditionally it’s an excuse to take your (motor) bike for a ride while raising funds and awareness for men’s mental health and prostate cancer research, but we are happy to include anyone wanting to take their car for an outing. ‘Frock up’ and come on a tour for a great cause. More details to come. Will need lots of assistance. Françoise Cleret is our Club’s inspiration for this venture.

Next Week

Thursday 22 February

Dinner meeting 6 for 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club.  Guest Speaker is View Club Zone Councillor Anne Comery who will talk about View Clubs – ‘Voices, Interests, and Education of Women’. Anne has held many positions in Eden View Club over the last 20 years, and been Zone Councillor for four years.

Sunday 25 February

February Market – All hands on deck please!

Lynn’s Lines

 What a fantastic start to the year with so many of our youth from the many youth programmes we sponsor at our meeting last week. David McInnes our enthusiastic chair just made the night that much more enjoyable for everyone.

We all met and learned more about our newest scholarship winner Nico Van Delft-Twyford. Milaina Cafe updated us on her coming year and a few changes to accommodation, courses etc. Raichel Brodie was on a bus and could not join us in person. So she sent us a message updating us on how she’s doing.

Also joining us was Ella Marshall who attended MUNA last year and  Harmony Canon from the school’s Robotics team who spoke about the school’s future programme.

A big thank you to Chris O’Brien’s friends Neil and Gloria Jenkins from Melbourne for their generous $1,000 donation to our Tertiary Scholarship Fund.

Our Club is now the very proud owners of a flash new food van. Some sorting out is needed and best storage methods determined, as well as signage done.. A huge thank you to Françoise and John for driving to Sydney to pick it up for us.

Our Board meeting on Friday covered lots of items which we will go over at the Club Assembly this week. Many stayed back to help clear out our stuff stored at the Golf Club and rationalise what we keep. Didn’t finish until after 7! Look forward to seeing you on Thursday at Club Assembly.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, 7 February 6.30pm: ProstateCancer Support Group, Narooma Golf Club

Thursday, 8 February 6pm: DINNER MEETING – CLUB ASSEMBLY – 6 for 6.30pm

The Week that Was

More on our Youth Night

Celebrating Narooma’s youth and the many Rotary programmes to support them was a great start for Narooma Rotary’s year last Thursday. David McInnes’ passion for the opportunities the Club provides for Narooma High students was evident throughout his time chairing the meeting.

The three-year Tertiary Scholarship to a student from Narooma High each year is a major Club programme. “Selecting that student is such an uplifting experience,” he said. David is trying to make contact with all Narooma Rotary scholarship winners from over more than 30 years; our ‘Alumni’.

Our 2024 Tertiary Scholar Nico Van Delft-Twyford of Bermagui said the scholarship will allow him to focus much more on his studies; his course through the University of Wollongong and TAFE will lead him to a career in cyber security.

Our 2023 Scholar Melaina Cafe is doing a double degree at the Australian National University, her favourite subjects last year being philosophy and ethics. A message from 2022 Scholar Raichel Brodie was read out during the evening.

The Club’s Rotary Exchange student Lachie Penglase has now started school in Japan and his father Tony shared Lachie’s news.

Teacher Dion Cafe praised the “wonderful” Rotary Youth Driver Awareness  (RYDA) programme for Year 11 students across the Shire. He has coordinated Narooma High students to RYDA for 16 years; “students get so much from it”, he would like attendance to be compulsory. 

The Club also caught up with Ella Marshall, part of Narooma High’s team to the Model United Nation Assembly in Canberra last year, and Harmony Canon from the school’s Robotics team.

Youth Director Ange Ulrichsen read out a message from Narooma High Principal Fiona Jackson who could not attend. Ms Jackson said Narooma High’s year had started “with great excitement after the fabulous 2023 HSC results, and…  this has laid the foundation along with their sporting success to start an extremely first term.”

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya IPP Shirl Cornish has a new role as joint Chair of Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) District. Last week at Moruya she spoke of some of the 34 active projects supported by clubs in D9705.

In January, Shirl spent two weeks on a School Immersion Mission (SIMS) in Cambodia to three villages of remote subsistence farmers, (1½ hours rough travel into the jungles from Siem Reip) on Sexual Health Education by Pictures (SHEP).  She provided all teaching material for her SHEP classes including 80 booklets.

Her next project is in April to join a large company in the Philippines. She will be one of ten trainers. She is off to a RACS Conference in Port Macquarie this week.

