Rotary Club of Narooma Inc. – Serving the Commmunity

NAROOMA ROTARY BEACON 7 November 2024

November 5, 2024 6:22 am | By Laurelle Pacey

Julie’s Jots

Last Thursday night was another fun get-together at Lynch’s Pub. It was wonderful that Pina brought along her neighbour who was originally from Finland!

The Prostate Cancer Support Group this Wednesday (6^th) welcomes guest speaker Jarrod Flynn from the Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre. The November Board meeting the next day will be fairly comprehensive. The agenda includes discussion of some of the great ideas that came out of the presentations at the recent Community Group workshop that Lynn and I attended on behalf of the Club, and how we might explore them further with Members.

We will have another inspiring night next Thursday (14^th) when Narooma Preschool Director Kathy Phipps will outline the new localised Indigenous programme her Team developed in association with our local Yuin community for theirs and other early childhood centres in our area. It included significant inputs from Trish Ellis, Natalie Bateman, and Eddie Moore. Please invite others to join us. We will then present Kathy and her Team with a Vocational Excellence Award.

Our Annual General Meeting is on Thursday 5 December 2024. Positions in the Club will become vacant for the 2025-26 year. All members are encouraged to attend this meeting. A nomination form for committee positions will be circulated soon.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, 6 November 6.30pm, Narooma Golf Club: Narooma Prostate Cancer Support Group with guest speaker Jarrod Flynn, Coordinator, Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre Co-ordinator

Thursday, 7 November 5.15pm: Board Meeting, Narooma Golf Club.

The Week that Was

From Moruya Rotary Club

Moruya Rotary’s profit from its recent charity golf day was almost $13,000, a fantastic result. The funds will go to the Carer’ Accommodation fund for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. They had 84 golfers tee off and 122 booked for dinner. President Allen made special mention in this week newsletter of the wonderful organisational and motivational skills of John Spencer, John Gillett and Jeff Proud who worked closely with Moruya Golf Club and contributed so much to the Golf Day’s success.

Out and About

A date for your Diary

Our next Rotary Business Networking Breakfast on Thursday 21st November (7am sharp) should be fascinating and timely with a great line-up of panel speakers on the coming tourism season. Five local business people (accommodation, hospitality, activities and retail) will each talk for about five minutes maximum on the approaching busy summer season – their expectations and anticipated challenges. They are Teaghan Abbott of Easts Holiday Park, Sally Bouckley of Southbound Escapes, Victor Costa of Merivale, Tania McHugh of She Fashion of Narooma and Bermagui, and Tash Clutterbuck of Oyster Farmer’s Daughter. We intend starting the panel promptly at 7.15am so hopefully everyone will be able to have some breakfast, grab a coffee and be ready by then. Bookings with Laurelle please by Monday COB 18th. Cost $10.

Bay Rotarians have fun with Three Ps

About this time each year, Bay Rotarians dust off their poetry and jokes for their annual Pizza Poetry & Plonk Night which from all accounts is a lot of fun. It’s next Thursday 14 November, this year at the Meals on Wheels premises. The cost is $15 pp.

NEXT THURSDAY 14 November

Our guest speaker will be Narooma Preschool Director Kathy Phipps and her Team who developed a new localised Indigenous programme for the Preschool to meet curriculum changes introduced earlier this year. They developed it in association with our local Yuin community. They then shared the programme with 20 other early childhood centres in the Eurobodalla. Kathy will outline what they have done. The Award presentation will follow. The Club has rarely given a Vocational Excellence Award; it’s for someone who not only does a great job in their vocation, but also goes above and beyond.

Please invite friends and partners. Please let Gero know if you are coming or not by noon Monday 11^th.

NAROOMA ROTARY BEACON 31 October 2024

October 28, 2024 8:55 pm | By Laurelle Pacey

Julie’s Jots

*At the Community Group workshop – Lynn and Julie with Group Leader Rob Shore*

What a busy week it’s been! The weekend before last Lynn Hastings and I represented the Club at the first workshop of our new ‘Community Group’ with representatives of most other clubs in the group. Lynn recorded lots of ideas for us to consider. We both realised how much our Club does for such a small Club.

