Ange’s Chat

This is my last formal ‘chat’ for the Beacon as President. From 1 January we welcome Bob Aston who will take over the reins for three months, followed by Laurelle Pacey who’ll take us to the end of the Rotary year.

The election of the new Board for the 2020/21 Rotary Year with Rolf Gimmel as President took place at our AGM last week. Thanks to the incoming Office holders: Vice President Bob Aston, Secretary Rod Walker, Treasurer Lynn Hastings, Directors John Rungen, Ange Ulrichsen, John Doyle and Laurelle Pacey.

Presentation Days were held last week at both Narooma Public School and Narooma High School and it was my pleasure to present awards on behalf of our Rotary Club. At the Public School I presented the Rotary Bill Borlaise Memorial Award to duxes Claire Ovington and Lachlan Druhan. I presented three Awards at Narooma High School – the Narooma Rotary Club Citizenship Award and the Joy Ings Memorial Art Award both won by Cecilia Colom-Davis. History Awards went to students in Years 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12 for their interest and enthusiasm in the subject.  The high standard achieved by the students was very impressive.

Highlights in my quarter as President  were:

• Our End Polio fundraising Film ‘Ride Like a Girl’, 24 Oct
• The Renewable Energy Expo on 2 Nov was another great success showcasing the latest products and local installers. Thanks to our Coordinator Frank Eden and the team
• Narooma Busking Championship – our Community has embraced this precious event in our town and we now have a new, dynamic team to take it into the future.

Guest speakers were well received at our meetings and a great way to promote our Club to potential newcomers. The variety of interesting topics included the publishing of the cookbook ‘Farmer’, St John, Morocco, Gardening, Climate Change and the role of Community, and Trade Wars by Economist Andrew Elek.

We end 2019 with Australia experiencing crippling drought, water shortages and bushfire crises.  Let’s remember all those who are doing it tough and especially our courageous firefighters.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and may the spirit and peace of this festive season be with you in the coming New Year.

THIS WEEK

It’s our Club Christmas party at The Inlet on Thursday 19 December, 6 for 6.30. Cost is $40 a head. Bring your most festive spirits. Look forward to seeing you

THE WEEK THAT WAS

At last week’s meeting we took the opportunity to formally thank Paul at the Golf Club for looking after us so well through the year and to present him with a Rotary wine glass.  We also gave him a box of chocolates to pass on to the ladies in the Office. The move to the Golf Club has certainly been a big success.

On the Bill Borlase Memorial Award

It is interesting to note Bill Borlase was not a member of Narooma Rotary but left $1,000 in 1971 for a Narooma Primary School Dux prize each year to be presented by our Club. A wooden honour board to record the name of each recipient was also presented to the school. That money would have long since been exhausted and the board replaced with new ones in the hall, but Bill’s name lives on.

OUT AND ABOUT

News from Moruya Rotary

• Moruya Rotarians are building a rather large pizza oven at Yumaro at Moruya.
• Former Moruya Rotarians Shirley and John Hayes-Cornish from Moruya Rotary (Shirley spoke to us in August) have been asked to help man the Rotary Fellowship for Population and Development (RFPD) booth at the Honolulu Convention. Shirley said In Hamburg the RFPD received US$1.5 million from the German Government to which Rotary has added. Since then a nationwide Family Planning campaign has been organised for Nigeria – life and nation changing. ”So the fellowship and inspiration from Moruya Rotary lives on in this hot topic.” Shirley will be giving a talk about SHE by Pictures at theor new club Caloundra Pacific RC early next year with a view to them supporting the RAWCS program.

Bega Rotary Book Fair

The next Bega Rotary Summer Book Fair will be held 10-12 January in theBega showground pavilion, Upper St Bega. It will be open 9-5 Friday  and Saturday and 9-1 on Sunday. Bega Rotarians are expecting to have over 30,000 fiction and non fiction books for sale.  EFPOS or cash facilities are available for sale.

If you would like to donate some books, books in quality condition can be donated at Elders Real Estate, Carp St Bega and Andrew Constance’s office, also in Carp St. (Note: encyclopaedia, Readers Digest, magazines and books that are not in quality condition do not sell and storage space is at a premium so they would prefer not to receive them. Also they have logistical problems with receiving large / bulk donations of books as a result of moving house, major clean-outs, etc due to limited storage.  

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Sat 21 December: Interviews for Tertiary Education Scholarship 2020

Sunday 22 December:  Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs Christmas Race Day

Friday 27 December: Our big Holiday Markets

Thursday 23 January : Club BBQ in Rotary Park 6 for 6.30

Saturday 25 January: Narooma’s Australia Day community celebration and presentation

Sun 26 January: Lions Club breakfast at Narooma Surf Club. Our Australia Day Market

Thursday 30 January: Our Club resumes at Golf Club with Youth Night

Wed 26 February: Christmas Race Day presentation at the combined Rotary International Birthday Dinner, Moruya Golf Club

Thursday 5 March: Cinders Trivia Night with Rotary Moruya, hosted by Narooma.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday 6-8 March: District Conference Ulladulla

NEXT MEETING 

An informal gathering on Thursday 23 January when we will have a Club barbecue in Rotary Park, 6 for 6.30

Some of the worst Cracker Jokes (courtesy Moruya Rotary)

What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck? A Christmas Quacker.