PETS and Club Assembly in the Bay

The combined  Presidents Elect Training and Learning and Development (used to be called Club assembly) weekend for incoming Presidents, board members and  new members is on at Batemans By Soldiers Club from Friday evening 8, Saturday 9, Sunday morning 10 March 

One great part of these weekends is the camaraderie and support gained  from other Presidents and Club members from the District.  These weekends are for all club members including new members.  This will help build team spirit and also all will gain a greater understanding of Rotary. Registration is necessary to ensure correct catering details.

NEXT THURSDAY (15^th)  Business Breakfast

At Surf Club 7-8am. Our guest speaker will talk about using readily available data to grow your business. Teresa Lever, Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Manager Economic Development and Place Activation, says a lot of data available to local businesses can track the  local economy, spend days, and the mobility of customers and so assist with business planning. Should be interesting. Bookings are essential via Laurelle. Breakfast costs $10 – please say if you don’t want breakfast otherwise you willbe charged.

Lynn’s Lines

Wow! What a great turn out for our Duck Race last Friday despite the grey skies and early drizzle. The whole flock, bar a very few cheeky ones, stayed the course even with the strong southerly blowing them towards Mill Bay!

We had so many retrieval vessels on the water, the ducks were all rounded up in no time at all. We had two very happy winners, the major winner was right there watching! It was one of the best Duck races we have done. Hats off to all involved. Thanks everyone.

Sunday was our monthly market and the sunshine brought out lots of people and helped make a most enjoyable day. Lots of stalls with big crowds and long lines at the pizzas as well as a busy Rotary Food van.  Thanks again to our many Rotary helpers and Rotarians for their time and energy to make these events happen. Just love it…

This Thursday (1st February) is our Youth Night which is always a good night. All three current scholarship students will attend and possibly some students from MUNA, as well as Narooma High Principal Fiona Jackson and teachers Monique Wicks and Dion Cafe.  We will also get an update on our Rotary Exchange student Lachie Penglase, now in Japan; his family will join us for the evening.

This Friday is a huge day for the Club. Françoise and John are picking up the new food van in Sydney. We all really appreciate this considerable undertaking by them on the Club’s behalf.

Friday is our February Board meeting. There will be lots on the agenda. Another big week!

THIS WEEK

This Thursday (1 February)

Our Annual Youth Night at Narooma Golf Club 6 for 6.30pm. Our current Tertiary Scholars Raichel Brodie, Milaina Cafe and our 2024 scholar Nico Van Delft-Twyford will be there, some MUNA students and teachers from Narooma High. Please invite partners and friends. Numbers to John Rungen please by noon Tuesday 30^th.

This Friday 2 February 5.15pm

Board Meeting at Narooma Golf Club.

The Week that Was

Our Great Australia Day Narooma Rotary Duck Race

Race Coordinator David McInnes reckoned this year’s Duck Race was “quite fast with the tightest group of racing ducks I’ve ever seen. They quickly formed a tight bunch, with no milling around, and headed for the finishing line.

“Duck 144 then shot ahead to be the clear winner.” The delighted ticket holder, Jeremy Westgarth of Hornsby, was watching the race with his family.

His mother Sharon Schweisfurth said they watch the race every year when they’re down visiting family in January. “We never miss,” she said. “It’s such a fun event.” Sharon bought seven tickets and divvied them up among the family, the lowest number going to the youngest etc. Jeremy has been saving hard for a new guitar; now his $1,000 prize means he can buy it.

Last was Duck 966, held by local busker Eddie Tierney who won $100.

President Lynn Hastings was delighted with the race. “We love how much our community has embraced this event; it attracts hundreds of people each year.” She publicly thanked everyone who helped launch and recover the ducks, especially Narooma Surf Club and Marine Rescue members, adding the Club could not run the event without their assistance.

Proceeds this year go towards Carers’ Accommodation at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and other Rotary charities.

Sunday’s Market

Just to add to Lynn’s report above. It was another good market with a great summer vibe. Gate takings were $1,305, van sales $1,101.15 (includes square sales), Wishing Well $150.85. This was possibly the last market for our old food van.

Our Moruya Rotary friends Jan and Steve Young with Wendy Smith brought along the electric car that we are raffling to raise money for the community project to build Carers’ Accommodation at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. There was a lot of interest in the car. Julie Hartley and David McInnes have raffle books to sell.

NEXT THURSDAY (8 Feb)

Club Assembly 6 for 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club.