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Last Thursday was a wonderful night with the inductions of Naomi, Julie and Victoria from the Commonwealth Bank, our first Corporate Member. Thank you members and guests who attended the evening for making it a lovely relaxing time for our new members (see full report below).
We also had the pleasure of hearing about Hilma’s fabulous trip into the red centre. She had the best time and was truly beaming when she gave her presentation.
Also last Thursday Narooma Men’s Shed invited me to a Men’s Shed muster at Club Narooma in my capacity of coordinator of our Prostate Cancer Support Group. Both Andrew Lawson and I had an enjoyable time and it was highly worthwhile to be able to have information there for the many people attending. Attendees came from men’s sheds from Ulladulla to Pambula, Bemboka and further west.
This Thursday is our Business Breakfast, as listed below.
This weekend we have the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride with the information night at Club Narooma on Saturday evening and the ride on Sunday.
As President Julie said, what a great night last Thursday with the induction of the Commonwealth Bank Narooma Branch as our first corporate member and Hilma’s great presentation of her experiences on the three week ‘Safari’ around Central Australia with side trips to Magnetic Island and Melbourne.
President Julie highlighted just how special this induction is by making a real ceremony where the Commonwealth Bank representatives Naomi Brown, Julie Drummond and Victoria Wilkin were each presented with their name badges and a Rotary apron by three members, including Hilma. It was earnest but fun. They were all then welcomed into the Club by each and every member present. A happy moment for our Club. We all look forward to their participation in the Club in many ways into the future.
Amazing that Hilma has been with us for nine months now… She said this three weeks away with all her new Youth Exchange friends from our District plus one other District was certainly the highlight of her year here. During a great PowerPoint presentation, she noted particular highlights including holding a snake, Kings Canyon, School of the Air, and them all having to cook something from their respective countries. Hilma cooked a traditional Finnish Blueberry Pie which by necessity had to be huge to feed them all. “It was so cool,” she said. “The places we saw, the things we did, the people we met. So special, so great. All thanks to Rotary.”
This follows on from our wonderful April Business Breakfast. It features Cath Leach of Catfish Creative and the Fish Tank Co-working Space in Narooma. Cath describes herself as “a graphic recorder, illustrator and mind mapper” who believes we need creative design and design thinking to help solve the complex challenges of our expanding world. Her driving passion is designing for change, evolved through a multi-faceted career path, a strong sense for the creative, world travel and a love of diving, the oceans and the natural world.
Please let Laurelle know by Monday 12 May if you are coming. She will assume you want breakfast ($10) unless she hears otherwise.
Canberra-based pharmacist Brad Butt and physiotherapist Jamie Boulding will outline the help that is available and how to access it at a special session ‘Looking after Blokes’ on Saturday evening, 17th May at 5.30pm at Club Narooma. Everyone is welcome, men and their partners. Their talk is being held in conjunction with Narooma’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride the next day.
Mr Butt said prostate cancer can leave men feeling isolated and depressed, particularly in the regions, but early intervention, the right aids and a team approach can make a huge difference. Both have expert knowledge, experience and training in men’s urological health.
Cale Phelps of Narooma Motorcycles sees Narooma’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) as a celebration of both the wellbeing aspects of motorcycling and the importance of men’s health. “Motorcycling has so many health benefits – developing core strength and stimulating high level awareness – but it’s also about adventure, freedom and, as the Zen of Motor Cycle Maintenance puts it, ‘you’re in the scene, not just watching it anymore [through a window] and the sense of presence is overwhelming’,” he said. “There’s also a certain old world charm about ït.”
Cale Phelps has been a Narooma DGR supporter from Day 1. “Everyone was so impressed with the success of the first DGR last year, they want their friends to also come along. Some are a bit slow to register, including me, but I’m onto it,” he said.
The DGR helps raise awareness of men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer, as well as funds for research and men’s mental health programmes. It brings people together to celebrate their bikes and the men and women who ride them.