Why did the turkey join the band? Because it had the drumsticks.

What carol is heard in the desert? O camel ye faithful.

What says ‘Oh-Oh-Oh’? Santa walking backwards.

Which athlete is the warmest? A long jumper!

Ange’s Chat

Christmas is just around the corner and as 2019 draws to a close we are starkly reminded each day of the dire situation for so many people as the continuing drought wreaks havoc with the unprecedented bushfires blazing in much of NSW and Queensland. Fires are getting closer to our locality with news of outbreaks as close as Nelligen and North Batemans Bay. So please be prepared. Remember Tathra. Have a Fire Plan, clear areas around your house and check out the NSWRFS Website and ‘Fires near Me’ App.

This Thursday is our last meeting for the year; I have advised both Paul Stokes and Julie Bradley. Our Diary Dates show what a busy time we have ahead in the next few weeks. The Board has decided to resume our weekly meetings on Thursday 30 January which will be our Youth night.

The Beacon last week was published online but due to a technical glitch which even Frank has so far not been able to fathom, it could not be emailed. Your Beacon this week will probably come via a different means.

THIS WEEK: AGM

The Board meets at 5, followed by an earlier dinner and then the AGM at 7.15. The AGM will review the year and elect a new Board for President Elect Rolf Gimmel’s year in 2020/21. Rod Walker has previously emailed nomination forms for Board positions for 2020/21.

This week we will also express our thanks to the Golf Club, particularly to Paul and Julie.

OUT AND ABOUT

Rotary Clubs Christmas Race Day

Sunday 22 December is the big combined Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs race day at Moruya Racecourse, the seventh one we have held in conjunction with Moruya Jockey Club. This year’s project is funding a seven-seater community bus to be used by Meals on Wheels and Yumaro.

Our Club has been asked to help on the day with the bucket  collection from cars as they arrive at the Race Course. Laurelle and Ange will do 11.30-12.45 when Rod and Bob will take over until 2.

This month is Rotary’s Foundation Month

You may have read the recent message from RI President Mark Maloney and the Foundation’s Chair Gary Huang which included an update on Polio. Our recent film night to raise funds for World Polio Day was one of over 5,600 events held around the world. (Many such as ours was not a registered event; the 5,600 were registered events).They noted that on 21 August, Nigeria marked three years without a case of wild poliovirus, and the World Health Organization’s African region could potentially be certified wild poliovirus-free next year… If that happens, it will be a tremendous achievement because the continent once suffered three quarters of all polio cases in the world.

Rotary Clubs of Australia Drought Appeal

The Rotary Clubs of Australia some time ago partnered with Channel 9, the Great Northern Brewing Co. and Bendigo Bank to raise funds and in-kind donations for drought affected communities across Australia. The appeal is administered by Bendigo Bank’s charitable arm, Community Enterprise Foundation.

“Ninety-nine per cent of NSW is in drought, as is South-East Queensland and parts of Victoria and South Australia,” said RI District External Relations Director 9800 Philip Archer. “Nationally, one quarter of Australian agriculture is in severe drought. This drought has really affected us all with its far-reaching effects. Nobody is immune. We should be in this together.
“Rotary is up for the challenge encouraging everyone, city-based or country, to make a donation––large or small – to help those struggling to get through. Farmers and farming families are doing it tough, and the flow-on effect to other businesses in drought affected communities is huge. Whatever help and financial support we can give, whatever small thing we can do now will help rural communities get back to normality quicker.”

Rotary along with representatives of drought affected communities will conduct a localised consultation process to understand the needs and assistance required for those directly impacted by the drought. This will define how funds are best allocated in supporting families and communities.

How to Make Donations

1. On line via the following link: https://www.bendigobank.com.au/rotarydrought

2. In person by visiting any branch of the Bendigo Bank:

3. Or by Cheque. Cheques to be made payable to “Community Enterprise Foundation” and posted to Community Enterprise Foundation, PO Box 480, Bendigo, VIC 3552

NEXT WEEK

Next Thursday, 19 December is our Christmas Party at the Inlet, 6 for 6.30pm.

