Short words
On Monday morning, I walked into a shop, owner says “are you (Rotary) responsible for that fiasco on the weekend?” I suppose so “It was awful, no one was complaining, everyone was smiling, the town was abuzz” he then smiled and shook my hand “well done”.
This summed up the response to the Busking festival on Saturday. We (Narooma Rotary) with the support and help of other service clubs, businesses around town, the Council, River of Art and the community produced a great event for the town.
It is with enormous pride that I have accepted so much praise for our Rotary Club and the positive effect it has had on the community. It wouldn’t have happened without Sandra pushing it, John supporting her and the committee she led. Well done to all, and thank you to everyone who helped.
Last Thursday we helped with the Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea at Anthony’s Plaza Pharmacy. Peter Hartley was on the BBQ despite being pestered by phone from his son. It appears that his son’s wife had gone into labour and Julie (Peter’s wife) was MIA and not answering her phone [ a terrible thing in this high tech instant communication world]. Pete was able to find Julie and they arrived in Canberra in time for the birth of their first grandchild, a daughter 2.9kg and all doing well.
Peter was able to make it back for the Busking Festival and the Markets on Sunday. Thank you to all who helped on Sunday as it was a big call to back up after Saturday.
This week we have a Club Assembly followed by a Board meeting, a difficult follow up after last week’s wonderful meeting where the String Family performed.
Spare a thought for Michael O’Connor as he is doing it a bit tough, following a couple of falls Michael made the hard decision to pull out of his epic walk to rest his body and to heal the significant sprains and bruises. Everyone in the Club and community is proud of Michael’s achievements. We will welcome Michael home at the end of the week.
Cheers
Bob Ant
A Message from Superwoman Sandra
I would like to say an enormous thank you to all the Rotarians who came out to help and make Saturday such a fabulous day. Wow! I can’t believe what happened. I know I said at the beginning of the year “Please you must be around if possible for this day” and you were. Even Peter who came back early from seeing his beautiful new granddaughter.
I must thank my wonderful Dream Team – John, Lynda, Chris and Nadine for all the hard work they put in to make this such a special day. And thank you to others who were behind the scenes – Bob with banking and Rotary advice (eg Insurance etc) Laurelle with the paper media, Frank as the IT help desk, Rachel who helped me sort out Publisher issues to make our signs and banners look so good, Donna who came to help in place of Michael and Shelby Grace who controlled the Plaza events for me. My only time up there was to thank The String Family at the end of each session so I couldn’t stay to manage the whole day.
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Sandra
Busking Festival creates buzz (Media Release, Thanks to Laurelle)
Narooma’s first Regional Busking Festival and Competition last Saturday was such a success, Narooma Rotary President Bob Antill said the Club would like to make it an annual event.
‘It was a great day with 57 buskers performing at the town’s 29 sponsored Busking Hot Spots and literally filling the town with music, but the event didn’t just happen,’ he said.
‘It was the result of a lot of work by a dedicated committee who did an amazing job and with the support of the whole community.’
The Festival was organised by Narooma Rotary Club, partnered with the River of Art, and was part of the Australian National Busking Championships (ANBC).
Over 500 people filled Narooma Golf Club auditorium late Saturday afternoon and evening for the concert by the Festival’s ambassadors The String Family, followed by a concert by the finalists in the busker competition and the presentation of prizes.
Three people associated with ANBC judged the buskers throughout the day.
The judges made 24 awards, the major ones being:
Open champion:
Tyler Strucklak &Skye Armstrong of Batemans Bay ($1,000 donated by Narooma Sporting & Services Club)
Open second: Mariano Reggiani and Mike Jones of Fretz & Reedz of Tilba ($500 Narooma and Dalmeny IGAs)
Open third: Liquid Sun from South Gundagai ($250 Blue Water Seafoods)
Secondary champion:
Matilda Rose of Bredbo ($500 Narooma High School)
Secondary second: Will Stephens of Werribee, Victoria ($300 Narooma Seafood Direct)
Secondary third: Charlize & Eric of Akolele ($100 Narooma Mechanical and Automotive Services)
Primary Champion:
Narooma Rhythm Hunters ($300 Easts Holiday Parks)
Primary Second Place: Mitchell Loudoun of Dalmeny ($200 Montague Vets)
Primary Third Place: Bray Constable of Narooma ($100 Narooma Mechanical and Automotive Services)
Best Band (three or more performers):
Kumera Patch of Congo ($500 Narooma Pharmacy and Rotary)
Best local performer:
Jacob Poyner ($300 Narooma Plaza)
The People’s Choice Awards (awarded to buskers who received the most Busker Votes):
Winner: Narooma Rhythm Hunters ($1,000 Narooma Golf Club)
Second: Kumera Patch of Congo ($300 Narooma Plaza Pharmacy)
Third: Matilda Rose of Bredbo ($200 Lynch’s Hotel)
Festival coordinator Sandra Doyle was delighted with the number of people who turned out for the Festival, many coming from Batemans Bay to Bega.
‘It has been an awesome community event,’ she said. ‘We want to thank everyone who took part – spectators, buskers, our sponsors especially our major sponsors – Narooma Golf Club, Narooma Sporting & Services Club and Narooma Easts Holiday Park – and our team of volunteers including from our own Rotary Club, Lions, Quota, Probus, View, CWA and MACS.
Mrs Doyle paid special tribute to her ‘Dream Team’ of Rotarians Lynda Ord, Chris O’Brien and husband John, with assistance from her daughter Nadine Holland.
Narooma Festival winners will be invited to compete in the National Grand Final in Cooma in November.
Narooma News has some great photos and videos of the Competition. Click here to access them. For another link to the Narooma News coverage click here. Photos were contributed to the Narooma News by Laurelle Pacey and Bob Antill.
John Doyle has also loaded some photos on a google drive. Click here to access them. (Note you may have to request authorisation – clicking the link will alert John to give you access).
Other things that happened last week!
Last Thursday’s meeting was well attended by members. We were thrilled to have our Busking Ambassadors, ‘The String Family’ perform for us. They were fantastic. The family have been on the road for the past 15 months performing in all parts of the Country and from all accounts it has been going well with bookings continuing well into next year. And what was their being break? Winning the National Busking Competition in 2015.
As Bob has reported by email the Sunday market was well supported. The Van took $468.50, the Gate 895 and wishing well $105.85 plus a lot of foreign coins!!! not counted. $1469.35 in total.
A Camp for Everyone
For more than 90 years, the Rotary Club of Kansas City has been rallying all corners of the community to help thousands of kids attend camp. The club, whose members are among Rotary’s first People of Action, gave the first donation to The Rotary Foundation 100 years ago. Click here to read more.
Urgently Needed for the next Rotary Year
A Bulletin Editor. Let Bob Aston know if you can help out.
59th Changeover Dinner
Thursday 29th June
Narooma Golf Club
6.30pm for 7.00pm
$35 per person (two courses main and desert cake, table wine)
RSVP to Rod by Friday 16th June