Then on Thursday we Lifted the Lid on Mental Health (see report below). It was a great night and we all learnt heaps. I’d like to thank our speakers Laurence Babbington, Michael Weir and Sophie Scobie, our members and guests for making it such an enjoyable and informative night, and there were some great hats! Sophie’s partner Joel proved to be a top judge for the best hat on the night which was won by two people, Françoise and John. Two people on the night also expressed interest in becoming members which is wonderful.

*John Cunningham and Françoise Cleret won best hat as very cute Minions.*

Last weekend was the District Conference in Mittagong and our exchange Student Hilma was there, thanks to one of her host Mums Sally Hearder. Unfortunately no one from our Club could go. Hilma had a lot of fun catching up with the other exchange students in our District. She made the Finnish specialty Raspberry Pie as her special contribution to morning tea on the Sunday which Sally said was delicious!

*Hilma and Sally at District Conference*

Then the markets on Sunday… Many thanks to all the team who pitched in, including our Friends of Rotary. We took $910 at the gate (the most so far this Rotary year), gross van food sales were $935.39, and the wishing well (which included September’s market) $192.50.

*Some of our team at the market on Sunday – David McInnes, Gero Mitchell and Lynn Hastings*

THIS THURSDAY 31st October

Being the fifth Thursday in the month, there is no formal event. Instead we are heading to Lynch’s Hotel for dinner in the old dining room 6.30pm. Please let Gero know if you will be coming by COB Tuesday. Hope to see you there.

The Week that Was

Narooma’s Lift the Lid

*Laurence Babbington and Michael Weir at last Thursday’s Lift the Lid.*

There were some great hats last Thursday with almost everyone getting into the hat spirit. Our guest speakers were inspiring and spoke about different aspects and approaches to dealing with mental health issues; lots of questions followed.

Laurence Babbington spoke about Narooma Men’s Table which has up to 12 members. They meet once a month at each other’s homes. Men’s Table is a safe and informal place for men to share ‘stuff’ with other men (apparently no talk of footie, no detailed weather, no religion etc).

*Sophie Scobie of Narooma Headspace at Lift the Lid.*

Michael Weir gave us a great rundown on Deadly Runners, an indigenous group formed in 2023 to foster health and wellbeing among indigenous Australians through running and cultural engagement. He stood in for his wife Georgia who was unable to attend. They meet at 6am three days a week in Ken Rose Park near the bridge.

Sophie Scobie is from the recently opened and much needed Narooma office of Headspace, opposite the Plaza at the lights in Narooma. This organisation provides support for young people (12 to 25) who are going through a tough time. It is open Mondays 10am-6pm, Wednesdays 9am-5pm (family counsellor also there), and on Tuesdays at Narooma High School 9-3.30pm.

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary

This week’s column in Moruya’s newsletter by President Allan Veness was glowing. He says the Club’s plans are starting to bear results; guests at last week’s meeting expressed an interest in joining the club and they have another potential member as well. Their formalising of how the club distributes money back into our community seems to be working well with guidelines and an application form which makes the process clear and gives their club accountability. Allan also reports their Charity Golf Day was a big success and shows how well the Club can manage a large scale event when so many people contribute.

From Batemans Bay Rotary newsletter

The RYDA programme has a new coordinator following Neil Simpson’s passing on the baton after many years. Newly-inducted Pam Williams will coordinate RYDA from 2025. Neil reports Pam was a maths teacher at Bay High, been a presenter at RYDA so has the skills and knows the programme and people very well, and she’s a capable organiser and an enthusiastic supporter of youth programmes. Sounds like a perfect match. Pam will contact other Clubs once a date for RYDA has been set.

*Hilma with other Exchange students and District Chair Youth Exchange Mike Whitten* *at the District Conference.*

NEXT WEEK

Wednesday 6 November 6.30pm: Prostate Cancer Support Group with guest speaker Jarrod Flynn, the Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre Co-ordinator.

Thursday 7 November 5.15pm: Board Meeting at Narooma Golf Club.