Riders assemble from 9am on NATA Oval on Sunday 18th so that’s a great time to check out the bikes. The ride starts at 11. Refreshments will be available as well as breakfast/lunch from the Rotary van until 2pm and there will be a Community Market.
All riders must register online before 18th May to take part www.gentlemansride.com/rides/australia/narooma and they must ‘dress dapper’. Donations for riders and pillions in the Narooma DGR can be made online. All funds raised by the DGR are invested by the official charity partner Movember in both local and global prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programmes.
Interesting to note that Batemans Bay Rotary has just inducted their 12th new member for the year, the most impressive growth in the District. Moruya has inducted five new members this year to date, also a great effort.
After our busy DGR weekend, we might take a breather and go out for dinner somewhere different for those who are interested. Gero is following up. TBC
Dinner Speaker will be Laurelle Pacey who will talk about the long awaited Narooma Arts Centre. Construction begins at the end of this month. Please invite partners and friends. More in next week’s Beacon.
Last Sunday our Club members and friends helped out at the Oyster Festival’s Big Breakfast organised by the Chamber of Commerce, supported by Club Narooma. It was a lovely day down by Wagonga Inlet with music and food, and plenty of people enjoying themselves.
David McInnes (main organiser), Ann Hegerty and Annemarie Narraway had their Chamber hats on, while Lynn Hastings, Laurelle Pacey, Gero Mitchell and John Rungen flew the Rotary flag (some on Saturday), ably assisted by Friends of Rotary Liz Clydesdale, Diana Bachman and David Paull. Françoise Cleret and John Cunningham promoted the imminent Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in a big marquee with their motorbikes (see below).
Last week’s Board meeting incidentally approved the nominations of Diana, Jon Bachman, David and Liz as Friends of Rotary; we appreciate their extra assistance when needed.
I’m really looking forward to this Thursday when we induct our first Corporate Member and catch up with Hilma and her recent adventures.
We have a busy time coming up next week with the Business Breakfast next Thursday, a special information session on Saturday night (17th) with a physio and pharmacist on men’s health, climaxing with the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride for men’s health on Sunday 18th.
This Thursday (8th) we induct our first Corporate Member which is the Commonwealth Bank Narooma Branch with Naomi Brown, Julie Drummond and Victoria Wilkin. How exciting for our Club! Naomi, Julie and Victoria are regulars at our Business Breakfasts.
Our Finnish Rotary Exchange Student Hilma will also talk about her recent ‘safari’ with the other Exchange Students to Central Australia, a regular highlight of Exchange Students’ year in Australia.
This follows on from our wonderful April Business Breakfast. It features Cat Leach of Catfish Creative and the Fish Tank Co-working Space in Narooma.Cat describes herself as “a graphic recorder, illustrator and mind mapper” who believes we need creative design and design thinking to help solve the complex challenges of our expanding world. Her driving passion is designing for change, evolved through a multi-faceted career path, a strong sense for the creative, world travel and a love of diving, the oceans and the natural world. Starts 7am Narooma Surf Club.
Please let Laurelle know by Monday 12 May if you are coming. She will assume you want breakfast ($10) unless she hears otherwise.
Canberra-based pharmacist Brad Butt and physiotherapist Jamie Boulding will outline the help that is available for prostate cancer sufferers and how to access it at a special session ‘Looking after Blokes’ on Saturday evening, 17th May at 5.30pm at Club Narooma. This is a Narooma Rotary initiative.
Mr Butt said prostate cancer can leave men feeling isolated and depressed particularly in the regions but early intervention, the right aids and a team approach can make a huge difference. Both have expert knowledge, experience and training in men’s urological health.
“There’s a network of people able to support men with prostate cancer and their carers,” he said. “We will show how physiotherapy and pharmacy can work together, medicines as well as non-pharmacological things. Everyone is welcome, men and their partners. By holding it on the night before the Ride we’re also encouraging riders to make a weekend of it.”
Their talk is being held in conjunction with Narooma’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride the next day. Both events are organised by Narooma Rotary. Please tell your friends.
