Narooma Rotary Beacon 27 September 2018

Rod’s Ramble

I have been doing my brown rambling this week around the  Nation’s Capital. Ran into fellow Sydney High Old Boy ‘Scomo’. He said to say hello,  especially to Peter Bull. Apparently Peter’s exploits were still talked  about when Scomo was there some 15 years later.

This week we have 2  guest speakers from Narooma Primary  School, partners and guests are most welcome to come along to hear Tania’s and Katrina’s engaging presentation. 

 Presentation Title: A Peak into Literacy and Numeracy in 2018. 

Word sorts, writing fluency, CARS and Stars, five minute frenzies, TENS and Matific – it sounds like a randomly generated collection of strategies we use to build and enhance student knowledge of both literacy and numeracy. Tania will share her knowledge of literacy/numeracy for Kindergarten to Year 3. Katrina will focus on complex skills and understanding developed in our Year 4 to 6 learners.

Not sure how the market ended up but it seemed quiet in the van whilst I was there. Over the next 2 months we have some difficult logistics coming up as we don’t have anyone to tow the van, with a number of our regulars not available. Please let me know if you can help out. 

Have a great week

Rod 

 Some  Humour – A History Lesson

A noted psychiatrist was a guest speaker at an academic function where Mitch McConnel happened to appear. Mr McConnel took the opportunity to schmooze the good doctor a bit and asked him a question with which he was most at ease.  ‘Would Youi mind telling me doctor,’ he asked, ‘how do you detect mental deficiency in someone who appears completely normal?’ 

‘Nothing easier’ he replied ‘You ask a simple question which anyone could answer with no trouble. If the operation hesitates that puts you on track’

‘What sort of question?’ Asked McConnel 

‘Well you might ask, Captain Cook made 3 trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?’

McConnel thought for a moment, and there said with a nervous laugh, ‘You wouldn’t happen to have another example, would you? I must confess I don’t know much about history’

Narooma Rotary Beacon 20 September 2018

Hello all, we have cancelled this week’s meeting due to a number of factors converging that meant holding a meeting was no longer practical.

Our guest speaker John Griffiths from the Kinema will be rescheduled to a later date. Hopefully we can draw a much bigger crowd for him then. John would have been feeling low anyway after the Wallabies were beaten by the Pumas Saturday night.

Last week’s meeting whilst the numbers were small a good time was had by all with much laughter and merriment. This will be the last meal from the Golf Club Bistro in its present state with it undergoing major renovations over the next week.

The Whale Watching raffle was drawn this week the winner being Crystal Atkins from Batemans Bay. Here is the article I have submitted to the media.

ROTARY CLUB OF NAROOMA WHALE WATCHING RAFFLE WINNER

Last Saturday saw the drawing of the Rotary Club of Narooma’s annual Whale Watching raffle donated by Narooma Charters. Nick Ingersoll and family were on hand at the Narooma Wharf to draw the winning ticket which belonged to Crystal Atkins of Batemans Bay. Crystal volunteers with the Animal Welfare League and was delighted to be this year’s winner. The whales are already on the way south and pods of up to 10 whales are a common sight on Narooma Charters tours. Narooma Charters has been a long-term supporter of Rotary and this year the raffle raised over $1,700 for Rotary’s charity partner Muddy Puddles. Muddy Puddles provides services to children with disabilities that assist them in reaching their full potential. President of the Rotary Club of Narooma, Rod Walker, congratulated Narooma Charters for their continued support and added that the assistance we receive from across the Narooma business community is outstanding and the main reason Rotary can do the work it does.

September is Literacy Month and Ange has organised for the 27th September two guest speakers from Narooma Primary School Katrina Cross & Tania Hextell. The title of their presentation is A Peek into Literacy and Numeracy in 2018.

Rod

The doctor is in (from Rotary Weekly)
Tyrone ‘Doc’ Bledsoe has a prescription to ensure that young black men attend and finish college: the Student African American Brotherhood. Bledsoe, past president of the Rotary Club of Reynolds Corners, Toledo, Ohio, USA, believes that with SAAB, he has made a breakthrough in solving the quandary that has bedevilled educators, sociologists, and politicians for decades: how to tear down the walls of institutionalized racism that have blocked the path of achievement for so many young men of colour. Click here to read the story   

Narooma Rotary Beacon 13 September 2018

The Week that Was

Sandra Doyle makes a presentation to Cate McMath

It seems that it was all quiet on the front this week with President, Rod and Vice president Laurelle away travelling. It was left to Past President Bob to run the show.

We were fortunate to have Cate McMath the CEO of Muddy Puddles with us as out guest speaker. Cate gave us a great insight into the growth and development of the organisation. Muddy Puddles was started by parents and community volunteers in the Batemans Bay area to support young people with a disability. The aim of Muddy Puddles is to build a ‘Community where all children are encouraged and enabled to reach their unique potential’

Muddy Puddles has just completed a state of the art Therapy Centre in Batemans Bay. The Centre was made possible through a grant provided by the NSW Government. Services provided by Muddy Puddles include:

·         Assessment and development plans

·         Individual therapy sessions

·         Group programs

·         Parent/carer support

Muddy Puddles provides support to children across the early years (0 – 6), primary years and teens and young adults (to 18 years).