Dates for your Diary

Thursday 12 Dec – Primary School Presentation Assembly

Friday 13 Dec- High School Presentation Assembly

Sat 21 Dec – Interviews for Tertiary Education Scholarship 2020

Sunday 22 Dec –  Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs Christmas Race Day

Sun 26 January: Australia Day Market

Ange’s Chat

Andrew Elek, economist extraordinaire and ­Moruya Rotarian, gave us an impressive insight last week into ‘Trade Wars – What’s Going On?’ He certainly has all the credentials to talk on this complex matter given his high level career including beinga Research Fellow at ANU, Senior Economist with the World Bank, APEC and his work on the G20 and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The US and China are the key players in this trade war. The current environment is volatile with the US and China attacking each others trade. Andrew feels that China will outlast the tension and is unequivocally at the forefront of technology. The cost so far to the US has been $29 billion annually with the consumers bearing the burden. The long term cost to both powers is phenomenal.  The biggest problem is how the two biggest governments ignore the rules of the game and where there are no rules there can be no trust.

The key problem behind the chaos is America’s determination to remain the world’s largest economy coupled by its fear of being overtaken by China. ­­­ Andrew went on to explain the huge value of trust in international trade built up after WWII when the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was born. The WTO with its 160 members plays a vital role in maintaining transparency, confidence and resolving disputes in the international marketplace. But President Trump is undermining its role, creating his own rules. Let’s hope the WTO retains its place in fostering cooperation and trust on the world stage of international trade.

Eurobodalla Clubs Christmas Race Day

Sunday 22 December is the big combined Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs race day at Moruya Racecourse, the seventh one we have held in conjunction with Moruya Jockey Club. This year’s project is funding a seven-seater community bus to be used by Meals on Wheels and Yumaro.

Our Club has been asked to help on the day with the bucket  collection from cars as they arrive at the Race Course. Laurelle and Ange will do 11.30-12.45 when Rod and Bob will take over until 2.

Dates for your Diary this month

Sunday 8 Dec – 6pm Carols by Candlelight NATA Oval

Thurs 12 Dec – Board Meeting & AGM

Thursday 12 Dec – Primary School Presentation Assembly

Friday 13 Dec- High School Presentation Assembly

Thursday 19 Dec – Christmas Party at the Inlet, 6 for 6.30pm

Sat 21 Dec – Interviews for Tertiary Education Scholarship 2020

Sunday 22 Dec – Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs Christmas Race Day

Friday 27 Dec – Our Markets instead of Sunday 22^nd.

THIS WEEK

This week is a normal dinner meeting where we all can all just enjoy each other’s company.

The Week that Was

Ange covered last week’s meeting fairly extensively but a few things from the week follow.

Bush fires close by

Several Moruya Rotary Rotarians have assisted local fire fighting efforts behind the lines; Pauline Gleeson has assisted with catering while two other members have been carting water for fire-fighters in the Shallow Crossing area. Meanwhile our very own RFS member John Doyle is on stand by at Dalmeny. John says” the brigades are only releasing limited people to the out-of-area fires so as to maintain a viable force in the Eurobodalla”, should they be needed.

This month is Rotary’s Foundation Month

You may have read the recent message from RI President Mark Maloney and the Foundation’s Chair Gary Huang which included an update on Polio. Our recent film night to raise funds for World Polio Day was one of over 5,600 events held around the world. (Many such as ours was not a registered event; the 5,600 were registered events).They noted that on 21 August, Nigeria marked three years without a case of wild poliovirus, and the World Health Organization’s African region could potentially be certified wild poliovirus-free next year… If that happens, it will be a tremendous achievement, as the continent once suffered three quarters of all polio cases in the world.

Out and About

Rotary Clubs of Australia Drought Appeal

The Rotary Clubs of Australia some time ago partnered with Channel 9, the Great Northern Brewing Co. and Bendigo Bank to raise funds and in-kind donations for drought affected communities across Australia. The appeal is administered by Bendigo Bank’s charitable arm, Community Enterprise Foundation.

“Ninety-nine per cent of NSW is in drought, as is South-East Queensland and parts of Victoria and South Australia,” said RI District External Relations Director 9800 Philip Archer. “Nationally, one quarter of Australian agriculture is in severe drought. This drought has really affected us all with its far-reaching effects. Nobody is immune. We should be in this together.
“Rotary is up for the challenge encouraging everyone, city-based or country, to make a donation––large or small – to help those struggling to get through. Farmers and farming families are doing it tough, and the flow-on effect to other businesses in drought affected communities is huge. Whatever help and financial support we can give, whatever small thing we can do now will help rural communities get back to normality quicker.”

Rotary along with representatives of drought affected communities will conduct a localised consultation process to understand the needs and assistance required for those directly impacted by the drought. This will define how funds are best allocated in supporting families and communities.

How to Make Donations:

1. On line via the following link: https://www.bendigobank.com.au/rotarydrought

2. In person by visiting any branch of the Bendigo Bank:

3. Or by Cheque. Cheques to be made payable to “Community Enterprise Foundation” and posted to Community Enterprise Foundation, PO Box 480, Bendigo, VIC 3552

NEXT WEEK

Our AGM is next week, Thursday 12 December, at 7.15. It will be preceded by our Board Meeting. Rod Walker has previously emailed nomination forms for Board positions for 2020/21. Everyone is urged to please respond as soon as possible.