NAROOMA ROTARY BEACON 24 October 2024

October 20, 2024 7:24 am | By Laurelle Pacey

Julie’s Jots

Narooma Rotary President Julie Hartley joins Fiona Kotvojs of Gulaga Gold, Narooma Chamber of Commerce President Stephanie Dibden and Narooma High Principal Tracy Scobie at last Thursday’s Business Breakfast.

Our guest speaker at the breakfast meeting on Thursday was Dr Fiona Kotvojs who gave us an insight into the truffle growing industry. As with anything to do with the land, they rely on just the right conditions to produce the highly sought after truffle. Most of the truffles she grows are used by chefs on the south coast, with some exported to America. A very highly sought after product! (See more below).

On Friday I attended the committee meeting of the Carer’s Accommodation for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. The car raffle is still going and they hope to have all tickets sold and the raffle drawn by February or March next year.

Thursday of course is our Lift the Lid Day for Mental Health Day (see below) and Ange has organised some great speakers. Please invite family and friends and don’t forget your hat! Hat prizes on the night.

Then on Sunday 27^th, it’s our monthly market. All hands on deck please! David will be circulating the market roster.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 24^th October: Lift the Lid on Mental Health

This should be a fun night but with a serious message. Please invite friends and family and President Julie encourages everyone to wear a hat of whatever type you want. Rotary clubs across Australia organise a Hat Day dinner each year to highlight the magnitude of mental health problems and raise funds for Australia Rotary Health (ARH), one of the largest independent funders of mental health research in Australia. Everyone is encouraged to give $5 towards ARH. More information on ARH’s website.) Speakers are:

Our own Laurence Babington on Men’s Long Table. The Men’s Table is a safe place to share and be heard in a confidential and non-judgemental environment, creating a greater sense of belonging, camaraderie and connection. Our local Men’s Table is held once a month in Narooma.
Sophie Scobie introduces Headspace Narooma, recently opened in Narooma. They provide early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. Headspace Narooma can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.

Unfortunately our third speaker Georgia Weir had to pull out. Georgia is from Deadly Runners, an Aboriginal owned and operated programme that fosters health and wellbeing among indigenous Australians through running and cultural engagement programmes. Hopefully we will hear from Georgia another time.

Sunday 27 October: Our Market

The Week that Was

Gulaga Gold shines at Business Breakfast

We had another great speaker at our monthly Narooma Rotary Business Networking Breakfast last Thursday. Fiona Kotvojs of Dignams Creek shared what is involved in establishing a small truffière, why the base of Gulaga is well suited to truffles, and why their truffles are increasingly being recognised as world class with their particularly rich deep flavour. Potential exports is huge, but production is small. For example, the UK could take 10kg of her truffles a week, but Fiona’s total production last year was 40kg.

Fiona’s background particularly in managing and analysing projects means that every truffle is weighed, the production of each tree recorded, and everything analysed including the locations. Fiona and her husband planted three different trees – English and Spanish oaks and Hazel about 10 years ago, and started harvesting truffles after five which was quicker than expected. Truffles grow underground among the roots.

Truffles need frosts, well drained soils with a northerly aspect. The harvesting season is about five weeks mid-year and of course trained dogs find the truffles. Weekend truffle hunts are a big tourist attraction, but you don’t keep the truffles.

The best Gulaga Gold truffles are sold directly to south coast restaurants, and the rest through a wholesaler in Melbourne to the export market. Fiona said the export potential is huge to the UK and USA, and they haven’t even looked at Asia.

“Truffles have the potential to make many small farms in this area viable,” she said. It’s a winter crop, and being underground can handle fire and drought (the spores survive), love lots of rain in February, and like a dry autumn. She is keen to share her knowledge with other potential growers.

Australia is the fourth major truffle producer worldwide. Western Australia is the major supplier in Australia producing 20t a year, but Fiona says theirs lacks the flavour of Gulaga Gold. Australian exports benefit from the different seasons to the norther hemisphere.