Muddy Puddles will be a very worthy recipient of funds raised at the Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs Christmas Race Day.

Travel as a force for peace

By Rick Steves (From Rotary Weekly 7 September 2018)

Rick Steves, author of travel guidebooks and host of the public television series Rick Steves’ Europe, explains why he has come to view travel as a force for peace in the September issue of The Rotarian. Steves believes encouraging young people to travel, such as through Rotary Youth Exchange and Peace Fellowships, is one of the most practical investments we can make in peace. Says, Steves, “people to people connections help us learn that we can disagree and still coexist peacefully.” To read the full story click here

Some more humour (Thanks to Peter Bull and Diane Lovatt)

Notices in church bulletins

Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled Proceeds will be used to cripple children. The sermon this morning: ‘Jesus Walks on the Water. ‘The sermon tonight: ‘Searching for Jesus.’

Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Pot-luck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM – prayer and medication to follow

Narooma Rotary Beacon 6 September 2018

Rod’s Ramble

This week’s Ramble comes from Carwoola where we are celebrating my grandson Callum’s 18th birthday. Boy how the time flies. They had 10mm of rain the day we arrived which was very welcome, and it was good to see that there were significant falls in other areas. Already the countryside here has a green tinge. Let’s hope there is more rain on the way in the right places. Our club has made a $1,000 donation through a Rotary RAWCS project set up to help drought effected farmers. It is the same project as that being heavily promoted on Channel 9. The Drought Relief Appeal has been an incredible success. So far $9,487,377 has been raised to support drought-stricken farmers. The donations are being administered by our good friends at Rotary Australia and are being distributed to farmers in need with the help of the National Farmers’ Federation. For more detail on where the funds are going double click here.

We have sold all the Whale Raffle tickets raising just over $1,700 for Muddy Puddles our charity partner this year for the Moruya Races fundraiser involving Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma Rotary Clubs. Thanks to all who sold or bought tickets. I have to single out the efforts of Ange and Michael O’Connor who sold over 50% of the tickets. I am attending a joint meeting next week where I will have more detail on how we can assist on the two race days this year. Our guest speaker this week is the CEO of Muddy Puddles Cate McMath.

The First Four

On  23 February 1905, Paul P. Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram E. Shorey gathered in Loehr’s office for what would become known as the first Rotary club meeting. Harris’s desire for camaraderie among business associates brought together these four men and eventually led to an international organization of service and fellowship. Double click here to read about each of the first four Rotarians and about Harry L. Ruggles, who is often called the “fifth Rotarian.”

Cheers

Rod

The Editor

Laurelle, along with Steve, has jetted off to Europe for a couple months of touring and catching up with friends – we wish them well on their journey. I am filling in for a couple of weeks until Peter Bull returns from Queensland, so if you have an article for the Beacon please let me know.

Bob Aston

The Week that Was (Thanks to Frank for providing some information)

Frank and Iris’ long time friend, Peter Kasper at last week’s meeting

Forgetting that I was the fill in editor last week I forgot to take notes, so I have had to rely on my memory. We were fortunate to have Frank And Iris’ friend, Peter Kasper, with us. Peter gave us a great insight into his life growing up in Austria and travelling to many parts of the world including Australia. He also told us about some of the loves he has had along the way. Peter makes regular trips back to his second home – Australia.

Frank tells me he and Iris first met Peter when he joined the Canberra City Band about 20 years ago. He was studying his Masters at ANU at the time. Peter currently works for Pantec, an automation company that writes software to control big industrial machines like printers, weaving machines or robots. He plays clarinet in the Symphonic Wind Orchestra Vorarlberg and does very well at it.  You can listen by clicking here (you will need an iTunes account to hear it all).

Frank also tells me that he drives a Renau Zoe (Click the link to check it out it is a pretty cool car).  

Rod also updated us about our links to the virtual world including our webpage, Facebook page and You Tube presence. 

Attendance

A reminder that if you are an apology or if you are bringing guests please let me know by 4:00pm Tuesday, preferably by email.

Thanks Bob

Semi Annual Dues

If you have not paid your semi annual dues, please do so as soon as possible.

Getting Older (thanks to Diane Lovatt and Peter Bull)

 Senior Driving
As a senior citizen was driving down the motorway, his car phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife’s voice urgently warning him, “Vernon, I
just heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on I-25.
Please be careful!”

“Hell,” said Vernon, “It’s not just one car. It’s hundreds of them!”

Becoming a Senior

Barb was lying in bed one night. Larry was falling asleep but Barb was
in a romantic mood and wanted to talk.

She said: “You used to hold my hand when we were courting.”
Wearily he reached across, held her hand for a second and tried to get
back to sleep.

A few moments later she said: “Then you used to kiss me… ”
Mildly irritated, Larry reached across, gave her a peck on the cheek
and settled down to sleep.

Thirty seconds later she said: “Then you used to bite my neck…”
Angrily, Larry threw back the bed clothes and got out of bed.

“Where are you going?” Barb asked.

“To get my teeth!”