Sunday’s Narooma Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is a lot of fun while raising awareness of men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer, as well as funds for research and men’s mental health programmes. Our DGR coordinator Françoise Cleret explains Narooma’s is one of over 900 DGRs held that day across the world to bring people together to celebrate these bikes and the ‘gentlefolk’ who ride them, men and women.
Riders assemble from 9am on NATA Oval on Sunday 18th so that’s a great time to check out the bikes if you’re not riding. The ride starts at 11. Breakfast/lunch will be available from the Rotary van until 2pm and there will be a Community Market.
All riders must register online before 18th May to take part and they must ‘dress dapper’. www.gentlemansride.com/rides/australia/narooma Donations for riders and pillions in the Narooma DGR can be made online. All funds raised by the DGR are invested by the official charity partner Movember in both local and global prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programmes.
Any inquiries, please phone Françoise Cleret 0402 967 494.
Initially it was a worrying time for our market at the weekend considering the weather forecast, but after a damp start on Sunday morning it ended up being perfect market weather. There were lots of people especially with the holiday weekend. Thank you to all those extra volunteers who rallied to assist us in manning the barbecue and van with a few of us being away. Thank you everyone.
Laurelle Pacey laid our Rotary Club wreath at the town’s Anzac Day morning ceremony at Club Narooma on Friday.
Last Thursday local naturopath Sally-Anne Bertram explain to us just what a naturopath does. We all enjoyed the night and went away with a better understanding of her role in her patients’ treatments (please see report below).
This Thursday is our May Board meeting. Please note the later time of 6.30pm to try to cater for some of our Board members’ other commitments.
Meanwhile some of our members have been hard at work preparing for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in a few weeks time (the number iof registrations are steadily rising) and of course the Oyster Festival’s Big Breakfast this coming weekend. Our VP David McInnes and Ann Hegerty are major organisers of the Big Breakfast through their Chamber of Commerce involvement.
Thursday 1 May 6.30pm: Board Meeting (President Julie has changed it from 5pm to the later time to enable more people to attend)
Sunday 5 May: Our Club will assist with providing some of the breakfasts at Narooma Oyster Festival’s Big Breakfast
Naturopath and Nutritionist Sally-Anne Bertram’s fascinating talk at last Thursday’s meeting focused on demystifying naturopathy. She stressed it isn’t “some hippy thing”, but based on the oldest forms of medicine.
Sally-Anne is an accredited naturopath and explained the huge range of subjects studies required to become accredited. She said naturopaths take a holistic approach that considers the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the individual and then use natural therapies to support the body’s inherent healing abilities. These therapies include nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and counselling. Sally-Anne can be contacted through Grandpa’s Garden in Narooma.
It’s always interesting to see how other clubs organise their meetings. For example, Pambula Rotarians meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at the CWA Rooms in Pambula. They hold meetings and social dinners on the other Tuesdays at various venues in Pambula, Eden and Merimbula, all within half an hour of Pambula.
Batemans Bay Rotary is having a free Staying Safe Online seminar this Wednesday hosted by the CommBank Batemans Bay Branch. Bay Rotarians will learn how to:
In the latest Moruya newsletter, with the approach of the end of the Rotary Year, Moruya President Allan Veness reflects on what their Club has been able to achieve over the year. “The Club has not only survived, but it is now in a stronger position than before. We have a net increase in membership and we have raised our profile within the local community. However, one area still causes us concern. The running of the kiosk [at the race course] is our main source of funds which finances our donations to community groups. Without this income, our club would not be able to do a lot. As our membership slowly ages, filling the work roster for each meeting is becoming more difficult.”
Wednesday 7 May: Narooma Prostate Cancer Support Group 6.30pm Narooma Golf Club – Cancelled
Thursday 8 May: Club Dinner and Induction of our first Corporate Members – the Commonwealth Bank Narooma Branch with Naomi Brown, Julie Drummond and Victoria Wilkin. 6 for 6.30pm
Last Thursday’s Business Networking Breakfast delivered interesting insights into the challenges faced by those working from home, remote from their work office (see below), as well as the benefits. It also attracted what was possibly a record attendance.