The future is bright. Truffles are used in a range of high quality products and she is also looking for people to use truffles to add value to products. She stressed the importance of collaboration, of packaging experiences like truffle hunts with accommodation and restaurants, and spoke of the now established Gourmet Coast Trail and the Fungi Feastival.

From Batemans Bay Rotary

Each year The Bay Club offers a Scholarship to ANU for medical students attending the Rural Clinical School in Batemans Bay, hoping this will encourage and influence the students to consider pursuing a medical career in rural Australia. It was a happy surprise at the end of the student’s presentation at the Club last Thursday to hear they were all looking at General Practice in rural areas as a career.

Out and About

ShelterBox in Gaza and Lebanon

ShelterBox, Rotary’s partner in disaster relief, is delivering vital aid to the displaced people of Gaza when it can. Many more trucks remain stalled at the border alongside thousands of other humanitarian aid vehicles desperately trying to reach those in dire need. These ShelterBox trucks are packed with essentials such as tarpaulins and rope, blankets, mattresses, and floor mats and also carry water basins, soap, water carriers, kitchen equipment, and hygiene supplies, including diapers, toothbrushes, and sanitary items. ShelterBox has also intensified the production of heavy tents.

In Lebanon, people are also being forced to flee from intense airstrikes across the country following months of displacement near the border of Lebanon and Israel. They are fleeing with only what they can carry. ShelterBox is also responding to this crisis and has partnered with a community aid organisation based in Lebanon to scale up its response. They’re supporting people sheltering in communal spaces like schools with essential items like mattresses and blankets to protect them from the cold this winter, as well as hygiene kits.

Much of the work of ShelterBox is funded by Rotary Clubs and individual Rotarians. More information shelterboxaustralia.org.au/lebanon-emergency.

NEXT THURSDAY 31^st October

Being the fifth Thursday in the month, no formal meeting. Instead we are heading to Lynch’s Hotel for dinner in the old restaurant 6.30pm. Please let Gero know if you will be coming. Hope to see you there.

NAROOMA ROTARY BEACON 17 October 2024

October 14, 2024 1:32 pm | By Laurelle Pacey

*Ellie and Hilma enjoyed their time at Mosaics at MACS’ Studios during the last week of t*he school holidays.

Julie’s Jots

Last Thursday, before our Club Dinner, I met with Ann Hegerty and David McInnes. David has handed over the position of convenor of our Tertiary Scholarships programme to Ann after several years of great service. Many thanks to David and now to Ann for taking on this really important task. It is much appreciated and you’ll find it’s a very rewarding experience. Our Club Dinner afterwards was a very relaxed and informal night and I thank everyone for their interesting Magic Moments!

This Sunday Lynn Hastings and I go to the initial meeting of our Community Group 7 – Coast and Highlands Region (under new regionalisation plans) at Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens. Our Group Leader DGE Robert Shore sees the day as an opportunity to get to know other clubs in our community group and see if there are opportunities to support each other. There’ll also be opportunities to ask questions about Regionalisation and the Pilot. He says this is not about giving Clubs extra tasks but more about what Rotary, District and Clubs in our area can do to support each Club.

Thank you Ange for sourcing replacements for our missing ducks, plus a few spares, through our ducks’ former custodian at Cancer Research Advocate Bikers of Bermagui. We hope to receive the new ducks by Christmas.

This week’s Business Breakfast will again be fascinating on Gulaga Gold, NOT the metallic kind but maybe just as valuable! Next Thursday 24th is our Hat Night when we Lift the Lid on mental health with three different and interesting speakers. Please see below. I encourage everyone to don a hat, the zanier the better, and encourage your guests to do the same. Please invite friends and family.

Then of course we have the markets on Sunday 27^th, so please all hands on deck again. Thanks.

THIS THURSDAY 17 October

7am: Narooma Rotary Business Networking Breakfast – Narooma Surf Club

Our guest speaker Fiona Kotvojs will talk about their Gulaga Gold business and its growing success, including on the export market. Fiona and Alan Kotvojs established their truffière some years ago in the Dignams Creek Valley in the foothills of Gulaga.

Bookings are essential with Laurelle; if you haven’t already done so, please contact by COB Monday 14^th at the latest. Breakfast costs $10 (please let me know if you do not require breakfast).

The Week that Was

From Batemans Bay Rotary

The Bay Club had their biggest market this year on the October long weekend. They inducted another new member on Thursday evening – Judy Shore, wife of DGE Robert Shore. Judy will have a busy year ahead as Robert takes her to Clubs all over District 9705. The Bay’s newsletter says they have a few more prospective members in the wings to help their Club “grow and prosper with new energy”.

Out and About

From Bega Rotary

Bega Rotarians are putting on their dancing shoes this Wednesday for a barbecue and bush dance at Kameruka Estate for ANU Medical Students.

District Conference at Mittagong

The District 9705 Conference is on at Mittagong 25-27 October: Sally Hearder and our Exchange student Hilma are going. Unfortunately none of our members are able to go. See https://www.discon24.com/about-8 for further information.

Polio Vaccinations in Gaza.

World Polio Day is on Thursday October 24 and RI urges all clubs to take action to assist eradicating Polio. Narooma Rotary is looking at a possible fundraising film night some weeks later.

Meanwhile the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports the first round of the emergency polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip was conducted in three phases 1-12 September 2024. It provided novel oral polio vaccine Type 2 (nOPV2) to 558 963 children under 10 years old, following meticulous planning and coordination to reach families living in shelter homes, tents, and camps for the displaced. For each phase, an area-specific humanitarian pause of nine hours daily was agreed to ensure the safety of communities and health workers, and enable vaccination efforts.

A second round of the campaign is now needed to provide a second dose of Type 2 (nOPV2) to children in Gaza to stop the outbreak and prevent its international spread. WHO, UNICEF and UNRWA call on all parties to commit to another round of humanitarian pauses, with unimpeded access to children in areas that need special coordination.

NEXT WEEK

Thursday 24^th October: Lift the Lid on Mental Health

This should be a fun night but with a serious message. Please invite friends and family and President Julie encourages everyone to wear a hat of whatever type you want. Everyone is encouraged to give $5 towards ARH. Rotary clubs across Australia organise a Hat Day dinner each year to highlight the magnitude of mental health problems and raise funds for Australia Rotary Health (ARH), one of the largest independent funders of mental health research in Australia. More information on ARH’s website.) Our speakers are:

Georgia Weir on Why Deadly Runners Exists. Deadly Runners is Aboriginal owned and operated that aims to foster physical health, mental wellbeing and community cohesion among indigenous Australians through running and cultural engagement programmes.
Laurence Babington on Men’s Long Table. The Men’s Table is a safe place to share and be heard in a confidential and non-judgemental environment, creating a greater sense of belonging, camaraderie and connection. Our local Men’s Table is held once a month in Narooma.
Sophie Scobie introduces Headspace Narooma, recently opened in Narooma. They provide early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. Headspace Narooma can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.

October 8, 2024 8:19 am | By Laurelle Pacey

Welcome to Narooma Rotary

PEOPLE of ACTION

Latest News

Julie’s Jots

THIS WEEK

The Week that Was

From Moruya Rotary Club

Out and About

A date for your Diary

Bay Rotarians have fun with Three Ps

NEXT THURSDAY 14 November

Julie’s Jots

THIS THURSDAY 31st October

The Week that Was

Narooma’s Lift the Lid

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary

From Batemans Bay Rotary newsletter

NEXT WEEK

Julie’s Jots

THIS WEEK

The Week that Was

Gulaga Gold shines at Business Breakfast

From Batemans Bay Rotary

Out and About

ShelterBox in Gaza and Lebanon

NEXT THURSDAY 31st October

Julie’s Jots

THIS THURSDAY 17 October

The Week that Was

From Batemans Bay Rotary

Out and About

From Bega Rotary

District Conference at Mittagong

Polio Vaccinations in Gaza.

NEXT WEEK

Thursday 24th October: Lift the Lid on Mental Health

Narooma Experience Community Raffle

Come Along!

Events

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NEXT THURSDAY 31^st October

Thursday 24^th October: Lift the Lid on Mental Health