Last Thursday I attended the monthly meeting in Moruya of the Carer’s Accommodation committee for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. The Hospital’s construction is on track and the committee is looking at new ways of raising money to fund construction of the Carers’ Accommodation.
Don’t forget we have the Market this week. Our new market banner is now on show at the roundabout. Thank you Rachel for the design and Laurence for the donation. Looks good!
Our Dinner Speaker this week is local naturopath Sally-Anne Bertram who will ‘Demystify Naturopathy’. Hopefully we will get a few extra people along to hear her.
Sally Anne has practised as a naturopath at Grandpa’s Garden since 2021. She is a general practitioner treating men, women and children with asthma, allergies, women’s health issues, men’s prostate, autoimmune etc. She uses herbal medicine, nutrition, diet and homeopathy. Sally-Anne has been a lecturer in herbal medicine, nutrition and clinical studies and was Head of Natural Therapies at the then well respected Nature Care College, and a clinical supervisor for over 10 years.
Narooma Rotary Markets – all hands on deck please. A few of our members are away so we will need all the help we can get.
Last Thursday’s Business Networking breakfast, with a panel on Hybrid Working and Working Remotely, gave us all greater insight into what is becoming quite a normal way of working post Covid. While technology enabled it and Covid showed the way, it was the realisation that it’s possible to combine lifestyle without sacrificing careers that has seen this way of working flourish. Online Teams meetings are key. Cat Leach of Catfish Creative has summarised the meeting succinctly with a wonderful ‘live scribe’ done during the meeting.
Here are some highlights.
Françoise Cleret is Director of Cyber Security with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in Canberra. She spends about a week a month in Canberra; the rest working from home. Her skills are particularly in project management. She manages a team of 24 people who she has organised in four teams. Her biggest challenge is getting the right teams together that are able to work from home because it’s not for everyone. Another challenge is managing personalities.
Meredith Macpherson is Water and Regional Development Manager with the Central NSW Joint Organisation (CNSWJO), an organisation of 11 Councils and 1 water county council. Reliable internet is possibly her biggest challenge. She’s one of a team of nine, six of whom work remotely; she has a staff of one. Her office is in Bathurst. They meet online for an hour twice a week. Regular face-to-face meetings have fallen by the wayside replaced with frequent Teams meetings; over time Teams meetings have become more productive and meaningful. She travels to her region every 4-6 weeks and tries to coordinate all face-to-face meetings for that time.
Oliver Batten works with Destination Store a small team of seven destination specialists all of whom work remotely. Remote working allows him to juggle family life with work and noted the need for transparency. They do have an office in Surry Hills and they physically get together every quarter. Oliver works all over Australia in destination strategy, branding and managing online content. He uses the Fish Tank co-working space in Narooma.
Graham Martin‑Dye is a Grain Broker with Delta Grain Marketing, working miles from any grain producing area. Regular communication with his grain producers and buyers is key. Reckons it was his 10 years working in the Harden area and his strong work ethic recognised by Delta that convinced the company he could work remotely and maintain the trust of his producers and buyers. Graham also uses the Fish Tank one or two days a week.
David McInnes is a self-employed Consultant Geophysicist operating across Australia and overseas. Many of his clients are physically very remote in mines etc. His challenges are having the computer and internet capacity to handle up to 60GB of data. One of his biggest challenges is the lack of other geophysicists in the local area.
This is on the Sunday of the Oyster Festival 4th May, being organised by the Chamber of Commerce. Rotary is one of a number of organisations charged with delivering the breakfasts to several hundreds of Festival goers. If you can help, please contact David McInnes or Ann Hegerty if you haven’t already done so.
Plans are coming together, the number of registered riders are slowly growing as are donations. So here’s hoping for a great weekend 17-18 May. It will be a busy month with the Market the following Sunday.
Board Meeting 5pm TBC – Julie is reviewing – may not have a quorum for this date.
